Fred Walsen
Fred Walsen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Petershagen, Germany |
| Died | February 15, 1906 (aged 64) Denver, Colorado, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, entrepreneur, landholder, politician |
| Known for | Fifth state treasurer of Colorado, inaugural mayor of Walsenburg, Colorado |
Fred Walsen (June 14, 1841 – February 15, 1906) was a prominent banker, entrepreneur, landholder, and political figure in Colorado, United States. The city of Walsenburg, Colorado bears his name, where he also served as the inaugural mayor. From 1883 to 1885, he held the position of the fifth state treasurer of Colorado.
Early life
Henrich Anton Fredrich Walsen was born on June 14, 1841, in Petershagen, Germany. At age eighteen, he emigrated to America, initially arriving in New Orleans before proceeding to St. Louis, where he launched a cigar retail business. With the onset of the Civil War, Walsen enlisted in the Union Army on April 12, 1861. He served first in the Missouri Volunteer Militia and later joined the Missouri National Guard. By 1864, he moved westward to Fort Garland, Colorado, taking a position as a store clerk and eventually becoming a part-owner by 1867.
Walsenburg
In 1870, utilizing his savings from Fort Garland ventures, Walsen moved to the area now known as Walsenburg. He rapidly emerged as a key community leader; when the town was incorporated in 1873, it was named after him—initially "Walsenburgh." He was elected as its first mayor and served on its board of trustees. Over time, Walsen accumulated extensive land and livestock assets throughout southern Colorado. In 1889, he established the first banking institution in Walsenburg, which he later sold in 1904. Moreover, he was involved in supplying railroad ties and utility poles to railroads expanding across southern Colorado and New Mexico.
Colorado State Treasurer
Capitalizing on his financial background, Walsen ran as a Republican candidate for Colorado State Treasurer in 1882. He secured victory with 31,085 votes against Democrat Dennis Sullivan’s 28,930 and J. L. Heirzinger’s 1,231 votes. His term began on January 10, 1883, marking his tenure as Colorado’s fifth state treasurer for two years.
Denver
Following his election, Walsen moved his family from Walsenburg to Denver in 1883. He established his home at 1805 Grant Avenue (currently Grant Street), where he resided until his death.
Personal life and death
Walsen married Emilie F. Sporleder on July 18, 1867, in St. Louis; the couple had four children—three daughters and one son. Emilie died on December 21, 1896. On December 28, 1897, Walsen remarried Emma Storck of St. Louis; this marriage produced no offspring.
Fred Walsen passed away from dropsy in Denver on February 15, 1906, at age sixty-four.
The Denver Public Library preserves the Fred Walsen Papers—a modest archival collection consisting of eight items.