tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41272299592672570592024-03-17T18:05:46.279-07:00Soapy Smith's Soap Box<i>The latest on American old west bad man Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith II</i>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.comBlogger1468125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-51659677682057850022024-01-10T16:39:00.000-08:002024-01-14T06:44:11.438-08:00THE DUEL IN ELLEN'S HONOR: Soapy Smith’s grandmother
HE DUEL IN ELLEN'S HONOR.
Soapy Smith’s grandmotherOn Wednesday, August 9, 1820, an argument between 17-year-old, James Bowe Boisseau (1802-1820) and Robert C. Adams (unknown-1820) vying for the attention of 18-year-old Ellen Stimpson Peniston (1802-1860), took a terrible turn. The happy party in her honor took a tragic turn when the competition for Ellen’s affections ended in a deadly duel, Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-85264846031241743452023-12-24T06:32:00.000-08:002023-12-25T14:14:57.567-08:00Confidence man "Soapy" Smith in Georgetown, Colorado, 1885
"Loose money in Georgetown"Denver Rocky Mountain NewsSeptember 14, 1885(Click image to enlarge)
id "Soapy" Smith operate in Georgetown, Colorado, in September 1885?Short answer: Most likely. The following was published in the Denver Rocky Mountain News, September 14, 1885.
There must be considerable loose money in Georgetown, to judge from the number of quack doctors and soap and Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-59564925063288935802023-12-22T11:46:00.000-08:002023-12-24T05:03:42.652-08:00Is this the first record of "Soapy" Smith running the soap sell racket in Denver?
IS THIS SOAPY SMITH?Denver Rocky Mountain NewsMay 4, 1881(Click image to enlarge)
IRST EVIDENCE OF SOAPY SMITH IN DENVER? In my book, Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel, I use George T. Buffum's eye-witness account as the earliest account of Soapy Smith performing the infamous prize package soap sell in Denver. The Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-69653307590394236432023-09-14T15:04:00.003-07:002023-09-17T09:10:06.997-07:00Soapy Smith's stereo-view photograph in Leadville, Colorado, July 21, 1880
Soapy Smith in Leadville, ColoradoJuly 21, 1880Soapy and partner, rear, between carriagesCourtesy Kyle Rosene collection(Click image to enlarge)
Soapy Smith's stereo-view photographLeadville, Colorado, July 21, 1880Where was it taken?WHERE IN LEADVILLE WAS THIS TAKEN?(Click image to enlarge) Those who have read Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel mayJeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-21933998634608874002023-08-21T07:26:00.000-07:002023-08-21T07:26:07.482-07:00Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882: Part #8 - page 8
Soapy Smith's "star" notebookPage 8 - original copy1882(Click image to enlarge)
OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK
Part #8 - page 8 This is part #8 - page 8, the continuation of deciphering Soapy Smith's "star" notebook from the Geri Murphy's collection. A complete introduction to this notebook can be seen on page 1. The notebook(s) are in Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-14760257981080943372023-08-15T09:10:00.011-07:002023-08-23T07:00:05.426-07:00Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882: Part #7 - page 7
Soapy Smith's "star" notebookPage 7 - original copy1883(Click image to enlarge)
THIS POST UPDATEDAugust 21, 2023
OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK
Part #7 - page7This is part #7 - page 7, the continuation of deciphering Soapy Smith's "star" notebook from the Geri Murphy's collection. A complete introduction to this notebook can be seen on page 1.
The notebook(s) are in Soapy's handwriting, Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-47295704743611214902023-08-11T12:35:00.008-07:002023-08-23T06:59:27.896-07:00Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882: Part #6 - page 6
Soapy Smith's "star" notebookpage 6 - original1883
Courtesy of Geri Murphy(Click image to enlarge)
THIS POST UPDATEDAugust 21, 2023
OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK
Part #6 - page 6 This is part #6 - page 6, the continuation of deciphering Soapy Smith's "star" notebook from the Geri Murphy's collection. A complete introduction to this notebook can be seen on page 1.Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-55225769608667390912023-08-09T10:42:00.006-07:002023-08-23T06:58:39.861-07:00Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882: Part #5 - page 5
Soapy Smith's "star" notebookpage 5 - original1882
Courtesy of Geri Murphy(Click image to enlarge)
OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK
Part #5 - page 5 This is part #5 - page 5, the continuation of deciphering Soapy Smith's "star" notebook from the Geri Murphy's collection. A complete introduction to this notebook can be seen on page 1. Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-88005753442344999892023-08-05T11:21:00.020-07:002023-08-24T13:17:28.412-07:00Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882-83: Part #4 - page 4
Soapy Smith's "star" notebookpage 4 - original1882-1883Courtesy of Geri Murphy(Click image to enlarge)
THIS POST UPDATEDAugust 24, 2023
OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK
Part #4 - page 4 This is part #4 - page 4, the continuation of deciphering Soapy Smith's "star" notebook from the Geri Murphy's collection. A complete introduction to this notebook can be seen on page 1. &Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-37143423946285855002023-07-29T07:46:00.022-07:002023-08-23T14:58:22.201-07:00Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882-83: Part #3 - page 3
Soapy Smith's "star" notebookpage 3 - original1882-1883Courtesy of Geri Murphy(Click image to enlarge)
THIS POST UPDATEDAugust 23, 2023
OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK
Part #3 - page 3 This is part #3 - page 3 continuation of deciphering Soapy Smith's "star" notebook in Geri Murphy's collection. A complete introduction to this notebook can be seen on page 1. &Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-14475279905415814362023-07-28T06:36:00.019-07:002023-08-23T09:47:47.354-07:00Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882-83: Part #2 - page 2
Soapy Smith's "star" notebookpage 2 - original1882Courtesy of Geri Murphy(Click image to enlarge)
THIS POST UPDATEDAugust 23, 2023
OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOKPart #2 - page 2 This is part 2 - page 2 continuation of deciphering Soapy Smith's "star" notebook in Geri Murphy's collection. A complete introduction to this notebook can be seen on page 1. &Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-8732708834615239082023-07-24T17:12:00.081-07:002023-08-23T07:13:34.053-07:00Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882-83: Part #1 - page 1
Soapy Smith's "star" notebook1882-1883Courtesy of the Geri Murphy collection(Click image to enlarge)
THIS POST UPDATEDAugust 23, 2023
OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK There are several notebooks in the Smith family collection in which Jefferson Randolph Smith II kept personal and business jottings. This one was shared to me by my cousin, Geri Murphy. Naturally, these are a Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-32510451531973987872023-07-06T14:20:00.002-07:002023-07-23T03:58:15.877-07:00Soapy Smith shoots up 14th and Glenarm streets in Denver, 1894.
he colonel swore he thought the cartridges were blanks and went laughingly on his way.
An unknown Denver newspaper, dated "July 1893," clipped out and saved by Soapy Smith himself. This comes from my cousin, Jefferson R. “Little Randy” Smith collection.
WAS SURGEON’S DAY
The Red Fire Cracker Cut Many Red Tricks.
KEPT THINGS GOING WARMLY
Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-12967223492754588952023-06-15T07:20:00.001-07:002023-06-15T07:20:39.205-07:00FINDING SOAPY SMITH’S BIRTHPLACE
Same style home, by same builderWhat Dr. Ira E. Smith's home may have looked like about 1840Newnan Historical Society says homes were not painted(Click image to enlarge)
INDING SOAPY SMITH’S BIRTH PLACEThe Latest regarding the home of Dr. Ira Ellis Smith and Ellen Stimpson Peniston. In researching my family history for the book, Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-6931331594644297092023-06-02T06:07:00.000-07:002023-06-02T06:07:19.156-07:00Soapy Smith's Childhood Education
"Male Seminary and Normal School,"Independent BladeNewnan, GeorgiaNovember 2, 1860,(Click image to enlarge)
OAPY SMITH'S CHILDHOOD EDUCATION The Smith family passed down the history that young Jefferson Randolph Smith II had enrolled in "a Sabbath school, and was able to continue his education throughout the war, after the war’s end and on into Reconstruction." I Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-49648378526075986882023-05-31T10:21:00.000-07:002023-05-31T10:21:07.848-07:00Soapy Smith's father and maternal grandfather, Georgia, 1861.
Jefferson R. Smith, Adm'r.Georgia Banner and SentinelNewnan, GeorgiaFebruary 1, 1861(Click image to enlarge)
oapy Smith's father and maternal grandfather.
Jefferson Randolph Smith, Sr., (1831-1902) is my great-great-grandfather, father of Jefferson Randolph Smith, II (alias "Soapy"). Jeff Sr., was an attorney in Newnan, Georgia. The newspaper clipping is Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-57364693883300754172023-05-03T07:08:00.008-07:002023-05-24T17:47:24.867-07:00Soapy Smith and the quote: "Charity covers a multitude of sin."
(Click image to enlarge)
harity covers a multitude of sin." I posted the above quote image on my Facebook group, Soapy Smith's Old West, and friend Markie Whalen asked if "the ends justify the means?" I occasionally hear from people who believe that because I am a descendant of Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith, that I am guilty of defending his Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-60232331808398651212023-04-14T17:17:00.005-07:002023-04-17T11:30:42.823-07:00Soapy Smith in Leadville, Colorado, December 1888
‘Soapy’ had his fangs in deepLos Angeles Daily HeraldJanuary 12, 1896(Click image to enlarge)
OAPY SMITH IN LEADVILLEDecember 1888Following is a newspaper story about a man who witnesses bunko man "Soapy" Smith swindle a drunk prospector, and decides he should take advantage of the victim as well. I start the transcribing at paragraph eight, but the entire article is posted above, for Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-45997753934517670132023-04-12T16:59:00.011-07:002023-04-17T11:40:26.082-07:00Did Soapy Smith operate in Sacramento, California in 1887-88?
The soap trick manSacramento Daily UnionSeptember 22, 1887(Click image to enlarge)
as Soapy Smith operating at Sacramento, California in 1887-88?(quick answer: Maybe.) On April 23, 2023 I published a story on the possibility that Soapy Smith operated his prize package soap racket in Sacramento, California, in mid-July 1885. My conclusion is Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-58145427966126535972023-04-03T11:33:00.027-07:002023-04-12T17:04:34.256-07:00Was Soapy Smith in Sacramento, California in 1885?
The "soap man"Sacramento Daily UnionJuly 15, 1885(Click image to enlarge)
as Soapy Smith in Sacramento, California in 1885?The quick answer: Very possible. I came across the mention of a "soap man" in the Sacramento Daily Union,
July 15, 1885.
The gambling games following the circus found Sacramento a poor place to operate in Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-40217848246860506732023-03-12T08:38:00.018-07:002023-04-12T20:29:10.962-07:00Possible victim of the Soapy Smith gang, Denver, 1884.
Roped-inOmaha Daily BeeJune 25, 1884(Click image to enlarge)
OSSIBLE VICTIM OF THE JEFFERSON R. SMITH GANG. Omaha Daily Bee
June 25, 1884
COLORADO.
Col. Fletcher, a tourist from Boston, was roped-in by the bunko men of Denver and relieved of $1,000.The story of Soapy Smith can be had in the book, Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel.NOTES:
$Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-22470204553379695712023-03-10T07:47:00.005-08:002023-04-12T20:31:36.080-07:00BUNKO THIEVES of San Francisco in 1876, and their comparison to the Soapy Smith gang.
BUNKO THIEVES.Evening Post(San Francisco)May 6, 1876(Click image to enlarge)
unko thieves of San Francisco in 1876and their comparison to the Soapy Smith gang.
Though the article is written well before Soapy’s criminal reign in Denver, it gives a number of comparison clues to how the soap gang in Denver operated. I will add my thoughts and notes within the article. These Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-23794646578512590602023-03-03T09:21:00.014-08:002023-04-12T20:33:41.253-07:00Did Soapy Smith operate in Benson, Arizona in 1885?
Soapy Smith in Benson?Daily TombstoneSeptember 2, 1885(Click image to enlarge)
id Soapy Smith operate in Benson, Arizona in 1885?
Daily Tombstone
September 2, 1885
Went Broke.
Tim and Brigham, two well known Johns, went to Benson Tuesday to take in the circus and among other sights they saw there was a man selling soap, wrapped around which was greenbacks of variousJeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-79317099599414770552023-02-28T09:52:00.002-08:002023-02-28T09:52:58.095-08:00Soapy Smith in Tucson, Arizona 1882
The soap fiendArizona Citizen
(Tucson, Arizona)December 17, 1882(Click image to enlarge)
OAPY SMITH IN TUCSON, ARIZONA
Arizona Citizen
December 17, 1882
Tucson, Arizona
The soap fiend with his little trick is again in town, taking in the
four bits and the dollars of the unsuspecting verdants. The game is to
roll up little bits of soap in paper with an occasional bank note
Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-39959155918720231582023-02-03T11:46:00.004-08:002023-02-05T06:25:18.928-08:00Did Soapy Smith go to Virginia City in 1885?
The Soap Selling FakirLyon County TimesNevadaJuly 4, 1885
(Click image to enlarge)
id "Soapy" Smith go to Virginia City in 1885? In the Lyon County Times, July 4, 1885, there is a mention of a "soap selling fakir." The soap selling fakir who offered such splendid inducements to Carsonites and a few Daytonites on circusJeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0