Charles Boettcher
The youngest of six, Charles was born in 1852 in Germany. At 17, his parents sent him to America to visit his older brother Herman, who worked in a hardware store in Cheyenne. Herman enlisted Charles as a partner, and they soon bought that store plus others in Greeley, Evans, and Fort Collins.
The brothers, who had watched their parents run hardware stores in Germany, continued expansion, and it was during this period that Charles met and married Fannie Augustus Cowan.
The young family relocated to Leadville in 1880 to capitalize on the silver boom by selling hardware to the miners. In the next decade, Charles' business flourished, and his investments grew to include several mining properties, a ranch, and Leadville's first electric company. Charles also invested in the First Carbonate Bank and was soon named director of the financial institution.
When they moved to Denver in 1890, Charles held diverse interests, including a meat packing company, a railroad, and Capital Life Insurance. He also continued to build a banking empire and became president of the National Bank of Commerce.
At the end of the 19th Century, Colorado's economy had shifted from mining to agriculture, and the farming communities were desperate for a profitable crop. Charles, who had researched the lucrative sugar beet industry while visiting Germany, enlisted investors and formed the Great Western Sugar Company in Colorado.
While Charles' investments helped ensure Colorado's economic stability throughout the 20th Century, they also included philanthropic work. He founded the Boettcher School for disabled children and donated money to the University of Colorado. Since 1937, the Foundation has been dedicated to assisting, encouraging, and promoting Colorado residents and has given $200 million to grant recipients in four areas: education, civic/cultural programs, community/social services, and hospital/health services.
The brothers, who had watched their parents run hardware stores in Germany, continued expansion, and it was during this period that Charles met and married Fannie Augustus Cowan.
The young family relocated to Leadville in 1880 to capitalize on the silver boom by selling hardware to the miners. In the next decade, Charles' business flourished, and his investments grew to include several mining properties, a ranch, and Leadville's first electric company. Charles also invested in the First Carbonate Bank and was soon named director of the financial institution.
When they moved to Denver in 1890, Charles held diverse interests, including a meat packing company, a railroad, and Capital Life Insurance. He also continued to build a banking empire and became president of the National Bank of Commerce.
At the end of the 19th Century, Colorado's economy had shifted from mining to agriculture, and the farming communities were desperate for a profitable crop. Charles, who had researched the lucrative sugar beet industry while visiting Germany, enlisted investors and formed the Great Western Sugar Company in Colorado.
While Charles' investments helped ensure Colorado's economic stability throughout the 20th Century, they also included philanthropic work. He founded the Boettcher School for disabled children and donated money to the University of Colorado. Since 1937, the Foundation has been dedicated to assisting, encouraging, and promoting Colorado residents and has given $200 million to grant recipients in four areas: education, civic/cultural programs, community/social services, and hospital/health services.