Gunnison County CO Archives Biographies.....Songer, Frank E. January 14, 1861 - /
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Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net March 24, 2006, 9:12 am

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     Frank E. Songer, the present capable, obliging and popular postmaster of

Crested Butte, who was the choice of a large membership in his party for the

position because of his recognized fitness for it and his zeal, efficiency and

constancy in party service for many years, is a native of Clay county, Illinois,

born on January 14, 1861, his parents being John and Anna (Maudlin) Songer, the

former born in Illinois and the latter in Indiana.  The family moved to Colorado

in 1864, among the earliest settlers in this part of the West, and here the

father is still engaged in mining.  Their son Frank was but little over three

years old when the move to this state was made, and he was accordingly reared on

its soil and educated in its public schools.  In the spring of 1879 he moved

with his parents to Gunnison county, where they were pioneers and where the

mother died in 1883, the home being at Crested Butte.  He mined for a time and

then turned his attention to teaming, and also carried the United States mails

between Crested Butte and Irwin and Gothic for a year.  In November, 1903, he

was appointed postmaster at Crested Butte and has held the office since that

time, performing its duties with a skill and assiduity that are highly

creditable to him and generally satisfactory to the patrons of the office.  He

has also served the community well as a member of the city council.  In

political faith he is an unwavering Republican, always active and effective in

the service of his party, doing yeoman work himself and stimulating others to

similar efforts.  Fraternally he is a Master Mason with charter membership in

the lodge at Crested Butte, of which he served three consecutive terms as the

worshipful master, and belongs to the Royal Arch chapter and the commandery of

Knights Templar at Gunnison.  On June 17, 1884, he was joined in marriage with

Miss Levina A. Swan, a native of Kittanning, Pennsylvania, where her father was

for many years a large manufacturer of brooms, and where he died, his wife soon

afterward coming with her children to Colorado.  She died some years ago at

Hotchkiss, Delta county.  Mr. and Mrs. Songer have had nine children, seven of

whom are living, Mabel F., Olive M., Edgar J., Cora K., Samuel R., Marguerite

S., and Charles C.  Two sons, Elgin M. and Arthur T., died a number of years

ago.  Mr. Songer is also interested in the publication of the Elk Mountain

Pilot, the oldest newspaper in Gunnison county.  His daughter, Mabel, is the

associate editor and business manager of the paper, and performs her part of the

work in a manner that has won her general commendation as a bright, ready and

resourceful writer and a capable and careful business woman. 

Additional Comments:
From Progressive Men of Western Colorado.  Chicago:  A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905

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