Charley parkhurst stagecoach driver

He was in early days accounted one of the most expert manipulators of the reins who ever sat on the box of a coach. Thanks to kim harris, a local historian and historical reenactor, we get to learn more about this legendary stagecoach whip. 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. It was a profession demanding lots of skill, physicality, endurance and courage. When he and his gang accosted charleys stage, it was the last robbery the thief ever attempted.

He was placed in an orphanage along with his siblings. Karen kondazians debut novel, the whip, tells the story of legendary stagecoach driver charley parkhurst. When they got on that coach, if they were lucky, they got to ride with a famous driver named oneeyed charley parkhurst. Was legendary stagecoach driver charlie parkhurst gay or trans. Stagecoach drivers were seen as the masculine ideal in the old west. He attained fame by becoming a stage coach driver who was discovered to be a woman upon his death. The material written on parkhurst is extremely sketchy. Famous stagecoach driver charley darkey parkhurst was born.

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. The disguised life of charley parkhurst tanque verde ranch. Oct 09, 2016 and among those stagecoach drivers there was one whose macho exploits had already passed into legend by the time he retired from the job. Apr 25, 2019 stagecoach drivers were seen as the masculine ideal in the old west.

New york times article december 5th, 2018 overlooked no more. Oct 22, 2018 charley parkhurst was one of the rootin, tootinest stagecoach driver in gold rushera california. Parkhurst was usually referred to as oneeyed charlie or cockeyed charlie after being kicked in the head. 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.

Charley parkhurst had become known nationally and was praised and immortalized in an obituary by the ohio daily star newspaper. In the late 1860s as traveling by train began to replace the need for stagecoaches, charley retired as a whip and tried his hand at other ventures. Charley parkhurst had no patience for the crooks despite their demands and threatening gestures. The surprising secret of oneeyed charley the stagecoach driver. May 03, 2016 famous stagecoach driver charley darkey parkhurst was born a womantruth. Frank woodward kept vigil at charleys side when she was dying and was very upset when he found out charley was a woman. 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. Charley parkhurst died of cancer of the mouth and throat in watsonville, ca. Parkhurst, also known as one eyed charley or sixhorse. Jun 17, 2016 the experience he gained working with horses and coaches made it easy to land a job as a stagecoach driver. Charley parkhurst was one of the more skillful stagecoach drivers, not only in california but throughout the west. Even before the world learned her secret, parkhurst was famous.

Inspired by the story of charley parkhurst audible. Aug 19, 2017 another time, as charlie braked the stagecoach down carson pass, the lead horses stumbled off the road. 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. There has never before been a biography of charley parkhurst, the renowned stagecoach driver who became the first woman to vote albeit in drag.

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. Born in vermont in 1812, charley parkhurst lost both parents at an early age. The big deal was that charley parkhurst was a woman. The fearless character of one eyed charley challenging. There has never before been a biography of charley parkhurst, the renowned stagecoach driver who became the first woman to vote albeit in drag for president in california fiftytwo years. The most notorious road agent was nicknamed sugarfoot. The first ballot by a woman in an american presidential election was cast on this site november 3, 1868, by charlotte charley parkhurst who masqueraded as a man for much of her life. Charley parkhurst born charlotte was a stagecoach driver for wells fargo and lived as a man for many years with a few forays into the world of women. To the surprise of charleys friends, the person they found was not who they thought he was. Charley parkhurst was one of the best, and unbeknown to his peers, he was assigned female at birth. Called by various nicknames, including oneeyed charley, cockeyed charley, and mountain charley, parkhurst chewed tobacco, gambled, and drank with the other men. Charley parkhurst the late, great, stagecoach driver. Charley became a renowned stagecoach driver for wells fargo. Charley parkhurst facts, bio, family, life, info sticky facts.

Charley parkhurst tough lady stage driver legends of. The exciting times of charley parkhurst stagecoach driver. Charley darkey parkhurst, born charlotte darkey parkhurst 18121879, also known as one eyed charley or sixhorse charley, was an american stagecoach driver, farmer and rancher in california. The jolt threw charley from the coach and despite being dragged, she held the reins to bring the coach to a safe stop. Charley parkhurst, gold rush legend with a hidden identity by tim arango a swashbuckling, oneeyed stagecoach driver lived her life disguised as a man. American stagecoach driver charley parkhurst prospered in california as a skilled horse handler for some 30 years. Hill takes us inside charley s life in telling this fascinating story. But charley had a secret that became known only after death. One of the most notorious road agents was nicknamed sugarfoot when he and his gang accosted charley s stage, it was the last robbery the thief ever attempted. Stagecoach drivers and their whips legends of america. Dec 05, 2018 when parkhurst died in 1879 at age 67, near watsonville, calif. Charley parkhurst tough lady stage driver legends of america. Drivers secret cold case features mark potts alta online.

She killed a famous outlaw, had a secret love affair, and lived with a housekeeper who, unaware of her true sex, fell in love with her. The saga of a female stagecoach driver by pam munoz. Charley cracked her whip defiantly and the horses bolted. Nov 10, 2014 during his thirty years as a stagecoach driver, parkhurst became known as one of the best in california. Was legendary stagecoach driver charlie parkhurst gay or. After her death, the revelation that she was a woman provoked widespread astonishment. For most of her life, however, she disguised herself as a man, and both her unusual life as a crossdressing stagecoach driver and her status as a registered voter in santa cruz county have made her a figure of local legend. Print out the puzzles linked below and follow along with the video to find the answers. Upon parkhursts death, it was discovered that she was a woman.

When parkhurst died in 1879 at age 67, near watsonville, calif. Chautauqua performance by kim copel chronicles storied life of stagecoach driver charley parkhurst. From 12 renowned women of the wild west, by the editors of publications international, ltd times were rough for ladies in the wild west, so this crackerjack stagecoach driver decided to live most of her life as a man. Charley parkhurst students britannica kids homework help. 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 ny times wrote an article on charley parkhurst, mentions. He was variously called oneeyed or cockeyed charley because he had lost an eye when kicked by a horse.

Charley parkhurst was one of the rootin, tootinest stagecoach driver in gold rushera california. Charley darkey parkhurst, often parkurst, 1812 1879 was an american stagecoach driver and early california settler. Case in point is the odd story of a whip the nickname for a stagecoach driver with a lot of history, and plenty of guts and glory earned on the trail. The famous stagecoach driver died on december 29, 1879 and was buried in the pioneer odd fellows cemetery in watsonville, california. Jul 15, 2015 on sunday last, there died a person known as charley parkhurst, aged 67, who was wellknown to old residents as a stage driver. Abandoned by her parents as a child and placed in an orphanage from which she later escaped disguised in boys. She was a stagecoach driver in the mother lode country during the gold rush days and shot and killed at least one bandit. While one may not always agree with charley s choices, one can understand them because fern j. Oneeyed charley parkhurst was one of the best stagecoach drivers out west and known to frequent wolf creek tavern up on the oregon coast driving for the butterfield stage. Posing as a man for most of his life, parkhurst may have been the first biologically female person in the u. 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. Gold rush stagecoach driver oneeyed charley had a secret. Famous stagecoach driver charley darkey parkhurst was born a.

Born in 1812, charley parkhurst lived well into her sixties, in spite of being a harddrinking, tobaccochewing, fearless, oneeyed brute. Famous stagecoach driver charley darkey parkhurst was born a womantruth. Myth and legend follow many who have lived their lives in the old west. Silent charley parkhurst also known as oneeyed charley was a stagecoach whip in the santa cruz mountains at the end of the goldrush era, and a. A novel inspired by the story of charley parkhurst. 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. 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 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. In the late 1860s, charlie parkhurst retired after years of hard work and a life of deception and secrecy. Jan 10, 2017 actress kim copel narrates the life story of female stagecoach driver parkhurst, from the late 19th century this feisty woman dressed herself as a man and drove a coach for decades, even. She was ranked with foss, hank monk and george gordon as one of the top drivers of her time. Charley was the first known woman to vote in america in 1868 as a man. Parkhurst was a natural with horses, able to get them to do nearly anything.

There is a lot of biased and fraudulent material to dig. Parkhursts prowess as a driver inspired her nickname, sixhorse charley. May, 2016 please support the valley news during the covid19 pandemic. Nov 10, 2011 silent charley parkhurst also known as oneeyed charley was a stagecoach whip in the santa cruz mountains at the end of the goldrush era, and a santa cruz county pioneer. 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. Charley retired from the small cattle business she and frank woodward ran.