Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-08-31
IN MEMORIAM.


ceedings Of the board of directors Of the
American Express company, at their regulsl
quarterly meeting, convened in the city o!
New York August nth, Ammo Domini, one
thousand eight hundred and eighty one-Hon.
Theodore M. Pomeroy, vice president, In the
chair:
"The vice president having announced the
death of William G. Fargo, president of thil
company, which occurred at his home in the
city of Buffalo, N Y, on the Sd inst, on mo-
ton of Gen. William H. Seward, Messrs
Theodore M. Pomeroy, Benjamin P. Cheney
and Alexander Holland were named a commit.
tee to prepare and submit resolutions express
i've of the sense of the board on the sad event
now first formally announced to them by the
vice president.
The committee, thus constituted, reported
the following preamble and resolutions
which were unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, Death has again invaded thu
ranks of the veterans of the express business
and taken from our midst in the fullness o.
his usefulness, William G.. Fargo, the hon
ordered and beloved president of the company
to whose wise, prudent and sagaciors leader.
ship is to be attributed large portion of the
prosperity which now attends our organiza
ton. ills therefore,
RESOLVED, That it is with feeling of the
deepest sadness that we present the following
brief tribute to the memory OF our departed
president and personal friend:
The place that William G.. Fargo had grown
to occupy in the public mind is best evidenced
by the spontaneous tribute of respect to his
memory which pervaded the entire press OIL
the country upon the announcement OF his
death. Such tributes have seldom been &C
corded to those who have filed the highest
professional and political positions. 1t waf
because as one of the prominent men OF action
developed by the peculiar opportunities Of
American society, he had been one OF the few
inspired to open new avenues OF business and
wealth, which should become a part of the
permanent prosperity of the nation. It was 9
recognition of his position in thus respect az
public benefactOr. s,r
While the activity of his mind sought &C.
cupation in many directions with marked sue
cess, it was especially in the inauguration and
development of the great express interest OF
the United States that his greatest efforts were
expended and his most intense devotion mani.
tested, and 1t is with the American Express
ciated. Into the consolidation of the inui-
vidual interests which in 1850 were formed
into the American Express company, he threw
the whole energy of his youth and his grea,
love of active employment. If he and Wells,
Butter1eld, Livingston and their associates
''builded better than they knew" it was be-
cause they We're builders OF unusual capacity
and tremendous force Of individual character
AS part of the grand composite known as
the ''E pless interest" of the United States,
they made the American second to
no other in the energy and fidelity Of its man
agementand in the continental proportions OF
its expansion. The lesson of the life of Mr..
Fargo in its conservation to this, his great
life work, should be the study of those who
may, be called to assume the responsibilities
which death alone compelled him to relin
Quish. Such lives are precious
inheritance to any organization and their i'll
fluence will not die; aud as dear t him as tht
tears which affection may pour upon his grave
will be the efforts of his surviving associates
of the com pany he loved SO much, to main-
tain its corporate integrity and growth, anc
it's unspotted business honor.
So thorough had become the education o.
MIR. Fargo in the express business, and he haC
studied SO well, and investigated SO diligently
the underlying principles upon which it should
be conducted, that it is not eulOgy to say that
he had become the best and most valued ex
press man of his time. His matured judd ment
was the law of his own company, and upon al
questions involving interests in common with
the rallying point for final adjustment. Nc
bias of individual interest was ever suspected
of warping his judgment in the settlement OF
principle of universal application to the
business. Although he finally yielded to ex.
cess of work, and not of years, he was among
the last of small body of men who
thirty years ago were associated with him
and in him were embodied and preserved the
best traits of all. The energy of Butterfeld
the hopefulness of Wells; the cool, dispas
sionate, sound intellect of Gather, and the
keen sense of honor, active devotion to bust.
ness, and the appreciation of community Of
business interests, SO common to them al
were prominently manifest in him. In fact,
the greatness of his character was its COM
pIeteness. Of commanding personal presence,
eXacting in business, genial in temperament,
without scholastic education and yet perfectly
self-educated to the great practical business OF
life; unalded by fortune or friends, by simple
fidelity and strength of character he rose from
the humblest sphere Of activity, to proud
pre-eminence among his fellow men. Beloved
by friends aud honored and respected by the
world, he has closed life of intense activity
and distinguished usefulness.
ResoLued, That we tender to the bereaved
widow and family of our departed friend OuI
most sincere coincidence and sympathy. The
bitter parting here is but for the short span OF
time. Beyond the river will come the re-
union which shall know no end.
( ResOlued. that the secretary transmit a copy
of these resolutions to the family of the de
ceased.
RcsoIued, That in respect to the memory Of
the deceased this board do now adjourn !"
True copy. Done in the city of New York,
this 18th day of August, Ammo Domini, 1881.
Attest: j. N. KNAPP,
Secretary of the American Express Company