Edward Berthoud
1828-1908
Edward Louis Berthoud was born in 1828 in Switzerland and immigrated to the United States at the age of two. His family lived in upstate New York and Berthoud eventually graduated from Union College with a background in civil engineering.
Before arriving in Colorado, Berthoud made a name for himself as a surveyor the Panama Railroad. In 1861, at the request of William Byers, he and Jim Bridger established a wagon road between Denver and Salt Lake City, cresting the Rockies at a pass now bearing his name. Despite his painstaking work, the railroad was never built over Berthoud's Pass.
Following the Civil War, in which he served in the Union Army, Berthoud was elected to the Colorado Territorial Legislature where he served as Speaker. Between 1868-1871 Berthoud - a Democrat - served as a Jefferson County Commissioner. Berthoud served in a number of other public roles and also taught at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden where he lived.
Berthoud preferred the title 'engineer' or 'surveyor' however many called him Captain.
Berthoud died in 1908.
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Last updated: 2010-09-06 11:29:46 |
