My Great Plus Grand Uncle Senator Richard H. Brodhead of Pennsylvania, and his uncle by marriage, Secretary of War Jefferson Davis (President of the Confederate States of America) started the Transcontinental Rail Road Topography studies. Senator Brodhead was also involved with the rebuilding of  the Capitol building dome and the West and East wings! Their efforts in great measure helped populate "Manifest Destiny", California, and the great state of Oregon! Senator Brodhead also made sure that Martha Gray,  the widow of Captain Gray, (discovered of the Columbia river), received a pension!