This Date in Wells Fargo History

July 21, 2008

July 21, 1865. "I supposed I was to be the only passenger from Salt Lake on," Demas Barnes wrote, but on entering the coach found a single mother and 4 children under 8 years old. "Each had a specific want at least once in 20 minutes, which divided by 4, gave me a gentle hint exactly every 5 minutes."

Additionally, as darkness closed around them, he observed, "A stage coach, down gullies, over stones, up hills, and across ravines, is not the most favorable place imaginable for sound sleep." Along with everything else happening that night, Barnes continued, "the next day, the children were covered with molasses and the stage with crumbs"--along with "dust, deep and thick," which was "the staple production of this country."