He was a stagecoach driver, worked in a livery and was born charlotte darkey parkhurstyep charley was a female. Charley parkhurst tough lady stage driver legends of america. Most stagecoach whips had buckskin lashes, usually from 11 to 12 feet in length, attached to a fivefoot hickory shaft. Charley, it turned out, had been short for charlotte. The strange tale of stagecoach driver charley parkhurst by mark. Ross browne, right, rides alongside charley parkhurst on a stagecoach in the foothills of california, illustration from washoe revisited, 1865, harpers monthly. Probably placed at the boston female asylum, charlotte developed into a tough survivor. As a runaway girl dressed as a boy, charlotte parkhurst took a job mucking out massachusetts livery stables in 1824 and went on from there to become a 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. Charley parkhurst, one of californias most fabled whips, was born in new hampshire in 1812, and christened charlotte darkey parkhurst.
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 darkey parkhurst, often charliecharlenecharlotte or parkurst, born mary parkhurst 18121879, was an american stagecoach driver and early california settler. None of his peers knew that charley was assigned female at birth. Dec 07, 2008 the surprising secret of oneeyed charley there was something most folks didnt know about oneeyed charley, the tough, taciturn, tobaccochewing character who was the best stage driver on the west coast. The discoveries of the successful concealment for protracted periods of the female sex under the disguise of the masculine are not infrequent, but the case of charley parkhurst may fairly claim to. 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. Charley and charlotte parkhurst are one and the same despite outward appearances signaling a gender difference.
Born charlotte pankhurst, she decided to live as a man, and did. Oneeyed charley 1st california woman to vote youtube. A swashbuckling, oneeyed stagecoach driver lived her life disguised as a man. Stagecoach driver charley parkhurst blazed gendernonconforming. When parkhurst died in 1879 at age 67, near watsonville, calif. Charlotte charlie parkhurst, a drinking, tobaccochewing, diceplaying stagecoach driver, arrived in 1851 and, living as a man, prospered near. 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. 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. After her death, the revelation that she was a woman provoked. Born female, parkhurst lived as a man for most of her life and may have been the first biological female to vote in california. Jehu, the title bestowed upon stagecoach drivers, was taken from a biblical quote in the old testament, kings 9.
I wonder what charley parkhurst would think if she were still around. Jul 07, 2012 charlotte parkhurst put on boys clothes to avoid going to an orphanage when she was just a kid and never saw a need to put on a skirt again. The disguise was holding, but eventually the truth came out. I once read an article wild women of the old west about charlotte charley parkhurst, a woman who disguised herself as a man and became a. L ife for a woman born in the 1800s was full of genderbased taboos and restrictions. When charlie parkhurst died in 1879, the neighbors came to the cabin to lay out the body for burial, and they discovered that the renowned stagecoach driver was a woman. Famous stagecoach driver charley darkey parkhurst was born a. The roughest, toughest, most skillful whip on the west coast was not what he appeared to be. Born in vermont in 1812, charley parkhurst lost both parents at an. I once read an article wild women of the old west about charlotte charley parkhurst, a woman who disguised herself as a man and became a famous stagecoach driver for wells fargo. Charley was a grizzled old oneeyed stagecoach driver, fearless and hardboiled. Charley darkey parkhurst, often parkurst, 1812 1879 was an american stagecoach driver and early california settler. The whip by karen kondazian is a work of historical fiction with a heavy slant on the historical part. He was a stagecoach driver in the mother lode country during the gold rush days and shot and killed at.
As a young woman in rhode island, she fell in love and had a child. Charley parkhurst was a female tobacco chewing, cussing, gambling california stage driver. Stagecoach driver charley parkhurst blazed gendernonconforming trails june, 2019 journalist j. In 1868, parkhurst was the first known female to vote in a presidential election though passing as a man. Charlie parkhurst was a skilled and renowned stagecoach driver in california and was a woman who passed herself off as a man so she could work. Tompkins wrote, whips were considered a part of the driver, who kept the lashes welloiled and as pliable as a snake in the sun. Parkhurst was a female tobacco chewing, cussing, gambling california stage driver who was found dead in her bed on december 18, 1879. To the surprise of charleys friends, the person they found was not who they thought he was. Oct 25, 2017 the video tells the story in song of oneeyed charley, the famous stage coach driver that lived on the central coast of california. Was legendary stagecoach driver charlie parkhurst gay or trans. The money was deposited with otto stoesser in watsonville. Born in 1812, charley parkhurst lived well into her sixties, in spite of being a harddrinking, tobaccochewing, fearless, oneeyed brute. 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. Seeing that railroads were cutting into the stagecoach business, parkhurst retired from driving some years later, retiring to her ranch in watsonville, california.
Orphanage charlottes parents are killed in a storm and she is sent to a near by orpanage. Charlotte parkhurst charlotte parkhurst put on boys clothes to avoid going to an orphanage when she was just a kid and never saw a need to put on a skirt again. A novel inspired by the story of charley parkhurst. Charley parkhurst tough lady stage driver legends of. Charley parkhurst is an extraordinary historical figure in california. On the run charlotte runs away from the orpanage after 10 years and goes to warchester, ma. He was a stagecoach driver in the mother lode country during the gold rush days and shot and killed at least one bandit. 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. Weighing close to 175 pounds and around five feet seven inches tall, he had broad shoulders and was beardless.
To the surprise of charley s friends, the person they found was not who they thought he was. Nov 02, 2016 stagecoach driver takes a secret to the grave in the 1860s and 70s, charlie parkhurst was a renowned stagecoach driver in california one who kept a secret that wasnt disclosed until after death. Equestrian charlotte charley parkhurst had the will to overcome challenges and the courage to follow her dreams. Charleys grave in the pioneer cemetery was donated by otto a. According to wikipedia, 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. Charley parkhurst died of cancer of the mouth and throat in watsonville, ca. Charley parkhurst was one of the best, and unbeknown to his peers, he was.
Charley darkey parkhurst, often charliecharlenecharlotte or parkhurst, born mary parkhurst 18121879, was an american stagecoach driver and early california settle born female at birth, parkhurst lived as a man for most of his life. A few days later, the sacramento daily bee published her obituary. The saga of a female stagecoach driver by pam munoz. Famous stagecoach driver charley darkey parkhurst was born a womantruth. 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.
Charley parkhurst was a women full of grit and drive, going down as an icon in. Most folk ate poorly then and were in many cases suffering from malnutrition. 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. 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. Charley parkhurst was one of the old wests legendary characters, maybe because he fit the part so well. On sunday last, there died a person known as charley parkhurst, who was wellknown to old residents as a stage driver.
Jul 10, 2012 charley parkhurst lived an interesting life. 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. The surprising secret of oneeyed charley there was something most folks didnt know about oneeyed charley, the tough, taciturn, tobaccochewing character who was the best stage driver on the west coast. What made you decide to write a novel about her secret and life. Charley darkey parkhurst, often charliecharlenecharlotte or parkhurst, born mary parkhurst 18121879, was an american stagecoach driver and early california settler. Oct 09, 2016 gold rush stagecoach driver oneeyed charley had a secret only after the body was handed over to the undertaker did the truth come out. Stagecoach drivers were seen as the masculine ideal in the old west. 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. Oydegaard the whip charley parkhurst, like all the others before and after him, had sun baked, weathered skin, pulled gaunt across thick bones. Born a girl in new england, and reared mostly in an orphanage, charlotte ran away when young, taking the name charley and living as a male. How lgbtq education is gaining in taxfunded schools, from. While one may not always agree with charleys choices, one can understand them because fern j. Karen kondazians debut novel, the whip, tells the story of legendary stagecoach driver charley parkhurst.
Stagecoach drivers and their whips legends of america. She was a stagecoach driver in the mother lode country during the gold rush days and shot and killed at least one bandit. Jun, 2019 it was only then friends discovered charleys given name was charlotte and hed been born female. Charlotte was born in lebanon, new hampshire about 1812. The saga of a female stagecoach driver by pam munoz ryan illustrated by brian selznick scholastic. Her mother died in childbirth, or shortly thereafter, leaving baby charlotte at the mercy of an orphanage. Once it was discovered that charley was a woman, there were plenty of people to say they had always thought he wasnt. Dressed and acted like a man for the majority of her life, becoming one of the most famous stagecoach drivers in the old west.
Most stagecoach whips had buckskin lashes, usually from 11 to 12 feet in. She found work as a stable boy and eventually came west in 1851 during the california gold rush. The ny times wrote an article on charley parkhurst, mentions. Posing as a man for most of his life, parkhurst may have been the first biologically female person in the u. Charlotte parkhurst was an orphaned girl who grew up working in stables and eventually stuck to boys clothing so she could keep on that path. By kathi bristow intern, interpretation and education division california state parks, 2008 download pdf of article. Was legendary stagecoach driver charlie parkhurst gay or.
The whip is inspired by the true story of a woman, charlotte charley parkhurst 18121879 who lived most of her extraordinary life as a man. Charlie parkhurst was a surly person who earned a reputation as a stagecoach driver for wells fargo by getting every run. Charlotte recognized from childhood that there were two worlds. One example in california textbooks aimed at 4thgraders that irks broyles as gratuitous. The 6 biggest badasses who lived as the opposite sex. In his book, stagecoach days in santa barbara county, walker a. Hill takes us inside charleys life in telling this fascinating story. Charleydarkey 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. The disguised life of charley parkhurst tanque verde ranch. Charley became a renowned stagecoach driver for wells fargo. March is womens history month so heres one of my favorites stagecoach charley. 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.
May 03, 2016 famous stagecoach driver charley darkey parkhurst was born a womantruth. Born and reared as a girl in new england, mostly in an orphanage, parkhurst ran away as a youth, taking. The surprising secret of oneeyed charley the stagecoach driver. May 16, 2016 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. This is the story of a person who migrated west during the gold rush to blaze new trails, break stereotypes and live life on his own terms. Born charlotte parkhurst in 1812 and orphaned at an early age, she apparently escaped the orphanage dressed as a boy a custom she continued throughout the rest of her life. Watch death valley days season 6, episode 19 cockeyed charlie parkhurst. It was only then friends discovered charleys given name was charlotte and hed been born female. The ny times wrote an article on charley parkhurst.
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. Dec 05, 2018 when parkhurst died in 1879 at age 67, near watsonville, calif. 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 fighting. Actress karen kondazians new novel, the whip, is inspired by the true story of charlotte charley parkhurst 18121879 who lived most of her extraordinary life as a man in the old west. Charlie parkhurst was a renowned stagecoach driver in california one who kept a secret that wasnt disclosed until after death. 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. In fact, nobody knew she was a biological woman until after she died in her late sixties. Raised as a girl in new england, mostly in an orphanage, parkhurst ran away. Parkhurst was a natural with horses, able to get them to do nearly anything. She worked as a stage coach driver and was well known in the area.