Western Folk Figure. Born Augusta Pierce, one of ten children born to William B. Pierce and Lucy Eaton in Augusta, Maine. In her early twenties ahe began a courtship with Horace Tabor, one of her father's employees. The couple were married in 1857 and moved to his stake at Deep Creek, Kansas where their only son was born. As rumors of a gold strike spread, the couple moved west, settling in the Denver area where Tabor took up store keeping for about two years. Augusta was one of the first women to arrive in the area becoming the cook, laundress, and postmistress.

In 1877 they settled in Leadville, where he continued prospecting, while they also ran the general store and post office. She became the first lady of Leadville upon the election of her husband to the office of mayor in 1878. Through a policy of grub-staking other miners, and partial ownership in a successful silver mine, the Tabors became millionaires within another year, and then owners of the of the very profitable Matchless Mine which was at one time reportedly making $10,000 a day in profits. Tabor was elected lieutenant governor later that year and purchased Augusta a twenty room house in Denver.

Shortly thereafter, her husband began a torrid affair with Elizabeth McCourt, shocking the newly established Denver society. Augusta and he were divorced and she continued to live in the Denver mansion, supplementing her income with boarders. She hosted fund raising events, and gave to community charities and civic projects, living comfortably and frugally. She dedicated herself to the Pioneer Ladies Aid Society. She continued to live a comfortable life while her husband and his new wife lost their fortune. She eventually moved to Pasadena, Califonia where she died at 62, wealthy and respected, leaving her son Maxcy a $1.5 million fortune.

Links

• http://www.babydoe.org/augusta.htm
• http://www.historycolorado.org/sites/default/files/files/Kids_Stude...
• Find A Grave