US Chase, Katherine Jane

Katherine Jane "Kate" Chase
From A to Z - Women​

Born: August 13, 1840

Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio

Father: Chief Justice Salmon Portland Chase 1808 – 1873

(Buried: Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio)​

Mother: Eliza Ann Smith 1821 – 1845

(Buried: Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio)​

Husband: Governor William Sprague IV 1830 – 1915

(Buried: Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island)​

Married: November 12, 1863 in Washington, D. C.

Divorced: 1882 taking her maiden name back

Children:

William "Willie" Sprague V 1865 – 1890​

(Buried: Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island)​

​

Portia Sprague Browning 1867 – 1932​

(Buried: Riverside Cemetery, South Kingstown, Rhode Island)​

​

Ethel Chase Sprague Donaldson 1869 – 1936​

(Buried: Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio)​

​

Kitty Sprague 1872 – 1910​

(Buried: Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Education:

Haines School in New York City, New York​

Life Events:

1856 – 1860: Official Hostess to Governor of Ohio, Salmon Chase​

​

1861 – 1863: Hostess for her Father, who was Secretary of Treasury​

​

Visited battle camps around Washington & friend to many Generals​

​

1863: Wedding Gift was a tiara that cost more than $50,000.00​

​

1863: U.S. Band played "The Kate Chase March" at her wedding​

​

1863: President Lincoln attended wedding reception​

​

1864: Worked to try to have her father nominated for President​

​

1868: Hoped the Republican Party would dismiss Pres. Johnson​

​

1868: Ran her father's campaign for Democratic Nomination​

​

Lived at Edgewood Estate in Edgewood Washington, D.C.​

​

Lost her fortunate surviving selling Chickens and Vegetables​

Died: July 31, 1898

Place of Death: Washington, D.C.

Cause of Death: Bright's Disease

Age at time of Death: 58 years old

Burial Place: Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio

 

[Seduzal]

Thanks for sharing this awesome article.

 

[DBF]

After Kate's death, her daughters found the following verses from the poem "Love's Reality" from Coventry Patmore's "The Angel in the House". It is a poem written with Patmore's view of what an ideal and happy Victorian marriage should be. There is some speculation Kate may have kept this poem close to her heart as she was divorcing her husband and beginning her affair with Roscoe Conkling and believing again in love.

"I walk, I trust, with open eyes;
I've travelled half my worldly course,
And in the way behind me lies
Much vanity and some remorse;
I've lived to feel how pride may part
Spirits, tho' matched like hand and glove;
I've blushed for love's abode, the heart,
But have not disbelieved in love -
And love is my reward." **​

**"American Queen - The Rise and Fall of Kate Chase Sprauge, Civil War 'Belle of the North' and Gilded Age Woman of Scandal" by John Oller

 

[John Hartwell]

Postscript to a long letter dated July 29,1862, from Salmon Chase to Ben Butler:

My daughter Katie tells me to offer to you assurances of her kindest regards, and to say that she wishes you were here to keep the secession women quiet. Her displeasure is particularly excited this morning by the report of her chambermaid, who tells her that last night some 'ladies of the second class,' as Gassy calls them, going by and looking over at our poor fellows standing or sitting about in front of the hospital for convalescents established in the church just opposite to us, said one to another, 'the nasty Yankees,' 'they've got what's good for them,' 'I'm glad of it,' etc., etc. [Private and Official Correspondence, vol. 2, p. 135]​

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Her's is a sad, sad story if I am remembering it correctly. An obviously very intelligent woman, her married life sounded like hell. Her father invited her opinion on various issues of the day and respected them. Her husband appears to have treated her as if her role in life was merely to be beautiful and reflect well on him. He indulged in affairs but was then outraged when she turned to someone else.

 

[Pollaco]

Kate had earlier back her maiden name after her divorce and became somewhat of a recluse after her son Willie committed suicide in 1890. She eventually lost her fortune and that's when she resorted to raising chickens and growing vegetables.

 

[Pollaco]

A newspaper, The Cinncinati Enquirer, said of her after her passing "No Queen has ever reigned under the Stars and Stripes,but this remarkable woman came closer to being Queen than any American woman has."

 

[Pollaco]

Where is it or which museum has that tiara?

 

[Pollaco]

Most followers of Civil War biographys are aware of Salmon Chase's numerous "attempts" at resigning from his Cabinet post. We know Chase was somewhat surprised when Lincoln finally did accept his resignation. (4th I think)But most historians are at a loss as to what Kate felt about this incident.Was she relieved, was she mad at Lincoln, was she upset with her father, was it the beginning of the end to what might have been a trip to the White House?? ?? It must have been a traumatizing event and somewhat of an ego buster.

 

[DBF]

Her's is a sad, sad story

On the surface perhaps, but much of her sadness was self-inflicted. In regards to her husband William Sprague (from all I have read about her) she married him for love - - the love of his money. She saw him as a man that could bankroll her father into the presidency which is what she always wanted. No wonder they both stepped out on the marriage. She kept the gossips busy with her Senator Roscoe Conkling affair and the infamous conclusion in Narragansett, Rhode Island.

I've often wondered what would have happened if her father became President and she was "the hostess of Washington"? At the end of her life she lived quietly in Washington and was raising her mentally disabled daughter and of course she was still a beautiful woman.

 

[archieclement]

How did she lose her fortune?

 

[Pollaco]

I've often wondered was that affair with Roscoe Conkling real or just alleged? I'm sure Sprague "saw- what-he-saw" but what did it really amount to? Walking into a room while they were holding hands,kissing, in the very act, etc? Did Kate ever confess? Sounds like a soap opera don't it?

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

On the surface perhaps, but much of her sadness was self-inflicted. In regards to her husband William Sprague (from all I have read about her) she married him for love - - the love of his money. She saw him as a man that could bankroll her father into the presidency which is what she always wanted. No wonder they both stepped out on the marriage. She kept the gossips busy with her Senator Roscoe Conkling affair and the infamous conclusion in Narragansett, Rhode Island.

I've often wondered what would have happened if her father became President and she was "the hostess of Washington"? At the end of her life she lived quietly in Washington and was raising her mentally disabled daughter and of course she was still a beautiful woman.

I guess you and I have read different biographies of her. She knew she was a widely desired woman because of her political connections and wanted to be married to someone because she was sincerely loved. Sprague, unfortunately was not that man.
I've never heard or read that she was only interested in his money. A woman of her class and status was not likely to be courted by a poor man.

 

[DBF]

I guess you and I have read different biographies of her.

"American Queen, The Rise and Fall of Kate Sprague, Civil War "Belle of the North" and Gilded Age Woman of Scandal" by John Oller published in 2014

 

[Sheltowee]

Fascinating stuff. Need to read more….

 

[Sheltowee]

The OP bio states- "1868. Hoped the Republican Party would dismiss president Johnson."

But this doesn't seem to align with a Wikipedia write up about her and husband Sen. Sprague-

Sprague was elected a U.S. Senator in 1863. During the 1868 impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson, presided over by Chief Justice Salmon Chase, Sprague kept his intentions to himself, but ended up voting with most Republican senators for conviction. This may have furthered his rift with Kate, whose father's chances for the 1868 Republican Presidential nomination would have been damaged had Johnson been removed from office. Next in line to the Presidency, under the law at the time, was radical Republican President pro tempore of the U.S. SenateBenjamin Wade, who could have then run as an incumbent. Johnson was acquitted by a single vote.

Can someone clarify for me?

 

[DBF]

Can someone clarify for me?

Not sure how much I can clarify but here are a couple of interesting facts brought out in my source {*} "American Queen" by John Oller:

Kate was aware through correspondence with her her husband that he would probably vote to convict, however as the book explained:

"But there was someone else whose opinion counted for more than all the others combined. Chief Justice Chase privately told Kate that he was in favor of acquittal. And although his conduct of the impeachment proceedings was regarded by independent observers as fair and impartial, his procedural and evidentiary rulings mostly favored Johnson's defense, to such an extent that Republicans such as Sumner and Garfield viewed him as a traitor to the cause." {*} (Although Wikipedia does not footnote what you copied it almost reads verbatim what I found)

Then it goes to to explain the Benjamin Wade angle (turns out Chase blamed Wade for dividing the Ohio delegation in 1860 opening the nomination up to Lincoln) but also presents another theory that Chase was contemplating a run for President as a Democrat and was cozying up to them during the trial. His favoritism towards Johnson must have been obvious for Garfield and Sumner to take note. Kate and her father had to realize by 1868 that the Republican nomination for president was in all likelihood going to the popular and probably unbeatable Ulysses Grant so Chase would have to change parties to have a prayer.

Kate attended the impeachment trial every day sitting front and center the spot usually reserved for senators' wives. And the gossips of the day had plenty to write about:

"a Parisian suit of royal purple velvet, perfect in all its appointments. Paris has Eugenie; washington has Mrs. Senator Sprague, the acknowledged queen of fashion and good taste." {*}

Most speculated Senator Sprague would vote "on how his father-in-law and wife" wanted but in the end to exert his independence he voted guilty.

Just before the 4th of July in 1868 the Chases (father and daughter) were headed to New York for the Democratic National Convention. They left disappointed.

 

[Sheltowee]

Hmmm….. another angle. Thank you!

 

[Library Lady]

Has anyone here who has read a standard biography of Kate Chase also read Jennifer Chiaverini's novel Mrs. Lincoln's Rival? I'm curious about how much artistic license is going on in the novel. Based on the novel, I'd say she was a very smart woman who, like many very smart women before and since, made dumb decisions about men.

 

[ramkuma]

Katherine Jane "Kate" Chase
From A to Z - Women​

View attachment 328088


Born: August 13, 1840

Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio

Father: Chief Justice Salmon Portland Chase 1808 – 1873

(Buried: Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio)​

Mother: Eliza Ann Smith 1821 – 1845

(Buried: Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio)​

Husband: Governor William Sprague IV 1830 – 1915

(Buried: Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island)​

Married: November 12, 1863 in Washington, D. C.

Divorced: 1882 taking her maiden name back

Children:

William "Willie" Sprague V 1865 – 1890​

(Buried: Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island)​

​

Portia Sprague Browning 1867 – 1932​

(Buried: Riverside Cemetery, South Kingstown, Rhode Island)​

​

Ethel Chase Sprague Donaldson 1869 – 1936​

(Buried: Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio)​

​

Kitty Sprague 1872 – 1910​

(Buried: Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Education:

Haines School in New York City, New York​

Life Events:
View attachment 328090

1856 – 1860: Official Hostess to Governor of Ohio, Salmon Chase​

​

1861 – 1863: Hostess for her Father, who was Secretary of Treasury​

​

Visited battle camps around Washington & friend to many Generals​

​

1863: Wedding Gift was a tiara that cost more than $50,000.00​

​

1863: U.S. Band played "The Kate Chase March" at her wedding​

​

1863: President Lincoln attended wedding reception​

​

1864: Worked to try to have her father nominated for President​

​

1868: Hoped the Republican Party would dismiss Pres. Johnson​

​

1868: Ran her father's campaign for Democratic Nomination​

​

Lived at Edgewood Estate in Edgewood Washington, D.C.​

​

Lost her fortunate surviving selling Chickens and Vegetables​

Died: July 31, 1898

Place of Death: Washington, D.C.

Cause of Death: Bright's Disease

Age at time of Death: 58 years old

Burial Place: Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio

View attachment 328089​

I love the last picture, which actually shows her lauded beauty better. The other photos not so much.