Martha Jane Canary-Burke, better known as Calamity Jane (May 1, 1852 – August 1, 1903), was a frontierswoman, prostitute, and professional scout best known for her claim of being an acquaintance of Wild Bill Hickok, but also for having gained fame fighting Native American Indians. She exhibited kindness and compassion towards others, especially the sick and needy, but she was an alcoholic and traded sexual favors for money. This contrast helped t...
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Martha Jane Canary-Burke, better known as Calamity Jane (May 1, 1852 – August 1, 1903), was a frontierswoman, prostitute, and professional scout best known for her claim of being an acquaintance of Wild Bill Hickok, but also for having gained fame fighting Native American Indians. She exhibited kindness and compassion towards others, especially the sick and needy, but she was an alcoholic and traded sexual favors for money. This contrast helped to make her a famous and infamous frontier figure.
Calamity Jane was born on May 1, 1852 as Martha Jane Cannary in Princeton, Missouri, within Mercer County. Her parents, Robert W. and Charlotte Cannary, were listed in the 1860 census as living about 7 miles (11 km) further northeast of Princeton in Ravanna. Martha Jane was the oldest of six children, having two brothers and three sisters. In 1865, Robert packed his family and moved by wagon train from Missouri to Virginia City, Montana. Charlotte died along the way in Black Foot, Montana in...
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