Gavin, Horace. b.1860: Bio, Pitkin County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/pitkin/bios/gavin.txt --------------------------------------- Donated August 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Horace Gavin This enterprising and progressive ranch and stock man of Pitkin county, whose farm is a model of thrift and foresight, and whose career is a forcible illustration of the benefit of industry and perseverance in the struggle of supremacy among men, is a native of the province of Quebec, Canada, where he was born on March 31, 1860, and the son of Alfred and Percis (Rice) Gavin, of the same nativity as himself. In 1880 they crossed the line into the United States and came west to Colorado, locating at Blackhawk, where he passed seven years working at his trade as a carpenter. He then moved to Tennessee Park, and from there to Leadville, where he engaged in burning charcoal. His next move was to open a boarding house at Redcliff, which he conducted two years, at the end of which he took up his residence at Glenwood Springs. There he was variously employed until 1885. In that year he changed his base of operations to the vicinity of Snow Mass, twelve miles west of Aspen. There he pre-empted a claim, and after improving the property traded it for live stock, and in raising horses and cattle he passed the remainder of his days, dying on December 3, 1903. Five of his eight children survive him, Climenia, the wife of Albert Chester, of Canada; Warren, of Denver, Colorado; Horace, the subject of this sketch; Heber, living at Catskill, New Mexico; and Cordelia, of Devil's Lake, North Dakota. Horace attended the public schools for a short time, at the age of seven driving an ox team to the plow for his father, and remained at home until he reached the age of fourteen. He then began to make his own living by working on farms in the neighborhood of his home for very small wages. In 1880 he came west and located at Leadville, this state. For awhile he freighted between that town and Redcliff, and later between Leadville and Aspen and Ashcroft. At the end of a year he entered into partnership with Marcus L. Shippee to conduct a ranching and stock business. This partnership continued four years and was then harmoniously dissolved. After that Mr. Gavin pre-empted a claim of eighty acres near the village of Emma, and after improving the property sold it and purchased another in the vicinity of Snow Mass. Two years later he sold this and leased a ranch of Mr. Dalton near Emma. Here he suffered a severe loss, but soon afterward bought a ranch, which later he sold at a good profit. It was three miles west of Watson, on the south side of the Roaring Fork river. Finally he bought the ranch which he now owns and operates. It comprises two hundred and thirty-three acres, one hundred and seventy-five acres of which are under cultivation, producing abundant supplies of hay of superior quality, and grain and other farm products. Here he also raises numbers of first-class horses and cattle, and hauls timber under contract. He is a Republican in political allegiance and belongs to the order of Odd Fellows fraternally. On April 26, 1879, he united in marriage with Miss Theresa Dawson, a native of Quebec, Canada, the daughter of George and Martha E. (Wallace) Dawson, the former born in England and the latter in Massachusetts. For awhile they lived in the province of Quebec, and afterward moved to Massachusetts, where they followed farming to the end of their days, the father being dead and the mother dying on September 22, 1894. Seven of their ten children are living: Matilda, the wife of Benjamin Osgood, of Canada; Frederick and William, living at Dudswell, Canada; Samuel, of Cleveland, Ohio; Martha, the wife of Gardner Kingsley, of Wyoming; Mary, the wife of Mr. Adams, of Wyoming; and Mrs. Gavin. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.