Theresa Dyer

Theresa Dyer, better known by her pen names, Minnie Myrtle and Minnie Myrtle Miller (May 2, 1842 – May 15, 1882), was an American author of prose and verse. She was a frequent contributor to newspapers, writing under her pen name, "Minnie Myrtle", before her marriage to Joaquin Miller, and as "Minnie Myrtle Miller" thereafter. in Curry County, The father kept a ferry near Horas Creek about south of Port Orford, Oregon.

Dyer was described as a precocious and attractive child. Her older sister, Ada (or Emma), married Captain Charles Hilburn (or Hilbron),

Dyer taught school in Lane County, Oregon. She had a taste for literature and began writing for Joaquin Miller's paper. Her contributions in prose and verse attracted attention. The court declared them divorced on April 19, and Dyer was granted custody of the baby while the two older children, Maud and George, were left in the care of her mother. Joaquin was ordered to pay per year in child support. He never denied her charges that he was neglectful of her and their children and was rarely home.

Before Joaquin left for London, he placed Maud in the Convent of Loretto, Ontario, Canada.

Dyer came to San Francisco and wrote for local journals. She also delivered lectures, mainly on Oregon and Western themes, throughout the East. After Joaquin left the U.S. again, Dyer arrived in Chicago to take vengeance on him. Though she had planned to make Joaquin the subject of a lecture there, she was advised that it would only injure her own children. She acted on the advice and selected another topic. The night she was to lecture was one of the coldest in the city. The lecture was a complete failure, and the next morning, she was in tears. Her business manager, Mr. Kinne of San Francisco, had left for California, leaving her penniless and with her board bill in arrears. After her affairs were quickly rearranged, she left for Ohio where her relatives resided. That autumn, she returned to Chicago and appeared well supplied with funds. She repaid her loans. He was a member of the police force of Portland. He was a bright, handsome fellow, but also a drunkard, and she left him.

In early May 1882, it was reported by the press that Dyer was dying in New Jersey. Joaquin did all that was possible for Dyer. Dyer died in New York City at the New York Infirmary for Women and Children of pneumonia and tuberculosis. Dyer was interred in the Cemetery of the Evergreens, Brooklyn. She left unfinished several poems and a sketch of her life which she tried to complete before death. It was never published, the manuscript having been misplaced and could not be found. A key to her last days appears to be given in these lines of her poem, "At the Land's End."

"I am conscript—hurrid to battle With fates—yet I fain would be Vanquished and silenced forever And driven back to my sea. Oh! to leave this strife, this turmoil, Leave all undone and skim Wth the clouds that flee to the hill tops And rest forever with Him."

Selected works She was the author of one-half the poems contained in the first book written by Joaquin, entitled, Joaquin, et al..

Many people believe that Joaquin incorporated poems of hers into the Songs of the Sierras.