Tagert, William C. b.1873: Bio, Pitkin County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/pitkin/bios/tagert.txt --------------------------------------- Donated August 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- William C. Tagert Beginning life for himself by arduous and continued labor even in his childhood, and from that time on building his own fortunes without the aid of favorable circumstances or friendly interest in his welfare, William C. Tagert has made of himself one of the leading businessmen and citizens of his section of the state, and the fiber of his manhood, toughened by adversity, is such as to withstand all enervating influences and resist all importunities to be less than it should. He is a native of Salt Lake City, born on June 5, 1873, and the son of Joseph R. and Mary A. (Gates) Tagert, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Illinois. They migrated to the Black Hills in 1858, and for several years thereafter the father was engaged in contract work for the United States government. In 1862 he moved to Denver, this state, and at once engaged in mining, continuing his operations until 1870, when he change his residence to Salt Lake City, where he traded with the Mormons for a number of years. In 1874 he went to St. Louis and in that city was occupied in the livery business for a few years. In 1879 he moved to Leadville, and after prospecting there three years transferred his energies in 1882 to Aspen. Here he passed six years in prospecting, then in 1888 made a trip through portions of South America and Alaska, but this search for better opportunities in those countries being unavailing, he returned to Colorado and located at Cripple Creek, where he prospected two years. His final location was at Seattle, Washington, where he has conducted a profitable lumber business ever since settling there. He is an active Republican and a zealous member of the Masonic order. The mother is a member of the Presbyterian church. Their offspring number eight, Lincoln J., Cora L., Mabel, William C., Joseph R., Frederick S., Frank and Olive L. The fourth born, William C., had very limited educational advantages. While yet a mere boy he worked on a ranch in order that he might attend night school, and this was almost his only schooling. At the age of five he was brought west and, being ambitious, engaged in selling newspapers and such other work as a boy of his age could do, being then at Leadville. In 1883 he settled at Aspen with his parents and went to work on a ranch. Later he drove a wagon for a feed store for two years, and at the end of that time went into the feed business for himself in partnership with Frank Bourg, who was at that date engaged in the business alone. In 1879 Mr. Tagert's present partner, John M. Williams, bought Mr. Bourg's interest and became a member of the firm, which still continues in the style it then assumed. The establishment deals generally in hay, grain and other feed, coal, farming implements and vehicles of all sorts. These gentlemen also own one of the finest cattle ranches in Pitkin county and are extensively engaged in the stock industry. Their success in both lines of enterprise has far surpassed their largest expectations, and they are among the leading business men in this portion of the state. In politics Mr. Tagert is independent, and in fraternal relations is connected with the Woodmen of the World and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. On December 15, 1895, he was united in marriage with Miss Cora A. Torrance, a native of Kansas and daughter of Edwin K. and Louise Torrance. In 1890 her parents came to Aspen and the father began an enterprise in the feed trade, which he is still conducting. They are the parents of two daughters, Mrs. Tagert and her sister Lulu. Mr. and Mrs. Tagert also have two daughters, Nellie and Wilma. The parents stand well in social circles, and are universally esteemed as among the most representative persons of the town. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.