If you want a good book on the subject, I recommend “Appetite for America.” It’s the Harvey family. I’ve loaned my copy out to several people who really enjoyed it.
I’ll second your recommendation of “Appetite for America.” It’s a fascinating look at how Fred Harvey followed the railroads as the population moved west. Rather sad, however, how the carefully built and -maintained empire fell apart as subsequent generations took it over. But then that’s the fate of all empires. Did you notice where it was mentioned in passing that a prominent homosexual “lost his virginity” to one of the sons?