Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Adams, Alvin

ADAMS, Alvin, expressman, b. in Andover, Vt., 16 June, 1804; d. in Watertown, Mass., 2 Sept., 1877. In 1840 he established an express route between New York and Boston, making his first trip on 4 May. A few months later, under the firm-name of Adams & Co., he associated with himself Ephraim Farnsworth, who took charge of the New York office. On the death of the latter, soon afterward, William B. Dinsmore succeeded to his place, and for several years subsequently the business was limited to New York, New London, Norwich, Worcester, and Boston. In 1854 the corporation of Adams Express Co. was formed by the union of Adams & Co., Harnden & Co., Thompson & Co., and Kinsley & Co., with Mr. Adams his president. Its business then rapidly extended throughout the south and west, and m 1870 to tile far west. Mr. Adams was associated with the organization of the pioneer express throughout the mining camps of California in 1850 ; but on the consolidation of the companies in 1854, Adams & Co. disposed of their interest to the California Express Co. During the civil war the facilities that were afforded by Adams Express Co. were of the greatest value to the national government. Mr. Adams accumulated a large fortune. See " History of the Express Business," by A. L. Stimson (New York, 1881).