Grenville Dodge (1831-1916) became a resident of Council Bluffs in 1855. He worked to establish the Rock Island Railroad route from Davenport to Council Bluffs, Iowa. He served during the Civil War, initially building and protecting railroad systems. He was promoted to Major General, resigning in 1866 to become chief engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad. Dodge led the Union Pacific to successfully meet the Central Pacific and complete the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1859.
