Light, Frederick; 1905 Bio, Pitkin County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/pitkin/bios/lightf.txt --------------------------------------- Donated April 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Frederick Light Owning and operating with skill and success one of the finest ranches in Pitkin county, which is of ample size, comprising nine hundred and forty acres, and sufficiently fertile and productive to yield abundantly of cereals and hay and liberally support large numbers of cattle and horses. Frederick Light, of near Snow Mass, is so situated that he may laugh adversity to scorn and feel secure of an expanding and substantial prosperity during the remainder of his days. He was born on January 17, 1856, at Morrisonville, Clinton county, New York, the son of Charles and Matilda (Raymond) Light, natives of the province of Quebec, Canada, where they grew to maturity and were educated and married. They are successfully engaged in farming in New York, where they enjoy in a marked degree the respect of the people around them. Both are members of the Catholic church, and the father is a zealous and effective working Democrat. Eleven children blessed their union, three of whom have died, Delia, Benjamin and Louis. The eight living are Frederick; George H., who lives at Dawson in the Klondike; Melvina: Jennie: Emily: Medrick, who lives at Scaley Falls, New York; William, residing on the homestead at Morrisonville, New York; and Louise. Frederick had but little opportunity for attending school, as he was early put to work on the home farm, and at the age of twelve went to Keysville, New York, and wrought one year in a shingle- mill at thirteen dollars a month and his board. He then devoted three years to learning carriage trimming at A.F. Welcome's establishment, and two under instruction in the works of the J.B. Brewster Carriage Company. The next three were passed in the carriage trade in the service of the Brewster Company, and in 1879, he came to Colorado and settled at Leadville. Here, he gave a year of earnest effort to mining, then moved to Aspen, where he continued prospecting until 1882. At that time he located on a part of his present ranch, which he had taken up as a pre-emption claim in 1881. To this he has made additions by subsequent purchases and otherwise until he now has a body of nine hundred and forty acres of excellent land, the greater part of which can be successfully cultivated. During 1882, 1883 and 1884 he carried on a freighting business between Aspen, Leadville and Granite in connection with his ranching industry. He is extensively occupied in raising grain and hay and producing superior grades of horses and cattle. His trip from Leadville to Aspen in 1880, through Independence pass, was eventful and full of excitement because of the fires which were then burning over all the country he had to pass through, which made travel very dangerous and the utmost care necessary. On locating at Aspen he at once took an active part in the affairs of the country, and in 1895 his ability for legislation and his manifest interest in the welfare of the state made him the choice of the people for a seat in the legislature, to which he was elected as the candidate of the Populist party. He is now, however, a stanch Democrat, and is still active and serviceable in political matters. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Elks, the Modern Woodmen, the United Workmen and the National Aid Association. On November 5, 1884, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret McClimont, a native of New York state and the daughter of John and Agnes (Campbell) McClimont, natives of Scotland, who came to this country when they were a young married couple and settled in New York city, where the father was engaged in the hardware business. In 1880, moved by the promise of great prosperity in farming in Kansas, which was then being actively boomed, they sold out in New York and migrated to Kerwin in the promising state. Here their expectations were realized and they became prosperous and extensive farmers, that is, the mother became one, as the father died the next year after arriving at his new home. The mother passed away at Aspen, this state, in 1902. The father was a good Democrat in politics, and both were devoted members of the Catholic church. They were the parents of thirteen children. Mr. and Mrs. Light have eight, Effie, Edith, Leo, Raymond, Frederick, Jr., Helen, Howard and Mildred. =================================================== 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.