Denver County CO Archives Biographies.....Hallack, Charles 1828 - 1906
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 13, 2008, 8:30 am

Author: Wilbur Fiske Stone (1918)

CHARLES HALLACK.

    In the death of Charles Hallack on March 3, 1906, Denver lost one of its
foremost citizens and one of its most prominent bankers, manufacturers and
merchants. Not only was he one of the promoters of the old State National Bank,
but he was largely engaged in the lumber business and along other lines. His
high standing among the business men of the state was unquestioned and his
qualities of character made for him many friends in whose hearts his memory is
enshrined. He was born in Bethany, Genesee county, New York, March 22, 1828, and
was a son of John D. and Sarah Hallack. The family traces its ancestry back to
colonial days. His father, who was a farmer, miller and manufacturer and was
successful along all those lines, was born November 6, 1790, and died August 3,
1865, in Bethany, New York, while the mother was born December 12, 1792, and
passed away September 1, 1872, at the age of eighty years,  the former having
reached the age of nearly seventy-five years.

    Charles Hallack was educated in the common schools and spent the first
twenty-eight years of his life on a farm in his native county, becoming
thoroughly acquainted with agricultural pursuits and operations. In 1857 he
removed to Mendon, St. Joseph county, Michigan, where he established himself in
the mercantile business, forming a partnership with a Mr. Lyman, and there he
continued along that line for eight years. In 1864 he removed to Highland,
Doniphan county, Kansas, and there was engaged for about two years in the stock
business. With his brother, Erastus F. Hallack, he became interested in the
lumber business in 1866 and also shipped freight to Denver. The next year he
crossed the plains in a wagon, accompanied by his wife, and they settled in the
city of Denver on May 4, 1867, this community becoming their permanent
residence. The Hallack Brothers continued in the lumber business and built a
planing mill, being very successful in its operation. Denver was already then a
center of activity, rapidly building up and expanding, and they prospered in
business and soon were compelled to enlarge their plant. Mr. Hallack's natural
ability and his high principles of business intercourse had much to do with the
growth of the enterprise and theirs became known as one of the most reliable
firms in the west, their trade growing and flourishing. Mr. Hallack soon
established a reputation as a man of integrity, thrift, energy and enterprise
and became known and was recognized as one of the foremost business men of
Denver. The firm name was changed to Hallack & Howard when Charles and J. H.
Howard became interested with them in the business in 1877. The brother, E. P.
Hallack, retired from the firm in 1879 to engage in a separate enterprise, but
Charles Hallack continued in active business until 1895. when he sold out his
interest in the Hallack & Howard  Lumber Company and retired.

    Mr. Hallack was one of the promoters and organizers of the old State
National Bank in 1882 and was a member of its first board of directors. The bank
opened business in a small apartment on Sixteenth street, in the rear portion of
the McClin-tock block, the original capital stock subscribed being one hundred
and twenty thousand dollars. The First National Bank, which then occupied the
corner of the same building, was then transferred to the Tabor block across
Larimer street, the State National Bank taking up the vacant quarters. Mr.
Hallack was president of the latter in 1884, ably directing the policy of this
institution. He always stood for safe banking, yet he was ready to extend credit
when sound enterprises needed capital for extending their business. In that way
he helped to build up many business concerns, at the same time conserving the
resources of the bank and putting foremost the interests of stockholders and
depositors. In many other enterprises Mr. Hallack made investment, not only
becoming one of the wealthiest men of the state but assisting in promoting
industries which have been of the greatest value in the growth of the
commonwealth. After retiring from active business he spent practically all of
his time at his home, attending to his large property interests. He was ever
ready to extend a helping hand where assistance was needed and was very
charitable, but his gifts were bestowed in a quiet and unostentatious way. He
was so averse to publicity that many of his good deeds will never be known. Not
only did he relieve cases of distress to which his attention was called, but he
sought out such cases, giving liberally to the needy, the source of benefaction
being mostly known only to him and the recipients.

    Mr. Hallack was profoundly interested in arboriculture and personally cared
for and tended the three generations of big trees which adorn the lawn of the
old family home. He himself had set out these trees and he had sown the grass
for the first lawn in Denver, love of nature being deeply seated in his soul.
This also led him to serve for a time as one of the park commissioners of his
city and it was during his administration of the office that the large lake in
the City Park was constructed. He personally supervised this work and in large
measure credit for the beautification of Denver's park system is due to his
indefatigable efforts, excellent taste and loving care. There was nothing so
dear to his heart as the out-of-doors and by his labors he endeavored to adorn
the city with a park system which would be a source of joy and health to coming
generations. His innate love and appreciation of God's wonder work in the open
revealed his finely attuned soul and his nobility of character.

    Mr. Hallack was united in marriage to Miss Rachel L. Fletcher, a daughter of
John Wilkinson and Sarah (Knox) Fletcher. Her father was born in Genesee county,
New York, in 1806, while his wife was born in 1811, their wedding taking place
in 1S31. Mrs. Hallack's grandfather, William Fletcher, was a son of Captain
William Fletcher, distinguished for Revolutionary war service. He enlisted as a
private in a detachment of Captain Jonathan Thayer's Company, Colonel Barnes'
Regiment, serving throughout the revolution and being promoted to a captaincy in
Colonel Simon's Regiment. He retired with that commission.

    Mr. Hallack is survived by his widow, who is numbered among the foremost
women of the state. They had two children, born in Denver, Gertrude Fletcher and
Charles Hallack, Jr. The former was married September 1, 1908, to Dr. Arnold
Stephen Taussig, by whom she has two children, Blanche and Josephine. The son
was formerly engaged in the lumber manufacturing business at Spokane,
Washington, being counted among the foremost business men of that city, and
passed away September 10, 1916. On December 10, 1910, he married Lucile Kettelle.

    The death of Charles Hallack occurred at St. Joseph's Hospital, March 3,
1906, and with his passing there stepped from the stage of life one of the most
noble citizens of Colorado. He bad submitted to a serious operation in order to
relieve a complicated trouble of long standing, but the effort was of no avail.
The deepest sorrow entered the family home and many were the tributes which were
paid to his memory by his friends of years standing and all who had come in
contact with him either in a private or business way. Many were the prayers
which went up for him by those whom he had benefited in his quiet but
efficacious way and whom he had assisted in fighting life's battles. The state
of Colorado lost in him not only one of its builders but a man who stood for the
highest ideals of manhood, a man whose career could be held up as an example to
all those who appreciate the highest qualities of character combined with
sincere qualities of heart.-irreproachable principles guiding him to the
position which he held in the esteem of the people among whom he lived.


Additional Comments:


Extracted from:

HISTORY OF COLORADO

ILLUSTRATED

VOLUME III

CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1918


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