Stagecoach Driver: Charley Parkhurst

Education, Entertainment, History, Travel 4 Minutes

TRUCKEE, Calif. —Western stagecoach companies were big business in the latter half of the 19th century. In addition to passengers and freight, stages hauled gold and silver bullion as well as mining company payrolls.

Stage robbery was a constant danger and bandits employed many strategies to ambush a stagecoach. Thieves rarely met with much resistance from stage drivers, since they had passenger safety foremost in mind. The gang was usually after the Wells Fargo money box with its valuable contents. Passengers were seldom hurt, but they were certainly relieved of their cash, watches and jewelry.

Before the completion of the transcontinental railroad over Donner Pass in 1868, the only transportation through the Sierra was by stage. Rugged teamsters held rein over six wild-eyed horses as they tore along the precipitous mountain trails. The stagecoaches were driven by skilled and fearless men who pushed themselves and their spirited horses to the limit.

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. He spent 15 years running stages, sometimes partnering with Hank Monk, the celebrated driver from Carson City. Over the years, Pankhurst’s reputation as an expert whip grew.

Charley Parkhurst

From 20 feet away he could slice open the end of an envelope or cut a cigar out of a man’s mouth. Parkhurst smoked cigars, chewed wads of tobacco, drank with the best of them, and exuded supreme confidence behind the reins. His judgment was sound and pleasant manners won him many friends.

One afternoon as Charley drove down from Carson Pass, the lead horses veered off the road and a wrenching jolt threw him from the rig. He hung on to the reins as the horses dragged him along on his stomach. Amazingly, Parkhurst managed to steer the frightened horses back onto the road and save all his grateful passengers.

During the 1850s, bands of surly highwaymen stalked the roads. These outlaws would level their shotguns at stage drivers and shout, “Throw down the gold box!” Charley Parkhurst had no patience for the crooks despite their demands and threatening gestures.

The most notorious road agent was nicknamed “Sugarfoot.” When he and his gang accosted Charley’s stage, it was the last robbery the thief ever attempted. Charley cracked his whip defiantly, and when his horses bolted, he turned around and fired his revolver at the crooks. Sugarfoot was later found dead with a fatal bullet wound in his stomach.

In appreciation of his bravery, Wells Fargo presented Parkhurst with a large watch and chain made of solid gold. In 1865, Parkhurst grew tired of the demanding job of driving and he opened his own stage station. He later sold the business and retired to a ranch near Soquel, Calif. The years slipped by and Charley died on Dec. 29, 1879, at the age of 67.

A few days later, the Sacramento Daily Bee published his obituary. It read; “On Sunday last, there died a person known as Charley Parkhurst, aged 67, who was well-known to old residents as a stage 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. It was discovered when friendly hands were preparing him for his final rest, that Charley Parkhurst was unmistakably a well-developed woman!”

Charlotte Parkhurst

Once it was discovered that Charley was a woman, there were plenty of people to say they had always thought he wasn’t like other men. Even though he wore leather gloves summer and winter, many noticed that his hands were small and smooth. He slept in the stables with his beloved horses and was never known to have had a girlfriend.

Charley never volunteered clues to her past. Loose fitting clothing hid her femininity and after a horse kicked her, an eye patch over one eye helped conceal her face. She weighed 175 pounds, could handle herself in a fistfight and drank whiskey like one of the boys.

It turns out that Charley’s real name was Charlotte Parkhurst. Abandoned as a child, she was raised in a New Hampshire orphanage unloved and surrounded by poverty. Charlotte ran away when she was 15 years old and soon discovered that life in the working world was easier for men. So she decided to masquerade as one for the rest of her life. The rest is history. Well, almost. There is one last thing. On November 3, 1868, Charlotte Parkhurst cast her vote in the national election, dressed as a man. She became the first woman to vote in the United States, 52 years before Congress passed the 19th amendment giving American women the right to vote.

The fire station in Soquel, California, has a plaque reading: “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. She was a stagecoach driver in the mother lode country during the gold rush days and shot and killed at least one bandit. In her later years she drove a stagecoach in this area. She died in 1879. Not until then was she found to be female. She is buried in Watsonville at the pioneer cemetery.”

Soquel, CA Plaque

In 1955, the Pajaro Valley Historical Association erected a monument at Parkhurst’s grave, which 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 Charley’ a woman. First woman to vote in the U.S. November 3, 1868.”

In 2007, the Santa Cruz County Redevelopment Agency oversaw the completion of the Parkhurst Terrace Apartments, named for the stagecoach driver and located a mile along the old stage route from the place of his/her death.

There was also a book written about Charley called “Charley’s Choice – The life and Times of Charley Parkhurst,” written by Fern J. Hill that might be of interest.

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Published by NebraskaFilly

Army veteran (1976-1979), retired with entirely too much time on my hands

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180 thoughts on “Stagecoach Driver: Charley Parkhurst”

  1. Winston
    March 15, 2023 12:12 pm

    Biden probe reveals $3 million payment from Chinese energy company to family associate – 14 Mar 2023

    https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/mar/14/treasury-handing-suspicious-activity-reports-house/

    The House Oversight and Accountability Committee has uncovered a $3 million wire payment from a Chinese energy company sent to an associate of the Biden family months after President Biden ended his term as vice president, Chairman James Comer announced Tuesday.

    Mr. Comer, Kentucky Republican, said members of the Biden family received “hundreds of thousands of dollars in payouts” soon after the wire cleared. He has not revealed who specifically received the wire payment and which members of the Biden family were said to have received the so-called payouts.

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    1. The Christian school that refused to play against a male/trans was banned from all competitions.

      The world has gone stupid and insane.

      Liked by 1 person

        1. Back when Kristi Noem vetoed a no boys in girls sports bill, people were outraged. What they didn’t understand…again, most likely didn’t really READ the bill and pay attention to the details….it would have opened up the State to this kind of thing from the NCAA.

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    1. this could backfire on rhonda. they are trying to turn florida blue–if he runs after being so recently re-elected, it may turn many off…it would me!

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  7. OK, I’m back safely. Temp reached almost 60 in Norfolk – it is 57 here still – but windy as all get out. The rain/sleet/snow is supposed to start sometime tonight and be done here by early Friday am. I doubt we’ll see more than a few inches at most. A week or so of colder weather follows then it will start to creep back up again. Our usual see-saw!

    Gas was $3.14 in Pierce, $3.04 in Norfolk and Meadow Grove – one of the rare times MG wasn’t cheaper than Norfolk. I didn’t check but that means it’s probably about $3.19 here. I picked up a couple more JA Jance novels from Michael – I found one of her characters that I really like – reminds me of myself!

    Stock levels are rising at WM – I glanced down the cat food aisle and there were more big bags of cat food, altho I didn’t need any today. More bacon altho still not fully stocked. Thankfully, the store hasn’t been so packed the last couple of times, but it’s still kind of hard to get around. Especially with these idiots pushing their carts with their faces buried in their smart phones!!! Sheesh! What a PITA!!! And they have the aisles so narrow now that it blocks the whole damned aisle!

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  12. I am adding a short daily prayer to the board. I would invite each of you, if you wish, to also add one or maybe two of your own liking. I do not want to stifle anyone but please limit yourself to one or two religious postings. here’s one I found that I liked.

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