The Big Four:
Leland Stanford, Collis P. Huntington, Charles Crocker and Mark Hopkins were known as the “Big Four”. These men were the reason the Transcontinental Railroad became a reality. Huntington took care of the financing; Crocker focused on forcing the construction to move ahead; Hopkins made sure the money wasn’t wasted and Stanford watched the main points of the projects. All of the men were had tremendous energy and drive. Stanford: Born on March 9th, 1824 and died on June 21st, 1893. Stanford moved to New York during the gold rush. From there he built on his business and became very successful in life. In 1861 he became the president of the Transcontinental Railroad. Huntington: Born October 22nd, 1821 and died on August 13th, 1900. He was the Vice President of the Transcontinental Railroad, and was also part of the Southern Pacific Railroad, the Chesapeake Railway, and the Ohio Railway. With all the new railroads in West Virginia, there was a new city name Huntington in his honor. Hopkins: Born on September 1st, 1813 and died on March 29th, 1878. He was married to Mary Hopkins, and they never had any children. When Mark Hopkins died his wife adopted a son, and then later disowned him and married another man. Mark Hopkins was the Treasurer of the Transcontinental Railroad. Crocker: Born September 16th, 1822 and died on August 14th 1888. He was born in New York, but he moved to India when he was 14. He then invested his money that he saved for the railroad. He was the Construction Supervisor. |