Soquel in Santa Cruz County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Charlotte (Charlie) Parkhurst

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, January 8, 2013

1. Charlotte (Charlie) Parkhurst Marker

Inscription. The first ballot by a woman in an American presidential election was cast on this site November 3, 1868
by
Charlotte (Charlie) 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 a woman. She is buried in Watsonville.

Erected by Soquel Volunteer Fire Department.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical date for this entry is November 3, 1861.

Location. 36° 59.31′ N, 121° 57.406′ W. Marker is in Soquel, California, in Santa Cruz County. Marker is on Soquel Drive, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4747 Soquel Drive, Soquel CA 95073, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Camp Capitola Superintendent’s Office (approx. 1.1 miles away); Historic Lawn Way Cottages (approx. 1.1 miles away); First Capitola City Hall (approx. 1.2 miles away); Capitola’s Natural Riches

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(approx. 1.2 miles away); Venetian Court (approx. 1.2 miles away); China Beach (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Butterfield Stage stopped here. (approx. 1.9 miles away); Tower House (approx. 2.1 miles away).

Regarding Charlotte (Charlie) Parkhurst. Charlotte (Charlie) Parkhurst was not the first woman in the United States to vote in a federal election, but perhaps the first woman in California.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . . Wikipedia Entry. Excerpt:

In his late 30s, Parkhurst sailed to California following the Gold Rush in 1849; there he became a noted stagecoach driver. In 1868, he may have been the first female to vote in a presidential election in California. After his death was it was discovered that his sex was female and he had given birth at an earlier time. Given the lack of autobiographical account, it has never been settled for certain whether Charley was a transgender man, or a woman who used a persona to be able to do work and have freedoms that would not have been allowed for women during that time. Both feminists and transgender rights advocates have equal reason to
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, January 8, 2013

2. Charlotte (Charlie) Parkhurst Marker
The marker is mounted on the front of the Soquel Fire Station No. 3 building.
find Charley’s story inspiring.

(Submitted on October 31, 2020.)

Additional keywords. LGBT, LGBTQ, 🏳️‍🌈

Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 22, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,083 times since then and 61 times this year. Last updated on February 22, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. It was the Marker of the Week November 1, 2020. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 22, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.