History of Fountain's Fairview Cemetery

Hello Again,

Over the past 12 years I've become involved with the Fairview Cemetery in Fountain, with the earliest use dating to about 1862.  Much of the data that I have collected is linked to the memorial pages on Findagrave.com. But that format also limits me from adding information on the cemetery itself. So I hope this article will be used for that.  I'll try to organize it as I go through my notes.

Also, during the pandemic, I looked at the county death registers, burial records, etc. that had been filmed by the Library (Newsfinder on ppld.org) and added specifics for Fountain people to the Findagrave memorials. Then I got bored and did this for all of El Paso County entries. You're welcome.

The Friends of Fountain Fairview Cemetery Benevolent Society was created in 2012 in response to vandals damaging or destroying about a dozen of the oldest headstones. The group has led tours, service projects, wreath layings and performed stabilization work and cleaning. Our current fundraising efforts have been targeted toward purchasing stones for historic (>50 years old) unmarked graves, and stabilizing the entrance arch.  We can be reached at

https://www.facebook.com › FFFCemetery

 

 

In about 1862, a group of travelers were passing along the front range when a member of their group passed away. The local oral history is that this was a young woman or young girl.  She was buried on a hill overlooking Fountain Creek. Reportedly, wagon parts were used to build a "crib" enclosing the spot of her burial.

Elaine MacKay reported that members of the Niles Family maintained this crib for many decades, replacing wooden beams as needed. The crib was stripped and repainted by the Friends in about 2019.

Moses Imes came to Colorado, reportedly for his wife's health, and took up homestead land along the Fountain Creek. When Mary passed, she was buried on the family property not far from the Pioneer Girl's grave.  This land was used by the community as a burying ground for many decades.  The land was deeded to the city of Fountain by the Imes family for use as a cemetery in about 1911 (source?). Another source said in about 1904.

Interestingly, the earliest marked grave dates from a week before Mary Imes passed.

 

Moses settled on land in T16SR65W section 7 in 1869, and patented it in 1875. His sons William and Isaac filed on and patented adjacent land, receiving titles in 1873 and 1875. Moses sold his land to George Summers in 1878. By 1880, he appears on the census in Kansas.  

  Mary Ella Hutchin died on April 8 1871 in Fountain. She is buried in the Hutchin plot in the far southeast corner of block 16. It is interesting that there were two sections in use originally- Block 1 and Block 16.  The cemetery is not segregated by religion, however the Hutchin family were Quakers.