Paxton, Livius C; 1905 Bio, Pitkin County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/pitkin/bios/paxtonlc.txt --------------------------------------- Donated April 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Livius C. Paxton Although born and partially reared in the province of Ontario, Canada, where his life began on May 5, 1861, Livius C. Paxton, of Pitkin county, living on a fine ranch of two hundred and fifty-nine acres two miles west of Aspen, is an excellent citizen of the United States, fully in sympathy with the aspirations and aims of the country and devoted to the welfare of its people. His parents were William and Charlotte (Churchill) Paxton, Canadians by birth and reared and educated in that country. In 1875 the father, having moved to this country, conducted a flourishing creamery in Delaware county, Iowa, and later carried on the same business in Lyon county, that state. In 1892 he moved to California and for a time was engaged in various pursuits there. His later years have been devoted to the culture of oranges, in which he has been successful. He is a genial and obliging gentleman, with breadth of view and an intelligent interest in the welfare of his section, and in political action is independent. He is a Baptist in religious faith, as was also his wife during her lifetime. She died in 1867. She was his second wife and bore him six children, two of whom are deceased. The children living are Livius C.; Mrs. F.H. Huetson, of Owatonna, Minnesota; Joseph, assistant superintendent of the Newman tunnel; William A. and Archie D., twins, living in California; Charles H., in California; Effie, a school teacher in the Philippine islands; and Margaret and Jessie, in California. Livius C., the second born of the first marriage, received a common-school education, being graduated from the high school and afterward attended the Bryant & Stratton Business College at Chicago. At the age of fourteen he went into the creamery business to assist his father, and in 1882 moved to South Dakota, where he was interested in flax and tow-mills, located on the edge of that state and Iowa. In 1890 he changed his base to the northern part of South Dakota where he devoted his time to farming until 1901, but met with little success on account of the drought. He then came to Colorado and purchased his present home of two hundred and fifty-nine acres, one hundred and fifty of which are fit for cultivation and on which he produced good crops of grain, hay and other farm products. He is always earnestly interested in public local affairs with a view to securing the best results for the community, and is independent in political action. In 1885 he united in marriage with Miss Ruby Herman, a native of Lyon county, Iowa, and daughter of William G. and Addie M. Herman, who were born and reared in Pennsylvania and moved to Iowa in 1878. The father is a successful farmer and a loyal Republican in political affiliation. They are the parents of twelve children, eleven of whom are living, and one, Mattie L., is deceased. Those living are Ruby L. (Mrs. Paxton), William D., Frank E., Della J., John R., Lottie M., Edith, Clifford, Benjamin, George and Walter. The parents live at Beloit, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Paxton have had five children, Elsie, John, George and Joseph, living, and Rachel, one of twins, deceased. Thus through aspiration and resolute industry, through business capacity and worldly wisdom, Mr. Paxton has won a competence without the aid of favorable circumstances, and even over obstacles and adversities which would have cooled the ardor if they did not destroy the courage of many a man. And by exhibiting an intelligent and helpful interest in the welfare of his section of the state and its people he has secured their lasting regard. =================================================== 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.