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GARFIELD
COUNTY, COGENWEB PROJECT
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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