U.S. Senator. Entrepreneur. He was an American prospector, businessman, and Republican politician of the 19th century. His silver mines in Colorado and other Southwestern states made him one of the wealthiest men in the United States. He had learned about mining as a young man in New England. He was a philanthropist along with being a store owner, banker, and post master. He owned 4,600,000 acres of land in Colorado for grazing and 175,000 acres of land in Texas for copper mining. He also donated money to build the Tabor Grand Opera and land to build churches in Denver. He had a rags-to-riches-back-to-rags life story. In 1893, after the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, the silver mine industry collapsed, with him losing his money. He married twice, divorced once in 1883, and after a scandalous love affair with "Baby Doe," he married her with his first wife, receiving what would be, in the 21st century, nearly a million-dollar settlement. He had a son, Maxey, with his first wife and two daughters with his second. As an abolitionist, he became political during the American Civil War. He was elected Lieutenant Governor of Colorado, serving for six years until January of 1884. He was a U.S. Senator serving from January 27, 1883 until March 3, 1883. In the last years of his life, he became the postmaster of Denver. His life is the subject of Douglas Moore's opera "The Ballad of Baby Doe" and the 1932 Hollywood biographical movie "Silver Dollar." Hundreds of people attended his funeral.
U.S. Senator. Entrepreneur. He was an American prospector, businessman, and Republican politician of the 19th century. His silver mines in Colorado and other Southwestern states made him one of the wealthiest men in the United States. He had learned about mining as a young man in New England. He was a philanthropist along with being a store owner, banker, and post master. He owned 4,600,000 acres of land in Colorado for grazing and 175,000 acres of land in Texas for copper mining. He also donated money to build the Tabor Grand Opera and land to build churches in Denver. He had a rags-to-riches-back-to-rags life story. In 1893, after the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, the silver mine industry collapsed, with him losing his money. He married twice, divorced once in 1883, and after a scandalous love affair with "Baby Doe," he married her with his first wife, receiving what would be, in the 21st century, nearly a million-dollar settlement. He had a son, Maxey, with his first wife and two daughters with his second. As an abolitionist, he became political during the American Civil War. He was elected Lieutenant Governor of Colorado, serving for six years until January of 1884. He was a U.S. Senator serving from January 27, 1883 until March 3, 1883. In the last years of his life, he became the postmaster of Denver. His life is the subject of Douglas Moore's opera "The Ballad of Baby Doe" and the 1932 Hollywood biographical movie "Silver Dollar." Hundreds of people attended his funeral.
Bio by: Linda Davis
Inscription
Unknown to fame until approaching the age of fifty, chance suddenly brought him considerable wealth and reputation. A few years later another throw of the dice as quickly returned him to his former obscurity but left in the wake a colorful character in the annals of Colorado history.
Gravesite Details
Large headstone for Horace and Elizabeth (Baby Doe) Tabor
Family Members
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