Minnie Roby was born in 1858 in Minnesota. Her mother, Maggie Burns Remine was a native of Three Wells in County Wicklow, Ireland. Her father, John, moved his family to Colorado soon after Minnie’s birth and died in Central City in 1869.

Minnie married John Detliv Roby in Breckenridge in 1875. J.D. Roby must have been an interesting character. According to his obituary, he was one of the original pioneers of Breckenridge. He moved to town in 1868 after first operating a freight line between Denver and the Missouri River. He became a merchant and sold supplies to miners and townsfolk for many years from his store on Main St. He died in Breckenridge in 1904.

Minnie and J.D. had 10 children. Sadly, five of their children (John, Freddie, Willie, Lillie and Emma) died very young and all are remembered by large and impressive stones at The Masonic Cemetery. Their deaths serve as a reminder of the hardships families encountered in Breckenridge at the turn of the century.

As recorded in the parish register, the Robys were a “first family” of SJB. Minnie was baptized at St. John’s on December 18, 1892 and J.D. was on the first Vestry. Their home is still standing at 212 N. Ridge St.

Minnie is mentioned many times in the society pages of the historic newspapers. She entertained constantly and was described as a “culinary artist of unequaled fame”. Minnie was a member of Eastern Star and held many leadership positions in that organization. She organized a lending library operating out of her home and also served as an election judge in 1898. (Colorado was the first state to enact women’s suffrage by referendum in 1893, 27 years before passage of the 19th amendment.)

The polished brass flower vases still in use in the sanctuary at St. John’s were a gift of Minnie and her sister, Frances, in memory of their mother, Maggie, who died in Breckenridge in 1881.

 Minnie Roby lived in Breckenridge until her death in 1935 and is buried at The Masonic Cemetery (adjacent to Valley Brook Cemetery) in town.