Life in those times was no easy feat. Disease ran rampant and without modern medical care, there was very little anyone could do about it. Charlotte, Jane’s mother, developed pneumonia that killed her not long after their arrival in Montana.
Her husband, Jane’s father, Robert, knew he had to think of something fast or his family was in trouble.
Her husband, Jane’s father, Robert, knew he had to think of something fast or his family was in trouble.
Cannary detailed her life in her tell-all account, starting with the year of her birth. But researchers would later lay claim to the fact it was proven she was indeed born several years after what she originally said.
And that was far from the only truth she seemed to stretch in the book, "The Autobiography of Calamity Jane".
And that was far from the only truth she seemed to stretch in the book, "The Autobiography of Calamity Jane".
Everyone had to scramble for ways to survive in Cannary’s days. That meant that a lot of the women wound up in brothels. But there was something that existed that could save Jane’s family from a life in poverty and despair: gold.
And there was plenty of it in Montana. The family loaded up and headed west.
And there was plenty of it in Montana. The family loaded up and headed west.
But it wasn’t long before Robert passed away, too, leaving behind five children. Martha, who was the oldest of them all, felt weighted down by the responsibility.
But she put her feelings aside and jumped into action to help take care of her younger siblings.
But she put her feelings aside and jumped into action to help take care of her younger siblings.
What was the 14-year old to do to care for a family of five? She knew that Montana obviously wasn’t the answer, considering the fact it had killed her parents.
So, she packed her brothers and sisters up and headed south towards Wyoming. It was there when she would start to really grow into her own.
So, she packed her brothers and sisters up and headed south towards Wyoming. It was there when she would start to really grow into her own.