Putnam’s ‘H.M.S. Pinafore’ costume was talk of the town

Kate Putnam performed in the local opera, “H.M.S. Pinafore,” at Mozart Hall in 1878-1879. Photo credit is the Deane brothers, who had a studio in a building on the southwest corner of Main and Broadway. Photo courtesy of Joseph Haslwanter.
MARY LOU MONTGOMERY
For a decade inclusive of the Civil War years, John Skinner Putnam, born circa 1824, served as postmaster of Attica, located in Wyoming County, New York. In addition to his postal duties, he operated a dry goods business on Attica’s Main Street. The family lived on Prospect Street in 1860.
In 1871, Putnam was replaced in his postal service patronage position, and by 1875, his business faced a financial reversal.
By 1876, Putnam, then about 51 years old, left Western New York behind, and moved to Hannibal, Mo., accepting a position as clerk for the treasurer of the Hannibal and St. Joe Railroad, Walter J. Hilton. (Hinton was featured in this column in January 2025.)
Accompanying Putnam to Hannibal were members of his family: wife, Caroline; daughters Kate O. and Francis M. Putnam; and son, James O. Putnam. The family settled at 603 (later 609) Center Street, to the east of the mid-block alley, on the south side of Center, land that is now the parking lot for First State Insurance Agency, 123 N. Sixth.
(Staying behind in New York state was oldest son, Edward H. Putnam, who was married to Olive North on Nov. 5, 1879, in Attica, N.Y., and who spent his entire work career with the postal service.)
Young actress
Circa 1878-79, Kate Putnam (1853-1945) portrayed one of Sir Joseph Porter’s cousins in the Hannibal opera production of “H.M.S. Pinafore,” by W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, at Mozart Hall, third floor, 407-409 Broadway. Her portrait, in costume, (which accompanies this story) was made by the Deane brothers at their studio, southwest corner of Main and Broadway. The photo is in the Cabinet Card style, representative of the era.
Mrs. Walter J. Hilton, (Jennie B., 1846-1923) who kept a photo album featuring the actors and actresses in the production, wrote in the album, “Miss Kate Putnam, society girl as one of Sir Jos. Porter’s cousins. Her costume was particularly commented on for its old fashioned beauty, appropriateness to the times of the opera.”
Kate O. Putnam was one of approximately 50 cast members performing in the opera, which was a benefit for the newly constructed Congregational Church’s organ or mortgage fund.
Mrs. Hilton’s great-great-great grandson, Joseph Haslwanter, recently shared the album with the author of this column.
Alarming burglary
John S. Putnam, receiving cashier for the Hannibal and St. Jo Railroad, arrived at work at the business offices of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad Company, located at the corner of Second and Adams streets, South Hannibal, at a quarter of eight on Oct. 21, 1876. Upon arrival, he found the outside door of the company’s vault to be unlocked, and the fire shutters open. The Hannibal Clipper of that date reported: “Proceeding to the safe he found the door partially opened, showing at once that burglars had been at work there. An examination of the contents of the safe showed that the packages containing remittances from agents, deposited in the safe at five p.m. yesterday, had been stolen.”
By December, the case still unsolved, the newspaper reported: “Mr. Hilton the treasurer of the road, resolved that he would leave no stone unturned until the guilty party was discovered, and silently and quietly he went to work with a resolution that would not to be baffled.”
Hilton contacted Allen Pinkerton, the chief of the celebrated Chicago detective force, to send one of his most reliable and experienced officers to Hannibal. Mr. J.C. McGinn arrived by the next train.
While McGinn pinpointed who he believed to be responsible for the theft, "they failed to obtain much of any evidence which a court of justice could lead to the conviction of the supposed criminal.” (Hannibal Clipper, Dec. 9, 1876.)
“Having become satisfied that the interests of the road demanded prompt action, Mr. Hilton on Sunday evening started for Chicago by way of Springfield, for the purpose of seeing Allen Pinkerton himself, and laying the whole case before him, with a view of making the arrest of and bringing the charge of embezzlement” against the suspect.
“After an interview with Allen Pinkerton, that official detailed W.J. Allen, an officer of great coolness, to come to Hannibal and directly charge (the suspect) with the crime, and make his arrest. Mr. Hilton and the detective arrived Tuesday morning by the CB&Q train, and in the afternoon of the same day Mr. Hilton called (the suspect) into one of the private offices, where Mr. Allen was seated, and introduced him to the detective as one of Allen Pinkerton’s most successful and accomplished officers. Then for the first time, but only for a moment, the face of the (suspect) blanched as white as a corpse and his voice trembled, but very soon he had recovered his composure. Mr. Hilton withdrew, but a very impartial report of the interview between the detective and (the suspect) which lasted nearly four hours has been obtained. At the end of two hours the detective reported that after the most rigid examination and repeated charges, he failed to make the least impression on (the suspect), or to elicit a single acknowledgement.”
Later, however, the detective coerced the suspect into turning over $1,700, and signing a deed of trust on his farm for the balance of the money which had been taken from the safe.
(Note: The suspect’s name was released at the time, but was withheld from this story, because there was never a conviction. But it was not Mr. Putnam.)
Living in Hannibal
Kate Putnam was in her early to mid 20s when she arrived in Hannibal. Educated at Houghton Seminary in 1873, she taught kindergarten while a resident in Hannibal. She advertised her Kindergarten in the Sept. 22, 1882, issue of the Hannibal Morning Journal.
Her brother, James O. Putnam, went to work as a clerk for the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad. He died at Hannibal during January 1881, at the age of 20. He was interred at the Old Baptist Cemetery.
Kate left Hannibal, along with her parents and sister, for Minneapolis, Minn. It was there that her father died in 1898. In 1900, Kate was working as a clerk for Weld and Sons Jewelers, and her sister, Frances, was a stenographer. They lived with their mother at 1107 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis.
Caroline Putnam died in 1906.
Kate and her sister moved back to their hometown of Attica N.Y., where they lived out their lives. Neither married. Francis M. Putnam died in 1921, and Kate O. Putnam died in 1945. Her only survivors were cousins in Buffalo and Rochester, New York.
Mary Lou Montgomery retired as editor of the Hannibal (Mo.) Courier-Post in 2014. She researches and writes narrative-style stories about the people who served as building blocks for this region’s foundation. Books available on Amazon.com by this author include but are not limited to: "The Notorious Madam Shaw," "Pioneers in Medicine from Northeast Missouri,” “Hannibal’s ‘West End,’” “Oakwood: West of Hannibal,” and “St. Mary’s Avenue District.” Montgomery can be reached at Montgomery.editor@yahoo.com Her collective works can be found at www.maryloumontgomery.com
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