Lewis B. France

Born in Washington, D.C., in 1833, he later settled in Denver and began practicing law there in 1861. Writing was his avocation, but it became an important part of his legacy: he produced stories and sketches about Colorado at a time when the region was still being introduced to many American readers.

He is best remembered for nature and travel writing, especially books connected to fly-fishing and life outdoors in Colorado. Modern reference sources describe him as one of Colorado’s earliest recognized outdoor writers, and his books helped shape a popular image of the state as a place of mountain adventure, recreation, and scenic beauty.

Among the works associated with him are With Rod and Line in Colorado Waters, Mountain Trails and Parks in Colorado, Mr. Dide, His Vacation in Colorado, Pine Valley, and Scraps. He died in 1907, leaving behind a body of writing that captures both everyday frontier experience and the growing appeal of the Rocky Mountain West.