The late 1870s, early 1880s marked the height of Leadville’s silver boom. Looking to strike it rich many flocked to Leadville and fortunes were launched. Many well known names got their start in Leadville including the Guggenheims, the Mays, the Boettchers, the Tabors, the Browns and more!
Meyer Guggenheim
A Swiss immigrant living in Philadelphia invested in Leadville’s A.Y. and Minnie Mines. They pumped out the flooded mines, silver was found and the money flowed in. The Guggenheim’s grew their investment in the silver mining industry with the addition of a Pueblo smelter and then more in Mexico. Other smelter owners banded together to form the American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO), the Guggenheim’s were able to out-produce ASARCO and ultimately buy major interest in the trust and Meyer’s sons joined the board of directors. The Guggenheim family went on to establish the well known Guggenheim Museum in New York as well as others in Italy and Spain, serve on the US Senate, establish foundations supporting art and science endeavors and to think it all began with the purchase of two flooded mines in Leadville, Colorado.
David May
Born into a Jewish merchant family in Germany, David traveled to the United State in his teens. May was a dedicated employee working in factories, retail stores and as a salesman. Respiratory troubles prompted a move to the high, dry climate of the Rocky Mountains. Upon arrival in Leadville, the 29 year old May unsuccessfully tried his hand at prospecting before opening up a store with partners. The shop sold supplies to miners including large quantities of riveted work pants that May imported from California made by fellow Jewish-German immigrant Levi Strauss.
May was described as having a knack for knowing what goods would sell best and would purchase in bulk quantities allowing for lower costs. His tactics combined with robust advertising strategy lead to success and the store continued to grow, opening new locations in other mining towns and later in Denver and St. Louis. The May Company Department Stores flourished continuing on well after May’s death in 1927. Mergers with Daniels & Fisher Co in the 1950s lead to May D&F and then with Federated Department Stores in the early 2000s, the stores are now known as Macy’s. During David May’s time in Colorado he supported the building of a road to Aspen, was a founding member and vice president of Leadville’s Temple Israel, served as the Lake County Treasurer and was instrumental in the creation of Denver’s National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives raising funds and serving on their board of directors until his death.
Charles Boettcher
Looking to capitalize on the silver boom in Leadville, Charles Boettcher opened a thriving hardware business. Over time Boettcher diversified his investments branching out to mining properties, a ranch, the Electric Light Company, trains, agriculture, cement and more. Boettcher became one of Colorado’s most successful businessmen and benefactors.
Many other brilliant financial careers began in Leadville – Horace Tabor, Margaret “Molly” & J.J. Brown, the Borden family of Chicago, Marshall Fields, W.B. Daniels, and James V. Dexter all got their starts in Leadville.
Learn more about these prominent Lake County figures at Leadville’s many museums!
