TABOR, FAMILY

TABOR, CARPENTER, HEADING

Posted By: Janice Sowers (email)
Date: 7/30/2006 at 20:11:15

PIONEER DAYS-HESPER TOWNSHIP 1851-1941

David C. Tabor was born in the "Green Mountain State" of the 15th of March, 1822, the son of Benjamin and Phoebe Carpenter Tabor, in the town of Lincoln, Addison county. His father was a native of Massachusettes and his mother a native of New York. His parents were married at Starksborough in 1808. His father was a physician and also a minister of the Society of Friends, which pursuits he followed until his death. David resided at home until twenty-three years of age. On the 8th of October 1845 he married Harriet Heading. The following spring he sold his farm interests and engaged with an edler brother in the plowing business. In the spring of 1855, he with his family, came to Hesper and were for a time occupants of the Wheeler cabin. Russell Tabor an older brother, came the same fall and purchased the claim originally located by Waterman, together with his brother and other help they erected a saw and grist mill, one of the first in Winneshiek county, supplying the country with flour for miles around. In order that they might secure a boiler for their mill, David, with 3 young men assistants, and a heavy wagon, to which were attached four yoke of oxen, went to Lansing, Iowa. They were on the road eight days and during the two days of the home trip, made but eight miles, coming by the way of Decorah and Burr Oak. By this route they could ford the Upper Iowa River and other streams and avoid some of the worst roads. David Tabor was the first mail carrier on the route between Burr Oak and Hesper. They were the parents of three children. In 1860 they moved to Fillmore County, Minnesota, where Mr. Tabor turned his attention to fruit culture. He originated the Minnesota crab tree for which he won many prizes at state and county fairs. In 1889 they sold their farm and returned to Hesper, where they bought a small place on the southeast corner of Main and Center Streets, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Tabor was an active member of the Hesper W. C. T.U.