The mystery of Cort, as in life, continues in his resting place. Cort Tomspn, or Thompson, depending on the day that he was spelling it and, I suppose, the mood he was in, lays is an unmarked grave in the Fairmont Cemetery. This is very puzzling for a number of reasons.
Cort, at the time of his death in 1900, was the dearly loved husband on one Mattie Silks. Mattie was buried next to Cort and has a headstone, albeit modest for a woman that managed to develop the wealth she amassed in her lifetime.
At the time of Cort's death, Mattie was near the height of her fortune and Cort was spending it rather freely. History books tell us that Mattie was so in love with Cort that she didn't care about his frivolousness. So why is Cort in an unmarked grave?
1870 United States Federal Census about Cortez D Thomson
Name: Cortez D Thomson
Age in 1870: 19
Birth Year: abt 1851
Birthplace: Alabama
Home in 1870: Kansas City Ward 1, Jackson, Missouri
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Kansas City
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members:
Name Age
William Thomson 52
Mary E Thomson 43
William L Thomson 25
James H Thomson 23
Cortez D Thomson 19
John J Thomson 15
Charles Thomson 13
Hattie Elgin 18
I just read her story this morning in Soiled Doves, Prostitution in the Early West by Anne Seagraves. Mattie's affair with the dandy and worthless lazy bum, Cort, turned into marriage when Cort's wife died in 1884. He had a daughter from that marriage and when the daughter died leaving the child orphaned, Cort refused to accept responsibility for her. So Mattie adopted the child. It was estimated that Cort spent over $50,000 of Matties money. She later married Jack Ready who she had earlier hired as her bouncer and financial advisor. He remained true to her until her death in 1929 at the age of 83. It was estimated she had over two million dollars go through her hands during her career, however, when she died she had very little. Her estate consisted of $4000 and some jewelry which was divided between her adopted granddaughter and her husband, Jack Ready.
Cort, at the time of his death in 1900, was the dearly loved husband on one Mattie Silks. Mattie was buried next to Cort and has a headstone, albeit modest for a woman that managed to develop the wealth she amassed in her lifetime.
At the time of Cort's death, Mattie was near the height of her fortune and Cort was spending it rather freely. History books tell us that Mattie was so in love with Cort that she didn't care about his frivolousness. So why is Cort in an unmarked grave?
1870 United States Federal Census about Cortez D Thomson
Name: Cortez D Thomson
Age in 1870: 19
Birth Year: abt 1851
Birthplace: Alabama
Home in 1870: Kansas City Ward 1, Jackson, Missouri
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Kansas City
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members:
Name Age
William Thomson 52
Mary E Thomson 43
William L Thomson 25
James H Thomson 23
Cortez D Thomson 19
John J Thomson 15
Charles Thomson 13
Hattie Elgin 18
I just read her story this morning in Soiled Doves, Prostitution in the Early West by Anne Seagraves. Mattie's affair with the dandy and worthless lazy bum, Cort, turned into marriage when Cort's wife died in 1884. He had a daughter from that marriage and when the daughter died leaving the child orphaned, Cort refused to accept responsibility for her. So Mattie adopted the child. It was estimated that Cort spent over $50,000 of Matties money. She later married Jack Ready who she had earlier hired as her bouncer and financial advisor. He remained true to her until her death in 1929 at the age of 83. It was estimated she had over two million dollars go through her hands during her career, however, when she died she had very little. Her estate consisted of $4000 and some jewelry which was divided between her adopted granddaughter and her husband, Jack Ready.
The mystery of Cort, as in life, continues in his resting place. Cort Tomspn, or Thompson, depending on the day that he was spelling it and, I suppose, the mood he was in, lays is an unmarked grave in the Fairmont Cemetery. This is very puzzling for a number of reasons.
Cort, at the time of his death in 1900, was the dearly loved husband on one Mattie Silks. Mattie was buried next to Cort and has a headstone, albeit modest for a woman that managed to develop the wealth she amassed in her lifetime.
At the time of Cort's death, Mattie was near the height of her fortune and Cort was spending it rather freely. History books tell us that Mattie was so in love with Cort that she didn't care about his frivolousness. So why is Cort in an unmarked grave?
1870 United States Federal Census about Cortez D Thomson
Name: Cortez D Thomson
Age in 1870: 19
Birth Year: abt 1851
Birthplace: Alabama
Home in 1870: Kansas City Ward 1, Jackson, Missouri
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Kansas City
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members:
Name Age
William Thomson 52
Mary E Thomson 43
William L Thomson 25
James H Thomson 23
Cortez D Thomson 19
John J Thomson 15
Charles Thomson 13
Hattie Elgin 18
I just read her story this morning in Soiled Doves, Prostitution in the Early West by Anne Seagraves. Mattie's affair with the dandy and worthless lazy bum, Cort, turned into marriage when Cort's wife died in 1884. He had a daughter from that marriage and when the daughter died leaving the child orphaned, Cort refused to accept responsibility for her. So Mattie adopted the child. It was estimated that Cort spent over $50,000 of Matties money. She later married Jack Ready who she had earlier hired as her bouncer and financial advisor. He remained true to her until her death in 1929 at the age of 83. It was estimated she had over two million dollars go through her hands during her career, however, when she died she had very little. Her estate consisted of $4000 and some jewelry which was divided between her adopted granddaughter and her husband, Jack Ready.
Cort, at the time of his death in 1900, was the dearly loved husband on one Mattie Silks. Mattie was buried next to Cort and has a headstone, albeit modest for a woman that managed to develop the wealth she amassed in her lifetime.
At the time of Cort's death, Mattie was near the height of her fortune and Cort was spending it rather freely. History books tell us that Mattie was so in love with Cort that she didn't care about his frivolousness. So why is Cort in an unmarked grave?
1870 United States Federal Census about Cortez D Thomson
Name: Cortez D Thomson
Age in 1870: 19
Birth Year: abt 1851
Birthplace: Alabama
Home in 1870: Kansas City Ward 1, Jackson, Missouri
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Kansas City
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members:
Name Age
William Thomson 52
Mary E Thomson 43
William L Thomson 25
James H Thomson 23
Cortez D Thomson 19
John J Thomson 15
Charles Thomson 13
Hattie Elgin 18
I just read her story this morning in Soiled Doves, Prostitution in the Early West by Anne Seagraves. Mattie's affair with the dandy and worthless lazy bum, Cort, turned into marriage when Cort's wife died in 1884. He had a daughter from that marriage and when the daughter died leaving the child orphaned, Cort refused to accept responsibility for her. So Mattie adopted the child. It was estimated that Cort spent over $50,000 of Matties money. She later married Jack Ready who she had earlier hired as her bouncer and financial advisor. He remained true to her until her death in 1929 at the age of 83. It was estimated she had over two million dollars go through her hands during her career, however, when she died she had very little. Her estate consisted of $4000 and some jewelry which was divided between her adopted granddaughter and her husband, Jack Ready.
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