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Benjamin F. Hottel
"Mr. Hottel is a native of Virginia,
born, reared and educated in the famous Shenandoah
valley. He came west in 1875, stopping first at Omaha
where he engaged in the wholesale grocery business. Later
he put a herd of cattle on the rich pasture lands of
Wyoming, casting his lot with Fort Collins in October,
1877. At this time he was less than thirty years of age
but he had foresight, courage, energy and ability and
seeing in the Cache la Poudre valley a future of great
industrial promise, he determined to aid in its
development. He had learned the miller's trade in his
father's mill in the Old Dominion and did not hesitate to
associate himself with Joseph Mason in operating the
Lindell mills, then owned by Mr. Mason, and since then
Fort Collins has been the home of himself and family. In
February, 1880, he bought a half interest in the mill,
purchasing the other half of the Mason estate after Mr.
Mason's death in 1881, becoming sole owner. In 1885 he
sold the property to the Colorado Milling & Elevator
company, but has since remained as manager of the mills
for the company. Since becoming identified with the
Lindell Mills, Mr. Hottel has paid to the farmers of the
Cache la Poudre valley millions of dollar for wheat and
other grains and is looked upon and recognized as one of
the foremost men of Fort Collins. He is possessed of
great strength of character, marked breadth of vision and
is enterprising and public spirited. He was one of the
leaders in the movement which resulted in getting one of
the largest sugar factories in the state built in Fort
Collins, himself subscribing for $25,000 worth of stock
in the enterprise and was made first President of the
company. He is always ready with voice and purse to help
along and promote any enterprise or undertaking that
promises to advance the material, social and moral
welfare of the community. Although he has never been an
officer-seeker and has always been averse to accepting
public office, he did consent to serve the city twice as
The Hottel residence, razed to make way
for the J.C. Penney store, was one of Fort Collins' most
prominent dwellings. Its' tower was said to be patterned
after the Colorado Agricultural College's Old Main.
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an alderman from his ward, rendering splendid service
each time. He is a large hearted, broad-minded man and
one of the main stays of the business interests of Fort
Collins. His benevolences amount to a large sum each
year, yet he bestows them in a quiet, modest way, not
"letting his left hand know what his right hand
doeth" in such matters. In January, 1910, Mr. Hottel
was elected President of the Poudre Valley National bank
with which institution he had long been connected as a
stockholder and director. In 1875 he was married to Emma
Mantz and three children, Charles M., Anna Josephine (now
deceased), and Mary E. are the fruits of the union. In
religion, Mr. Hottel is an Episcopalian and in politics,
a democrat."
--Ansel Watrous, History of Larimer
County, Colorado
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