Charlie spent her final years doing odd jobs, farming, raising some cattle and hauling freight for neighbors. One of the states early stagecoach whips, as drivers were called, was six horse charley parkhurst. Whatever the reasons that caused charley parkhurst to pursue this unique career, the remains of this famous stage driver were buried in watsonvilles pioneerodd fellows cemetery. 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. Parkhursts prowess as a driver inspired her nickname, sixhorse charley. American stagecoach driver charley parkhurst prospered in california as a skilled horse handler for some 30 years.
Charlie went to work for james birch, betterknown in southwest history as the man who, in 1857, opened the first stagecoach to. Charleys grave in the pioneer cemetery was donated by otto a. 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. 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. Oneeyed charley had been driving a coach since gold was discovered at first from san jose to santa cruz, later over the pass. Stagecoach drivers were seen as the masculine ideal in the old west.
Stagecoach driver charley parkhurst blazed gendernonconforming. The remarkable story of charlie parkhurst the eureka. Cracking a whip in that fashion would simply scare the team and endanger the passengers. Charley parkhurst died of cancer of the mouth and throat in watsonville, ca. Thanks to kim harris, a local historian and historical reenactor, we get to learn more about this legendary stagecoach whip. 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. Eventually he made his way out west to california where he became a teamster and one of the most skilled stagecoach drivers in history. 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. It was a profession demanding lots of skill, physicality, endurance and courage. When shoeing a horse one day, charlie was badly injured when. Famous stagecoach driver charley darkey parkhurst was born.
The remarkable story of charlie parkhurst mesquite local news. May 03, 2016 famous stagecoach driver charley darkey parkhurst was born a womantruth. Apr 25, 2019 stagecoach drivers were seen as the masculine ideal in the old west. The saga of a female stagecoach driver by pam munoz. Stagecoach driver took secret to grave wells fargo stories. With frank gerstle, michael whalen, fred graham, roscoe ates. Nov 02, 2016 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. 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. In the 1860s and 70s, charlie parkhurst was a renowned stagecoach driver in california one who kept a. 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. Famous stagecoach driver charley darkey parkhurst was born a. They frowned on the way the movie stagecoach drivers constantly cracked their whips.
After her death, the revelation that she was a woman provoked. Charley parkhurst had become known nationally and was praised and immortalized in an obituary by the ohio daily star newspaper. Aug 19, 2017 charlie spent her final years doing odd jobs, farming, raising some cattle and hauling freight for neighbors. Parkhurst was usually referred to as oneeyed charlie or cockeyed charlie after being kicked in the head. Aug 24, 2017 charlie spent her final years doing odd jobs, farming, raising some cattle and hauling freight for neighbors. Was legendary stagecoach driver charlie parkhurst gay or. Charlie parkhurst was a surly person who earned a reputation as a stagecoach driver for wells fargo by getting every run completed without ever losing a passenger or cargo to bandits in forty. Born in 1812, charley parkhurst lived well into her sixties, in spite of being a harddrinking, tobaccochewing, fearless, oneeyed brute. The saga of a female stagecoach driver by pam munoz ryan illustrated by brian selznick scholastic. Oneeyed charley, mountain charley, sixhorse charley 18121879 parkhurst was a female tobacco chewing, cussing, gambling california stage driver. Was legendary stagecoach driver charlie parkhurst gay or trans. 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.
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. Wearing a black patch over one eye, he was referred to as one eyed charlie. The famous stagecoach driver died on december 29, 1879 and was buried in the pioneer odd fellows cemetery in watsonville, california. Stagecoach driver charley parkhurst blazed gendernonconforming trails june, 2019 journalist j. Charley parkhurst students britannica kids homework help. In 1954, after the old cemetery had grown into neglect, the pajaro valley historical association discovered the parkhurst plot, and charleys remains were removed. The material written on parkhurst is extremely sketchy. Apr 14, 2014 charlie parkhurst aka oneeyed charlie, cockeyed charlie, or six horse charlie was born in 1812 in vermont.
Charlotte darkey parkhurst 18121879 wikitree free family. Rheumatism and cancer of the tongue were listed as causes of death, but the examining doctor, called in by the astounded neighbors, definitely established that charlie had been. Famous stagecoach driver charley darkey parkhurst was born a womantruth. It was a profession demanding lots of skill, physicality, endurance and. When they got on that coach, if they were lucky, they got to ride with a famous driver named oneeyed charley parkhurst. Abandoned by her parents as a child and placed in an orphanage from which she later escaped disguised in boys. Death valley days cockeyed charlie parkhurst tv episode. 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.
Charlotte charlie parkhurst, a drinking, tobaccochewing, diceplaying stagecoach driver, arrived in 1851 and, living as a man, prospered near watsonville. He attained fame by becoming a stage coach driver who was discovered to be a woman upon his death. When neighbors came to her cabin to lay the body out for burial, they discovered the renowned stagecoach driver was actually a woman. 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. 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. Stagecoach driver charley parkhurst was about 57, with tobacco stains on a beardless face, and only one eye the other was lost while shoeing a horse. Western stagecoach companies were big business in the latter half of the 19th century. Charley parkhurst tough lady stage driver legends of america. She will be doing a chautauqua performance on the life of charlie parkhurst.
Before long charlie was handling teams, and from there it was a natural progression to becoming a stagecoach driver. 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. The disguised life of charley parkhurst tanque verde ranch. Charley darkey parkhurst, often parkurst, 1812 1879 was an american stagecoach driver and early california settler. Charlie parkhurst died in december 1879 at the age of 67, from throat cancer and rheumatism. Charlie parkhurst escapes a poorhouse, apprentices to a livery and becomes a horse expert. 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 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. Known as one of the premiere whips of all stage drivers, oneeyed charley parkhurst came to the west from rhode island during the. Charley parkhurst was a female tobacco chewing, cussing, gambling california stage driver. 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. Jul 09, 2015 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. Stagecoach kings in the old west legends of america.
Charley parkhurst tough lady stage driver legends of. The surprising secret of oneeyed charley the stagecoach driver. In addition to passengers and freight, stages hauled gold and silver bullion as well as mining company payrolls. Myth and legend follow many who have lived their lives in the old west. The other drivers may have wondered why the new fellow didnt mingle very much with them and preferred to sleep in the stable with the horses, but they evidently accepted the wiry driver who claimed to get along better with. 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. The exciting times of charley parkhurst stagecoach driver. 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. Charlie parkhurst died in december, 1879 at the age of 67, from throat cancer and rheumatism. Dec 05, 2018 when parkhurst died in 1879 at age 67, near watsonville, calif. The money was deposited with otto stoesser in watsonville. Born in 1817 in new hampshire, charlie spent his early years working with horses in stables and learning to become a stagecoach driver. A swashbuckling, oneeyed stagecoach driver lived her life disguised as a man. This book, inspired by the real life story of charlie parkhurst, reads like a novel, yet you cant stop thinking that it could actually be charlies story.
She was ranked with foss, hank monk and george gordon as one of the top drivers of her time. 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. One of the most famous stagecoach drivers was charley parkie parkhurst, known as one of the toughest and most reliable drivers on the line. Posing as a man for most of his life, parkhurst may have been the first biologically female person in the u. During his thirty years as a stagecoach driver, parkhurst became known as one of the best in california. Legendary stagecoach driver oneeyed charley parkhurst. There is a lot of biased and fraudulent material to dig. 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.
Parks 181907 parks was one of the most faithful and capable pony express riders before becoming a long time defender of wells fargo stages. Jun, 2019 stagecoach driver charley parkhurst blazed gendernonconforming trails june, 2019 journalist j. Yes there were two people named charlie inhabiting the santa cruzlos gatos area in the midtolate 1800s. Charlie parkhurst died in december, 1879, from throat cancer and rheumatism. The experience he gained working with horses and coaches made it easy to land a job as a stagecoach driver. The fearless character of one eyed charley challenging. Aug 14, 2017 charlie parkhurst died in december, 1879 at the age of 67, from throat cancer and rheumatism. Charlie parkhurst spent the early years in an eastern orphanage but ran away and hired out as a stable hand working with horses and driving wagons before heading west to california during the gold rush.
Charley darkey parkhurst, born charlotte darkey parkhurst 18121879, also known as one eyed charley or sixhorse charley, was an american stagecoach driver. Print out the puzzles linked below and follow along with the video to find the answers. Jun 17, 2016 parkhurst was usually referred to as oneeyed charlie or cockeyed charlie after being kicked in the head. Kondazians descriptive style makes the reader feel they are right in the center of the action. 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. To the surprise of charleys friends, the person they found was not who they thought he was. Aug 19, 2017 born in 1817 in new hampshire, charlie spent his early years working with horses in stables and learning to become a stagecoach driver. 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. Charley darkey parkhurst, also known as oneeyed charley, was one of the fastest and safest whips here in the sierra and a contemporary of the famous hank. Charlie parkhurst aka oneeyed charlie, cockeyed charlie, or six horse charlie was born in 1812 in vermont. Ross browne, right, rides alongside charley parkhurst on a stagecoach in the foothills of california, illustration from washoe revisited, 1865, harpers monthly.
Charley parkhurst the late, great, stagecoach driver california history. Abandoned by her parents as a child and placed in an orphanage from which she later escaped disguised in. Stagecoach driver charley parkhurst cowboy to cowboy. Charley parkhurst was one of the best, and unbeknown to his peers, he was assigned female at birth. When parkhurst died in 1879 at age 67, near watsonville, calif. Charlie went to work for james birch, betterknown in southwest history as the man who, in 1857, opened the first stagecoach to california. A line drawing of charley parkhurst, who was a wellknown stagecoach driver in california, moved there from the upper valley after she was raised in.
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