Wells Fargo’s colorful history began up north

Thursday, March 28, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

The company opened offices in Nevada in 1860 to serve miners who sought their fortunes in the gold and silver deposits of the Comstock Lode in western Nevada. By year's end, Wells Fargo had opened offices in Carson City, Genoa, Gold Hill, Silver City and Virginia City, according to historical information distributed by the bank.

Between 1862 and 1865, Wells Fargo ran a 24-hour Pony Express route between Virginia City and San Francisco to speed delivery of customers' letters. By 1864, Wells Fargo was operating four stagecoaches a day to move its express of silver, gold, mail and packages out of Nevada and over the Sierras to San Francisco.

By 1918, Wells Fargo had 133 offices in Nevada including one in Las Vegas that was founded in 1907. But the United States was engaged in World War I and as a wartime measure, the government nationalized the country's express companies into a single federal entity.

Overnight, Wells Fargo was forced to sell its express horses, coaches and offices, ending its presence in Nevada. The company continued to operate its banking business from San Francisco.

First Interstate Bank started in Reno as Farmers and Merchants Bank in September 1902.

By Pauline Bell