Eastern Utah advocate. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1895-1915, 1913-10-23
DAVID \. MOFFAT
AS STATE Builder
GAVE MS LIFE AND MONEY ron
THE WEST.
DENVER and Salt Lake Railroad His
Last and Greatest Effort-othcrs
Taking Up the Work Prom which
He Was Called by Death.
: tRocky Mountain Newsj


No story OF state building. IN
Colorado OF elsewhere. can be com
plete without some reference to the
men whose energy and clear vision
have been necessary for the devel-
opment Of tho natural resources Of
the state. And no list Of state
builders in Colorado, however short
could be complete without the name
OF David H. Moffat. who for fifty
years was a pillar OF strength In
the structure OF Colorado's bust
ness, and who In that period was
untiring In his effort 10 forward
the growth and the prosperity Of
state and OF the city OF Denver
The career OF David II. Moffat,
told in the tersest language. IL ro-
mantle and full OF interest lie be-
gan life as n poor farm boy In New
York state. and after career OF
business triumphs and financial sue
ccsses that come to very few men.
he died under such circumstances as
to warrant the statement that he
gave all he had, and even life itself.
TO forward the plans he had laid
for the Advancement OF the Interests
OF the community In which he lived.
And. In spite OF his personal disap-
pointment. the value and practlc-
ability OF his purposes have 40 com
mcndcd themselves to other men.
that their realization already seems
to be we'll assured.
lie was born In Orange county. ~
". July 20. 1879. and at the age OF
~ he loft homo and went to New
York city. obtaining work In the
New York Exchange bank NJ a mes
senger boy. His services were
pleasing to his employers and his
promotion was rapid. when he
was 10 he held a position AZ assist
ant teller, and soon after received
an offer OF employment In Dies
Moines. Iowa. where he was for n
time teller for the firm OF a. J.
FhNNNNH ~ W
In 1857. when he was rs. he was
offered the position OF cashier OF
the Bank OF Nebraska. In Omaha.
lie filled this responsible position
satisfactorily for four years. aud
when. through no fault OF his own.
the affairs OF the bank became en-
tangled, the difficult task OF settling
its business was assigned TO him.
yhe work OF liquidation was splen-
dldiy performed. with the final re-
suit that a surplus was distributed
among the stockholders. where a
complete loss had been expected
AZ this time the undeveloped
wealth OF the Rocky Mountain re-
gion was beginning to arouse inter
est IN tho East. and Omaha was the
starting point OF many overland par
ties. David Moffat Determined e
Join the company OF Pixies Peak ad
yenturers. and laid his plans with
care and good Judgment that Wen
Tar toward insuring their success
In partnership with c. c, Wool
worth, he loaded four wagons VIII
a stock of merchandise. and cross
ing the plains with them he arrived
In Denver March II. 1859 soo'
after he opened a book and station
erv store In what h now called We
Denver. and continued In that buS'
meas for six years.
Hs early experience. however a
well as his natural abilities, inelin
ed him toward banking. and befor
lons he was engaged In the lucra
tive business OF buying bullion iron
the miners and shipping II to tn
east. In 1867 he became cashier q
he FIRST National Bank OF Denver
49,. "A hapun It's business !