Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Charley Parkhurst For Western Wedneday...

From time to time, women in the Old West had to disguise themselves as men to get along in the workforce. That was the case of Charley.



Charley Parkhurst was known as one of the greatest stagecoach drivers of the Old West. Parkhurst was short but strong, and even after retiring from driving, could outwork men half her age as a lumberjack. But after Parkhurst died, those who had known "him" for years were shocked to discover Parkhurst was a woman! Charlotte Darkey Parkhurst was born in New Hampshire in 1812. Dressed as a boy, Parkhurst worked in stables and learned the craft of a driver. She built a reputation as a skilled driver, then fled to Georgia, possibly over the threat of exposure. She moved west to California in 1851, where she again built a reputation as a skilled and talented driver. At least once her secret was discovered, but those who knew kept it confidential to preserve her dignity. After her death in 1879, doctors not only discovered Parkhurst's sex, but announced that she had at sometime in her life given birth! Nothing is known of the child. Parkhurst had also voted, which would have been illegal if her true sex was known.

Guess her disguise was pretty good to go that long without revealing her true gender.

Coffee in the kitchen again today...OK?

7 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

And who says history is boring?

Mamahen said...

Wow...that's pretty amazing! coffee would have to be inside here this morning also...thunder rumbles as
Kim reading this.

linda m said...

Wow, that must have been some disguise. Can't believe she went that long without someone figuring her out. Coffee inside her, raining out again.

HermitJim said...

Hey Gorges...
Most of the time, it's anything but boring, in my opinion.
Thanks for stopping by today!


Hey Mamahen...
I hate it when we get lots of thunder and no rain.
Thanks for coming over today, my old friend!


Hey Linda...
Hard to imagine, I reckon. Guess no one had reason to doubt her.
Thanks for the visit today!

JO said...

Now that was something to be able to hide her gender for all those years. Wish her story was better known she could be an inspiration to women today. Not to hide what they are but to know they could do anything if they want.

Kitchen is fine by me. Temps here are on the rise again

Ashley Nicole King said...

Often, one hears people talk about "the old west" as a time "when men were men". Weeeeeeeeellllllll.....

HermitJim said...

Hey Jo...
She was definitely a force to be reckoned with, I guess.
Thanks for dropping today!


Hey Ashley...
Seems like back then you only had the two choices...man or women. Women didn't even have the power of voting!
Thanks for the visit today!