Huerfano County, Colorado
Biographies

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Edward J. Farr (1867 - 1899)


He was a sheriff of Huerfano County. Sheriff Ed Farr led a posse to catch the Black Jack Ketchum gang. At Turkey Creek Canyon near Cimarron, New Mexico, Farr's posse ambushed the gang.

Following an all-day shoot out, Farr was killed in gunfire. The Ketchum gang escaped.

Farr is buried in the Masonic Cemetery, north of Walsenburg.

From "From the Grave, A Roadside Guide to Colorado's Pioneer Cemeteries," by Linda Wommack, published by Caxton Press, Caldwell, Idaho in 1998



Edward Farr - Sheriff Edward Farr Huerfano County - On the morning of July 16, 1899, Huerfano County Sheriff Edward Farr joined a posse in the New Mexico Territory town of Cimarron. The posse was searching for the famous Sam Ketchum Gang that had been robbing banks, trains and postal units in New Mexico and Arizona for many years. Their latest escapade had been the robbery of a Colorado & Southern train on July 11th, just south of Folsom, in the New Mexico Territory. That evening, the posse caught up with a remnant of the gang, consisting of Sam Ketchum, G. W. Franks (alias Will Carver) and Elza Lay (alias William McGinnis). During the attack on the camp, Sheriff Farr was shot three times and died within minutes. Ketchum was later arrested and hung on April 26, 1901 in New Mexico for train robbery. Lay escaped but was arrested on August 16th, tried, convicted of Farr's death and sentenced to life imprisonment. Franks was never caught. Ironically, Lay was pardoned by New Mexico Governor Otero on January 10, 1906. Sheriff Farr was one of southern Colorado's largest ranchers and was eulogized as "a man of generous impulses and unyielding courage". Also killed in the gun battle was New Mexico Deputy Sheriff M. Love. West Creek Mining News - July 22, 1899 - Sheriff Farr of Huerfano County Colorado, killed in a battle with outlaws and train robbers July 16, 1899. A brave man who died doing his duty. A man who was loved and esteemed by those who knew him, and whose reputation for gentleness was not less than for courage. The sort of man who helps to make one proud to be called a westerner and a Coloradoan. A man who gave his life for the state and who helped to make civilization possible. Telluride Journal – July 22, 1899 – South of Trinidad, near the New Mexico line, a posse of officers came up with the bandits who last week robbed a Colorado Southern train near Folsom, and a fierce battle ensued. Sheriff Farr was killed and Deputies Love and Smith fatally wounded. The bandits were uninjured and escaped to the hills. Another posse at once started in pursuit. Cripple Creek Morning Times – July 19, 1899 – The remains of Sheriff Farr, who was killed by bandits in New Mexico Sunday, will be buried today at Trinidad. Basalt Journal - February 9, 1907 - Bob McMannis, alias Black Bob, from Oklahoma Territory, was arrested at Pueblo Friday, on a charge of horse stealing by Officers Bell and Billedoux. He is suspected by the officers of having killed a brother of Sheriff Farr of Huerfano County. Wet Mountain Tribune 7-22-1899 – In an engagement in the Cimaron mountains in New Mexico, last Monday, between the officers of the law and a party of train robbers, Sheriff Farr of Huerfano County was killed, H.N. Love, a deputy sheriff was badly wounded. It was thought that one of the robbers was killed. No captures. (Separate article) Wet Mountain Tribune 7-22-1889 Jefferson B. Farr, brother to the Huerfano county sheriff killed by train robbers he was pursuing last week, has been appointed to fill the vacancy.

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