Minor Cooper Keith

Minor C. Keith was the nephew of U.S. railroad entrepreneur Henry Meiggs, who took over Meiggs' contract to build a railroad in Costa Rica on Meiggs' death in 1877. To have something to transport on the railroad, Keith began planting bananas along the rail line, from roots he obtained from the French. In 1899, Keith combined his venture with Andrew W. Preston to form the United Fruit Company.