San Joaquin County
Biographies
THE RIVER EXPRESS
EDWIN STUART VAN PELT
THE RIVER EXPRESS.--Of all
the firms and business institutions of which Stockton can lay claim, perhaps none has shown such remarkable
progress from the very humblest of beginnings as the River Express. But a few
years ago the business, which has now assumed handsome proportions, was
unknown, and probably unthought of.
In 1878 a youth named Simington commenced
carrying packages between San Francisco and Stockton, on the boats of the
California Steam Navigation Company, on which he ran as an errand boy, making
the trip up one day and down the next; but as he had no wagon at either end for
delivery, the business of course was a small one, and did not offer much
promise. He sold out to Thomas Sedgwick, and the latter shortly afterward put
on a wagon at the San
Francisco end of
the line. A couple years later C. H. Pease and Robert L. Tubbs succeeded to the
business by purchase, and they put on a wagon for delivery in Stockton. They carried on the business about two years, and
then sold out to J. C. and J. B. Cowden, brothers. The first named of these
sold his interest November 20, 1885, to E. S. Van Pelt, and the latter and J.
B. Cowden were the proprietors until June 1, 1886. Then Mr. Van Pelt bought out
the interest of J. B. Cowden, but at once sold it to his cousin, A. H. Kelton.
The firm remained Van Pelt & Kelton until March 16, 1889, when P. D.
Campbell, a messenger on the boat, became a member of the firm, and these three
constitute the River Express Company. Mr. Van Pelt is in charge of the Stockton office, Mr. Kelton in San Francisco, and Mr. Campbell has charge of the transportation on
the boats of the Steam Navigation Company. The business is carried on under the
present management with clock-work precision, and regular trips are made each
way daily, while the patronage has so increased on account of the excellent
business methods adopted, that six wagons and one dray are now kept busy at the
termini of the line, and eight head of horses are utilized in drawing them, and
two messengers are employed on the boats. Such is the record made by this firm
of young men, who have had to commence at the bottom and feel their way to
their present safe position. Certainly the business men of Stockton should take
an interest in this institution, of such benefit to them, and which has grown
up in their midst; and that they do is evidenced from the large and constantly
growing trade which is entrusted to the care of the River Express by them, as
well as by the business men of San Francisco. Success in business is always
appreciated, and especially so when it opens up new channels long unappreciated
and tending to the credit and advancement of the city.
As their enterprise is one of which Stockton is especially interested, sketches of the men who
have made it what it is are given in this volume.
E. S. Van Pelt is a native Californian,
born at Mokelumne Hill, July 2, 1858, his parents being John and Sarah Jane
(Kelton) Van Pelt. His father was born on Long Island, New York, and came out to California in the early gold-mining days.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 326-327. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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