Kate Chase
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Katherine Jane Chase (August 13, 1840 – July 31, 1899), was the daughter of famous Ohio politician Salmon P. Chase. She is best known as a society hostess during the American Civil War, and a strong supporter of her father's political ambitions. Kate was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Keenly interested in politics and well-educated, Kate married wealthy Rhode Island Governor William Sprague during the height of the war in 1863. They eventually had four children. Kate's beauty, intelligence, and political maneuvering made her a rival of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, who did not attend her wedding.
A few months before their wedding, William and Kate paid a visit to Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles. He recorded these comments in his diary:
May 19, 1863
Governor Sprague and Miss Kate Chase called this evening. I have been skeptical as to a match, but this means something. She is beautiful, or, more properly perhaps, interesting and impressive. He is rich and holds the position of Senator. Few young men have such advantages as he, and Miss Kate has talents and ambition sufficient for both.
Kate's marriage with Sprague was an unhappy one and ended in divorce in 1882. William had problems with alcohol, and lost huge sums of money in poorly conceived business ventures. Before their divorce, Kate was accused of having an affair with New York politician Roscoe Conkling.
Kate's fortunes gradually declined and she was reduced to chicken farming. Her health deteriorated rapidly towards the end, and she died poverty-stricken in 1899 in Washington, D.C.
The Cincinnati Enquirer had this to say regarding Kate's funeral:
Hardly more than two or three—and they the nearest relatives on earth—were gathered together yesterday morning around the new-made grave in Spring Grove Cemetery, where, with the simple ceremony of commitment—"Dust to dust, ashes to ashes"—the mortal remains of the daughter of Salmon P. Chase were laid to rest forever beside the dust of her illustrious father.
[edit] Further reading
- Goodwin, Doris Kearns. Team of Rivals: the Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. 2005. ISBN 0-684-82490-6.
