Archives West Finding Aid

In May 1866, Warren Hussey and Charles L. Dahler opened branches of their Salt Lake City, Utah, bank in Helena and Virginia City, Montana Territory, by buying out the earlier Allen and Millard banks. The Helena bank operated until 1871 when it was sold to Fox, Lyster and Roe. The Virginia City bank was taken over by C.L. Dahler in 1872. In 1879 Dahler sold his bank to Raymond, Harrington and Company. Senior partner Warren Hussey was born near Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1835. In 1853 he moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where he first worked as a clerk in a drug store and then was employed by B.F. Allen's bank. In 1861 he moved to Denver, Colorado, and opened a bank, Warren Hussey and Company. The bank fell victim to the Panic of 1873 and Warren Hussey moved to Spokane, Washington, where he worked for the Spokane National Bank. He later moved to New York City. Junior partner Charles L. Dahler was born near Dusseldorf, Prussia, in 1835. In 1839 the family emigrated to the United States, settling in Missouri. In 1858, Dahler joined the Colorado gold rush, arriving in Denver by wagon train. While there he became associated with Warren Hussey, and eventually became a partner in his Salt Lake City bank. In 1866 Dahler moved to Virginia City, Montana Territory to manage the partnership's Montana branches. After the partnership dissolved he managed the Virginia City bank on his own. After selling the bank in 1879, Charles Dahler worked for the Peoples National Bank in Helena. In 1910 he moved to Silver Star, Montana, where he invested in several prosperous mines including the Iron Rod. He died April 20, 1920.