C. Parkhurst: The Whip

Charley was loved by all that knew him. He was described as kind, considerate and honest. On his stage route, he lent a hand to women in labor, kissed babies and set broken bones. If he heard of someone who was needy, he gave them money. He often went out of his way to lend a hand wherever it was needed.

Charley drove his stage route for over twenty years. Finally, he retired from driving because his hands were crippled from rheumatism and holding the reins for hours at a time. He opened a stage station and saloon on the road between Santa Cruz and Watson. Later, he operated a ranch. When he could no longer ride a horse, Charley raised chickens near Aptos.

When Charlie died in his sleep on December 29, 1879, his friends and those in the community of Watson were shocked. When the attending physician came to declare Charley dead, he discovered that Charley was a woman. Everyone was astounded when they found out, and especially when they were told that at sometime in the past, Charley or Charlotte, as was her given name, had given birth.

There's one last thing that Charlie did that should make the name, C. Parkhurst go down in women's history. In 1868, when Ulysses Grant ran for President of the United States, Charley cast his vote. He was the first woman to vote in a Presidential election.

Charlotte Parkhurst had a great life doing a job she loved. She was born before her time, but didn't let that stop her. She had spirit, grit and determination - one of history's wild women.

Stagecoach graphic courtesy of J's Magic Galleries<

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