Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 834 - 837

GEORGE LIGHT. As a representative of the intelligent and hardy pioneers who opened up Ninnescah Township for settlement, and have since taken a conspicuous part in developing it, we are pleased to place in this volume a brief sketch of the life of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this notice.

             Mr. Light was born in Cumberland County, Pa., Aug. 4, 1836, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Brennizer) Light, natives of Pennsylvania, his father being of German extraction. Ten children were born to his parents, of whom but one other survives, Mary J., wife of John M. Whitsell, of Sumner County, Kan. When a child our subject removed with his parents to Jefferson County, Pa., and was reared in a pioneer settlement, receiving his education in the rude log school-house, characteristic of the times and place. As soon as he was old enough he was obliged to share in the labors of developing the farm from the wilderness, as his father was busy at his trade of miller, and was obliged to have his sons do the farming. This early training in agricultural labors doubtless made the young lad sturdy, self-reliant, and capable beyond his years, and prepared him for a life of independence.

             On the 28th of April, 1858, our subject took an important step in his life by his marriage with Miss Caroline Coy, a native of Indiana County, Pa. She was born Feb. 10, 1836, and is the daughter of John and Mary (Dehavens) Coy, both of German extraction. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Light has been blessed by the birth of eleven children, nine of whom are living, namely: Mary E., Annie, William, Frank, Lucetta, Rachel, Henry, Harvey and Charles. Mary is the wife of Henry Laurie, of Clearwater, Kan.; Annie is the wife of H. F. Miller, also of Clearwater; Lucetta is the wife of Martin Laurie, of Kingman County, Kan.

             In 1875 Mr. Light moved with his family to Kansas, where he could pursue his life-long occupation more advantageously than in his former home. He settled on his present farm on section 34 of Ninnescah Township, and on its fertile soil energetically resumed once more the task of developing the land from its primitive condition, though under more propitious circumstances than in the forests of Pennsylvania. By dint of hard labor, perseverance and wise management, he now has a farm which, in its neat appearance, with its ample farm buildings, unsurpassed productiveness, and all the other essentials of a good farm, compares favorably with others in the neighborhood. Thus his thrift, frugality and industry have been well rewarded by a substantial home and an assured income, which gives him the means of procuring all the comforts of life for himself and family. His wife, who is to him an excellent counselor and helpmate, shares with him the respect and esteem of the entire community.

             Mr. Light is liberal-spirited, and gives freely toward all worthy objects. He is a Democrat in politics, but is independent in his views, and always votes for the man rather than for the party. As Clerk of the School Board of this district, he has faithfully served the interests of his township. A lithographic view is shown on another page of this work, of Mr. Light's handsome farm property.

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