Big Nose Kate – Doc Holliday’s Sidekick
Mary Katherine Haroney, famously known as "Big Nose Kate," remains a captivating figure in the tapestry of the American West. Though born into a family of standing, fate led her down a different path, intertwining her life with the saloons and gambling halls of the era. She carved out her own unique space in history, most notably as the tempestuous, on-again, off-again companion of the legendary Doc Holliday. This is the story of Big Nose Kate, a woman who defied convention and lived life on her own terms.
Born on November 7, 1850, in Hungary, Mary Katherine Haroney’s early life was marked by privilege and upheaval. Her father, a physician, received a prestigious appointment in 1862 as the personal surgeon to Emperor Maximillian of Mexico. The family relocated across the Atlantic, immersing themselves in the opulent, yet politically unstable, world of the Mexican court. However, their time in Mexico was short-lived. By 1865, Emperor Maximillian’s reign crumbled under the weight of internal strife and external pressures. The Haroney family, their fortunes tied to the fallen regime, were forced to flee the country, seeking refuge in Davenport, Iowa.
Tragedy struck swiftly and decisively. In March of 1865, when young Kate was just fourteen years old, her mother succumbed to illness, leaving a void in the family. Only two months later, fate dealt another cruel blow with the passing of her father. Orphaned and vulnerable, Kate and her siblings were placed in separate foster homes, scattering the family unit and setting her on a course far removed from her privileged beginnings.
In 1867, Big Nose Kate found herself under the care of a man named Otto Smith. Restless and yearning for independence, she decided to take control of her destiny. Impulsively, she stowed away on a steamship bound for St. Louis, Missouri, a bustling metropolis offering the promise of anonymity and opportunity.
Discovered by the ship’s captain, a man named Fisher, Kate’s fate hung in the balance. Instead of turning her away, Fisher showed compassion and allowed her to continue her journey to St. Louis. Grateful for his kindness, she adopted his name and enrolled in a local convent school, seeking education and perhaps a semblance of stability.
Later, Big Nose Kate married a dentist named Silas Melvin, and the couple experienced the joy of parenthood with the birth of a child. However, their happiness was tragically short-lived. In a devastating turn of events, both her husband and child passed away within the same year, leaving her heartbroken and alone. The details of these events remain shrouded in mystery, adding another layer of complexity to her already enigmatic life.
By 1874, Kate’s path had led her to Wichita, Kansas, a burgeoning frontier town. It is believed she found work in a sporting house operated by Nellie Bessie Earp, the wife of James Earp. While Kate maintained she did not meet Wyatt Earp until she arrived in Fort Griffin, Texas, the historical record places them both in Wichita during the same period, fueling speculation about a possible connection between the two.
In 1875, going by the alias Kate Elder, she was documented as working as a dance hall girl in Dodge City, Kansas. These roles often blurred the lines between entertainment and prostitution, a common reality for women seeking economic survival in the rough-and-tumble environment of the Old West. This marked a significant departure from her upbringing and solidified her association with the fringes of society.
A couple of years later, drawn by the allure of new opportunities, she ventured further south to Fort Griffin, Texas. It was in the smoky atmosphere of John Shanssey’s Saloon that she encountered Doc Holliday, a charismatic and quick-witted gambler and dentist. By this time, she had already acquired the moniker "Big Nose" Kate, a somewhat unflattering but memorable nickname referencing her prominent nasal feature. Despite this physical characteristic, Kate possessed a certain allure and undeniable strength of character. She was known for her toughness, stubbornness, and a fiery temper that rivaled Doc’s own. She openly admitted to working in the "business" because she enjoyed it, fiercely asserting her independence and refusing to be tied to any man or establishment. Big Nose Kate was a woman who made her own rules.
The ensuing years saw Kate and Holliday embarking on a tumultuous journey together, crisscrossing the territories of Kansas, Colorado, South Dakota, and New Mexico. Their relationship was characterized by intense passion, frequent quarrels, and periods of separation. Despite their bond, Kate continued to work as a prostitute, a reflection of both her economic realities and her independent spirit.
An infamous incident in Fort Griffin in 1877 highlights the volatile nature of their world. Doc, dealing cards, found himself in a confrontation with a local bully named Ed Bailey. Bailey, accustomed to getting his way, repeatedly violated the rules of Western Poker by examining the discarded cards, an act that could result in forfeiting the pot. After repeated warnings, Doc swiftly and decisively raked in the pot without revealing his hand. Enraged, Bailey drew his pistol, but before he could fire, Doc’s knife flashed, leaving the bully severely wounded.
Aware that his actions were in self-defense, Doc remained at the scene and was taken into custody, confined to a hotel room due to the town’s lack of a proper jail. However, a vigilante mob quickly formed, seeking retribution for Bailey’s injury. Realizing the danger, Big Nose Kate devised a daring plan to liberate Doc from his captors. Setting fire to an old shed, she created a diversion that drew the attention of the entire town. Amidst the chaos, she confronted the officer guarding Doc, disarmed him, and together they made their escape.
Under the cover of darkness, they fled to Dodge City, Kansas, registering at Deacon Cox’s Boarding House as Dr. and Mrs. J.H. Holliday. Doc, deeply grateful for Kate’s unwavering loyalty and bravery, vowed to change his ways, setting aside his gambling and attempting to re-establish his dental practice. In return, Kate promised to abandon prostitution and stay away from the saloons.
Hearing that Wyatt Earp had ventured to Tombstone, Arizona, lured by the promise of a new silver strike, Doc decided to follow suit. Unbeknownst to him, Kate was also en route to the burgeoning boomtown. Their paths converged in Prescott, Arizona, where Doc was enjoying a streak of good fortune at the gambling tables, amassing a considerable sum of $40,000. Kate was happy to share in his success. By the early summer of 1880, they arrived in Tombstone, ready to make their mark.
Kate briefly ran a boarding house in Globe, Arizona, approximately 175 miles from Tombstone. However, she frequently visited Doc, and their reunions were often marked by heated arguments, particularly when Kate indulged in alcohol. Her drunken outbursts often escalated into verbal abuse, and in early 1881, Doc, reaching his breaking point, threw her out.
A pivotal moment arrived on March 15, 1881, when four masked men attempted to rob a stagecoach near Contention, resulting in the deaths of the stage driver and a passenger. The Cowboy faction of Tombstone, eager to implicate their rivals, accused Doc Holliday of being one of the perpetrators. The sheriff investigating the crime found Kate in a drunken stupor, still railing against Doc for his rejection. Exploiting her vulnerable state, the sheriff plied her with more whiskey and persuaded her to sign an affidavit claiming that Doc had been one of the masked highwaymen and had murdered the stage driver.
As Kate sobered up, the Earps worked diligently to gather witnesses who could corroborate Doc’s alibi for the night in question. Realizing the gravity of her actions and the injustice she had perpetrated, Kate recanted her statement, leading to the dismissal of the charges against Doc. However, for Doc, this betrayal was the final straw. He gave her some money and put her on a stage out of town, ending their tumultuous relationship.
From 1882 until his death in 1887, Doc Holliday resided in Colorado. During this period, Kate was also present in the state, at least intermittently, as her brother owned property in Glenwood Springs. According to some accounts, Doc may have spent time with Kate and her family, as her brother’s home was located near the Sulfur Springs that Holliday visited in an attempt to alleviate his tuberculosis. Kate remained in Colorado even after Holliday’s death.
In 1888, Kate married a blacksmith named George M. Cummings, and the couple relocated to Bisbee, Arizona, a short distance from Tombstone. They also resided for a time in Pearce, Arizona. In 1889, Kate left her husband and moved to the small railroad town of Cochise, Arizona, situated at the junction of the Arizona Eastern and Southern Pacific railroads. In 1899, John J. Rath hired Kate to work in his Cochise Hotel, concealing her true identity from the patrons. She departed from the Cochise Hotel in the summer of 1900 and moved in with a man named Howard from the mining town of Dos Cabezas.
She lived with Howard until his death in 1930, inheriting his property. In 1931, she wrote to the Governor of Arizona, George W.P. Hunt, requesting admission to the "Arizona Pioneers Home." Due to her foreign birth, she was initially ineligible for admission. However, claiming she had been born in Davenport, Iowa, she was accepted into the home. Kate remained at the Pioneers Home until her death on November 2, 1940, just five days shy of her 90th birthday. Big Nose Kate’s life, a tapestry woven with hardship, adventure, and defiance, came to an end, leaving behind a legacy that continues to fascinate and intrigue.