Peter Anthony Dey (1825–1911) was born at Romulus, Seneca County, New York on January 27, 1825.

[2] In the fall of 1852, he joined the Chicago and Rock Island railroad and was in charge of division work from Peru to Sheffield, Illinois.

Dey was also division engineer for the construction of the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad Company (M&M) which ran from Davenport to Council Bluffs.

In the winter of 1856, he rejoined the Rock Island railroad company, building its rail line west to Kellogg.

[1] Peter Anthony Dey's greatest contribution was the first survey of the Union Pacific Railroad.