1934-11-19 – The Fort Collins Express Courier – Louis Dauth Biography ⧉

Louis Dauth, former businessman and councilman of Fort Collins, long forgotten by any but the town inhabitants of the late 70’s and 80’s is living in Denver, where he is engaged in the difficult business of collecting his rents. When Mr. Dauth was in active business he carefully husbanded his resources, and now, in the twilight of life, has only the worries occasioned by debtors who are slow in paying. About his only handicap is that his hearing is almost gone, so that he has difficulty in communicating with anyone he meets. This has the advantage that he cannot hear the excuses offered by the tenant who can not pay, so he can look as tho he really expected nothing but cash at once.

Mr. Dauth arrived in Fort Collins in the early part of 1877. He had crossed the ocean from his native Germany in 1872, having been discharged from the military service of his country at the close of the Franco-German war of 1870-71. In looking over the country for a business location, he selected Fort Collins, because “the railroad went there,” he says, “and I thought it a good place to locate.” His judgement was affirmed when he retired after ten years of active merchandising to remove to Denver and start a new business in that city.

Mr. Dauth opened a bakery at a site along Linden street, going into partnership with a man named Zimmerman. After a few months of this partnership, Mr. Dauth bought his partner’s interest. His bakery did so well he added a stock of groceries, and erected his own store building on Linden street. This block was of two stories and still is in service. Mr. Dauth became so prominent in business affairs of Fort Collins that he was elected to the city council, the first election being in 1883. That was a high license administration, chosen to discourage the liquor interest, by increasing the price of saloon licenses. Those elected were: A. L Emigh, mayor; H. F. Sturdevant, city clerk; C. H. Sheldon, treasurer; W. T. Shortridge, marshal; Eph Love, attorney; aldermen, First ward; W. C. Stover, W. R. Aker; second ward, E. R. Barclay, L. W. Welch; third ward, J. R. Wills, Louis Dauth; fourth ward, W. M. Post, S. H. Seckner.

Mr. Dauth served another term in the office of alderman, when J. H. Boughton was city attorney. Mr. Boughton had been requested to give the council a legal opinion on a certain subject, Mr. Dauth relates, and when he handed the document to Charles B. Rosenow, serving his first term as clerk to the council, that gentlemen looked it over in dismay. He could not read it. The communication was handed back to the author, but it had “got cold,” or so Mr. Dauth said, and he could not remember what was in it. “Give it to the Dutchman,” suggested the mayor. (“That’s what they called me- the Dutchman,”) says Dauth, “Dauth can read anything.”

Sure enough, Mr. Dauth was able to read the communication, and thus saved the situation. The former alderman tells this story with many a chuckle. His former acquaintances in Fort Collins will remember that chuckle and laughter that he always was able to call up when telling a pleasant story, and he never told any other kind.

When Dauth left Fort Collins he went to Denver, starting a general store in the Five Points district, around Welton and Washington streets. Here he acquired a number of apartment houses and business blocks, and retired from active business. Now he collects his rents and muses in silence over his long active career.

He won five medals from the German authorities as mementoes that his service in the army was appreciated. During the Franco-Prussian war, as it is called, he served in a German army corps. His regiment was sent to the siege of Metz, and he was on hand when Metz was surrendered. Four of his war medals are direct recognition of works in the field. The fifth is a medal with the pleture of Wilhelm II, the grandfather of the late Kaiser, and was awarded those whom the German government sought to commend especially. The medals, included the iron cross.

Mr. Dauth’s brother George, who was with him in Fort Collins, is now a resident of Greeley; his son Herman, born after the family came to Denver, is a mining engineer in Mexico; his nephew Philip is an auto service station owner in Denver, and he as two sisters in that city.

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