George Washington Cass

George Washington Cass (March 12, 1810 – March 21, 1888) was an American industrialist and president of the Northern Pacific Railway.

George Washington Cass was born near Dresden, Ohio, March 12, 1810, to George W. and Sophia (Lord) Cass. He married Louisa Dawson in 1842.

Cass attended Detroit Academy, 1824 to 1827, in Detroit, Michigan, while living with his uncle Lewis Cass, governor, Michigan Territory. He then graduated from U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York, class of 1832.

Cass joined United States Army Corps of Engineers circa 1832, working on improvements to the Cumberland Road. Cass helped design the first cast iron bridge in the United States at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, later designated a National Civil Engineering Landmark. Cass left the Army as a first lieutenant in 1836 and settled into private business in Brownsville, Pennsylvania.

From 1836 to 1855 Cass organized a steamboat line and a stagecoach line. Due to his efforts he was appointed president of Adams & Co., successor to Adams Express. He expanded the Boston-based shipping company to points as far away as St. Louis, Missouri, and Richmond, Virginia.

From Adams, Cass went into railroading, becoming president of the Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad in 1856, and the successor Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad (PFW&C) in 1857. He held the latter position until 1883. During this period the PFW&C became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

...
Wikipedia