Emma Hauberg Fairhurst was born February 2, 1865, in Port Byron, Illinois, to Marx D. and Margaret Frels Hauberg. She came to Caribou, Colorado, in 1890 where she found employment and stayed until the mining slump of 1892. She then moved to Ward and married Albert L. (Bert) Fairhurst, son of William (Guy) Fairhurst, a prominent Ward miner and investor. Emma Fairhurst shared in the temporary prosperity that the Colorado and Northwestern Railroad brought to the community and participated in the development of summer camps and resorts in the region. Her Hotel Columbia was very popular and its fireplace, built from specimens of ore which she had collected, was greatly admired. In addition to being in the hotel and tourism business, Mrs. Fairhurst was involved in land and mining investment, including the accumulation and sale of land around Duck Lake, near Ward. She died in 1950.
From the description of Emma H. Fairhurst papers, 1866-1950. (Denver Public Library). WorldCat record id: 300915484
