Horace TaborA Great Colorado Man!

By Erin Daly

Biography Model

Humble Beginnings

Horace Austin Warner Tabor was born in November of 1830 in Vermont. He became a mason and left home at the age of 19 to work in Maine and Massachusetts. In 1855 he moved to the Kansas territory and farmed land that is now known as the Tabor Valley.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace_Austin_Warner_Tabor

A Mover and a ShakerIn 1856, Tabor was elected to the Free-State Topeka Legislature but that legislature was separated in favor of a pro-slavery legislature. After marrying Augusta pierce in 1859, he moved with his new bride to Denver to take advantage of the gold rush there.

Leadville, Colorado

In 1877 they moved to Leadville Colorado where he continued to prospect for gold as well as involve himself in business and politics. While he ran Leadville's general store and postal system he was also elected as mayor of Leadville and held the post for one year.

There’s Silver in Them Thar Hills!

In 1878 Horace Tabor used his stake in a very wealthy silver mine called the “Little Pittsburg” to invest in other holdings. He finally sold his interest for a million dollars and bought the Matchless Mine for one tenth that amount. Now Horace was rich and started newspapers, a bank and an opera house in Leadville as well as the Grand Opera House and the Tabor Block n Denver.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.matchlessmine.com/images/matchlessmine2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.matchlessmine.com/&h=206&w=300&sz=14&hl=en&start=10&tbnid=myt1rRA9byqSkM:&tbnh=80&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmatchless%2Bmine%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Dactive%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN

A True Politician

From 1878 to 1884, Horace served as Lieutenant governor of Colorado while he served as a U.S. senator in 1883. Tabor then married Elizabeth “Baby Doe” McCourt and they had two daughters together.

Hard Times

In 1893, the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act depleted Tabor’s riches. Since he was still a respected businessman however, he was made postmaster of Denver and then died in 1890. Ten thousand people were said to have attended his funeral services

The End of Baby Doe

As a tragic ending to the story, Baby Does Tabor fulfilled her husband’s final request to keep the Matchless Mine and after 36 years of living in a shack next to it, she froze to death there one cold and lonely in 1935. Many artistic pieces were inspired by her death.

Horace Tabor - Poetry Model

Horace was a man A man with a plan He tried his hand in business He said “I’ll do the best I can!”

He married Baby Doe She gave him two small sons To him she stayed quite loyal And together made money in tons

Silver was his savior And he bought the

Matchless Mine That resource finally

peetered out And he no longer was fine He passed with not much

money But still kept much

respect And Baby Doe, she kept

his mine, until in winter crept.

Horace Tabor - One Act Play ModelEnter Horace Tabor and Baby Doe from opposite sides of the stage to face each other.

Horace: “Baby Doe, I am a highly successful businessman. I could make you very happy. Will you marry me?”

Baby Doe: “Yes! Yes I will, Horace!”

The two hug passionately.

One Act Play cont.

Horace and Baby Doe are found sitting at the breakfast table with a somber mood in the air.

Horace: “My dear, I am worried. The matchless mine is failing and we barely have enough money to feed our children. Whatever will we do?”

Baby Doe: “It will be alright, Horace. We will find a way to survive, even if I have to find a job to help pay the bills.”

One Act Play cont.

Baby Doe: “My husband, Horace was a good man! He worked hard all of his life as a businessman and a politician. I will fulfill his final request of keeping the Matchless Mine instead of selling it, since he was my one true love.”

Baby Doe then wraps herself tightly in a blanket and sits curled up in a chair or on the floor as if to brace against the cold.

End of play