Silas Garber

Silas Garber (September 21, 1833 - January 12, 1905) was the founder of Red Cloud, Nebraska and was also Nebraska's fourth governor.

Early life

Silas Garber was born in Logan County, Ohio on September 21, 1833. He moved to Clayton County, Iowa when he was seventeen and started farming. At the start of the Civil War, he joined the 3rd Missouri Regiment. He later transferred to Co. D, 27th Iowa Infantry. At the end of the war, Garber left the Midwest and moved to California.

Life in Nebraska

Garber returned to the Midwest in 1870. He settled in Webster County, Nebraska, and in 1872, he laid out the town site of Red Cloud. Garber served as probate judge of Webster County, and in 1872 he was elected to the Nebraska Legislature. In 1873 he became Register of the U.S. Land Office in Lincoln. He received the Republican nomination, and in 1874, Garber became the fourth (third elected) Governor of Nebraska. After re-election and serving out his second term, Garber returned to Red Cloud.

Silas Garber died in Red Cloud, Nebraska on January 12, 1905.

References

* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7267534 Find-A-Grave]
* [http://www.nebraskahistory.org/lib-arch/research/public/state_governors/garber.pdf Silas Garber papers] at the Nebraska State Historical Society