Western Entrepreneur. Born in Vermont, he was a dairy farmer who came to California, during the gold rush in 1850. Un-successful with his gold endeavors, he bought over six hundred acres in the Piedmont hills area. There he built a hotel, amusement park, dairy farm and a rock quarry near the town. He also created the first mass transportation from Oakland to the Piedmont hills known as the Bob-Tail Railroad which was a trolley car service pulled by dapple grey horses. He died at age 57 in Oakland, California. (bio by: John “J-Cat” Griffith)