Garfield County Colorado Genealogy Research

 

GARFIELD COUNTY, COGENWEB PROJECT

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This is a collection of historical pictures in and around Rifle Colorado.  Photos are used from Edwin Thompson, Steve Fox, Paul Bernklau and others.

FAY GORHAM

 

FAY GORHAM, Rifle Pioneer. Proprietor of The Red Barn, then Fay Gorham Stables.
Fay Barlow Gorham, a Great Lover of Animals Dies After Being Kicked by a Horse.
Fay Harlow Gorham, dearly beloved husband, father and friend, and one of Rifle’s oldest and most widely known citizens, departed this life at Glenwood Springs on the evening of February 22, 1919 after a short illness of a week’s time. Death was due to kidney trouble from which Mr. Gorham had been a sufferer for years. Recently he had been injured by a horse, which he was handling, being severely kicked, the blow causing other trouble which was very serious.
Mr. Gorham was born in Dubuke, lowa on July 5th, 1852. Soon after his birth his parents moved from this frontier town of the fifties to Omaha, Nebraska, then a famous trading post for the western country. Here his early boyhood years were spent. While still a mere lad he went to Texas and assisted in trailing cattle from that state back to Nebraska. Possibly it was in these days of early manhood that he learned to have pity and compassion for horses and cattle, and gained the habit of caring carefully for all dumb animals committed to his care —a habit which was always manifested in his after life and won him many friends among those who love animals. When Mr. Gorham was 22 he went to Cheyenne, Wyoming where he took care of the horses for the Black Hills Stage Company. The next year he began to drive stage for the Wyoming Stage Company, a business which he followed for many years, traveling over many of the newly made western trails and always moving toward the west. The year after the territory of Colorado became a state, or in July 1877 he moved to Morrison, Co., where he drove stage on the Fairplay road. Later he followed the trail on the Cannon City and Leadville roads, going to Gunnison, Buena Vista, Aspen, Ashcroft, St. Elmo, all of which places knew him for an efficient and much liked driver, who always loved his horses. Later he came to Glenwood Springs, coming to Meeker and to Rifle about 1888 where for eight years he drove the Rifle Meeker stage.
In 1905 Mr. Gorham opened the livery barn, known then as the Red Barn, located at 5th and Railroad, running this place until it grew too small for his ever increasing business, and then he built the fine barn which he continued to operate until the time of his death in 1919. Mr. Gorham was an old pioneer, a lover of the out doors and of nature. He could seldom be persuaded to visit a large city but the call of the out doors was always in his ears and often, with his dogs, whom he loved as friends he would go into the hills for a hunting and fishing trip. In the office room of the barn Mr. Gorham had a splendid collection of guns, which he prized very greatly. Many were the strange and odd weapons which hung on the walls of the room and one of his pleasures was to add to this collection, some old relic, whose history was intimately connected with the early days of Colorado. He knew the history of all the trophies in the collection and many were the pleasant hours he spent showing his collection and giving interesting bits of history about it.
Mr. Gorham leaves to mourn his loss a loving wife and one son, Harry, by a former marriage. He was the father, also, by his present wife, of one daughter, Violet Fay, who died in childhood. He is survived also by one brother, David Gorham, one sister, Mrs. Hattie Crebo, and one half-brother, Frank Smith, all of whom reside in Omaha, Nebraska. Besides these near and dear to him there remain to mourn his passing many friends to whom, his death marks the passing of a true friend, a kindly and considerate man and one whom all who know him, knew to be possessed of those traits of character which make for the best in life. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. C. E. Fowler at the Rex Theater last Wednesday afternoon, the funeral being one of the largest ever held in Rifle. Pall bearers were old time residents of Rifle and close friends of the deceased man. Interment was in Rose Hill cemetery, beside the grave of the little daughter, whom he loved so well.
[Telegram-Reveille, Volume XVII, Number 6, February 28, 1919]



























 



 

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