Western Figure. 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. Abandoned by his parents as a child and placed in an orphanage from which he later escaped wearing boy's clothing. He found work as Charley in a livery stable, learn all he could about horses and became a skillful as resourceful stagecoach driver. In the early 1850s, he found his way to California driving stage coaches through the wildest boom towns of Gold Country such as Rough and Ready, Grass Valley and Placerville. In the late 1860s, he retired from riding the stage, bought land in Santa Cruz County, ran a stage station and ranch as well as working as a lumberjack during the winters. He was the first person assigned female at birth known to have voted in a U.S. Presidential Election on November 3, 1868. In 1879, Charley succumbed to cancer and died. Buried in Watsonville's Pioneer Cemetery, the Pajaro Valley Historical Association discovered Parkhurst's plot in 1954 and his remains were reburied with an historical marker erected in 1955.
Western Figure. 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. Abandoned by his parents as a child and placed in an orphanage from which he later escaped wearing boy's clothing. He found work as Charley in a livery stable, learn all he could about horses and became a skillful as resourceful stagecoach driver. In the early 1850s, he found his way to California driving stage coaches through the wildest boom towns of Gold Country such as Rough and Ready, Grass Valley and Placerville. In the late 1860s, he retired from riding the stage, bought land in Santa Cruz County, ran a stage station and ranch as well as working as a lumberjack during the winters. He was the first person assigned female at birth known to have voted in a U.S. Presidential Election on November 3, 1868. In 1879, Charley succumbed to cancer and died. Buried in Watsonville's Pioneer Cemetery, the Pajaro Valley Historical Association discovered Parkhurst's plot in 1954 and his remains were reburied with an historical marker erected in 1955.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Inscription
Noted whip of the Gold Rush days.
Drove a 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. The first woman to vote
in the U.S. Nov. 3, 1868
Erected 1955
Pajaro Valley Historical Ass'n.
Gravesite Details
6 rows back from Freedom Blvd facing the street.
Family Members
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