Lou Graham: Brothel Madame or Shrewd Business Woman?

Seattle, September 1888. Germman Native Dorothea Georgine Emile Ohben a.k.a Madame Lou Graham steps off the steamer Pacific Pride. She was soon to become the first successful business woman in Seattle, giving loans to prominent Seattle corporations when they couldn't afford to carry on their livelihood. She gained her money and fame through the brothel business. She supplied consorts, companions and overall, females to the the city of Seattle. When she arrives, the city was barely three decades old and suffering from the the outcome of women's suffrage which resulted in a reform period where liquor licenses were revoked, brothels closed and law strictly enforced. In turn the city shriveled, the citiziens not realizing that the income recieved from fines and taxes on liquor, crime and prostitution were what kept Seattle afloat. MAdame Lou Graham made big bucks and played a huge part in resurrecting Seattle. She left a quarter million dollars to the public schools. She died at age 42 of syphilis.