Where is collis huntington buried

1. Biography of Collis Huntington
2. Early Life and Career
3. Creation of Central Pacific Railroad
4. Building a Direct Route
5. Legacy and Later Years

Biography of Collis Huntington

Collis Huntington was an American railroad magnate and a member of the "Big Four" of the western railroad industry. He played a crucial role in the creation of the country's first transcontinental railroad and the development of several other important railway systems.

Early Life and Career

Huntington was born in Harwinton, Connecticut, USA. In his childhood, he spent a lot of time working on the family farm and doing odd jobs for neighbors. At the age of 16, he became a peddler and, during his travels, visited Newport News Point in Warwick County, Virginia. He recognized the potential of this place, although he was able to fully exploit it much later.

Huntington and his brother engaged in trading in Oneonta, New York for some time. Later, he decided to move to the rapidly developing and highly promising western part of the country. He settled in California, where he achieved considerable success, partnering with Mark Hopkins.

Creation of Central Pacific Railroad

In the late 1850s, Huntington, Hopkins, Leland Stanford, and Charles Crocker conceived the idea of building a railway network to connect the opposite coasts of the country. They joined forces and established the Central Pacific Railroad. Among the four, Huntington was the most ruthless and cold-blooded, eventually forcing his partner Leland Stanford to retire. In 1865, Huntington launched another project, the Southern Pacific Railroad, with the help of the same trio. In total, Huntington's second railway network included over 9,000 miles of tracks.

Building a Direct Route

After the Civil War, the Virginia Central Railroad decided to fulfill the long-standing dream of the state's residents and build a direct route from Richmond to the Ohio River Valley. They lacked the necessary funds, so they sought the support of Huntington. The construction started slowly but gained momentum over time. Construction teams that started from different points met on October 16, 1881, just west of Williamsburg. Three days later, the first passenger train traveled along the laid tracks. Huntington completed the project just in time, allowing the passengers on that train to attend the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the surrender of British forces under Lord Cornwallis and the formal end of the War of Independence.

Legacy and Later Years

Huntington's network continued to expand, reaching Newport News Point, which had captivated him earlier. Thanks to the railroad, the small village turned into a significant transportation hub. Over 15 years, the population grew into a fully-fledged independent city, and locals believed that they owed this prosperity primarily to Huntington. He also established a new school in the city, where a team of excellent educators quickly emerged. These teachers specialized in educating the predominantly illiterate African American population, who previously did not have access to education.

Collis Huntington passed away on August 13, 1900. After his death, his nephew Henry E. Huntington took over the majority of the enterprises he had established.