Leland Stanford

From dKosopedia

Born in 1824, Leland Stanford became the most active member of a small group organizing the Republican Party in California and was the party candidate for state treasurer in 1857, for governor in 1859 and 1861. He won decisively in 1861 and succeeded not only in holding California in the Union, but also saw to it that the state contributed substantially to Union victory. Stanford later would be elected to the U.S. Senate in 1885. He was reelected in 1891, but died in 1893.

Stanford's role as one of the "big four" of the Central Pacific Railroad brought him a vast fortune. His wife Jane Lathrop Stanford; their only son died young, and Stanford University -- formally Leland Stanford Junior Memorial University --is named for him.