The 1800s in Colorado history is full of stories of men on the frontier – the hunters, traders, miners, and ranchers who settled the West. Less is told of the women who married them, bore their children, made homes in primitive conditions, tended the sick, buried their offspring, and kept their secrets. One of these little-known women who survived and persevered was Athey Miller.
It’s 1862. Imagine being 17, the oldest of seven children, traveling by ox team in a covered wagon with your parents to settle in the unknown West. After grueling weeks crossing the prairie, Athey Miller’s life adventure begins. Coming up Bear Creek Canyon with its rushing waters, breathing in the sweet smell of evergreens as the trail rises higher, listening to bird song, and gazing into the clear blue sky, she discovers the beauty of Colorado mountain country.
After arriving in what is now Kittredge, her father finds work at the sawmill built by partners George E. Kerr and John Jackson (J.J.) Hines. Athey’s future will be shaped by life with both of these men.
The sawmill was located where present-day Troublesome Creek intersects with State Highway 74. J.J. builds his family home on the site and later expands it into the Hines Resort, while George helps built the first, free-standing school in Jefferson County and becomes the schoolmaster.
Athey’s family lives near the sawmill, and she likely attends Bergen School, three miles up the Idaho Cutoff Road. Athey catches George’s eye and his affection; she falls in love with this enterprising 32-year-old man and marries George in December 1864.
In the memoir of their family’s journey west, Athey’s sister Sarah Ann (Sadie) Baker documented Athey’s choice to marry George and make her life in Colorado, while the rest of the family traveled on to Washington state. Athey’s life-changing decision meant she might never see her parents and siblings again. Clearly, Athey was a strongminded, courageous young woman.
Athey’s life with George
Athey and George initially live in a cabin in Creswell near Bergen Park. He begins to acquire land in the Evergreen area and Bear Creek Canyon. She is young and in love with life. They start a family that over the years gives them five children: Mary Agnes, Lottie Mae, Minnie Alice, Victor, and Mattie.
Athey remembers the sawmill in Kittredge, but more importantly she remembers George and J.J. in their prime, working tirelessly dawn to dusk on their enterprise. No doubt she admires them both, as she is considerably younger. She loves this section of Bear Creek, where a wooden foot bridge crosses the gurgling water. Tall blue spruce trees shelter the Hines’ home. The two-story frame façade with large windows and wrap-around covered porch is homey and welcoming. A low rock wall surrounding the house feels safe and comforting. How could she know that one day years down the road she would come to live here?
In the 1870s Athey and George live on a ranch in Bear Creek Canyon. By 1880 they move down below the imposing canyon walls of jagged rock to Morrison. George runs a livery stable and their youngest daughter Mattie is born, and in 1890 they relocate to a beautiful house on the outskirts of Golden. An unknown tragedy befalls George during these years, and in the 1890s a Conservatorship is filed and George’s extensive properties are sold at public auction. In 1895 a legal separation agreement is created for Athey’s protection. Finally in 1898 George is court ordered to the Pueblo Insane Asylum, where he dies later the same year unbeknownst to his family.
Strong and responsible, Athey “carries on” despite her personal feelings. During these difficult years she takes control of the finances which have all been in her husband’s name, manages the day-to-day household responsibilities, and loves and supports the children without the help of her husband. She maintains the family home at 1020 19th St. in Golden for her youngest daughter Mattie, who graduates as Valevictorian of Golden High School in 1900. She also supports Victor in his studies at the Colorado School of Mines. She becomes a founding member of the Golden Presbyterian Church in 1898 and is well regarded in the community.
Does Athey ever speak of what happened to George? Does she write to her sister Sarah Ann in the northwest for consolation? Does she share her feelings with women friends? The town is quiet. Local newspapers do not mention George. Athey pulls herself together and goes on alone.
Athey’s life with J.J.
In the nearly 40 years since George and J.J. established the sawmill, Athey has been married to George for better and for worse.
Meanwhile, when Athey first meets J.J. Hines as George’s partner in 1862, J.J. and his wife Melissa Schwartchall have a baby boy named Frank. Along with operating the sawmill, J.J. buys and works the Dispatch Copper and Gold Mine just above Kittredge. Tragedy strikes when Melissa dies in 1865. A year later J.J. marries Christina Trumbell, who gives birth to Harry in 1867 and Dora in 1870.The sawmill is torn down and a large family home built on the lot that overlooks Bear Creek.
It’s a small mountain community. Everyone knows everybody. George and J.J. are both leaders, civic minded, and serve as judges in the county at different times. The women share canning, quilting, cooking, and remedies. The men fell trees, cut ice, harvest hay, and raise livestock. They help each other out at births, deaths, and everything in between. They become friends as well as neighbors.
The route through the canyon becomes more traveled as Denverites want access to the beauty of the high country, and as passage for lumber, produce, livestock and ice down to Denver. Construction of the Bear Creek Toll Road begins in 1875 with George as one of the Trustees. Hines Resort, renamed Spruce Lodge for the large spruce trees that tower over the house, starts operating as a tourist lodge. The building is expanded with numerous bedrooms and “Dad’s Store” added. It becomes one of three stagecoach stops between Morrison and Evergreen. J.J. and Christina live there during the 1880s and 1890s. He loses his second wife Christina in 1901.
After George’s death Athey lives for several years in Denver, Silverton, and Bergen Park. And what of Hines? Athey and J.J. have known each other for forty years. They have both known happy and hard times. He is 65 years; she is 55.
In 1902 Athey marries her old friend. Four decades later George’s partner becomes Athey’s partner, Athey and J.J. are ready to spend their “golden years” together.
Athey and J.J. live in California for several years. But they come back home to Spruce Lodge in 1904, when Mattie age 24 is working there. They come full circle to where they started in Colorado in 1862. Finally letting go of rugged mountain life, they sell the lodge in 1907 and move to Golden. J.J. dies in 1924 at age 87 with Athey at his side.
Sadly, Spruce Lodge burns down in 1925, and the oldest example of Evergreen tourism vanishes. Today no one remembers the family lodge that holds history behind its remaining stone wall, small bridge, and towering spruce trees at the west end of Kittredge.
After J.J. dies, Athey moves to California near her sister Sarah Ann (Sadie) Baker and her oldest daughter Mary Agnes Breen. She leaves the challenges of Colorado behind and embraces the warm climate of ocean and sunshine, probably finding ease for the first time in her life. In 1936 at age 89. she takes her last breath.
In the words of her obituary, she was “a true pioneer in every sense of the word, striving to learn and “carrying on” the highest of ideals. She “was always an active worker in the church, and spent a busy life…” She buried two husbands over a period of 60 years, and is survived by one sister and a brother, four daughters, 16 grandchildren, (five of Golden, CO) and 10 great grandchildren.
Athey Miller Kerr Hines leaves a legacy in the Colorado foothills of hardiness, resilience, and never giving up no matter what life brings.
Sources
- Baker, Sarah Ann (Miller), Pioneer Child, the Memoirs of Sarah Ann Baker, unpublished memoir edited and prefaced by her daughter, Helen Baker Reynolds, dated circa 1938.
- Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. 1860-1898. Available from coloradohistoricnewspapers.org. Hines and Kerr family history details.
- Colorado Transcript, July 5, 1893. “Bear Creek Resorts.”
- Colorado Transcript, Feb 26, 1925. “Spruce Lodge Burns.”
- Colorado Transcript Obituary, Number 20, March 19, 1936. “ Athey C. Hines, Colorado Pioneer, Dies in California.”
- Historically Jeffco Magazine. Issue 43, 2022. “George E. Kerr, Early Homesteader and Community Leader.”
- Jefferson County Clerk & Recorder. Sales Record 1901390083 Hines Resort. John J. Hines to Oliver J Hendrickson. June 18, 1907
- Jefferson County Graphic, Volume 18, Number 39, October 4, 1902. “Judge J.J. Hines & Mrs. George Kerr United in Holy Bonds…”
- Frazier, Ronda MS, CA, Archives Program Manager. Jefferson County Archives.
