Historian Richard Dillon, one of the pre-eminent chroniclers of the Far West has made an important contribution to the history of California and the Irish in America in this exhaustively researched and well written triple-biography of the pioneering brothers Donahue-James, Peter and Michael. James and Peter built California's first iron works and San Francisco's first gas plant. Peter built the first heavy locomotive ever manufactured in the West, and was active in building railroads in San Jose area, Sonoma and Marin. Michael moved to Davenport, Iowa. Twice elected Mayor, he built the most modern waterworks of the Midwest.