In June of 1863, Mr. and Mrs. Lafayette Miller made their migration to the midwest via an ox-team wagon. The newlyweds first settled in Burlington (now Longmont) and later left to operate the Overland Trail stage stop between Denver and Cheyenne (present day Coal Creek Farm). They final made their way to the area now known as Boulder County in 1871. They acquired land through the Homestead Act and took up farming.
After a couple of years, the Millers moved to Boulder. Mrs. Miller served on the school board while Mr. Miller stayed busy as a volunteer firefighter, served as town trustee and ran a butcher shop. Mr. Miller died suddenly in 1878, leaving Mrs. Miller with six small children. She moved back to the farm and attended it alone with great success.
The Boulder County Herald gave Mary rave reviews in 1886:
“Among the best conducted large farms in Boulder County is that carried on and managed by Mrs. Mary Miller, about two miles east of Louisville. The farm contains 1,280 acres, all under fence, about 1/2 of which is under plow and first class meadow, the balance in pasture. Large crops of oats, corn, and wheat are raised and great stacks of upland hay are plentiful in the field. Horses and cattle, of which there are about 100 or more head, are permitted to roam over the field during the winter and are in fine condition as the large enclosure affords ample feed for all with scarcely any care. Hogs by the score may be seen around the field near the barn. They all show signs of well-filled corn cribs.
The improvements, house, barn, shedding, granaries, fences, etc. are of the very best, and are put up with an eye to convenience and comfort. An orchard of several hundred trees, many of bearing size, together with a large vineyard of grapes, currents, gooseberries, and raspberries, besides a large patch of strawberries; a splendid grove of cottonwood and other shade trees surround the dwelling. The most noticeable thing on this place is the absence of weeds in the garden and orchard, the cleanliness of the barnyard, and the place for everything and everything-in-its-place; in fact, prosperity is visible in every nook and corner of this farm. Considering the size of this farm, there is not a better managed large farm in Colorado than that of Mrs. Mary Miller.”
After conquering agriculture, Mrs. Miller set her sights on coal mining her property. It was only assumed until then that the coal veins from Marshall, Colorado ran throughout the area. She hit pay dirt in 1884 and the first shaft was sunk by John Simpson in 1887. This was the start of the coal mine era in what is now known as Lafayette. Mary Miller officially platted 150 acres for the town in 1888, naming it after her late husband. By the summer of 1888 the first homes were built and a second mine was in operation. Within only months a stable, boarding houses and two general stores were up and running. The Lafayette Bank was founded by Mrs. Miller in 1900 and she was elected president, becoming the only woman bank president in the world. From there the town flourished with business and services.
Today, Lafayette is still growing and thriving as the location has become a popular bedroom community and less expensive alternative to Boulder. Residents now enjoy miles of biking and hiking trails, parks, new schools as well as a picturesque view of the wonderful Colorado Rockies.
Neighborhoods
Cannon Heights
Autumn Ridge
Mountain View
Coal Creek Meadows
Hearthwood
Beacon Hill
Heron Estates
Leyner farm
Indian Peaks
Spring Creek
Blue Heron
Suburban Plains
South Pointe
First Union
Weynard Estates
Excelsior Strike Camp
Cross Ridge
Brownsville
Midtown Lafayette
Lafayette Farms
Annas Farm
Bixler Ranchettes
Baseline Crossing
Krantz
Coal Creek Village
Centaur Village North
Whispering Meadows
Churchill Pointe
Millers 2
Sutton Estates
Lafayette Park
Lafayette
Old Town
Thomas Subdivision
Lancelot Park
Lafayette Heights
Farm at Boulder Valley
Spring Creek
Stonehenge
Hawk Ridge Estates
Cross Creek
Pleasant View Minor
Waneka Landing
Baseline 40
Greenlee Park
West Oak