Pillsbury “Chips” Hodgkins (1825–1892), a carpenter-turned-courier, left a lasting legacy as a pioneer expressman who helped build the West. Born and raised in Maine, Hodgkins ventured to California in September 1849, joining the wave of ’49ers seeking fortune in the newly discovered gold fields. Hodgkins sailed for California aboard the ship York, where his work as a carpenter earned him the enduring nickname: “Chips.”

Chips followed the promise of gold to the Southern Mines, where he worked for several years before being hired in March 1851 by Reynold’s Express to deliver letters and packages throughout the camps. In the spring of 1855, Wells Fargo acquired this express route, reportedly quipping that they “bought Chips with it.” Hodgkins would go on to faithfully serve as an expressman for decades, leaving a reputation of exemplary character. After his passing, the Seaport News remembered him by saying,

“No kinder or more honest man ever lived and as we look upon his life we can not help but think that “Chips” was one of God’s noblemen.”

As our June 2025 Sale approaches, we are excited to present three surviving postal covers, which each provide a tangible connection to a distinct chapter of Chips’ notable career, and help preserve the legacy of a man who helped build the West.

Reynolds & Co. Express: The Beginning of a Storied Career

Chips was recruited as a messenger for Reynold’s & Co. by Mr.Browns, a company agent, in March of 1851. According to the Stockton Independent,

“Mr. Hodgkins traveled on a white mule, often with saddle-bags full of gold, miners frequently trusting him with all they had. During the next two years he made frequent tours through Calaveras, Tuolumne, Merced and Mariposa counties, meeting with many strange adventures but always escaping unharmed”

This cover, addressed to Pillsbury Hodgkins, and handstamped with Reynold’s & Co.’s company mark, is a connection to Chips’ formative years as a Gold Rush expressman, delivering mail and gold dust throughout the Southern Mines, before his long tenure at Wells Fargo.

The Rise of a Messenger: Wells Fargo and Western Expansion

In the Spring of 1853 Wells, and Fargo bought out the Reynold’s & Co express route, which would prove to be a favorable transition for Chips. Chips would go on to work as an expressman for the company for decades. It was steady work, and Chips became a familiar, dependable face within the company. Over the years, his responsibilities evolved with the company’s growth,reflecting both his reliability and the trust Wells Fargo placed in him:

• 1853–1857 – Registered passengers and dispatched stagecoaches for Wells Fargo in Stockton.
• 1857–1870 – Served as the company’s messenger aboard the steamer running between Stockton and San Francisco.
• 1870–1877 – Worked as a messenger between San Francisco and San Diego.
• 1877–1886 – Oversaw Wells Fargo’s steamer department, handling express matter from Alaska to the southern tip of the Pacific coast.
• 1886–1892 – Worked in Wells Fargo’s collection department until his passing.

Postmarked in 1859 and sent from Mason, New Hampshire, this cover is addressed simply to “Chips” in Stockton, an indication of the trust and recognition he had earned. He wasn’t just another employee; he was a dependable figure, known by name alone.

25 Years of Service, A Personal Celebration

In May 1876, Henry Wells himself encouraged Chips to host a reception to commemorate his 25 years as an expressman. In response, Chips had invitations specially printed featuring four illustrations, each depicting a different mode of transportation he used throughout his career. The invite read:

“MR. AND MRS. CHIPS

Express their desire to see
yourself and lady at

—SANDER’S HALL,—
Cor. New Montg’y and Minna Sts.

Wednesday Ev’g, May 10th,
1876, at expressly 8 o’clock, for
the express purpose of expressing friendly greetings.

MR. & MRS. P. HODGKINS.”

In his autobiography, Chips recounts that above five hundred guests attended the reception and that Henry Wells made an address.

This cover, with an illustrated miner on a mule, is one of the very envelopes, carried outside of the mails that carried the invitations. While the image of a miner on a mule was commonly associated with Gold Rush-era mining scenes, in this context, it symbolized Chips himself on his early routes, faithfully delivering mail through rugged terrain on his white mule. It’s proof that Chips had a sense of humor, pride in his work, and a community that wanted to mark the moment with him.

The Legacy of Chips Hodgkins in Our June 2025 Sale

Pillsbury “Chips” Hodgkins was remembered not only for the miles he traveled and the gold he carried, but for the unshakable integrity with which he did it. As the San Francisco Chronicle aptly noted,

“no man in the United States ever actually handled more money than he did, but not a nickel of it ever stuck to his fingers.”

As we look ahead to our June 2025 Sale, we are proud to offer these pieces of postal history that preserve the memory of an expressman whose quiet dedication helped carry the West forward. For an exciting exhibit that explores additional “Chips” covers, be sure to explore Chip Gliedman’s, The Chips Covers – The Postal History Legacy of a Wells Fargo Expressman.