Mattie Silks, or Martha Ready, was a prostitute and leading madam in the late 19th century American West.
24 Facts About Mattie Silks
2.
Mattie Silks was born Martha A Nimon in Fayette County, Pennsylvania in 1845.
3.
Mattie Silks left her family home some time between 1860 and 1865.
4.
Still, It is possible that Mattie Silks worked as both a freighter and madam while residing in Kansas as some historians contend that she was run out of Olathe, Kansas before working the cattle trails.
5.
Mattie Silks's coach was equipped with a "portable boarding" house where the girls conducted business while on the road.
6.
Mattie Silks was one of Denver's most memorable madams as she is quite popular in Denver folklore.
7.
Mattie Silks was described as a very good looking woman, with spirit and a competitive nature.
8.
The Rocky Mountain New reported Mattie Silks was fined for drunkenness in March of 1877.
9.
Mattie Silks bought her first brothel at 501 Holladay Street from Nellie French for $13,000 and suffered from stiff competition from other brothels.
10.
Mattie Silks conducted business out of buildings on either side of her brothel.
11.
Mattie Silks bought, sold, and rented property throughout the 1870's, 80's, 90's and early twentieth century.
12.
Jennie Rogers died in 1909, after which Mattie Silks purchased the House of Mirrors for $14,000.
13.
Mattie Silks continued to work as a madam, traveled, and invested in real estate, becoming a very wealthy woman.
14.
Sources are unclear as to whether Mattie married Mr Silks or lived with him as a common law wife; Collins is of the opinion that at the very least Mattie and Silks lived together as common law husband and wife for a couple of years.
15.
Mattie Silks operated one of the five brothels on Brownell Street in Georgetown.
16.
When Mattie Silks left Georgetown for Denver she was accompanied by Cortez, who had left his wife and young daughter to be with Mattie Silks.
17.
Mattie Silks was described as having less than gentlemanly morals.
18.
Mattie Silks was known to buy Mattie gifts with her own money.
19.
When Mattie Silks caught him in a compromising position with a rival madam, Lillie Dab, she threatened Dab with her pistol.
20.
Mattie Silks opened a brothel during their three month stay in Alaska.
21.
Mattie Silks married her employee, John Ready on May 1,1923.
22.
Mattie Silks died in 1929 from complications due to a fall.
23.
Mattie Silks was buried under the name Martha Ready, beside her longtime lover Cortez Thomson, in block 12-lot 31, of Fairmount Cemetery in Denver.
24.
Mattie Silks left $4,000 in real estate and $2,500 in jewels.