Mary Miller

Mary Miller
Founder, Lafayette, Colorado
1842 – 1921
Inducted

Mary Miller “Mother of Lafayette” established the first school, funded church construction, and served as President of Lafayette Bank

Mary Miller, the “Mother of Lafayette,” and her family settled in Colorado in 1863. In the mid- 1870s, a coal vein was discovered on the Miller Ranch. Miller retained mineral rights and received royalties from several mines. Following the 1878 death of her husband, Lafayette, she continued to run their ranch and support six children. In 1888, Miller began selling town lots and stipulated that the first land plat be named for her husband. Miller’s leadership helped Lafayette flourish, and it increased respect for women in business.

There is not a better managed large farm in Colorado than that of Mrs. Mary Miller.” — Boulder County Herald, 1886