My Genealogy Hound

Samuel D. Light, another substantial farmer and stock-raiser of Box Township, Cedar County, Mo., and the son of Henry and Nancy (Dinwiddie) Light, was born in Floyd County, Va., in 1820. His parents were natives of New York and Maryland, respectively, were married in Virginia, and there spent the rest of their lives, he dying in 1823, and she in 1856. Mr. Light was a farmer by calling, and was of German descent. Samuel D. Light, the ninth of seven sons and three daughters, received a very limited education, and remained with his mother until grown. He was married in 1843 to Miss Margaret Smith, daughter of John and Nancy Smith, all natives of Virginia. To Mr. and Mrs. Light were born eight sons and three daughters: the eldest son Ferdinand, died August 30, 1878, in Cedar County, Mo.; Henry J., of California; McIlvaine, of Cedar County, Mo.; Angelina, wife of William D. Richardson, of Texas; Nancy E., wife of S. W. Beck, of Cedar County, Mo.; Nathaniel G., of Cedar County, Mo.; Lydia M., wife of Joseph E. Davidson, died June 29, 1882, in Cedar County, Mo.; James S., of Texas; Samuel W., of Vernon County, Mo.; Ellis H., and William U., at home. In 1857 Mr. Light moved to St. Clair County, Mo., resided there until 1862, then came to Hickory County, where he remained until 1866, and then moved to Cedar County. Here he settled on his present farm, which was then small, but which has been increased to 280 acres. This farm he has carefully improved, and here he has engaged in stock-raising in connection with his farming interest. He is a Democrat in politics, his first presidential vote being for J. K. Polk, in 1844, and he was elected to the office of court and deputy sheriff in Virginia by that party. He and wife have been members of the Baptist Church since 1872. Mr. Light’s grandfather, Lazarus Light, was born in New York, and died in Virginia. He was for many years a successful physician. The maternal grandfather, James Dinwiddie, was probably born in Virginia, and is supposed to be of the same family as Gov. Dinwiddie of colonial days.