Friday, April 26, 2013

One-eyed Charley - Not Your Normal Stagecoach Driver

Hi.  Winnie Griggs here.  While doing some research into stage travel a while back, I came across an interesting footnote about a colorful stage driver named Charley Parkhurst or “One-eyed Charley”.  The reference intrigued me and, as often happens when I do research, I decided to follow this rabbit trail to see where it would lead me.  And it led me to a very interesting story indeed.

Charley was born in New Hampshire around 1812.  Orphaned while very young, Charley was sent to an orphanage, escaped from the orphanage at around age 12 and found a job working in a stable.  There it was discovered Charley had a way with the horses and was promoted to handling teams and eventually progressed to driving coaches.  Charley’s skill was such that patrons were known to specifically request the young driver by name.

In 1851 Charley moved to California following the opportunities that opened up with the gold rush and soon earned a reputation as one of the safest and fastest drivers around, easily handling the ribbons for a team of six.  According to one source looking back over Charley’s career, ". . . in more than twenty years no highwayman had dared to hold up a stagecoach with Charley Parkhurst on the box, for the first two who tried it had been shot dead in their tracks."

At some point, Charley lost an eye as a result of being kicked by a horse.  Not to be deterred
Stagecoach and driver
 by the mishap, Charley wore a black eye black patch from then on, which is the origin of the nickname “One-eyed Charley.”  And that wasn’t Charley’s only nickname - the skillful stagecoach driver was also known as Mountain Charley and Six-Horse Charley.

From all accounts, though known for being honest and fair, Charley was no saint.  The colorful driver’s habits included smoking cigars, chewing tobacco, occasional drinking, card playing, and swearing with great verve when the occasion called for it.

When rheumatism began taking a toll and the railroad expansion made increasing inroads in the passenger transport  business, Charley retired.  Never one to remain idle, the former stage-driver, now past sixty, turned to raising cattle and occasionally hauling freight for neighbors. 

All of the above informtion points to a vivid life that was lived fully and with gusto.  But the most astounding thing about Charley wasn’t revealed until it came time to lay the body out for burial.  It turns out Charley was a WOMAN! 

Her real name was Charlotte Darkey Parkhurst.  From all appearances, co-workers, business partners, neighbors and close friends were absolutely flummoxed at the news.  In fact, Charley had even gone so far as to register to vote in the presidential election of 1868,
long before women were allowed that privilege, which means she may have been the first woman in California to vote.

Today there is a monument on Charley's gravesite that reads "Charley Darkey Parkhurst (1812-1879) Noted whip of the gold rush days drove stage over Mt. Madonna in early days of Valley. Last run San Juan to Santa Cruz. Death in cabin near the 7 mile house. Revealed 'one eyed Charlie' a woman. First woman to vote in the U.S. November 3, 1868."  Note: The information about being the first woman to vote in a US election has been disputed.
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Reading this remarkable story had the writer in me imagining story after story to account for what had led Charley to lead such a curious life.  Some of my questions
  • Had she taken the disguise as a child in order to land the stable boy job and found herself trapped for a lifetime by her own deception? 
  • Had she become so enamored of the freedom afforded her as a man that she was unwilling to give it up? 
  • Was she running from something in her past and was afraid to resume her true identity? 
  • Did she ever long to throw off her disguise?
Another piece of this intriguing puzzle that spurs the imagination - it was said that those who went through Charley’s possessions found baby clothes. Wow, if true does this ever raise questions.
  • Did she have a baby?  And if so, when - after she reached California or was it part of the reason she headed west? 
  • What happened to the child - did the baby die or did she find a home for him/her? 
  • Who was the father and under what circumstances was the child conceived?
So what about you?  Did this snippet of Charley’s history cause you to start spinning tales in your head about what her life might have been like?  What aspect most captured your imagination?

29 comments:

  1. Amazing!! This is certainly intriguing. Baby clothes? Hmm..I suspect that the baby died. I cannot see her abandoning it after being an orphan herself. Although, she may have had no choice in the matter. Wow, this story truly blew my mind! Thank you so much for sharing. God bless.

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    1. I know! It's the possibility of a baby in her life that intrigues me the most. Her life sounds amazing yet very lonely

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  2. I love stories about women who pretend to be men in order to move into other stages of life. That's why Yentl is my favorite movie. Thanks for sharing this and yes, do I ever have questions! The wheels are differently turning!

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    1. Karla, LOL she would definitely be a fascinating character to base a story on. But I'd definitely want to give her a happier ending!

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  3. Guess this is an example of women being able to do everything men do! I wonder if the baby clothes could have been those that she, herself, wore as a baby & held some sentimental remembrance - since she was an orphan (could have even been passed down through her family)?

    bonnieroof60@yahoo.com

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    1. Bonnie, the baby clothes having nothing to do with she herself giving birth is one of the theories out there, but how much more romantic - and bittersweet - to think she might have had a lover in her life at one point

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  4. Oh, you wove this history with true intrigue! I didn't see that coming at all. Poor Charlotte. What a hard life that must have been, albeit adventurous. I hope she has plenty of pretty dresses in heaven! :)

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    1. Kathleen - LOL it was tricky not to use male/feminine adverbs in the first part of the post - glad you enjoyed it.

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  5. Hi Winnie, what a great story. I once watched a made-for-TV movie that was very similar to this in many ways, and yet different. A young woman, probably late teens, became pregnant out of wedlock, gave the baby to her sister to raise, and left in shame. Lived the rest of her life as a man out west, no one ever being the wiser until she passed, when it was discovered that she was a woman. I almost wonder if the creators of the movie hadn't heard of One-Eyed Charley and used it as a jumping off point for their show. Certainly interesting! Thanks for sharing with us.

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    1. Jennifer - it certainly sounds like this movie could have been at least loosely inspired by Charlotte's story. Do you by any chance remember the name of the movie - would love to find it.

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    2. I wish I did rememmber, Winnie. It wasn't "name" actors that I recall, and it's been too many years to think of the name now. If, by some chance, I come up with it, I'll let you know.

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  6. Oh Winnie. This was a very interesting story. Probably she thought she would be safer if she pretended to be a boy when she ran away from the orphanage. And, was probably right. And, then decided things would be better for her to keep pretending since she had no one to help her make a living. And, no way, would any one admt to being fooled into letting a woman vote back then. Doesn't mean it didn't happen. And, I bet it did, since everone thot she was a man. Why would they have questioned her not being able to vote. Right? The baby clothes might have been left with her at the orphanage.As well-known as she was, I think someone would have found out if she was pregnant. Many stories could be written from this. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com

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    1. Hi Maxie - yes, the possibilities are endless. But if anyone tried to write her story as fiction, most readers would probably find it too 'out there' to believe!

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  7. Great story, Winnie. I imagine she dressed as a man out of protection. With no man to care for her, she was resourceful enough to figure out a way to care for herself. And it goes to prove women can do many things as good as men. :)

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    1. Vickie - glad you enjoyed it! And I think it definitely started out as a self-protection thing. Rather she continued out of the same motive or simply enjoyed the freedom it gave her is where the speculation begins

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  8. Winnie, what a great story. So many possibilities to contemplate. Thank you for sharing. These are the bits of history that set the imagination afire. :)

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    1. Hi Nancy - glad you enjoyed the post. And I agree, these little almost-forgotten tidbits bring history alive in a way that many textbooks do not.

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  9. Okay, I did NOT see that coming! Enjoyed this TREMENDOUSLY, Winnie! Go Charley!! :)

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    1. LOL - glad I pulled off the surprise reveal! Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed it.

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    2. History has a wonderful way of throwing curves at us....lol. You did a great job of working us up to that one, Winnie! :)
      I can't help but wonder if she kept us the ruse, because being a 'man' allowed her more freedom.
      Betti
      bettimace(at)gmail(dot)com

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    3. Hi Betti - looking at the kind of life she led, I tend to agree with your thoughts on her reasons...

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  10. I agree with Kathleen, you wrote that perfectly - no way had I predicted that! CRAZY story and so many questions left open. :) Wow, thank you for a wonderful read.
    Susan

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  11. I just had to read the story aloud to my husband, and he jerked in surprise when I said that Charley was a woman! :D Fascinating story, but sounds like a hard and lonely life. But then, maybe she liked it that way!

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    1. Bethany - LOL on your husband's reaction- thanks for sharing that. And yes, the lonliness of it tugged at me as well

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  12. I think the thing that captured me most was voting...I think it would be awesome to think about her voting and having a voice before other women...so cool
    truckredford(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi Eliza. Glad you enjoyed the post. There are some that dispute the claim of her having voted since there are no actual records of her casting a vote. But others argue that the records were not well kept during this period and she definitely went to the trouble of registering so her voting would be the next logical step.

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  13. I totally didn't see that coming either!!! Awesome storytelling!
    Susan P

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  14. Good job, Winnie! You surprised me, and now I want to know more about Charley.

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