This is Hugh Moore Light (1801-1885). I am assuming that this is a copy of a cased image like a daguerreotype. I’d date this to the 1860s, but it could be a bit earlier.
He was the son of Mathias (1769-1826) and Mary Catherine “Polly” Moore Light (1774-1856).
His brother Baird “Bird” Light (1805-1867) was my 4th great-grandfather (Bird>Tice>Nathaniel>Clara>Phyllis>Vicky>Me).
I believe that this is from the SearchLight newsletter, Vol. 15, Spring 1994. It was in Helen Ruby Light Thomson’s (1913-2012) Light family notebook at the 2001 Light Reunion.
The label on the photo reads:
"HUGH MOORE LIGHT s/o TYCE & MARY (MOORE) LIGHT. b 12-16-1801 d 3-9-1885. Bur. LIGHT Cem. Owen Co. IN. [Max & Jerry Kasparek]"
Max & Jerry Kasparek both passed away in 2002. Jerry was Jeraldine Delight “Jerry” Strawn Kasparek (1926-2002). Her mother was Lillis Elnora Light Strawn (1892-1982), daughter of Charles Wilgus Light (1860-1935), son of Albert Light (1830-1862), son of Hugh Moore Light (1801-1885). It is not clear if Jerry owned the original image — perhaps she only had a copy.
I would like to know if the original still exists and who has it, just for my records. Jerry had three children. Hopefully, the image of Hugh Moore Light is safe with them.
More about Hugh Moore Light — He was born in Pendleton, Anderson, South Carolina. The Light family had a plantation there which, according to family lore, was burned down during a slave revolt. I’ve failed to find anything specific about when this happened, but there were many such revolts in that area over the years.
The family left South Carolina for Kentucky at some point between 1803 and 1805 (birth of brother Israel in 1803 and Baird in 1805). Hugh likely wouldn’t have had any memories of South Carolina as they left when he was a toddler.
They didn’t stay long — they were in Owen County, Indiana by 1808. Hugh was seven at that point. He lived there for the rest of his life.
In 1823, he married Barbara Harriet (1803-1865). They had at least seven children. He remarried to Catherine McConnell Dyar (1829-1905) in 1867 and they had at least two children.
Hugh Moore Light died at age 84 in 1885 and is buried at Light Cemetery in Freedom, Owen, Indiana (I’ve been there!).
There were a few Hugh Moore Lights, but this is the original.
Here is a link to his Find a Grave Memorial:
Hugh Moore Light (1801-1885) – Find a Grave Memorial
Updated 7/25/2025