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“PROLOGUE”
As many know, what we think of as the “Gold Rush” happened in large part almost entirely thanks to “Samuel Brannan”. The man who AFTER buying up every shovel and piece of mining equipment he could, proceeded to run through the streets of San Francisco crying “GOLD GOLD! Gold from the American River!"

By 1849 Brannan was making over $100,000 a month at his store at Sutters Fort. Over the next ten years the man became the richest person in California opening up more shops, buying land, and in 1853 was elected to State Senator.

However, as is so often the case, what went up, came down.

In 1860 Brannan purchased and built a Railroad and Spa, then founded the village of “Calistoga” which he hoped would become a resort haven. The business deal flopped and by 1864 was forced to foreclose on it.

In 1872, after increasingly violent rages brought on by drinking problems, his wife divorced him. The settlement gave here HALF of all Brannans holdings, in order to accomplish this, Brannan was forced to liquidate his entire holdings. Every shop, business and land deal he had was sold of, often for pennies on the dollar.

Over the next 17 years, he spent what money he had on a series of failed business ventures and land deals before dying penniless at the age of 70

“OVERVIEW”
As a follower of history, Brannans case has always struck me as a sad “wasted” opportunity. The man was a true visionary and saw opportunities everywhere;
He laid the groundwork for California becoming the powerhouse it is today, as well as developing a financial empire that only came apart from a disastrous divorce.

The potential for “what if’s” concerning Brannan are immense. Certainly if Brannan had controlled his drink, had reformed a bit earlier, and not divorced, he would have returned his empire and who knows how much it could have grown. The man lived to be 70, which is an incredible age for the time. The 17 years from his divorce to death could have been spent ensuring a financial empire that could have endured even to this day.

PROPOSAL
Exploring this in a simple "What If" could be done, but Brannans potential I feel deserves something a bit more fanciful as well as "hands on".

Let us say one were given the opportunity to more directly get involved, perhaps as an unnamed 'partner' who had Brannans ear and could persuade him to make different choices at key moments. From a business perspective, there is little that needs to change. Brannans finical choices virtually always made him money.

In truth there is not much to change or that needs to be changed in the OTL. Even he failed business venture of building a railroad in 1860 itself was not crippling, however Brannan spent years pouring money into the retreat that ended up costing millions. While he lost money on the deal, the Railroad would go on to become an integral part in the development of the Napa Valley.

However, there is much that could be done to strengthen his financial holdings. In conjunction with the building of his railroad, the growth of his business needs to be expanded outside the Sacramento and San Francisco areas. Opening up general stores in Los Angeles and San Diego will provide a more stable business once the Gold Rush peters off. By 1860 there were no large retail stores in America. Macys had just been established in 1858, and would not expand into the west for decades.

However while Brannan finically does not need much involvement, Brannan as a person was an atrocious mess. The man was a drunk and a womanizer, he routinely would leave his wife and kids along for months at a time on business trips and return home only to ignore them even more. His wife, genteel and very refined women, considered Brannan a crude and abusive man who cared only for money. By as early as 1853, Samuel Brannan was frequently visiting brothers and having an affair with a notorious dance named "Lola Montez"

That Sammuels wife lasted till 1870 before filling for divorce is a testament to her patience. If Samuel Brannan is to develop a long lasting Financial Empire, certain changes will need to be made.


PHASE-I, A BETTER FAMILY MAN1851-1853
1851 was a busy year for Samuel Brannan. In October 1851, Samuel and a large group of businessmen traveled to Hawaii with the intent of purchasing land for American Settlers. Before leaving on the trip, Sams wife asked to come and Sam refused. According to records, while he was away, Sams wife spent much of her time increasing her social circle and making good friends with many of San Francisco's other powerful women. The changes to Sams personal life begin here.

Before departing, instead of casually brushing his wife away, Sam asks her what she wants most in Hawaii. While away, Sam makes a point to purchase a host of presents and gifts for his Wife as well as toys for his first Son Samuel Junior.

Upon his return, Sam begins to show more interest in his wife's activities. In the OTL Samuel detested virtually every aspect of his wife's private life, from taking tea to Sunday brunches to social clubs. In truth, meeting regularly with the powerful women of the city would be invaluable to opening up new business connections with others as well as keeping tabs on what the business Men of San Francisco are up to.

In late 1852, Sams Wife gives birth to "Don" their third child and second son. In the OTL, Don's birth was the closest Sam ever got to reform, pledging to spend more time at home and not drink as much. Unfortunately this promise lasted only as long as his next business trip.

In the OTL a business partner invites Sam out to Boston to visit his family. Originally Sam goes, leaving his wife and new child at home. After arriving in Boston, he proceeds to New York doing more business deals before heading home, on his way home, he meets a notorious singer and cortisone "Lola Mentez". Sam's trip out east lasts nearly Five months till he returns in mid May of 1853. Even after his return, he continues to see "Lola" and has an affair with for years to come spending a small fortune on her.

However, here Samuel makes his first big choice.

IN this timeline, with Sams wife still recovering from birth, a weak newborn Son as well as business at home, Sam decides to stay home to spend more time with his newborn son, pledging to go back east to New York next year. While this may seem a radical departure from the OTL, in truth Sam did little during his five months away aside from meet with a banker in New York who persuaded him to purchase property that was never developed. By staying home, Sam precedes to avoid getting involved, not just with Lola and a torrid affair, but avoids meeting his brother as well; a man as much an alcoholic and misogynist as Sam (used) to be.

While Lola Mentez will still arrive in mid 1853, by that time Sam will have littler interest in chasing after her; having spent the past five months with his wife and kids and developing business within San Francisco.

{{{End part one, more to come!}}}
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