From my earliest acquaintance with the science of political economy, it has been evident to my mind that capital was the product of labor, and that therefore, in its best analysis there could be no natural conflict between capital and labor.

This engine is preserved at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. Career and politics
After being admitted to the bar in 1848 Stanford migrated with many other settlers moving to Port Washington Wisconsin where he began law practice with Wesley Pierce. Due to large winter storm floods the governor was said to have needed to row in a boat to his own inauguration.

As president of Southern Pacific and beginning in 1861 Central Pacific he had tremendous power in the region and a lasting impact on California. Migrating to California from New York at the time of the Gold Rush he became a successful merchant and wholesaler and continued to build his business empire. He served one two-year term as governor of California after his election in 1861 and later eight years as senator from the state.