Charles L. Dahler was born is Prussia on October 9, 1835 and his family emigrated to the United States in 1839. His father worked as a farmer in Missouri. After finishing school in Missouri, Dahler moved to Denver in 1858. In 1863, he went to Montana for the first time when he visited Bannack. He then returned to Denver and worked for the Overland Stage Company until he moved to Montana to stay in 1866. The same year he became partners with Warren Hussey and they opened the banking firm of Hussey, Dahler and Company with branches in Virginia City, Helena, and Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake City bank remained open until 1870 when it became the First National Bank. In 1872, Dahler assumed complete control of the banks. He later sold the Helena branch. The Virginia City bank remained open until 1879 when Dahler became interested in the gold mines of Silver Star. In addition to banking and mining, Dahler was also the County Commissioner at Virginia City for twelve years.
From the guide to the Hussey, Dahler and Company Records, 1867-1876, (Montana State University-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections)
