Nevada Genealogy Trails Elko County James H. Taber Biography

JAMES HENRY TABER, of Elko, Nevada, is one of the old and honored pioneers of the state, where he has made his home since 1862. He was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on the 26th of August, 1831. and his father, James Davis Taber, claimed the state of New York as the place of his nativity. The latter married Miss Sarah Hamilton, a native daughter of the Empire state, and two children were born to them during their residence in Pennsylvania. In 1832 they removed to Henry county, Illinois, where they resided during the period of the Black Hawk war, and there the father took up land, which he cleared and improved. For twelve years that commonwealth continued to be their home, on the expiration of which period, in 1844, they made their way to Iowa, having been numbered among the early pioneers of that state, and from there crossed the plains to California in 1846. The journey thither was made with ox teams, and Mr. Taber was accompanied by his wife and six children. They took up their abode in Contra Costa county, and the father and his eldest son Joseph served their country as soldiers in the Mexican war. In the Golden state James Davis Taber spent the remainder of his life, dying at Chico in January, 1891, when he had passed the ninety-third milestone on the journey of life. His first wife had died ere the family removed from their Illinois home, and by his second wife he had four children, making ten in all in his family.

James Henry Taber is the only representative of his father's family in Nevada, and his first experience after removing to California was his enlistment under General John C. Fremont, with whom he marched to Los Angeles, and his is the honor of participating in the taking of California from the Mexicans, while for the meritorious services which he then rendered his country he now draws a pension. When nineteen years of age he began the active battle of life for himself, his first occupation having been as a miner at Folsom and Mormon Island, in which he made money, but like other early miners he put much of it back in mining enterprises which did not prove so successful. Abandoning the pursuit of a miner, he then went to Sierra county, California, and embarked in merchandising, carrying principally miners' supplies, three years being thus spent and with only moderate success. Selling his possessions there Mr. Taber removed to Marysville and soon afterward engaged in freighting with oxen from that city to the different mining camps, conducting this business with five yoke ot oxen and a wagon. The teamsters then went in groups, camping out at night, and as they were so well fortified they were not molested by the Indians.

In 1862 he arrived in Carson City, Nevada, and in the following spring followed the mining excitement to Austin, where he engaged in the search for the precious metal for a short time and then was elected to the position of sheriff, which he filled acceptably for two years, while four years were spent as a deputy in that office. During his tenure of the office he was active in the arrest of the many noted law-breakers which then infested the country, and by his persistent efforts life and property were thus made more secure. In 1871 Mr. Taber arrived in Elko county and engaged in the stock business, carrying it on with success for twelve years, during which time he often owned as many as fifteen hundred head of cattle at one time. Selling his possessions in the county he removed to the town of Elko, and in 1882 was elected to the position of sheriff, in which position he served for a term of two years, and for six years was in the same office as a deputy. Since retiring from the office of sheriff he has lived quietly at his home in Elko, enjoying the fruits of his former toil.

In 1877 Mr. Taber was united in marriage to Miss Margaret D. Schoer, who was born in Germany but was reared and educated in this country, and has been a resident of Nevada since 1875. They have two daughters, born in Wells, Elko county, Clara Mabel and Cora Emma, the former a graduate of the Stanford University and the latter of the Michigan State University, and both are at home with their parents. Mr. Taber has just erected a fine residence in Elko, which is a fitting place for this brave pioneer couple to spend the evening of their useful lives. Mr. Taber is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having received the sublime degree of a Master Mason in Austin many years ago, and is now a valued member of Elko Lodge No. 15, A. F. & A. M. The daughters of the family are worthy members of the Presbyterian church at Elko.