This page updated October 12, 2005
I don't intentionally mean to insult anyone's intelligence by explaining this profession. I was rather surprised to find it listed in the census records. These were women who made a profit by selling their bodies to men. The "mistresses" listed are traditionally considered to be the one's in charge of a "house of ill repute".
Owen County
Morgan County
Delpha PARKER
Ann HOLDEN--listed as mistress/prostitute
Putnam County
Annie QUIRK
Alice STARKS