Chin Lin Sou (September 29, 1836 – August 10, 1894, 陳林新) was an influential leader in the Chinese American community and prominent figure in Colorado. He immigrated to the United States from Guangzhou, China, in 1859. Chin stood out amongst other Chinese immigrants at the time as he dressed like a westerner and spoke perfect English. He was a supervisor of hundreds of Chinese workers who built the transcontinental railroad and feeder lines across California, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, and Colorado. He was among the first Chinese immigrants in Colorado. He became wealthy by buying abandoned mines and selling them or operating placer mines. He was a merchant in Gilpin County and Denver, Colorado. Known as a leader, he founded and was a member in organizations that supported Chinese business people and communities. In 1977, a stained glass portrait of Chin was installed at the Old Supreme Court in the Colorado State Capitol building in Denver for his role in Colorado's history. Early life Chin Lin Sou was born in Canton (now called Guangzhou) in southern China on September 29, 1836. To escape the civil war in China (Taiping Rebellion), he traveled by sea to San Francisco, California in 1859. He was inspired by tales of success in the American West. Upon his arrival, he mined for gold for several years in California. In the United States, he was seen as less foreign than other Chinese people because he wore western clothing, was over six feet tall, had blue eyes, and spoke English fluently. Based upon the color of his eyes and his height, his family may have been from northern China. He was recognized as an intelligent man and a quick learner, who had great executive ability. Career Railroad He worked on the first transcontinental railroad as the foreman of a group of Chinese railroad workers, many of whom Chin, himself, recruited and helped to gain passage into the United States. He first worked for Charles Crocker of the Central Pacific Railroad at Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and in then the Great Basin of Utah. He worked among hundreds of Chinese who also fled China's civil war. The transcontinental railroad was completed on May 10, 1869 at Promontory, Utah, becoming what is considered the greatest technological event of the 19th century. He worked in Nevada for the Central Pacific Railroad. Then, he worked for Gen.