page_title: David Moffat
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: David Moffat / History
caption_attribution_description: Postcard photo of the private rail car of industrialist David Moffat. Built by Pullman in 1909, it was named for his daughter, Marcia. The car is permamently based in Craig, Colorado and was a gift to the town by the Denver and Salt Lake Railway's successor company, Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. This is an image of a place or building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States of America. Its reference number is 75000526
context_page_description: David Halliday Moffat was an American financier and industrialist.
  Moffat was one of Denver's most important financiers and industrialists in late 19th and early 20th century Colorado, and he was responsible for the development of the Middle Park area. He served as president, treasurer and as a board member of railroads, banks and city government posts. Over the years he had claims to over one hundred Colorado mines and nine railroads. Moffat died on March 18, 1911 in New York City at the age of seventy three. Some had said that he had vainly spent fourteen million dollars on the dream of a railroad directly west from Denver. The Denver, Northwestern & Pacific Railway had cost him $75,000 a mile, and Rollins Pass had cost him the rest of his fortune. He was in New York city trying to raise more money, and was stopped by what would later be learned was the doing of E. H. Harriman and George Jay Gould I. He was one of the greatest threats they had faced in years. Although Moffat was looked at the time as a vain dreamer, he would later be viewed by many as ahead of his time.
context_section_description: Moffat was born in Washingtonville, New York to David and Catherine Gregg. In 1851, when he was twelve years old, he moved to New York City, where he began work as a messenger boy in the New York Exchange Bank, now the Irving Exchange National Bank. His starting position was minor, but he was eager to learn the banking business. Moffat was noted by the president, and advanced to the position of assistant teller. In 1855 he made his way to Des Moines, Iowa and became teller in the bank of A. J. Stevens & Company. Moffat then became cashier of the Bank of Nebraska, owned by B. F. Alien, of Des Moines Iowa. He moved to Denver, Colorado in 1860 where he opened a bookstore on 15th and Larimer. The book and stationery store was not highly profitable, so after a few years he went back to banking. On April 17, 1865 the First National Bank of Denver, was organized. It had little success until 1867, when Moffat was elected cashier. He remained the controlling mind in the institution until his death, being elected to the presidency in 1880. He instituted policies and methods which led to the growth and success of the bank for years to come.
caption: Moffat's private rail car, named for his daughter, Marcia. Built by Pullman in 1909, it is permanently based in Craig, Colorado.
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