August 28: Irish Immigrant Begins Company
On 28 August 1907, James E. Casey borrowed $100 from a friend and began American Messenger Company in Seattle, Washington. In 1913, the company changed its name to the Merchants Parcel Delivery. In 1919, the company again changed its name to the United Parcel Service, the name it uses to this day.
Casey was the son of Irish immigrant Henry Joseph Casey. Henry emigrated from the town of Clifden in County Galway. The town of Clifden was founded by John D’Arcy in 1812. Henry’s father, James Casey, had moved from Tipperary in 1840 to work on building the roads around Clifden. James actually settled in Streamstown, about two miles from Clifden. In 1845, James was able to secure a lease on some property in County Galway; property still owned by his American descendants.
When Casey was still a boy, his father died. Therefore, at the age of 11, he began working to help support his family. Casey credited his mother for keeping the family together. In 1948, Casey and his brothers and sister found the Annie E. Casey Foundation which helps vulnerable children and their families. Casey also founded Casey Family Programs which focuses on foster care as well as other foundations and philanthropic enterprises.
The United Parcel Service is now the world’s largest package delivery company serving over 200 countries and territories. In 2011, UPS had 398,000 employees worldwide and had revenues of $53.1 billion. Each day, it delivered 15.8 million packages.
–Steven L. Berg, PhD
Source Note: The genealogical information concerning James E. Casey was compiled by Greg Niemann.
Photo Caption: The first UPS logo. It was used from 1919-1937.
Haroon Chaudhary
Probably a typo, but the first sentence suggests that UPS was fonded this year. I’d be curious to know the actual founding year. By coincidence, my nephew and I are traveling and just arrived in Seattle last night for a 3-day visit. When he awakes I will tell him about this interesting coincidence!