The Lake County times., 1907-11-12
LIVES YEARS AS MAN;
SEX KNOWN At DEATH
Woman Dies at Age of SO
and Double Life of Long
Duration is Barred.
BORE BURDEN or A FATHER
Happy Marriage and Home Life Are
Features of Her Story Full
Of Romance.

Trinidad, Colo, Nov. 11-Katherine
Vosbaugh, an eccentric French woman
of brilliant attainments, died here this
morning at the age Of SO, after mas
querading sixty years as a man The
woman donned trousers when a girl and
had horror of skirts up to the time
of her death. She filed a score Of re-
sponsible positions. and her true sex
was never suspected. She possessed
the spirit of a man apart from mans
apparel and proved it by marrying in
chivalrous way, a young woman.
whose dance had deserted her at
time when her good name was at stake
Just twice during her entire life was
the fact that Katherine vosbaugh was
woman made known. The first time
was when, at 80 years of age, she re-
vealed it to the young woman she mar
ried in st. Joseph, Mo. The next and
last time was when she was convinced
she was dying. and was compelled to
inform the hospital physician.
Works in Many Fields.
During her long life she had been
bank clerk. a sheep herder, a book
keeper, a restaurant keeper and a min
ing camp cook. Although she spoke
several languages and had been brought
up In refinement she never seemed
SO happy as when she was clad in
rough overalls and heavy shoes, doing
the most laborious work
She wandered all over the world. and
although often compelled to associate
with the toughest men, she was never
suspected of being a woman, and on
more than one occasion proved herself
more of manly man than her asso-
ciates. She came to America in 1912 at
the age of Is, shortly after her faith
er's death. She decided that she could
make her way as a man, but not as a
woman. She donned trousers and set
tied in Joplin. Mo, as a bookkeeper
For nine years she remained in Jop-
lin and was esteemed fine young man
and one whom more than one young
woman considered her a most eligible
partner. Her excellent record, educa-
tion and steadiness procured her a po-
sition as a clerk in a st. Joseph bank
1t was shortly after she had accepted
this position that she learned of the
trouble of the young woman whom she
afterward married.
Bears Burden of 'Father."
When Miss Vosbaughs "wife's" baby
was born the oddly attached people
removed to Trinidad and opened up a
French restaurant. The town people
thought them a model couple. The
baby died a few months later. Shortly
after the mother disappeared and the
husband" refused to make a search
for her The people of Trinidad were
profuse in their expressions of sym
pathy for the deserted man"
Forty years ago Miss Vosbaugh OBJ
tanned employment at the Sam Brown
ranch. near Trinchera, as sheep
herder Later, when she saw that her
sex could not be discovered except
through unusual accident. she accepted
work as camp cook and remained in
that capacity UP to two years ago.
Some of the toughest characters Of
the west associated with her without
ever suspecting her sex. In many stir
ring scenes when men revealed fear
and nervousness she kept her poise.
Two years ago her infirmities COM.
PEELED her removal to San Raphael hos
pital. Even then the men of the camp
bade her goodby affectionately as
Grandpa and "Old Man Frenchy." For
many weeks she refused to battle un-
less she could do so without attend
ants being present. to the great amuse-
ment of the sisters. who joked about
the old mans over -modesty. Shortly
after she was seized with severe cold,
which led TO the physicians eXamina-
tion laying bare her life secret.
When her sex was revealed the hos
pital authorities at first insisted that
she wear the proper garb Of her sex.
The garments proved SO irksome to
her. however, that she was finally per
mitted to don overalls. She pottered
around the hospital working for the
sisters up to the time of her death.
She was supported by the county, but
number of Trinidad residents have
arranged so that she will not have q
pauper's burial.