Larimer County, History of Colorado, BIOS: HOTTEL, Benjamin F. (published 1918)
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"History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. 
Clarke Publishing Co. (1918)  Vol. II

p. 79-80


BENJAMIN F. HOTTEL.

	Benjamin F. Hottel is looked upon as one of the leading men of 
Fort Collins by reason of the importance of the business interests with 
which he has been connected, Interests which have contributed in marked 
measure to the substantial upbuilding and material development of his 
part of the state. He was long Identified with milling interests, was 
one of the promoters of the sugar factory at Fort Collins and is now a 
well known figure in banking circles as the president of the Poudre 
Valley National Bank, to which office he was called in January, 1910.

	Mr. Hottel comes to Colorado from the beautiful Shenandoah valley 
of Virginia, in which he spent the period of his boyhood and youth, 
while Its schools afforded him his educational opportunities. His 
identification with the west dates from 1875. On leaving the Old 
Dominion he made his way first to Omaha, Nebraska, where he engaged in 
the wholesale grocery business, but later turned his attention to 
cattle raising by putting a herd of cattle on the rich pasture lands of 
Wyoming. He took up his abode at Fort Collins in October, 1877, then a 
young man of less than thirty years, but it is the young men who have 
been the builders of the west and Mr. Hottel belongs to that class. He 
possessed keen discrimination, personal courage, indomitable energy and 
marked business ability. He believed that the Cache la Poudre valley 
had great opportunities and that its future was bright with industrial 
promise. He therefore became a factor in its development, first turning 
his attention to the milling business, for he had previously learned 
the trade in his father's old mill in Virginia. He therefore became 
associated with Joseph Mason in operating the Lindell mills, then owned 
by Mr. Mason, and since that time, or for a period of forty-one years, 
Mr. Hottel has made his home in Fort Collins.

	In February, 1880, Mr. Hottel purchased a halt Interest in the 
mill, and following the death of his partner, Mr. Mason, in 1881, he 
acquired the other half of the business, thus becoming sole owner. He 
continued to operate the mill until 1885, when he sold to the Colorado 
Milling and Elevator Company, but remained with that corporation as 
manager of the mill for several years. While identified with the 
Lindell mills he paid to the farmers of the Cache la Poudre valley 
millions of dollars for wheat and other grains and thus his work was of 
the greatest worth to the community. Forceful and resourceful, 
constantly broadening his activities, he became one ot the leaders in 
the movement which resulted in securing one of the largest sugar 
factories In the state for Fort Collins, personally subscribing twenty-
five thousand dollars for stock for the enterprise, after which he was 
elected president of the company. He became a prominent and active 
factor in banking circles when in January, 1910, he was elected 
president of the Poudre Valley National Bank, of which he has long been 
a stockholder and director. As head of the institution he has given his 
attention to executive management and control and his administrative 
direction of its affairs has brought excellent results.

	In 1875 Mr. Hottel was united in marriage to Miss Emma Mantz and 
they have become parents of a son and two daughters:  Charles M.; Anna 
Josephine, now deceased; and Mary E. The family residence is at No. 215 
South College avenue, in Fort Collins. Mr. Hottel and his family are of 
the Episcopal faith in their religious views, while his political 
support is given to the democratic party. He has never consented to 
accept public office save on two occasions, when, at the urgent 
solicitation ot his fellow townsmen, he became a member of the city 
council as alderman from his ward. He is, however, a most public-
spirited man and gives liberally of his time, his means and his efforts 
to assist any undertaking or project that is calculated to advance the 
material, social and moral welfare of the community. He stands among 
that class of broadminded, farsighted and progressive citizens who have 
been the real builders and promoters of Colorado, this state standing 
today as a splendid monument to their enterprise.