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James Louis
Killin: James was the son of Olive & James B. Killin and the only survivor of three boys born to this union. “Louis,” as he was known, was born in Monument, Colorado January 12, 1904 and after graduating college became a chemist in the sugar beet industry working in Cuba for many years. He never married but loved to cook and continued the line of Shorthorn Cattle his father started. He cared for his mother after his father’s death in 1946 where they continued to live on the family ranch. In addition to ranching, he was involved in the Episcopal Church in Castle Rock. He passed away September 6, 1963 at the age of 59. James Louis Killin’s father, James Bernard Killin, was born in Pettisvillie, Ohio March 23, 1868 and came to Kiowa in 1880 to work as a ranch hand. In 1898 he married Olive Higby, the first daughter of J.W. and Emily Briley Higby. Olive was born in Hummeston. Iowa on December 30, 1877. Before their marriage Olive was employed by the Russell Gates Mercantile Co. in Eastonville, Colorado, one of the first chain stores in the country. J.C. Penney worked for the same organization in Elbert. It was Olive’s responsibility to take the cash receipts from the rural stores and travel to Denver via the C&S Train to deliver the monies to the main store. She was entrusted with ten to twenty thousand dollars which she hid in her corset! In 1894 Mrs. Killin went to the State Normal School at Greeley, Colorado to become a teacher and later returned to eastern El Paso County to teach at Big Sandy and the Plum School for two years. In May of 1900 the Killin’s moved to Monument where they were engaged in the mercantile business with her father J.W. Higby. Later in 1904 they went to Brush to continue the hardware and mercantile business and also to Kersey in 1906. When James B. Killin’s health worsened in 1912, he and Olive purchased the Lincoln Ranch in Spring Valley and began a herd of Shorthorn Cattle which they continued to improve over many years. Mr. Killin loved to encourage younger men into the ranching business as he had found success and happiness in the land. Together Mr. and Mrs. Killin were very active in their community. Olive was President of the Cherry Homemakers Club, served on the school board for Spring Valley School, taught the Cherry Sunday School, was active in the Douglas County Fair and was a reporter for Record Journal of Douglas County. James B. Killin passed away January 12, 1946 and Olive Killin on January 15, 1961. James Louis Killin left $75,000 at his death to build the Killin Chapel on Spring Valley Cemetery grounds, in memory of his parents. A dedication of the chapel was done May 21, 1966. |
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