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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 GORMAN
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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