The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-12-16
Lieat a Prominent
Figure in Stirring
Scenes on Frontier

kauba%s New MtAltts lrAAo AAAu a.
dian Territory. freighter across the
plains and first II all cowman. few
men saw more Of the stirring scenes OF
frontier life than did John W. Light,
former citizen OF Chickasha. whose
death occurred on December 8, iE
Lright. Ariz For many years, dat
ing almost from the beginning Of the
Town. Mr. Light was a prominent resi-
dent Of this city aad he had scores OF
friends in this section. From history
Of the cattle industry in Texas and
adjacent territory, with which Mr..
Light was long identified, the mater
lal for the following sketch OF his life
is taken:
J. w. Light was born in Putnam
county. New York, July IS, 1874, and
his early life was passed in attend
ing the common schools Of that state.
Both OF his parents we're natives of
New York
The outbreak Of the Civil war found
Young Light at The age when the spirit
OF adventure is strongest and unre-
strained by the lessons Of experience.
In the latter part OF 1861 he enlisted
ln the Sixth New York heavy artillery
and was in active service until the
close Of the war He was in the viii
derness campaign under Grant and in
the Shenandoah Valley under Sheri-
dan. In the battle Of the Wilderness
he received a serious gunshot wound
ia the head, from which he was many
mclths recovering
After the close Of the war Mr. Light
returned TO his native state Tor short
period. but found that the life he had
known there was tco commonplace for
his adventurous nature. The west
called to him and IN the fall of 1860
he landed IN Leayenworth, Kan. In
that state. during the tempestuous
times. he found the excitement for
which his soul yearned.
Great Developments were in pro-
gress and Mr.. Light took hrs full
share Of adventure from the reckless
life. Bands Of hostile Indians roamed
the prairfes and stubornly. with rifle
and scalping knife, contested the ad-
vance OF the white men, steadily west
ward.
Pushing further westward, Mr. Light
landed in New Mexico and plunged in
! to the true life Of the west at Santa Fe
as driver OF a wagon in freighter's
train, at salary Of 500 per month
On the initial trip, no Indians were en-
countered. but on the return to Santa
Fe, terrible snow storm swept down
upon the outfit near Ash Creek and
the oxen we're lost Leaving the
wagons, Mr.. Light returned to Fort
Leavenworth, but in the spring re-
turned to Ash Creek in quest Of the
lost oxen
While on this trip he was persuad-
ed, through glowing accounts of the
business, to enter the profession Of an
Indian trader with Buffalo Bill" Mad
isca. Their outfit consisted of four
wagons driven by ] w. Light, Evan
der Light, his brother, Bill Madison
and Fred Jones. They were captured
by Indians returning from raid in
Kansas and the prisoners separated,
the Light brothers going with the
kiowas and the other prisoners with
another tribe
When the Kiowa village was. reach
ed they were held prisoners for six
weeks and their escape was finally
consummated through the efforts of
Chief Santanta, whom Eyander Light
had befriended when the famous chief
was wounded. following a battle be-
tween two hostile tribes
In 1867 j. w. Light secured the con
tract for supplying the district com
missary and the military posts in Kan
sas with beef at ten cents a pound on
the block He held this contract for
three years and made considerable
money, his receipts running sometimes
as high as $4,000 month. However,
at times he lost heavily on some Of
his cattle deals, losing $4,000 at one
time and $500 at another In 1874 he
went TO Texas to begin life anew with
capital OF sS, but with his stock of
youthful energy as full as ever
He secured employment on the farm
of Ben F. Gooch, Mason county. at s4Q
per month, which position he held for
some time, later purchasing the entire
ranch Of his employer for $4,000 on
three years credit The ranch was
stocked with $500 head Of cattle and
by purchase he doubled the number
This herd he drove to Ogalla, Neb.,
over the famoue Chisholm trail in the