NAEFE Frederick A. b.1831: 1905, Bio, Pitkin County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/pitkin/bios/naefefa.txt --------------------------------------- Donated August, 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Frederick A. Naefe In the case of the interesting subject of this brief review the natural thrift and persistency of effort of the German has been stimulated and quickened by the vivacity and rush of American conditions to a largely increased activity and productiveness, so that he has not only won a substantial competence for life for himself on the soil of this country, but has exhibited the attributes of its best citizenship and an elevated patriotism in love for its institutions and honest energy and intelligent application in promoting its welfare in every commendable way. He is a native of Saxony, Germany, where he was born on October 6, 1831, and the son of Frederick W. and Christina (Rudolph) Naefe, also natives of the fatherland. His father was a skillful weaver of fabrics, and had an interest in a factory devoted to the business in which he was engaged. He and his wife were Lutherans in church relations, and they had a family of twelve children, five of whom are living, Carl and Augusta, who are residents of Germany, and Julia, Herman and Frederick A., who live in this country. The mother died in 1863 in Germany and the father in 1862, at Elmira, New York, where he had been living for a number of years. Their son Frederick received a common and high school education in his native land, but at the age of ten years began to learn the business of weaving under instruction from his father. He continued at this work until 1846, then began patenting devices for its improvement. Three years were passed in this occupation, then in 1849 he joined an uprising against the king of his native country, which lasted six days. At its close he took refuge in Russia, where he remained until the storm blew over, then he returned to his home. In 1850 he came to the United States and located at Buffalo, New York. Two years later he moved to Elmira, the same state, and in the fall of the year went to Panama, where he remained until January, 1855, employed in painting railroad engines and cars. He was a painter of artistic merit, and his work was in great demand and well paid for. In 1855 he returned to England on a visit, and while there was impressed into the English army for a year and a half. In 1856 he came back to this country and took up his residence at Elmira, New York, from where he removed soon afterward to Hamilton, Canada. There he became a boss painter in large works, but being enamored of New York, he returned to that state and remained until 1860, when he once more went to Canada. At the beginning of the Civil war he enlisted in defense of the Union in the Twenty-third New York Infantry, and in this regiment he served to the close of the memorable contest. Returning to Elmira, he again took up painting as an occupation, and conducted the business successfully in that city until 1869. He then moved to Newark, New Jersey, where he remained until 1874, when he came to Colorado and settled at Denver. Ten years were passed in that growing and enterprising city, then after wintering in 1884-5 at Grand Junction, he moved in the spring to Aspen. In 1886 he located a ranch near Emma, on which he has since lived and which he has converted into a very valuable and productive fruit farm. Here he raises fruit of all kinds, large and small, in great quantities and of superior quality, his output having so good a reputation in the markets that his place is known far and wide as the Pioneer Fruit, Bee and Honey Farm. He has not, however, been wholly absorbed in his own affairs, exacting as they have been, but has given active and serviceable attention to local public matters, being the oldest justice of the peace and humane society officer on the Western slope by continuous service. He is an earnest and loyal Democrat in politics, and in fraternal circles belongs to the Knights of Pythias, in which he holds the rank of past chancellor, and the Order of Odd Fellows, being a past grand in the latter order. In January, 1860, he united in marriage with Miss Caroline Beck, a native of Pennsylvania, and the daughter of Henry and Rosanna (Scherer) Beck. Her father was a native of Baden and her mother of Wurtemberg, Germany. He died in 1852 and she in 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Naefe have had three children, but only one, August Frederick, Jr., is living. The two who have died were Annie and Julia. The parents are members of the Christian church, and are active in all its good works. =================================================== 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.