Kathleen Eloisa Rockwell
"Klondike Kate"
Kathleen Eloisa Rockwell was born on October 4, 1876 at Junction City, Kansas. Her Father, John W. Rockwell was a railroader, her Mother Martha Alice, eighteen years younger than her husband, worked as a waitress.
Two months after her birth, the Rockwell family moved to Oswego, Kansas, where her father had accepted a position as freight and ticket agent with the newly completed Missouri and Western Railroad. Mrs. Rockwell opened the Depot Restaurant.
In 1881, Kate's mother divorced her father. Her attorney was Frank Bettis. Bettis was a prominent attorney and
politician in Labette County. In 1882, Kate's mother married Mr. Bettis. During his years in Oswego, Frank Bettis served on the bench and in the State Legislature.In 1882, the Bettis family moved to Spokane Falls, Washington. Mr. Bettis became a very prominent and wealth attorney in Washington.
By 1890, Kate was in New York City as a stage struck girl and later trooped through the country with touring groups as a singer and dancer.
In 1898, at the age of 22, Kate was in Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada during the gold rush. In the Klondikes, Kate became the most famous of the dance hall girls in Dawson City. She was reported to have made $750 per night dancing for the sourdoughs that flocked to Dawson City to spend their diggings and to seek grubstakes.
During the last years of her life, Klondike Kate lived in Oregon.
Kate died on February 21, 1957, age 77. At her home in sweet home, Oregon. She was survived by her third husband, William L. Van Duren.