Routt County CO Archives Biographies.....Fix, Samuel April 22, 1848 - ?
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net February 19, 2006, 10:49 pm

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     This early settler and prominent and very progressive citizen of Routt

county, who lives on and operates a fine ranch of his own located two and

one-half miles southwest of Yampa, comprising five hundred and sixty acres,

which he secured on homestead, pre-emption and timber culture claims, in a

region where he was the first settler, is a native of Reading, Pennsylvania,

where he was born on April 22, 1848.  His parents, Michael and Mary (Kissinger)

Fix, were also Pennsylvanians by nativity, and moved from their native state to

Indiana, and in 1857 from the latter state to Kansas, where they passed the

remainder of their lives.  They were prosperous farmers wherever they lived, and

laid down their earthly trust at advanced ages a number of years ago.  Their

offspring numbered eleven, three of whom died and eight are living, Samuel, Mrs.

Larch, Mrs. Simon, Mrs. Schade, Mrs. Thierer, Mrs. Falk, John R. and Mrs. A.C.

Bower.  Samuel was educated in the common schools of Kansas and remained at home

assisting his parents until 1869.  He then passed some time as a clerk in a

store and learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed for a number of

years.  In 1870 he became a resident of Colorado, making the journey to this

state overland from Wichita, Kansas, starting there as a cowboy and working his

way westward as such until he reached Georgetown, Gilpin county.  He made this

town his headquarters and prospected for mines in the vicinity until 1879, when

he moved to Montezuma and a few months later to Leadville.  At Leadville and

Kokomo he worked at his trade until 1883, in which year he moved to his present

residence, becoming the first settler in the neighborhood of Yampa.   At the

time of his arrival in this section he found himself the lone occupant of a vast

waste, unprofitably gay with wild sage and given up to the untamed habitants

which roamed at will over its broad expanse, contesting his right to invade

their hitherto unquestioned domain, yet yielding their tribute to his needs at

the behest of his unerring rifle, as occasion required.  He at once began the

great work of creating a comfortable home and a productive farm in this waste,

and has so far succeeded that he now has four hundred acres of his land under

good cultivation and has improved the ranch with commodious buildings and other

structures, making it one of the choice properties of the district.  Hay and

cattle are his chief products, and these he raises in abundance, but he also

produces large crops of grain and hardy vegetables.  In 1893, for his own profit

and to supply the needs of a rapidly growing community, Mr. Fix opened the first

general store at Yampa, and this he carried on until 1902.  He has also invested

largely in town property at Yampa and is one of the chief real estate owners in

the neighborhood.  In political allegiance he is a pronounced Democrat, and in

fraternal relations an active and earnest Odd Fellow.  While he has never

married, he maintains a comfortable home on his ranch and there dispenses a

generous hospitality which ministers to the pleasure of his friends and the

wants of the chance comer.  Many a way-worn traveler has found the shelter of

his roof and the sustenance of his table in this region almost devoid of public

entertainment, and gone on his way invoking blessings on his head.  In the

public affairs of the county he has a potent voice, and his influence is

seasoned with wisdom and alive with energy.  Among the progressive and

representative men of the section he has deservedly a high rank.  

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

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/routt/bios/fix146gbs.txt

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