Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-04-10
HE WAS A WOMAN.
A Female Jehu who Passed for Thirty
Years as a Man.

Peter Elehebarne of San Jose, has applied
for letters of administration upon the estate
ofCharlotte Parkhurstin Santa Cruz county.
The story of Charlotte's life is thus told by
the Santa Cruz Surf;
Early in the spring OF 164S there lived
near the little village Of Sandusky, in Ohio,
Frederick NJ Parkhurst, his WIFE and only
daughter, Charlotte, the latter at that time
a young woman of 20, and as far as can be
learned, prepossessing in appearance.
About the time mentioned an acquaintance
sprang up between Miss Parkhurst and the
town Postmaster a dashing young West
ener. Their acquaintance ripened quickly
into affection and love upon Miss Park
bursts part, which seemed also to be re-
ciprocated by the young Postmaster. The
old, old story was told in the little town
one April morning when it was found that
Charlotte, or Lottie" Parkhurst, as she
was known, had Misrepresentation no one
knew whittier. The distracted father
searched for the girl for months, without
success, and finally concluded that she had
destroyed herself.
The California mining excitement, with
its attendent sensation throughout the
country, broke out in the following year.
and thousands fiocked to the field of gold
The railroad was unknown, stages were the
only means at hand for transporting the
miners to different points in the gold fields
and experienced drivers to safely convey
the human freight were in demand Their
perilous exploits with the mustang teams
and Concord coaches were the stories of the
cabins, the campfires and the bar-room
None were oftener mentioned or their dar-
ing feats recounted more than were those
of young Charley Parkhurst. He was in
fact the whip" of the hour and pride OF
the profession"
For years Parkhurst was q stage driver
and decade ago manipulated the ribbons
over team running between this city and
Watspnville. To know Charley Parkhurst
or "one-eyed Charley" as he was called
was to respect and admire him. firing o.
stage driving, Parkhurst sought more con
genial pursuits, and was at one time sta
ton agent for stage company whose
coaches piled between this city and Wat.
sonville
After an eventful career in California
extending over period of more than thirty
years, Parkhurst was one morning found
dead in his bed. Investigation by the au-
thorities summoned to the bedside re-
vealed the astonishing fact that Charley
Parkhurst, pioneer and celebrated Jehu
was woman.
Subsequent investigations by parties in.
terested in the settlement of a small estate
left by the deceased developed the facts
given in the narrative above. The identity
of Charlotte Parkhurst, or Charley Park
hurst, as she was known in California, was
established beyond doubt.
Miss Parkhurst died on the night of De-
cember 20, 1879, and it is singular fact
that until to-day, after a lapse of over six
years. no effort has been made either by
public officers or friends of the woman to
settle up the estate she left. Indeed, the
exact value or description of the estate
seems yet to be shrouded in mystery Miss
Parkhurst had, previous to her decease. told
many of her friends of her lack of conf
dence in banks, and that she had intrusted
to natures strengthen the earth, all of her
savings.
A written note found among her effects
directed the payment to one OF her friends
of small amount OF money found in a
buckskin purse in her cabin. This, so far
as known, is all of her estate administered
upon.
1t may be added that at one time Char
ley Parkhurst was put in possession of
and held disputed tract of land, now val
ued at 600 when the struggle over the
property was so bitter that only a brave
and determined man was believed to be
equal to the task of holding it.