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A Montana Lady Called Chicago Joe

© Mary Trotter Kion

When gold was discovered, in the mid-1860s, near what is now known as Helena, Montana a new breed of customer arrived in the area. They called themselves gold miners. But when the score was totaled the tally showed that these shifters and sifters of the shiny stuff had the same basic needs and desires as most other western men of the time.

First off, after a little warm beans and sowbelly to keep their stomachs from rubbing their backbones raw from within, mining caused a powerful thirst in the best, or worst, of them. Whiskey, raw or smooth or otherwise, was the usual choice of beverage in this instant. Now, what with their insides somewhat satisfied on two counts, most tended to turn their attention to one other basic need. It was a need of the fluffier, finer, feminine kind. Well, perhaps not real fluffy or particular fine, but none the less-certainly feminine in a variety of degrees.

With Helena and the surrounding areas being the new and upcoming Eldorado there were opportunities for all sorts of business establishments. And, of course, they were all designed to help these pore lonesome miners fulfill their desires and to empty their pockets of hard-earned gold dust.

One such business minded gal swept into town from the rougher parts of Chicago. By birth she was named Josephine Hensley. But it wasn't long before this perky, curly-headed brunet had acquired the handle of 'Chicago Joe.'

When the word had sifted back east, at least as far as Chicago, about the new bonanza Josephine packed her duds, left Chicago, and headed for Montana to collect her share of this new-found western wealth. She had already served her apprenticeship in the art of pleasing men and had graduated with honors. So at the ripe old age of twenty-three Josephine set up shop in a log cabin in Helena where she earned the distinction of being the first woman, at least in Montana Territory, to own her own dancehall, or hurdy-gurdy as they were sometimes called. Hurdy-gurdy was the general name given to such establishments such as Hensley operated. The name was a leftover from the California Gold Rush days when dance hall music was provided by hand organs.

But there wouldn't be any wheezing organ-grinding music at Chicago Joe's place. Hensley took her establishment a step upwards, as compared to the other like-minded businesses. For the listening and dancing pleasure of her customers Joe provided an actual log cabin-encased orchestra, consisting of three instruments. And that, and whiskey drinking, wasn't the only means of entertainment she offered.