Kate Bender

The Lives of Women in History

Kate Bender gained a reputation as an attractive but dangerous woman in her Labette County community. Living with her mother, father, and brother while helping them run an isolated grocery and roadhouse she felt somewhat like an alien. She was the only one to culture social skills. It was even said that she had an alleged gift for second sight and spiritualism and distributed advertising circulars throughout the county proclaiming her abilities.

Her enduring fame wouldn't come from her supposed abilities but that of murder. Kate was the leading member of the "Bloody Benders." The small Bender home was divided into two rooms by canvas cloth. There was a table, stove, and grocery stores in front and beds in the back along with the pit-like cellar covered by a trap door.

The Bender family's crimes were considered some of the more gruesome perpetrated on Kansas soil. John, his wife Katherine, son John Jr., and daughter Kate operated an inn outside of Parsons from 1871 to 1873.

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