Alexander Majors
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Alexander Majors (1814 - 1900) was a U.S. businessman, often credited along with William Hepburn Russell and William B. Waddel as the founders, owners, and operators of the Pony Express. Some credit the original supervisor, Benjamin Franklin Ficklin with the idea.
Alexander Majors got his start in overland freight on the Santa Fe Trail in 1848. On his first trip, he set a new time record of 92 days for the 1564 mile (2500 km) round trip.
Majors was awarded contracts to haul supplies to United States Army posts along the Santa Fe Trail in 1853. He fulfilled the contract well enough that in 1854 he was invited to bid on the contract to haul all the US Army's supplies to the posts in Santa Fe area.
At this point, Majors teamed up with William B. Waddell and William Hepburn Russell. Majors was resposible for the freighting part of the business, Waddell was to manage the office, and Russell was to use is Washington DC contacts to acquire new contracts. Waddell chose be a silent partner, so the firm was initially called "Majors and Russell".
In about 1860, the firm now known as "Russell, Majors, & Waddell" went bankrupt, apparently by over-extending themselves by attempting to run an stage coach service, the "Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express Company", and operating the Pony Express
Majors acquired a reputation for honest dealings, sober conduct, and reliable service. As a result, he was able to start again hauling freight in 1853. He did well, eventually moving from Nebraska City to Salt Lake City, UT.
He provided rail ties for the crews of the Union Pacific Railroad working on the first trans-continental railroad.
After the railroad was completed, he continued to haul freight to towns not yet serviced by the railroad.
External links
- http://www.geocities.com/sary2k/AlexanderMajors.html
- http://www.over-land.com/otmajors.html
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