EDITOR’S NOTE: In preparation for the Town of Meeker’s 140th birthday in September, we are publishing the histories of the Town’s founders who’s names are listed at the White River Museum and on the plaque on the boulder in front of the courthouse. If you would like to participate in a Founders’ Day celebration (basically a giant birthday party) on Sept. 27 please contact [email protected] or call 970-878-4017.
Samuel Fairfield is named as the vice-president of the new 1883 Meeker Townsite Company.
The name Fairfield should ring a bell. Fairfield Center, Freeman Fairfield Foundation among other things were named after Freeman Edwin Fairfield who made his fortune in California providing tools and oilfield equipment to pioneer oil men in the 1920’s. Freeman’s investments are still benefiting Rio Blanco County to this day. Freeman was named after his grandfather, Freeman W. Fairfield. Samuel was the older brother of Freeman W. Fairfield. Samuel came to the Wyoming Territory in 1868. In the 1870 Federal Census, he is listed as a mill wright at South Pass, Wyoming. The census page was filled with other men listed as “miner, quartz gold.” No doubt, quick riches was on Samuel’s mind when he moved his wife and two small children to Wyoming. In the 1880 Federal Census, Samuel is listed in Lander, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, as “Freighter.” Lander was also in the South Pass gold mining region. The Oregon and California trails were nearby. Settlers in wagon trains westward bound kicked up a lot of dust. They were following their dream. Samuel saw his future here.
He was freighting for Hugus and Company out of Rawlins even before the Army pulled out of Camp on the White River. Samuel saw the potential and urged his brother, Freeman to bring his family to Meeker. Samuel bought stock in the Meeker Townsite in 1883. Samuel, Frank Sheridan, and E.P. Wilber dug the first town ditch in the spring of 1884. Freeman arrived in Meeker in 1884. Sam and brother, “Freem” together freighted from Rawlins to Meeker. The newspaper Democratic Leader April 23, 1885 issue reported that Samuel Fairfield was bidding on the Army freighting contract from Rawlins to Ft. Washakie, a route of 135 miles one way. The Meeker Herald October 3, 1885 issue reported that Freeman Fairfield had arrived with 53,000 pounds of freight for J.W. Hugus and Company and had already started out on his return. Samuel proved up a homestead outside Meeker in 1892. I believe he never gave up his interest in the South Pass mining area. In the April 5, 1894 issue of the Rock Springs Miner, Samuel was reported to be promoting the mining interests of Sweetwater mines in Denver. I lost track of him until Samuel appeared in the 1900 Census Marysville, Grant, Oregon. Samuel was listed alone working as a gold miner. I could not find his wife in the 1900 census, but his two sons, Frank and Charlie were in Butte, Montana, working as teamsters in a copper mining area. His wife, Sarah Betsy Traver Fairfield died 1905 in Butte, Montana. Samuel Fairfield died January 2, 1919 in Council, Idaho.
Sources: This Is What I Remember books; Rio Blanco Historical Society; 1870, 1880, 1900; Federal Census; 1869 Wyoming Census; Ancestry.com; BLM-GLO; Ancestry.com; Newspaper archivist in Butte, MT.
