Oakes Ames
Background
Oakes Ames made made his first large amounts of money by selling shovels to miners during the Gold Rush.
Involvement in the Transcontinental Railroad
- As a U.S. congressman, Ames served on the House committee of the Pacific Railroad Bill.
- Ames invested in the Credit Mobilier Company and promoted it to other Congressmen to increase it's support in Congress. Oakes Ames made a fortune with his involvement in the Credit Mobilier Company.
- When the Credit Mobilier became a national scandal in 1872, Ames' reputation was ruined and his career was finished.