FRANK FARNUM
Marriages
Estelle Smith Farnum
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - November 6, 1931
TWO EARLY SETTLERS PASS AWAY FRIDAY MORNING AT NEAR SAME TIME.
Frank Farnum meets Death at Post of Duty in Salida and Ben A. Hart Ends Long Struggle Against Illness at Home of Daughter in Eagle--Both Were Prominent in Upbuilding of Eagle County.
Last Friday morning, October 30, 1931, two of the pioneers of Battle Mountain and Eagle county passed away when Ben A HART died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Joseph D. ALLEN, in Eagle, and Frank FARNUM was killed in an automobile accident in Salida, Colo.
Both of these men were most prominent in shaping the early history of this section of the state. Each coming to Eagle county when they were very young men, mere boys, in fact, they each spent the best years of their lives in actively building up the community, and any story of the growth of the county cannot be truthful recounted without reference to Frank FARNUM and Ben HART. ------
Frank FARNUM met his death in the performance of duty early Friday morning. For the past two years he had been on the police force in Salida and at the time of his death was on night duty. He had commandeered an automobile to follow another car in which were fleeing violators of law whom he was attempting to arrest. Frank was riding the running board of the car, when he lost his hold and was thrown to the pavement, receiving injuries which proved fatal. He was rushed to a hospital, but never regained consciousness and died within a few minutes. Frank FARNUM died as he would have wished, in the performance of a duty.
Frank FARNUM ws a native of Colorado, having been born at Fairplay, September 20, 1868, being past 63 years of age when the death summons came. During his youth his father drove the stage between Leadville and Red Cliff before the days of the railroad, and young FARNUM grew up with a pair of reins in his hands, held taught over the backs of a team of freighters. His youth was spent between Leadville and Red Cliff and he attended school in both towns.With the coming of the railroad in the early 80s the FARNUM family made Red Cliff their home, where Frank grew to full manhood. Following his father's footsteps he engaged in teaming and mining. For years he conducted the local express and stage business on Battle Mountain. Naturally a leader in affairs of men, he entered local politics, and was one of the leaders and counselors of his party for many years. He was three times elected sheriff of Eagle county, and was one of the county's best police officers for many years. Following his retirement from that office in 1913, ill health hampered him for years, and some twelve years ago he moved to Salida where he was employed by the D. & R. G. W. railroad. Some months ago he was appointed to the police force of that city, and had served in that capacity with honor until the tragedy of last Friday morning.
He was married to Miss Estelle Smith many years ago. No children were born to the union and his widow lives to survive and mourn him alone. He is also survived by two brothers, W. H. FARNUM, a business man of Glenwood Springs, Colo., and Hiram FARNUM of Spokane, Wash. Frank FARNUM's friends and acquaintances were not confined to the immediate community in which he lived, but among those were many men prominent in affairs throughout the state during the past generation and of those who still live the news of the death will be received with sorrow. Mrs. FARNUM is bowed with grief in the loss of her life companion, and hundreds of friends join her in her sorrow.
Funeral services were held in Red Cliff Wednesday afternoon, and the remains were laid to rest in Evergreen [sic. Greenwood] cemetery in that place.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5 - November 6, 1931
