The famous stagecoach driver died on december 29, 1879 and was buried in the pioneer odd fellows cemetery in watsonville, california. Born female, parkhurst lived as a man for most of his life and may have been the first biological female to vote in california. Charles henry parkhurst 18421933, american clergyman and social reformer. A swashbuckling, oneeyed stagecoach driver lived her life. The ny times wrote an article on charley parkhurst, mentions. She dropped the last four letters of her name, put on a set of boys clothes and began her life as a man. The surprising secret of oneeyed charley the stagecoach driver. Charley darkey parkhurst 18121879, born mary parkhurst, american stagecoach driver and early california settler, who having posed as a man for most of her life, may have been the first woman in the u. One of the wild women written about was a charlotte darkey parkhurst 18121879. Parkhurst, also known as one eyed charley or sixhorse charley, was born as charlotte darkey parkhurst in lebanon, new hampshire and grew up in an. The story of charley parkhurst if you were living in california during the mid1800s one of your main forms of transportation over the rugged landscape was a stagecoach. On sunday last, there died a person known as charley parkhurst, who was wellknown to old residents as a stage driver.
Charlie darkey parkhurst, often charliecharlenecharlotte or parkurst, born mary parkhurst 18121879, was an american stagecoach driver and early california settler. Thanks to kim harris, a local historian and historical reenactor, we get to learn more about this legendary stagecoach whip. Parkhurst retired from driving some years later in watsonville, california. He was in his day one of the most dexterous and celebrated of the famous california drivers ranking with foss, hank monk, and george gordon, and it was an honor to be striven for to occupy the spare end of the driver. Parkhurst, his wife, and only daughter charlotte, who lived near the little village of sandusky, ohio. Even more telling was the comment made by european traveler john charles duchow while traveling with charley in panama.
Charley parkhurst tough lady stage driver legends of. Mountain charley began life as charlotte darkey parkhurst, born in lebanon, new hampshire, during the year of 1812. Okay, its a crude rhyme, but it does spotlight the story of the most famous western woman who lived her life as a man. May 03, 2016 famous stagecoach driver charley darkey parkhurst was born a womantruth. In 1868, he may have been the first transgender person to vote in a presidential election in california. Dec 05, 2018 charley parkhurst was a legendary driver of six. Charles darkey parkurst is listed in the santa cruz sentinel on october 17, 1868 under the official poll list, making parkhurst the first woman to vote in the united states. Stagecoach companies were big business during the comstocks heady years of massive silver production. Charlie went to work for james birch, betterknown in southwest. The idea of a woman living her life as a man and not being discovered with all of those macho stagecoach drivers she hung out with was amazing to me. Most folk ate poorly then and were in many cases suffering from malnutrition.
One of the most famous drivers was charles darkey parkhurst, who had come west from new england in 1852 seeking his fortune in the gold rush. When they got on that coach, if they were lucky, they got to ride with a famous driver named oneeyed charley parkhurst. One of the most successful lines was the pioneer stage company. Stage driving was the game, but it wasnt till he died, anyone knew he was a dame. Was legendary stagecoach driver charlie parkhurst gay or. The disguised life of charley parkhurst tanque verde ranch. Charley parkhurst tough lady stage driver legends of america. Parkhurst was usually referred to as oneeyed charlie or cockeyed charlie after being kicked in the head. Was legendary stagecoach driver charlie parkhurst gay or trans. A few days later, the sacramento daily bee published her obituary. On april 25, 1867, one charles darkey parkhurst, age 55 and a resident of soquel, registered to vote in the 1868 presidential election pitting former new york governor horatio seymour against civil war general ulysses s. Charlotte darkey parkhurst washington county historical. The ny times wrote an article on charley parkhurst. The money was deposited with otto stoesser in watsonville.
Charlotte had two siblings, charles born in 1811 who died in 18 and. Midlate 1940s, charley leaves providence, ri for georgia with one other driver. He spent 15 years running stages, sometimes partnering with hank monk, the celebrated driver from carson city. Charleys grave in the pioneer cemetery was donated by otto a. One of the most famous stagecoach drivers was charley parkie parkhurst, known as one of the toughest and most reliable drivers on the line. Famous stagecoach driver charlie darkey parkhurst was born a woman. Did not care for the way this book was written or for this accounting of her life. Birch soon began a stagecoach service, starting as a driver with one wagon.
Abandoned by her parents as a child and placed in an orphanage from which she later escaped disguised in boys. Born charlotte darkey parkhurst in lebanon, new hampshire, known in life as cockeyed charley was one of the greatest stagecoach drivers of the old west, whom just happened to be a woman. Charlotte darkey parkhurst was also known as one eyed charley or six horse charley, she was a stagecoach driver, farmer and rancher in california she took the name charley and lived as a male for most of her life. Charley parkhurst was born charlotte parkhurst in 1812 in sharon, vermont, to mary and ebenezer parkhurst. Charley parkhurst had become known nationally and was praised and immortalized in an obituary by the ohio daily star newspaper. The santa cruz sentinel of october 17, 1868, lists charles darkey parkhurst on the official poll list for the election of 1868. Backed by the evidence he collected, his statements led to both the exposure of tammany hall and to. Over the years, pankhursts reputation as an expert whip grew.
He was in early days accounted one of the most expert manipulators of the reins who ever sat on the box of a coach. Charlotte darkey parkhurst 18121879 wikitree free family. Charley parkhurst, who was also known as oneeyed charley, mountain charley, and sixhorse charley was a female tobacco chewing, cussing, gambling california stage driver who was found dead in bed on december 18, 1879. Charlotte darkey parkhurst there are many legends about charley parkhurst, the famous stage coach driver. This nonfiction biography, written in verlas signature style of cryptic rhyme, tells the life story of charles darkey parkhurst, a rough and tough stagecoach driver from the 1850s. Jun 17, 2016 the experience he gained working with horses and coaches made it easy to land a job as a stagecoach driver.
Born female, parkhurst lived as a man for most of her life and may have been the first biological female to vote in california. Wearing a black patch over one eye, he was referred to as one eyed charlie. Oneeyed charley had been driving a coach since gold was discovered at first from san jose to santa cruz, later over the pass. Charley parkhurst, famed stagecoach driver, was actually a woman. Famous stagecoach driver charley darkey parkhurst was born a womantruth. Charley came west from new hampshire in 1852, seeking. Charlie parkhurst arrived in san francisco in 1850, and started driving for stage lines throughout the california gold rush country. Oydegaard the whip charley parkhurst, like all the others before and after him, had sun baked, weathered skin, pulled gaunt across thick bones. Charley darkey parkhurst, known in life as cockeyed charley and in death as mountain charley, was one of the greatest stagecoach drivers of the old west who just happened to be a woman. Karen kondazians critically acclaimed debut novel, the whip, is based on the true story of the famous 19th century wells fargo stagecoach driver charley parkhurst 18121879. Parkhursts prowess as a driver inspired her nickname, sixhorse charley.
After working as a stagecoach driver on the east coast for several years, parkhurst journeyed west, like so many americans seeking fortune and reinvention in california. Print out the puzzles linked below and follow along with the video to find the answers. Charlotte darkey parkhurst was in her early teens around 1825 when she walked away from the orphanage where shed grown up. Charley parkhurst the late, great, stagecoach driver. The story of charley parkhurst if you were living in california during the mid1800s one of your main forms of transportation over the.
Charley darkey parkhurst, often parkurst, 1812 1879 was an american stagecoach driver and early california settler. The surprising secret of oneeyed charley the stagecoach. Although scholarly and reserved, he preached two sermons in 1892 in which he attacked the political corruption of new york city government. Charley was noted as one of the best and safest drivers in the motherlode area of california during the 49ers gold rush days. In later years, she surfaced as a stage coach driver in california, typically a mans job. Famous stagecoach driver charley darkey parkhurst was born a. Charlotte darkey parkhurst 18121879 wikitree free family tree.
Posing as a man for most of his life, parkhurst may have been the first biologically female person in the u. Over the years, parkhursts reputation as an expert whip grew. After her death, the revelation that she was a woman provoked widespread astonishment. One of the most famous drivers was charles darkey parkhurst. Apr 08, 2020 at the same time, charley parkhurst took advantage of an important right denied to women of her time. He spent the next 15 years driving stages in both california and western nevada. Oct 30, 2006 excerpt from an obituary for stagecoach driver charley parkhurst, published in the san francisco morning call, dec. Charles henry parkhurst april 17, 1842 september 8, 1933 was an american clergyman and social reformer, born in framingham, massachusetts. Charley came west from new hampshire in 1852, seeking his own fortune in the gold rush. Charley darkey parkhurst, known in life as cockeyed charley and in death as mountain charley, was one of the greatest stagecoach drivers of the old west. Charley darkey parkhurst, often charliecharlenecharlotte or parkhurst, born mary parkhurst 18121879, was an american stagecoach driver and early california settler. Born and reared as a girl in new england, mostly in an orphanage, parkhurst ran away as a youth, taking the name charley and living as a male. Please support the valley news during the covid19 pandemic.
The exciting times of charley parkhurst stagecoach driver. It should be noted that nobody is really sure about all the facts of her life and how she came to be a woman who dressed as a man and became a noted stagecoach whip of her time, only being discovered as a woman upon her. Charley darkey parkhurst, a stagecoach driver who gained fame during the gold rush of the 1800s for protecting his valuable cargo from wouldbe robbers, was found to be a woman after his death. Charlie parkhurst drove a stagecoach for twenty years. Her origins are shrouded but we find some clues in the historical records. Raised as a girl in new england, mostly in an orphanage, parkhurst ran away as a youth, taking the name charley and living as a man. She traveled by ship to panama, traversed a short overland route, and then boarded another ship to. The experience he gained working with horses and coaches made it easy to land a job as a stagecoach driver. She worked for the pioneer line until it was taken over by. Excerpt from an obituary for stagecoach driver charley parkhurst, published in the san francisco morning call, dec. Ri, from georgia, charley worked for william hayden and charles h. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. When parkhurst died in 1879 at age 67, near watsonville, calif.
Stage coach driver charley parkhurst comes to life at. What most dont realize is there actually were three charleysthree unconventional women who disguised themselv. To the surprise of charleys friends, the person they found was not who they thought he was. Charley parkhurst, gold rush legend with a hidden identity by tim arango a swashbuckling, oneeyed stagecoach driver lived her life disguised as a man. Strange tale of charley parkhurst 3 photos may 19, 200. Weighing close to 175 pounds and just five feet in height, charley had big arms, but a thin voice and preferred sleeping in stables with the horses rather. Born charlotte charley darkey parkhurst in new hampshire, charley ran away from home at an early age. Even more telling was the comment made by european traveler john charles. Among parkhursts routes in northern california were stockton to mariposa, the great stage route from san jose to oakland, and san juan to santa cruz. Charley parkhurst died of cancer of the mouth and throat in watsonville, ca.
Charley darkey parkhurst, born charlotte darkey parkhurst 18121879, also known as one. An 1867 registry in santa cruz county lists a charles darkey. Aug 19, 2017 charlie parkhurst arrived in san francisco in 1850, and started driving for stage lines throughout the california gold rush country. New york times article december 5th, 2018 overlooked no more. In his late 30s, parkhurst sailed to california following the gold rush in 1849.
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