1849 – 1947

Freed from slavery, ‘Aunt Kate’ and her mother left the plantation life seeking a new and better life. They traveled through the Cheyenne Gateway to arrive in Dakota Territory. Kate practiced the lessons of her mother very well. She used the land, helped people and followed the Golden Rule.

After working in Deadwood as a cook, midwife, nurse, boarding house manager and laundry worker, Kate homesteaded on land along Spearfish Canyon.

She earned the money to ‘prove up’ her land by selling cord wood to the forest service. Through extensive research, Joyce Jefferson found the original sales documents recording Kate’s humble beginnings.

Learn more about this woman by scheduling an educational and fun performance by Joyce as Aunt Kate today!