Virginia City in Madison County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Coggswell - Taylor Cabins
This Property Contributes to the Virginia City Historic District
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2022
1. Coggswell - Taylor Cabins Marker
Inscription.
Coggswell - Taylor Cabins. This Property Contributes to the Virginia City Historic District. The history of these two false-fronted cabins, joined by the 1890s, is interwoven with Virginia City’s African-American pioneers. The two separate, 1860s log cabins served both residential and commercial purposes. Minerva Coggswell acquired this property, according to her will, “by her own hard labor.” She and her sister, Parthenia Sneed, were among a few adventurous, independent black women who carved niches for themselves in western communities. The sisters took in laundry, ran a Wallace Street restaurant, and by 1880 kept boarders like Kentucky-born African-American Jack Taylor. Taylor served in the Union army during the Civil War and came to Virginia City in 1866, freighting for the outfit of Majors and Russell. Taylor continued freighting, accumulated livestock, and owned considerable property, including these cabins purchased after Minerva’s death in 1894. Taylor lived here until he died in 1926. Sarah Bickford, who rose from slavery to become Virginia City’s competent water company owner, cared for Taylor during his last illness and then acquired the cabins. Taylor’s tombstone in Hillside Cemetery recalls a life of honest labor: “While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest shall not cease.”
The history of these two false-fronted cabins, joined by the 1890s, is interwoven with Virginia City’s African-American pioneers. The two separate, 1860s log cabins served both residential and commercial purposes. Minerva Coggswell acquired this property, according to her will, “by her own hard labor.” She and her sister, Parthenia Sneed, were among a few adventurous, independent black women who carved niches for themselves in western communities. The sisters took in laundry, ran a Wallace Street restaurant, and by 1880 kept boarders like Kentucky-born African-American Jack Taylor. Taylor served in the Union army during the Civil War and came to Virginia City in 1866, freighting for the outfit of Majors and Russell. Taylor continued freighting, accumulated livestock, and owned considerable property, including these cabins purchased after Minerva’s death in 1894. Taylor lived here until he died in 1926. Sarah Bickford, who rose from slavery to become Virginia City’s competent water company owner, cared for Taylor during his last illness and then acquired the cabins. Taylor’s tombstone in Hillside Cemetery recalls a life of honest labor: “While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest shall not cease.”
Erected by Montana Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed
Location. 45° 17.511′ N, 111° 56.792′ W. Marker is in Virginia City, Montana, in Madison County. Marker is on Jackson Street near West Idaho Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 308 Jackson Street, Virginia City MT 59755, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The marker is on the front wall of the cabin in the rear.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 28, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 67 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 28, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
