Although his second wife, Baby Doe Tabor, receives much attention in modern day discussions, it is well worth learning a little bit about Horace Tabor the "Silver King" of Colorado to understand the dynamics that were in play over 100 years ago.
Horace Tabor is commonly referred to as the "Silver King" of Colorado.
Horace Tabor was born in Vermont in 1830 to humble beginnings. Horace Tabor learned stone-cutting as a trade. He courted and married Augusta Price, his employers daughter. Horace Tabor and his wife Augusta made a living as farmers with Augusta giving birth to a son named Maxey. At 25, Horace Tabor moved his family to Riley County, Kansas.
Horace Tabor was elected to the Kansas state legislature in 1857 at the age of 27.
In 1859, Horace Tabor and his family made the move west for the Gold Rush. After a 6 week trek to Denver, the Horace Tabor family continued on to Idaho Springs where Horace Tabor went to work in the mines in search of his fortune. When Horace Tabor failed to strike it rich in Idaho Springs, the family moved on to Leadville, Colorado.
In an area called California Gulch, outside of Leadville, Colorado, Horace Tabor panned $15,000 worth of gold in his first two years. Horace Tabor and his wife then started a general store in the fledgling town of Oro City Colorado, not far from Leadville. Horace Tabor spent 18 years in Oro City until moving back to Leadville to start a new general store there and become the city's Postmaster.
It was at this point that Horace Tabor started grubstaking other miners. In short, what that means is that he provided the tools necessary for mining in exchange for one third of whatever the miners produced. In 1877, one of the the miners that Horace Tabor had grubstaked hit what was known as the Little Pittsburgh mine. Soon thereafter, other veins were hit, and Horace Tabor became very, very rich.
Horace Tabor then bought the "Matchless Mine" which produced $2,000 a day. With the money he had, Horace Tabor invested in other mines throughout North and South America. Soon, Horace Tabor was the wealthiest man in Colorado.
In 1878, Horace Tabor was elected the Lieutenant Governor of Colorado.
In 1879, Horace Tabor moved his family to Denver.
Horace Tabor purchased land in Denver and built the Tabor Grand Theater in 1881.
In 1883, Horace Tabor was elected to the the US Senate, his position was short lived, in fact he only held office for 30 days, that was because...
1883 was also the year that Horace Tabor divorced his wife Augusta.
After marrying Baby Doe, Horace Tabor and his wife lived well until the "Silver Crash" of 1893. Within 3 years, Horace Tabor was broke.
In 1898, at the age of 68, Horace Tabor was working once again as the Postmaster of Denver.
In 1899, Horace Tabor died in April of appendicitis, leaving nothing of value to his beloved Baby Doe but the non producing silver "Matchless Mine".
On his deathbed, Horace Tabor told his wife to "hold on to the Matchless".
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