By the time of his death, his business empire included "operations in banking, corporate investments, oil lands, real estate and ranches which sprawled across four Texas counties and into New Mexico.
[1][3] He first worked as a restaurant dishwasher in Eastland, Texas, to "get acquainted" with the local residents.
[2] However, two years later, in 1884, his business partner bailed out and Scharbauer moved his sheep to Mitchell County, Texas.
[3] By 1892-1893, due to the winding down of open range,[3] Scharbauer sold his sheep and refocused his investments on cattle.
[3] Scharbauer co-founded a precursor to the First National Bank of Midland, Texas, with the Connelle brothers in 1890.
[1] Scharbauer died of a heart attack on October 20, 1941, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Scharbauer's ranch in Lea County, New Mexico was purchased by rancher Millard Eidson in 1942.