Unique Chair - Whatsit

Need some help identifying the purpose of this chair. It may be one of a kind and I will never know. However, two possibilities have been suggested. It was found in Fairplay, Colorado, a mining, ranching, railroading, area.

It was suggested that it is a machine operator's chair used in a mining operation.
Also suggested it is a "Gunman's chair" used in a saloon.

Any help or leads are greatly appreciated