January 10, 2024

THE DUEL IN ELLEN'S HONOR: Soapy Smith’s grandmother








HE DUEL IN ELLEN'S HONOR.
Soapy Smith’s grandmother

On 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, in which both young gentlemen were killed. The gun-duel took place in a secluded yard behind the Old Blandford Church and cemetery, 319 South Crater Road Petersburg, Virginia.



There are family stories, along with a letter written in 1903 by Ellen's brother, John G. Peniston (1811-1906), pertaining to his sister and the duel. With the coming of the internet a lot of details have been dug up, giving us a better look at the tragic incident and the young woman, Ellen. The letter was written when John was 92-years-old, and was transcribed decades later by family genealogist, Ellen Peniston Rafeedie. I do not have the original letter, nor have I seen a copy; thus, I cannot determine how much of the transcription below is a true copy of the original letter in regards to grammar, spellings, punctuation, capitalization, etc.

Ryan, Ind. Territory [Oklahoma]
March 26, 1903
My own dear Niece:
Mrs. Ellen S. Faver
     I was very glad to receive your kind grattifying[sic] and unexpected letter. I assure you it aroused the slumbering ties of consanguinity, and as I read it, over and over it bore the impress on memories page of my own dear Saintly Sister Ellen, whose christian[capitalize] soul and wonderful personality, stamped her in early life the Bell[e] of Virginia.
     I regret that I cannot give you all the particulars of that fatal duel., between Adams an Boisseau. I think the circumstance this – Sister was boarding after the death of our Parents with the Aikin family. They gave her a party on a Magnificent Scale. - both of the young men were present, and nothing seemed to mar the pleasures of the enthusiast[sic] Adams brought refreshments to Sister, which offended Boisseau. They quarreled and he challenged Adams-they fought at Old Blandford Cemetery, and both were killed, - Adams may have addressed my Sister – both were prominent young men – Of course Sister had no control of the sad affair – But I think it clouded the future of her promising life.
     Several days ago, I answered a letter to your Uncle William A. Smith – He wanted to know the antecedents of the Peniston’s, - I deeply regret my incompetency to give a full and reliable statement, being only 4 years of age on the death of my Parents 1816 And the information I gave William A. I learned from others – Please see William as intended the letter for Dr. Lum – Dr. Henry and all my relatives – I regret that I did not mention my youngest brother, Dr. Thomas Peniston, he was a Professor in the New School of Medison[sic] in New Orleans, and was a Success in life. I dearly loved him, he loved his family- and on his return from Europe he gave me a good deal of information about our family- He died in New Orleans in 1865 and I think was interred in Baton Rouge Cemetery alongside his two oldest brothers and Sister Catherine- If I could ever have the pleasure of seeing you all again I have much to tell you- Two of my sons, Wayne and Ernest expect to go to New Mexico in a few weeks- Columbus S.[Smith] lives in Ryan and is doing well and now I must close, ever affectionately yours
J.G. Peniston.

THE DUEL.

     The two young men agreed to fight a duel near a secluded church lot. Both being apparent good pistoleers, they shot and killed one another. The following comes from the Genius of Liberty, Petersburg, Va., August 22, 1820, p. 2.
PETERSBURG, VA. -
Aug. 11.
     A duel was fought on Wednesday last, near the brick church in Blandford, by Mr. Robert C. Adams and James B. Boisseau, of this town, which unhappily terminated on the death of both!
     The distance taken by combatants was nine feet -- the first fire proved ineffectual; but at the second, Mr. Boisseau received his antagonists' ball in the right breast and fell lifeless.
     Mr. Adams received the ball of Mr. Boisseau in the right side a little below the false ribs, and survived about two hours. Of the nature of the quarrel which gave rise to this fatal meeting, we are not informed. Thus at the shrink of the mistaken honour, have those young gentlemen sacrificed themselves.”
Jame’s parents were Benjamin Boisseau and Mary Eppes.
     It has been written that Ellen never completely got over the fact that she had been partly responsible for the deaths. The attending physician at the fight was Ira Ellis Smith, who within seventeen months would take Ellen as his bride.
After the death of her parents Ellen was boarding with another family [Aikin]. Admiring friends gave her a party in her honor. During the evening Robert Adams brought refreshments to Ellen, which offended James Boisseau. The two men quarreled, ending with James challenging his rival to fight a duel. The next day the word came to Ellen that both men had been killed. A sad shock to her, though it is said that she loved neither of them. Both men are interred in Old Blandford church cemetery where the duel took place.
     One of the dueling pistols used in the duel may be seen at the Old Blandford Church museum.

One of the pistols used in the duel
The card and possibly a corresponding letter are illegible
Courtesy of VA Travels, YouTube video
and the Blandford, Church Museum

(Click image to enlarge)

     A family letter reads, [Ellen’s] “accomplishments equaled her personal charm, so it was no wonder that she should have many lovers.” Some blamed Ellen for the deaths, including the families of Boisseau and Adams, causing her great distress, and she never escaped feeling responsible.
     Adams and Boisseau were from prominent families. I found the following email from A. S. Boisseau to Anne Stiller (January 1999) with the Boisseau side of the history.     
     This James B. Boisseau was killed in the duel at Blandford Cemetery, and was reported in newspapers across the state (I have copies from 10 or 11 different papers).
     The story runs that about the year 1820, Ellen Peniston, of Petersburg, Va., engaged herself to two young men at the same time, in a spirit of harmless coquetry, but the two gentlemen took the matter seriously enough to fight a duel over it. They were named Adams and Boisseau, and the fatal encounter took place just back of the old Blandford church, in a pine grove now marked by the graves of the Hamilton family. The two former friends fell dead at the first shot, and the vain and thoughtless girl lived to mourn their hot-headed deed the rest of her life, which continued to a ripe age. (Annals of the Fowler Family Author: Glenn D.F. Arthur Call Number: CS71.F681x, p. 149) Killed in a duel at Old Blandford Church, Petersburg, VA where he fought a man named Adams for the affections of Miss Pennister[sic], a celebrated beauty. Both men, young college students, died almost simultaneously.
Not sure I agree with the "vain and thoughtless girl" part, but we have to remember this was written from the other side of the fence and that's just the way they may have seen her. They might be correct if their statement is true that Ellen "engaged herself to two young men at the same time ..." By "engaged" they no doubt mean "engaged" in conversations with two men at once. Smith family history states that Ellen accepted a drink from one of the young men, which enraged the other, and the challenge was made. I am told by one historian who wrote about duels, that,
"Regency era etiquette at a party scene as was the case when the challenge was made, is that it is expected that all party guests mingle with everyone, even if dating or promised to one man or woman. Ellen had no control or voice in the matter once the dueling challenge was made. With all that said, if a woman is the core reason for a duel, the women is blamed by society."
ELLEN STIMPSON PENISTON


     Ellen Stimpson Peniston was born March 4, 1802 in Petersburg, Virgina. Daughter of Samuel Peniston and Ariana Sleymaker. She was never able to hold her grandson, Jefferson R. Smith, in her arms, as she passed away just eleven days before he his birth.
     Ellen was educated in Annapolis and Baltimore, Maryland. Described as the “Belle of Virginia” and “the Flower of Georgia.” A family letter in 1932 boldly states that she was the most educated woman in Georgia.
     It is written that Dr. Ira Ellis Smith [my gr-gr-gr-grandfather] was the physician present when the duel took place. Approximately one year after the duel, Ira married Ellen in Petersburg, Virginia, December 6, 1821. They had 11 children together (ten boys and one girl).
     Ellen died October 23, 1860, in Coweta County, Georgia, where she rests in peace at Oak Hill Cemetery in Newnan, Georgia. Her sermon was given by Rev. Alexander Means, DD LLD., who read from Psalms 73, verses 24 and 25. In a family bible under her name it reads; "In sure prospects of a blessed immortality." She missed meeting her grandchild, Jefferson R. Smith by 11 days.
     
RESTORATION OF ELLEN'S PHOTOGRAPH

     In 2011 during a research and presentation trip, I and two cousins took a trip to the Oak Hill cemetery hoping to find the missing Smith family graves, including Ellen's. We were there with the president of the Coweta County Historical Society, who guessed that the Smith plots might be close to the Peniston family plots. He happened to peek around a bush “fence” and to our surprise, there they all were. For decades the Smith family could not locate the graves because the cemetery had changed the name and numbering system of that location many decades ago, but did not correctly update records and plot maps, so we were looking in the wrong place.
     
Graves of Ellen S. Peniston and Dr. Ira E. Smith
Descendants Geri Murphy, Jeff Smith and Jeannie Schaffner

(Click image to enlarge) 
     
     Some of the early letters written by Ellen S. Peniston have been saved. Following are two examples written in 1820 from Virginia, that family member, Ellen Rafeedie, sent to me. In the letters, Ellen is corresponding with her brother, Anthony Peniston, a physician in New Orleans, Louisiana. He co-founded the School of Medicine in New Orleans, which later became the Tulane University. His portrait hangs in Founders Hall. and Peniston Street in New Orleans was named in his honor. Online, I found a medical journal (in french) from 1854 located at the Louisiana State University (1 Vol. Location: M:20 - For further information see online catalog. Mss. 339).
Petersburg,
February 3d, 1820

Dear brother
     Feeling sensibly your neglect I had almost determined on the same course of conduct but my friendship conquered that inclination, and I cannot resist the pleasure of writing though I am apprehensive that either the letter or the writer (or perhaps both) will be deemed by you unworthy of your notice. Although this conclusion is deeply mortifying, and the general tenour of your past conduct should forbid such a suspicion, the sincerity and ardour of my love, produce fears as to the perpetuity of your affection and lead me to draw from your silence the most painful inference. My mind is busied and agitated with a thousand conjectures as to the cause of offence which I may possibly have given you, but the most scrupulous and impartial retrospection of my past conduct, does not furnish me with a single instance in which I can accuse myself of having deviated from the strictest rules of a sisters duty. I entreat you not to leave me in that painful suspense attendant on your silence, but either inform me by letter in what manner I have offended you, or convey to me the assurance that my fears are groundless and that I still share some portion of your fondness.
     Nothing of moment has occurred since you left us. I have boarded Mary C with a lady who is capable of attending to the morals as well as deportment, Mrs Gary of Prince George. She goes to school to Mr. Branch who is sufficiently learned, as yet, she being backward in her education.
     I have had the pleasure of hearing from you indirectly. The place of your residence is well known, and I am sorry you did not explain yourself explicitly, ere you left us, as you have been very much censured in this abode of friends, for the mystery which accompanied you altho' I am not acquainted with your affairs I am perfectly assured you always act from motives perfectly consistent with propriety.
     Samuel has left his school and friters away his time in the street not regarding any advice which is given him by me. The other children are well. Mr. Burke will hand you this he has met with a powerful friend in Boiling Robinson, who will no doubt, advance him considerably in his literary carreer. To hear of your prosperity and celebrity in your profession is the first wish of my heart and tho' tossed about by the rude billows of adversity, I still have a sheltering port in your affection, for I cannot bids you the injustice to believe you are selfish enough to forget those whom nature and religion bids us love and cherish - it was reported you died in New York in an Oyster house. Oh! the Poisonous breath of calumny vice vegetates more luxuriantly here than in any other place I have ever known, and a knowledge of the malignity of some of our dear Petersburg friends accounts for these reports. You will perceive that in one paragraph of my letter I have taken the sisterly liberty of admonishing, and is not dread greater in use than an astronomer would receive for remarking a small spot on the brilliant orb of the sun.
     Mrs A compliments and best wishes believe me to be ever yours
devotedly,
Ellen S. Peniston
In the next letter Ellen announces her marriage to Dr. Ira E. Smith.
Mount Laurel
Dec. 24, 1821
Dear brother
     Months have roll'd[sic] by, hours of anxiety have suceeded[sic] each other, with out a single line to relieve my solicitude. I wrote in answer to the letter enclosed to Mr. Sproner, but imagine you never received it, any other conclusion would be too mortifying and so then is the mood soothing to affection, I adopt it with the friends he has of the truth. How many prayers do I offer up to that throne of devine[sic] mercy, for your safety and protection. Through the toil some and diversified scenes of precarious existance[sic], no selfish [illegible] can erase my anxiety, or cause me to forget the brother, my early love, the friend who supported me through the thorny path of adversity, and lighten'd[sic] the bursting heart of sorrows devoted child. Can I forget your assiduousness to tranquilize my feelings under every affliction? or cease to be grateful for the many tender proofs I have experienced, of your steady and underacting love. Rembrance[sic] cherishes them in my bosom and gratitude shall perpetuate them.
     The important era in the eventful life of your sister has pass'd[sic]. I am married!!!! The marriage was solemnized at Mr. Akins before a large and brilliant assemblage of ladies and gentlemen, the 6th of this month. I am united to a man of worth, one who is universally belov'd[sic], and, whose merits an envious world is willing to acknowledge. Dr. Smith of Dinwiddie, he is a partner of Dr. Peter Haraway and as that is the case, we reside at his house in [illegible] before we commence house hunting. Mary Catherine is with us. All our brothers are well. Samuel causes me more sorrow than any thing in the world. He is in Petersburg, but has no home. He has been refused board every where he appli'd[sic] and he is too lazy to think of any alternative himself and too headstrong to listen to my advice. if you do not send for him disgrace and ruin will attend him, for you are the only person who can manage him at all. I deliver'd[sic] your letter safe to Mrs. M, who has never condescended to speak easily to me who she [illegible sentence] business and she spends in fashion and folly, his hard earnings, as soon as she can grasp at them - her mother has lately died, but the dear propensity can not be still'd[sic], not even by the hand of Death! It is astonishing to me how a mother can be so blind to the interests of her children, or a wife so destitute of affection for her husband! You will gratify me more than I can express, by sending me your miniature by the first opportunity - tis not impracticable and the pleasure of gazing on your features, though still and inanimate, will convey to your sister's bosom the most delightful emotions - a willing gaze on it and fancy, I see in the delicate combinations of that face the irradiations of your brilliant understanding and almost think the lips parting to give me a smile of love. Write to me brother. I entrust you to torture me no longer, By your neglect or deepen the wound it has already occasion'd[sic]. How shall I find words to express how warmly and affectionately I am your
sister, and friend.
Ellen S. Smith

ADDENDUM: An interesting point was made, that if the duel had never taken place, Soapy and I might have never been born. At the very least, our DNA composition would be vastly different if we were to be born. 





 









Ellen Stimpson Peniston











Ellen Stimpson Peniston: pages 19-21
The duel: pages: 20-21.

ADDITIONAL SOURCES:
Boisseau Homestead (James Bowe Boisseau)

Find-A-Grave






"The better the gambler, the worse the man."
—Publius Syrus








December 24, 2023

Confidence man "Soapy" Smith in Georgetown, Colorado, 1885

"Loose money in Georgetown"
Denver Rocky Mountain News
September 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 jewelry peddlers and other confidence men who have been flocking in here for the past few weeks.

This is the first I have seen where Soapy Smith likely went to Georgetown, known as the "silver queen of Colorado." It makes perfect sense to me that Soapy operated there. Soapy's timeline for this period is sparse but does open up the possibility of a trip to Georgetown.
     On August 25, 1885, the Denver Rocky Mountain News reported a robbery in Denver in which the victim was drugged.

John Lewis wandered into a Larimer Street dive last night and became intoxicated. While in that condition he was placed in a hack, taken outside the city limits and robbed of between $400 and $500. He was then dumped out on the prairie where he lay insensible till nearly morning, when he made his way to the city and reported his loss. He claims that he was drugged, and he probably was, as the gang who hangs around the notorious resort would not stop at murder if a $5 bill were in sight. This is the second occurrence of the kind that has happened at the same place within the past week.
Drugging victims in saloons became popular for a period in Denver. It has not been established that Jeff knew anyone involved in these robberies or whether he was receiving tribute from those responsible. It can be guessed that he was and that probably he called a halt to them. They shocked the residents of Denver, who demanded something be done. A large percentage of these drug-induced robberies dropped off as quickly as they had begun, but they did not cease entirely.
     Interest in arresting the guilty did not come from law enforcement but the ever-vigilant Rocky Mountain News. On the day of the story about the Lewis robbery, the News reported that about thirty bunco men were headed for Boulder and the fireman’s tournament:
“There are pickpockets and soap men and shell men, eight die men, top and bottom men, flim-flamers and the smiler with the shells, and all the rest of the boys.”
Associating Soapy Smith and “the boys” with the robberies was an easy link for readers. Did the robbery of Lewis raise the profile of Soapy and the bunco brotherhood? The answer seems clear. Why else would “the brotherhood’s” travel to Boulder be newsworthy?
     Nineteen days after the Georgetown report, on October 3, 1885, "Jeff Smith" and Mike Rainey are arrested for assaulting John Koch, a probable victim.

CONCLUSION: Though Soapy's name is not mentioned in Georgetown, it's likely that the soap peddler in Georgetown was Soapy Smith.

 

 







 
 






"History with its flickering lamp stumbles along the trail of the past, trying to reconstruct its scenes, to revive its echoes, and kindle with pale gleams the passion of former days."
—Winston Churchill







December 22, 2023

Is this the first record of "Soapy" Smith running the soap sell racket in Denver?

IS THIS SOAPY SMITH?
Denver Rocky Mountain News
May 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 year is 1879. Mr. Buffum recorded what he witnessed in a 1906 collection of sketches of his frontier experiences.
I first saw him in the spring of 1879. Standing in front of the old Grand Central Hotel one day, I saw approaching me a man driving a bay horse hitched to a light buggy. He stopped by my side and lifted a box from the bottom of the buggy seat, and I noticed that it contained several cakes of soap. Looking at me squarely in the face, he said, “Will you allow me to present you with fifty dollars?” I declined with thanks, though such benevolence might have received more consideration had I been more familiar with his game.[1]
     In an 1889 Rocky Mountain News interview, when asked how long he had lived in Denver, Soapy replied, “Since 1879, but not steady...,”[2]. This does match the year George Buffum claims to have seen Soapy, but it is not solid evidence. 
     Recently, I took the time to research the Rocky Mountain News, using the search engines on GenealogyBank newspaper archives and came across the news clipping at top.
The soap and lottery man is the centre[sic] of attraction on the streets now evenings, and the hard working laborer pays fifty cents for one cent's worth of soap and the privilege of drawing a blank.
Could this be the first newspaper evidence of Soapy operating the prize package soap racket in Denver? There is always the chance that it is another bunko man operating the soap racket. 
     Business licenses obtained by 21-year-old Jefferson Randolph Smith II during this period confirm that he was a nomad confidence man traveling around the West. Most of the licensing was not recorded or has been lost in time, but a few examples survive to give a glimpse of his travels. The earliest known, was sent to “J. R. Smith Esqr.,” in Fort Worth, Texas, in response to his request from the Georgia comptroller general in Atlanta, dated March 3, 1881.
Dear Sir- Your favor of the 24th to grant lender the lease of this state you will have to pay a sum of twenty-five dollars for each day’s exhibition in every city or town of five thousand inhabitants; twenty dollars in city or town of four thousand & under five thousand inhabitants; fifteen dollars in city or town with less than four thousand inhabitants; said tax to be paid to the tax collector in each county where the exhibition takes place. Yours Respectfully W. A. Wright, Comp Genl.
Compared with licensing costs secured elsewhere, the Georgia fees were very high, making it doubtful Jeff ever worked his criminal trade within the borders of his home state.
     At the end of the month, March 30, 1881, Soapy is in a New Orleans courtroom for "assault and battery." Thirty-six days later the Denver soap racket story is published, having given Soapy plenty of time to be in Denver to operate the swindle. The next location known for Soapy is dated eight months later, when Soapy, listed as being from "Fort Worth," and Soapy's con-man partner, John T. Waller, listed as being from "Denver," register at a hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
     There were other prize package soap swindlers operating around the nation. and this is the first newspaper mention I could find regarding them in Colorado. Considering the timeline of Soapy's whereabouts during this period, it is very possible, perhaps even probable, that Jeff R. Smith was running the con game in Denver, where he would earn the alias of "Soapy," known across the West for the soap swindle.
     Fourteen months later, July 16, 1882, the Denver Rocky Mountain News published another incident involving the soap racket swindle.
 
Is this also Soapy?
Denver Rocky Mountain News
July 16, 1882

  (Click image to enlarge)
The cheap soap man with his prize money scheme made his appearance here Thursday. After he had opened up his wares on the street and inaugurated his deceptive prize scheme, he was promptly taken in tow by an officer of the law. He was given a chance to get out of town in a hurry. 
Is this Soapy? Or another confidence man?
 
     Seven days prior to the above publication, Soapy is running the soap sell in Astoria, Oregon. This is confirmed in one of his notebooks. It is standard during this nomad period that Soapy rarely stayed long in anyone town. Sometimes he left the state, working a period of time in another state, only to return to the previous state, sometimes even the previous town! This was plenty of time for Soapy to arrive in Denver, work the swindle, and travel back to Portland, Oregon where about fifteen days later, on August 2nd, he is once again operating the soap con.
     Once again, Soapy's timeline does not contradict with the possibility that he operated the soap swindle in both published incidences, or one of them, or neither of them.
     The next example is still possibly Soapy's handiwork.
 
Is this Soapy?
Denver Rocky Mountain News
July 29, 1882

(Click image to enlarge)
The patent soap peddlers, who make pretensions of giving prize money packages with their soap, were taken in by the limb of the law Thursday evening immediately after they had commenced their operations on the street corner.
Is this Soapy? Possibly, but less likely than the other two published examples. The clipping mentions that the soap men were "taken in" on Thursday, which would be July 27, 1882. If Soapy was given bond that evening, he had six days to get to Portland, Oregon by August 2, 1882, the date the Daily Standard published the article, "The Latest Racket," detailing a soap racket operating there.
 
CONCLUSION: The next best piece of evidence would be to find "Jeff R. Smith" listed as signing a Denver hotel register near the dates of the three newspaper stories. Even better would be to find one of Soapy's personal notebooks detailing his travels during this period. Though these are not provenance, I will take the presumption that one, two or possibly all three, are about Soapy Smith. 
 
NOTES:
[1] Buffum, pp. 26-27.
[2] Rocky Mountain News, August 6, 1889.








 
 






"All the ancient histories, as one of our wits say, are just fables that have been agreed upon."
—Voltaire, Jeannot et Colin







September 14, 2023

Soapy Smith's stereo-view photograph in Leadville, Colorado, July 21, 1880

Soapy Smith in Leadville, Colorado
July 21, 1880
Soapy and partner, rear, between carriages
Courtesy Kyle Rosene collection

(Click image to enlarge)







Soapy Smith's stereo-view photograph
Leadville, Colorado, July 21, 1880




Where 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 may recall seeing the photograph (#6A) above, in the first photograph section of the book.
     Soapy sent the above stereo-view card to his sister in Texas, writing on the back
This is a crew of freighters we met in Leadville on the 21st of July 1880 in the morning on the day that Gen Grant arrived. You can see my photo by looking between the two wagons next to the man with the apron and his sleeves rolled up. JRS. [Soapy is between the two men, or in the rear, 3rd from the left]
     In other writing Soapy tells his sister Eva that the former president (1869-1877) is on horseback in the background. If you look closely you can see Grant on a very blurry horse.
     It is Leadville, Colorado, July 21, 1880, the day ex-president U. S. Grant arrived in the city. There is a parade in his honor and photographers Luke and Wheeler set up a stereo-view camera to take some photographic mementos of the day's celebration. The camera faces north on Harrison Avenue when Soapy and an unnamed bunko partner step into the street to have their picture taken.
     The exact location of where Soapy and the photographers were located has been a long-standing question. The older biographies (The Reign of Soapy Smith and Soapy Smith" King of the Frontier Con Men) mention Soapy operating his soap sell racket on the corners of Harrison Ave., and 3rd street, but did not list a source. This photograph was taken on Harrison about a block away from 3rd street, but that means little as far as provenance goes.
     Two Facebook friends and historians in my Soapy Smith's Old West group, Mr. Don Hendershot and Mr. Gary Demoney, took up the task of trying to pinpoint the location. Photographs, maps and knowledge were shared on Leadville's streets. Mr. Hendershot examined the photograph and determined that Soapy was likely standing at 2nd street and Harrison Avenue. Mr. Demoney sent me an 1882 bird's eye view of Leadville, and by comparing the buildings in the photo with those in the bird's eye view, I was able to pinpoint where Soapy was standing when the photographer took the picture. Soapy was on Harrison Avenue, between 2nd and Chestnut streets.

Bird's eye view Leadville, Co., 1882
Full map
Denver Public Library Special Collections
Call Number CG4314.L51882.S8

(Click image to enlarge)


Bird's eye view Leadville, Co., 1882
Close-up
Denver Public Library Special Collections
Call Number CG4314.L51882.S8

(Click image to enlarge)



Sanborn map 1883
Harrison Ave., between 2nd and Chestnut streets
Where Soapy was standing for the photograph
Library of Congress

(Click image to enlarge)



Leadville, Colorado today
Approximate spot where Soapy stood
Google Maps

(Click image to enlarge)


Harrison Avenue looking north
From the corner of Chestnut Street
Denver Public Library Special Collections
Call Number CHS.X4611

(Click image to enlarge)


The striped (red, white, blue bunting) telephone pole with at least ten pin cross arms, on the right side of the photograph above is the same striped pole seen to the right of the stereo-view photograph showing Soapy, at the top of this post. Examining and comparing the building fronts, roofs, facades and false fronts to the building fronts in the bird's eye view close-up shown above, clearly indicates that this photograph shows the approximate location of where Soapy had his picture taken.
     I want to thank Gary Demoney for locating this photograph and others.

Leadville, Colorado: pages 10, 36-37, 75, 77-78, 116, 123, 134-35, 144, 152, 176, 189, 192, 219, 225, 292, 297, 347, 349, 420, 509, 594.  





"Until lions have their historians,
tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunters."


~African Proverb







August 21, 2023

Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882: Part #8 - page 8

Soapy Smith's "star" notebook
Page 8 - original copy
1882

(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 Soapy's handwriting, and often times pretty hard to decipher. A large part of this series of posts is to transcribe the pages, one-at-a-time, and receive help from readers on identifying words I am having trouble with, as well as correcting any of my deciphered words. I will include the original copy of each page, an enhanced copy of each page, a copy in negative, and a copy with typed out text, as tools to aid in deciphering the notes. There are a total of 24 pages. This means that there may be upwards of 24 individuals posts for this one notebook. Links to the past and future pages (pages 1, 2, 3, etc.) will be added at the bottom of each post for ease of research. When completed there will be a sourced partial record of Soapy's activities and whereabouts for 1882-1883.

     Important to note that the pages of the notebook do not appear to be in chronological order, with Soapy making additional notes on a town and topic several pages later.



Soapy Smith's "star" notebook
Page 8 - enhanced
1882

Courtesy of Geri Murphy

(Click image to enlarge)



Soapy Smith's "star" notebook
Page 8 - enhanced
1882

Courtesy of Geri Murphy

(Click image to enlarge)


     Here is what I believe to be the correct deciphering of the text, dated 1882. Do you agree, or do you see something else? There are two words I have not been able to decipher positively. All comments, suggestions and ideas are welcome! I will update the new information to this post.


Soapy Smith's "star" notebook
Page 8 - deciphered
1882

Courtesy of Geri Murphy

Click image to enlarge




Page 8 (bottom).

  • Line 1: "Sherman Show [circus]"
  • Line 2: "Oregon City [Oregon] 29th"
  • Line 3: "__?__ 1882"
  • Line 4: "population 1,800"

    Art Petersen, who has been aiding me in deciphering Soapy's handwriting, writes,
         Lines 3 and 4; are conundrums for me. The name appears to have 4, 5, or 6 letters. Clearly appearing after the smudgy word are the #s 1882. The only letter that seems for sure is the last, an "o." Among possible Oregon cities, here are two nominations: Echo and Toledo. The next line, though, lists a population of 1,800. Neither of these towns in 1882 could have had a population that high. Of the two towns, my pick as possible is Echo. It was on the Oregon Trail, and Wikipedia indicates travelers were still known to be traversing "the trail" into the 1880s. So Echo was a known site that had a transient population for decades. Toledo, on the other hand, was a gold placer mining site; it was remote and went into decline sooner than Echo. This site for me remains the best possibility. The population listed, though, does seem high for 1882.
  • Line 5: "Salem [Oregon] pop. 5,000"
  • Line 6: "Albany [Oregon] 1,800 [pop.]"
  • Line 7: "Eugene City [Oregon] 1,117 [pop.]"
  • Line 8: "Lf"

    Art writes,
         Line 8; "Lf." The L in these two letters seems certainly an L, as comparison shows. No city in Oregon that begins with L has an f in it except Lafayette. Did Soapy begin to write that name, find himself unsure of the spelling, and left it, only to write it out a bit a later? No other thoughts occur to me about the two letters.
  • Line 9: "Hillsboro [Oregon] 600 [pop.]"
  • Line 10: "Lafayette [Oregon] 783 [pop.]"
  • Line 11: "Dalles [Oregon] 6200 [pop.]"
  • Line 12: "Corvallis [Oregon] 1,188 [pop.]"
  • Line 13: "Jacksonville [Oregon] 960 [pop.]"
  • Line 14: "Kalama [Washington Terr.] Aug 29, 1882"
  • Line 15: "fare from Olympia [Washington Terr.]"
  • Line 16: "to Portland [Oregon] 29 Aug"
  • Line 17: "1882 $6.80"

    Art writes,
         The last 4 lines; may be related. The rather dark, clear letters appearing there seem to be KalamaeA[t?]ng. After it appear the following numbers: 291882. The # is not a sum total of the previous population numbers. Neither is it a reasonable population # for any location in the Northwest at the time. The possibility remaining is that the # contains 2 sets of #s—29 and 1882. That year is repeated 3 times on the page. If the last 4 digits are the year, 1882, that leaves the number 29. Now back to the word. Suggested is the Washington Territory town of Kalama. It's on the way from Portland to Tacoma, WA, and a spur reaches to Olympia. In 1880, after the Northern Pacific decided to put its headquarters, not in Kalama but in Tacoma, the Kalama population plunged to 129. It's not out of the realm of possibility that the town in 1882 had a population of about 29. Another possibility is that 29 is a date. In fact, it is repeated on the last two lines: 29 Aug / 1882. I have puzzled over the letters after the apparent Kalama and have come up empty. How could they fit with Kalama. Surrounding clues strongly suggest Kalama to me, but the A[t?]ng leave me stumped.
    My response.
    I believe that line 14 reads "Kalama [Washington Terr.] Aug 29, 1882."
    Art writes,
         Line 15-16; Here's where the potential link to Kalama comes in. Recorded is "fare from Olympia to Portland." Kalama is on the way, 38 miles from Portland and 71.5 miles south of the Olympia.
          Line 17; A fare of $6.80. The southern spur of the Northern Pacific in 1882 ran from Portland, through Kalama and to Olympia with a short spur, and on to Tacoma. See the 1883 NPRR map.

Interpretation: Page 1, page 2, page 4, page 5 of this notebook shows Soapy's plans for traveling through Oregon and Washington Territory, making and changing plans before successfully venturing there, several times. Here in 1882, on page 8 he makes makes notations of Oregon and Washington towns and their populations, perhaps not wishing to stop and waste time at smaller communities. Details include traveling by train from Oregon to Washington, and returning to Portland, Oregon from Olympia, Washington, for $6.80, the equivalent of $211.96 in 2023.

 






 









STAR NOTEBOOK
April 24, 2017
Part #1
Part #2

Part #3

Part #4
Part #5 

Part #6
Part #7
Part #9
(not published yet)
Part #10 (not published yet)
Part #11
(not published yet)
Part #12 (not published yet)
Part #13
(not published yet)
Part #14 (not published yet)
Part #15
(not published yet)
Part #16 (not published yet)











Oregon: pages 38-39, 42-43, 119, 166, 339, 440, 475, 499, 506, 530-31, 577.
Washington state: pages 443-44, 489, 498, 512, 518, 554, 579.







"Honesty is the best policy…unless you can tell a convincing lie."
—Keith C. Cobb
Exceptions to the Rules, 2001