Kitty Wilkins
Encyclopedia
Katherine Caroline Wilkins (1857–1936), aka Kitty or Kittie, was a horse breeder
at the turn of the 20th century known as the "Horse Queen of Idaho." She was the only American woman at that time whose livelihood was based solely on the trade. The Wilkins Horse Company at Bruneau's Diamond Ranch supplied thousands of horses for Midwestern markets like St. Louis
and Chicago
, and later to the U.S. Army in the First World War.
Wilkins was raised in Tuscarora, Nevada
where her father John Wilkins operated a hotel. She was well educated, sent to St. Vincent’s Academy in Walla Walla, Washington
and later the Convent of Notre Dame in San Jose, California
. In the early 1880s, her family moved to the Bruneau country of Idaho and began operating the horse ranch that she later inherited.
She retired to Glenns Ferry, Idaho
after 1920.
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
at the turn of the 20th century known as the "Horse Queen of Idaho." She was the only American woman at that time whose livelihood was based solely on the trade. The Wilkins Horse Company at Bruneau's Diamond Ranch supplied thousands of horses for Midwestern markets like St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and later to the U.S. Army in the First World War.
Wilkins was raised in Tuscarora, Nevada
Tuscarora, Nevada
Tuscarora is an unincorporated community in Elko County, Nevada. It is home to two small schools provided by the Elko County School District. Tuscarora is part of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area....
where her father John Wilkins operated a hotel. She was well educated, sent to St. Vincent’s Academy in Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
and later the Convent of Notre Dame in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. In the early 1880s, her family moved to the Bruneau country of Idaho and began operating the horse ranch that she later inherited.
She retired to Glenns Ferry, Idaho
Glenns Ferry, Idaho
Glenns Ferry is a city in Elmore County, Idaho, United States. The population was 1,611 at the 2000 census. The city is adjacent to Interstate 84 and the Snake River.-History:Glenns Ferry was one of the most famous river crossings on the Oregon Trail...
after 1920.
External links
- Queen of Diamonds, Wilkins research blog by Philip A. Homan
- Idaho State Historical SocietyIdaho State Historical SocietyThe Idaho State Historical Society is a historical society located in the U.S. state of Idaho that preserves and promotes Idaho’s cultural heritage. The society's vision is to inspire, enrich, and reach out to all Idahoans by providing leadership in the areas of preservation and dissemination of...
entry on Kitty Wilkins' Diamond Ranch - Idaho State Historical Society entry on Ranching and Mining in the Bruneau Country
- "Hot Spring Heaven" in Southwest Aviator online.