Routt County CO Archives Biographies.....Smith, Francis September 17, 1868 - ?
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net March 25, 2006, 12:53 pm

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     Having come to Routt county, this state, to live some seventeen years ago,

Francis Smith, living sixteen miles northwest of Steamboat Springs, is one of

the early settlers of the county, and his success as a ranch and cattle man on

two good ranches which were taken up and improved by him, marks him as one of

its most progressive and enterprising citizens.  He is a native of Bedford,

Taylor county, Iowa, born on September 17, 1868.  His parents, Ernest and

Elizabeth Smith, were born in Germany and Ireland, respectively.  On emigrating

to this country they settled in Iowa, then moved to Missouri, Kansas and

Colorado in turn.  The father was a barber and followed his trade for many

years, but after becoming a resident of Colorado devoted his attention to

mining, the livery business and ranching, one after another.  He was a Democrat

in politics and active in the service of his party.  His success in business was

good and the esteem in which he was held was high.  The mother died in 1880 and

he in 1897.  They were Methodists in religious faith.  Their offspring numbered

nine, of whom but four are living, Daniel, William, Francis and Ernest.  Francis

remained with his parents devoting his earnings to their assistance until he

reached the age of twelve, then started in life for himself as a farm hand in

Kansas.  In 1879 he came to Colorado, and after a residence of two years at

Denver, located at Louisville, Boulder county, where he found employment in the

coal mines for a year, at the end of which he moved to Breckenridge.  Here he

worked a year in the quartz mines and in 1883 joined his father in a livery and

feed business at Dillon, which they conducted in partnership and with good

results until 1885.  Disposing then of his interest in the business at an

advantage, he went to Lander, Wyoming, where he took a contract to carry the

mails between that city and South Pass, which he held until the spring of 1887,

being in partnership with William Pierce.  At the time last mentioned he once

more became a resident of Colorado, homesteading a ranch on Deep Creek, in Routt

county.  This he improved and in 1889 turned it over to his father, who owned

and managed it until his death. At the same time he bought the ranch on which he

now lives.  It comprises one hundred and sixty acres and one hundred and forty

acres are in a good state of cultivation.  Hay and cattle and horses are his

chief products but he also raises good crops of grain.  The land was without

improvements when he bought it, and all that it now contains he has made.  His

prosperity here has been continued and ever on the increase, and the smiling and

fruitful condition of the country around him at this time presents a striking

contrast to the scene when he located here as one of the first white men to

venture into this region which was still infested with Indians and wild beasts,

and the habitations of civilized life were almost unknown.  The Indians at one

time, soon after his arrival, gave the settlers a scare but did not molest them.

 Mr. Smith is a firm and loyal Democrat in national politics.  He was married on

September 27, 1900, to Miss Cora E. Jones, a native of Buena Vista, Colorado,

and the daughter of William G. and Phoebe A. Jones, the former born in Canada

and the latter in Illinois.  They are now living near Sidney, in this state. 

The father was for many years a merchant but is now engaged in ranching.  He is

a Democrat in politics.  Of their eight children five are living, Edwin D., Guy,

Mrs. Smith, Ida and Neva.  Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two children, Edwin E. and

Ernest W.  

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

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/routt/bios/smith429gbs.txt

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