Although Dan Davidson never has seen any record of David Moffat actually being in Moffat County, he said that doesn’t diminish the man’s importance.

“For 30 or 40 years, he was one of the most powerful men in Colorado,” said the director of the Museum of Northwest Colorado.

When Moffat County formed in 1911, residents used David’s last name because of what he had accomplished.

“They wanted to recognize his accomplishments of trying to get transportation to the area,” Davidson said.

Because of Moffat’s significance to the area, the Denver and Salt Lake History Society will do a re-enactment of the “Mr. Moffat” play Sunday at the Marcia Car, across the street from the Craig Chamber of Commerce. The monologue will start at 1 p.m., and the public is encouraged to watch.

“David Moffat was a guy who made a lot of money in the Denver area and put a lot of the money back into the community,” DSLHS Board Member Terry Ten Eyck said. “He was instrumental to the development of Moffat County.

When David Moffat came to Colorado in 1859, he brought with him an unrivaled work ethic and knowledge.

At 17, Moffat had made $1 million by selling real estate in Omaha, Neb. He moved to Denver in 1859, and by 1880, he was the president of the First National Bank of Denver. He made his mark on Moffat County when he formed the Denver, Northwestern & Pacific Railway.

The railway was designed for the purpose of building a route from Denver west to Salt Lake City. Engineering problems on the railway ended up costing Moffat a lot of his money, a fortune estimated to be between $11 million and $25 million.

Moffat County residents decided to take his name in February 1911 — only one month before Moffat died.

The Marcia Car is Moffat’s luxury railroad car, which he named for his daughter.

Janet Gerber, the assistant director of the Museum of Northwest Colorado, said it’s important for people to come out and see the re-enactment of Moffat’s life.

“It reminds us of our past,” she said, “of where we come from and of those who helped settle our area.”