When you think about notable women in the Pikes Peak region, Helen Hunt Jackson and Mary Lincoln “Queen” Palmer, both instrumental in the founding of Colorado Springs, may be the first who come to mind. However, there are many remarkable women resting in Evergreen Cemetery that have ties to the City of Colorado Springs. We are honored to share their stories, filled with courage and perseverance.
Ellen Jack: A Life of Adventure and Resilience
Did you know that Captain Jacks Trail, a popular hiking and biking route located off High Drive in North Cheyenne Cañon Park, was named after Ellen Jack? Ellen Jack’s life was one of hardship, determination, and adventure. Like many folks who settled in this area during the mining days in the mid-19th century, some of her stories may have been truer than others. Born in England in 1842, she was rumored to have survived a brutal attack by a jealous Russian lover before making her way to the United States. On board the ship to the U.S., she met and later married Captain Charles E. Jack. After his death, she took on his title and became Captain Jack.
Soon after, her life story took an even crazier turn as the owner and operator of Jack’s Place, an eating house in Gunnison, Colorado. It was there that Ute Chief Colorow and his tribe decided to storm the town. During this conflict Captain Jack stood her ground, firing her weapon, even though she was bleeding profusely from a hatchet wound to the forehead. It was Colorow himself, who rode into town, under a white flag to save Captain Jack who was suffering from the poisoned hatchet.
Eventually, Captain Jack settled in Colorado Springs in the early 1900s, where she operated a tourist attraction atop High Drive in North Cheyenne Canyon. Visitors not only enjoyed breathtaking views but also stayed overnight, indulging in her famous chicken dinners while listening to her captivating tales. Jack also posed for photos outfitted in a simple cotton blouse, wool skirt with lace up boots. She accessorized with a mining pick, a six-shooter tucked into her belt and was often accompanied by her pet burro, cats and parrots.
In 1921, a devastating flood washed out access to High Drive, preventing her from returning to her home and tourist destination. She passed away from a broken heart on June 16, 1921, and the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) ensured that she be laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery. Her grave in Block 74 faces High Drive and “Captain Jacks” the trail that bears her name, a tribute to the land she loved.
Dr. Julia Loomis: A Pioneer in Medicine
In the 1870s and 1880s, Colorado Springs became a haven for health seekers, drawing physicians and patients alike to its sunny, healing climate. Among the area’s earliest doctors was Julia Loomis, the first woman with a medical degree to practice in Colorado Springs.
Born in 1816 in New Woodstock, New York, Julia was the youngest of ten daughters. In 1836, at the age of 20, she married John Loomis.However, she refused to conform to the rigid expectations of Victorian womanhood. In 1870,at the age of 54, she defied the odds by earning her M.D. from Cleveland Woman’s Homeopathic College.
Despite her late start in medicine, Julia dedicated the next decade to her practice in Colorado Springs. Sadly, Julie passed away from pneumonia when she was 64.. She is buried in Block 40 of Evergreen Cemetery, as a testament to her pioneering spirit in a field then dominated by men.
Millicent Peterson Young: A WASP Who Took to the Skies
During World War II, as fathers, brothers, husbands, and sons were called to fight overseas, countless women stepped up to fill roles traditionally held by men. While many recognize the contributions of "Rosie the Riveters" in factories, fewer know about the brave women who took to the skies as members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) like Millicent Peterson Young.
Born in 1922 near Lodgepole, Nebraska,Young’s fascination with flying began when a barnstormer, a stunt plane, landed on her family’s farm. Excited, she approached the plane, only to be scolded by the pilot: “Don’t touch that plane, little girl.”
Undeterred, Young worked tirelessly, leasing land from neighbors to grow and harvest wheat, earning her own money to pursue her dream as a pilot. Eventually, she joined the WASPs, taking on crucial roles such as transporting bombers and training male pilots—helping pave the way for future generations of women in aviation.
Millicent Amanda Peterson Young lived in Colorado Springs for more than sixty years. She died on January 12, 2019 and is buried in Block 26 in Evergreen Cemetery.