Garfield County CO Archives Obituaries.....Gorman, Fay February 22, 1919
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[Telegram-Reveille, Volume XVII, Number 6, February 28, 1919]
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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