Charles F. BLUNCK who has lived retired at Fort Collins since 1911, became identified with farming and live stock interests in Larimer county more than three decades ago and is still the owner of four hundred and fifty acres of excellent land which he leases. His birth occurred in Winona, Minnesota, on the 23d of December, 1853, his parents being Henry and Dora (BLUNCK) BLUNCK, both of whom were natives of Germany. About the year 1845 they crossed the Atlantic to the United States and made their way to Scott county, Iowa, where the father engaged in general agricultural pursuits. Subsequently he took up a homestead in Minnesota but was driven out by the Indians and returned to Davenport, Iowa, continuing his farming operations in that vicinity for some time. Later he removed to Johnson county, Iowa, where he carried on the work of the fields for a number of years. In 1861, at Davenport, he enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of the Sixth Iowa Cavalry, remaining with that command for three years and making an excellent record as a brave and loyal soldier. He took up his abode in Larimer county, Colorado, in 1886, but returned to Iowa at the end of about a year and spent the remainder of his life in retirement at Mount Ayr, where he passed away about 1904, while his wife was called to her final rest in February, 1911.

Charles F. BLUNCK acquired his education largely in Johnson county, Iowa, and spent the period of his minority under the parental roof. When twenty-one years of age he made his way to Ringgold county, Iowa, and was there actively engaged In the operation of a farm until 1886, when he came to Larimer county, Colorado, purchasing land four miles from Fort Collins, in what was called the Harmony district. He improved the place, thus greatly enhancing its value, and he has purchased altogether six farm's here, paying cash for each and later selling to advantage. At the present time he owns four hundred and fifty acres of highly improved and valuable land which he leases. In 1911 he removed to Fort Collins, purchasing a magnificent modern residence at No. 318 East Oak street, where he has since lived. Mr. Blunck is regarded as the father of the sheep feeding industry in Larimer county and has fed sheep and cattle continuously since 1891. He is likewise a stockholder in the Poudre Valley National Bank and is widely known as one of the prosperous, respected and representative residents of Fort Collins.

On the 18th of December, 1884, Mr. Blunck was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. ATZ, a daughter of John and Anna M. (MEYER) ATZ, who were natives of Switzerland. The father, who was a horticulturist, emigrated to the United States in 1866, locating at Burlington, Iowa, where he was variously employed. Subsequently he followed agricultural pursuits in Taylor county, Iowa, for about six years and on the expiration of that period removed to Ringgold county, Iowa, where he purchased land and continued farming to the time of his demise, which occurred in 1892. For a decade he had survived his wife, who passed away in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. BLUNCK are the parents of four children, namely: Viola G., the wife of Robert L. WILSON, who is engaged in the drug business in Denver; Alva M., the wife of John E. MATHEWS, who is engaged in the meat business at Fort Collins; Mayme A., who gave her hand in marriage to Andy BURKE and resides in Fort Collins; and Ruth D., at home.

Politically Mr. BLUNCK is a republican, while his religious faith is that of the Episcopal church. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Woodmen of the World. His life has been upright and honorable in every relation, so that he well merits the high regard which is uniformly accorded him. The long period of his residence in Larimer county has made him largely familiar with its history and he has ever borne his full share in the work of progress, Improvement and upbuilding.

SOURCE: STONE, Wilbur Fiske. A History of Colorado Pp. 916-18. S.J. Clarke Publishing. Chicago. 1918.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2009

Charles Frederick BLUNCK ranks among the most successful farmers and lamb dealers in Larimer County. In June, 1886, he came to Fort Collins and has since engaged in agricultural pursuits, owning a farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres three miles southeast of Fort Collins, upon which he has made valuable improvements in fencing and ditching and which he devotes to raising alfalfa for feed. He also owns another farm seven miles southeast of this town, in Harmony District, consisting of eighty acres, which he rents. He was among the first to engage in the lamb-feeding industry in this section of the state and for three years or more he has also engaged in dealing in sheep, which he brings here from Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico and southern Colorado. He feeds about four thousand and handles twenty-five or thirty thousand per annum, raising for their feed almost one thousand tons of alfalfa.

The BLUNCK family is of German origin. Henry BLUNCK, father of our subject, was born in Sybeck, Germany, and removed to Davenport, Iowa, where he followed the carpenter's trade. From there he went to Winona, Minnesota, where his son, our subject, was born December 23, 1856. In that city he engaged in business as a contractor and builder for a time, also homesteaded a claim near the town, but on account of trouble with the Indians he deemed it best to return to Davenport, where he resumed carpentering. During the war he enlisted in the Sixth Iowa Infantry and was injured in the service. While in Germany he had served for four years in the Danish war. In 1868 he moved to Johnson County, settling on a farm near Iowa City, then moved to Ringgold County, Iowa, where he died in 1895, at the age of seventy-five years. He was a member of a Grand Army post. His wife, Dora, bore the same family name as his own, but was not related; she was born and married in Germany, and now lives in Ringgold County, Iowa. Of her seven children all but two are living, three of these in Iowa, and two in Colorado, John being near Loveland.

In 1868 the subject of this sketch [Charles Frederick BLUNCK] accompanied his parents to Johnson County, where he attended the district schools. At the age of twenty-two he began farming independently, remaining in Iowa until 1886, when he came to Fort Collins. Politically he is an adherent of Republican principles. He was a charter member of the Larimer County Sheep Feeders' Association, in the work of which he takes a warm interest. Fraternally he is identified with the Woodmen of the World. His marriage, which took place in Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa, December 18, 1883, united him with Miss Mary ATZ, who was born in Switzerland and accompanied her parents to Iowa when she was twelve years of age. They are the parents of four daughters, Viola G., Elva M., Mary A. and Ruth D.

Portrait and Biographical Record of Denver and Vicinity, Colorado Pp. 1124-25. 1898.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2009