Albert E. Carlton or Bert Carlton (20 February 1866 – 1931) was an investor in Colorado banks, mines and railroads. Based upon the success of his mines in Cripple Creek, he was known as "King of Cripple Creek".

Early life and career

Albert E. Carlton was born on February 20, 1866, in

Warren, Illinois Warren is a village in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,323 at the 2020 census, down from 1,428 at the 2010 census. Warren was named after Warren Burnett, the first male child born at the site. History Captain Al ...

, to H. M. Carlton, a merchant from Massachusetts. He attended

Beloit College Beloit College is a private liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1846 when Wisconsin was still a territory, it is the state's oldest continuously operated college. It has an enrollment of roughly 1,000 undergradua ...

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

. He accepted a clerk position in the mercantile trade after graduation. Carlton became ill with

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

and came to Colorado in 1889 to improve his health. His health improved dramatically by 1891. Carlton was a dry goods store clerk in Colorado Springs. Latching on to the 1891 gold boom in Cripple Creek, Carlton started a freight hauling business from Colorado Midland at Divide with his brother, Leslie. The Colorado Trading and Transfer Company served the mining communities, and "eventually gained control of much of the freight business" serving the mining towns. Based upon the income from his freight business, Carlton invested in mines, banks and railroads. He invested in the Colorado Midland Railroad to carry freight and in businesses in Cripple Creek.

King of Cripple Creek

He was named "King of Cripple Creek" due to the success of his mines there, including Cresson Mine,"one of the most profitable mines in the town." He owned "nearly every mine in Cripple Creek" and became a millionaire by 1930.

Carlton House

Carlton and his wife, Ethel Frizzell-Carlton, built the Carlton House in Pine Valley,

Colorado Springs Colorado Springs is the most populous city in El Paso County, Colorado, United States, and its county seat. The city had a population of 478,961 at the 2020 census, a 15.02% increase since 2010. Colorado Springs is the second-most populous c ...

. Carlton purchased the property in 1928 from William A. Otis to build a home for his wife. Mrs. Carlton had become enamored of the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture during her travels across Southern California. Subsequently, architect Richard Requa was hired to design their home. The house was a "leading social center in the region." He preferred to live at The Broadmoor resort and never lived at the Pine Valley home.

Death

Mr. Carlton died in 1931.

Notes

References