OK - time to start the trainfaggin series.
A few breads back an anon posed a number of questions regarding a dig on the Vanderbilts and possible ties to Union Pacific Railroad.
His questions:
I currently need help threshing out Union Pacific.
What is its history?
Who is on the board today, and historically?
Any names of note?
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The "Union Pacific Rail Road" and "Central Pacific Railroad" were established by Congress as part of the Pacific Railroad Acts of 1862 which established the "transcontinental railroad" from Omaha, NE to Sacramento, CA. This act was approved by President Lincoln under the guise of "national safety". I did not dig into the congressional politicians involved in orchestrating this act - that will be a dig for another day. I also did not scour all the ACTs themselves, however, there is probably some great dirt in there.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Pacific-Railway-Acts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Railroad_Acts
It appears that the man who was placed into the Vice President position of Union Pacific, Thomas Clark Durant, had his hands into a couple earlier rail companies, "Chicago and Rock Island" (C&RI) which he joined as a broker then a second, "Mississippi and Missouri Railroad" (M&M) which he co founded with Henry Farnam also of C&RI. He was also the founder of a very shady investment company which led to his ultimate downfall - our kind of scoundrel.
History of Mr. Durant indicates that the M&M Railroad constructed the first rail bridge across the Missouri river to connect M&M to C&RI which instigated numerous lawsuits from steamboat owners. M&M/C&RI hired as it attorney none other than Abraham Lincoln to successfully defend it against the steamboat lawsuits. It was ultimately President Abraham Lincoln who approved of Durant's placement as Vice President of the Union Pacific railroad obviously due to his ties with Durant during the lawsuits.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_C._Durant
Some digging on the Durant family name indicates origins in France, subsequent migration to England with an ultimate migration to USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
https://www.houseofnames.com/durant-family-crest/French
Digging deeper, Durant, during his tenure with Union Pacific, made some shady arrangements with his financial firm Credit Mobilier to take stock ownership control of Union Pacific which ultimately led to a major scandal, his removal from Credit Mobilier then removal from his VP position with Union Pacific by President Ulysses S Grant.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crédit_Mobilier_scandal
At some point Durant was able to extract some wealth from Union Pacific and started a new rail company "Adirondack Railroad" along with the acquisition of a half million acres of property known as the "Adirondack Great Camp" which he and his son "William West Durant" heavily advertised through lavish entertainment to eventually sell off the camp in lots to the notable and wealthy of the nation at the time, including J. P. Morgan (Uncas Camp) and Alfred G. Vanderbilt (Sagamore Camp).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_West_Durant
It is highly likely that Durant Sr. was highly involved with these wealthy folks as part of the investments into Credit Mobilier which eventually took over stock ownership of Union Pacific. Given his failures, I would not be surprised if this was planned by the higher ups like Morgan and Vanderbilt.
To be continued as time permits…