February 11, 2025

Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1883: Part #16 - page 16

Soapy Smith STAR Notebook
Page 16 - Original copy
1883
Courtesy of Geri Murphy

(Click image to enlarge)




oapy Smith in Nebraska, Iowa, Denver.

This is page 16, dated July-October 1883, 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.
     These notebook pages have never been published before! They continue to be of revealing interest. The picture that the pages draw is of young 22 year-old Jefferson pursuing "soap sales" over a very wide spread of territory and in a very tenacious, even driven, way.
     The notebook(s) are in Soapy's handwriting, and sometimes 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. My long time friend, and publisher, Art Petersen, has been a great help in deciphering and adding additional information. 
     I will include the original copy, an enhanced copy, and a negative copy of each page. Also included will be 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.
     It seems Soapy is not entrenched in Denver yet, still operating as a nomad moving from town to town. 
     This page represents a list of possible future work trips as the dates are not in consecutive order and intertwine with one another. He appears to be just taking notes. At this time it is not known if he went to any of these towns, except for Denver.
     Page #16 covers his possible journey into Denver, Colorado and further east to Nebraska and Iowa. Although the communication of twenty-one-year-old Soapy Smith is with himself, the writing also communicates with us about him 142 years later (and potentially far beyond today). 
     Below are my attempts to attempts to make the writing easier to see and decipher.


Soapy Smith STAR Notebook
Page 16 - Enhanced copy
1883
Courtesy of Geri Murphy

(Click image to enlarge)


Soapy Smith STAR Notebook
Page 16 - Negative copy
1883
Courtesy of Geri Murphy

(Click image to enlarge)



Soapy Smith STAR Notebook
Page 16 - Deciphered copy
1883
Courtesy of Geri Murphy

(Click image to enlarge)


Page 15 - Top
  • Line 1: "Grand Reunion"
  • Line 2: "at Hastings Neb" [Nebraska]
  • Line 3: "in September 1883."
  • Line 4: "Races at Lincoln" [Nebraska]
  • Line 5: "Neb [Nebraska] 3 & 4 July"
  • Line 6: "Pawnee Co [County] Fair" [Nebraska]
  • Line 7: "Neb. [Nebraska] Oct 2. 3. 4 & 5-"
  • Line 8: "Clinton Ia [Iowa] July 4th"
  • Line 9: "Ln [?] M_____" [?]
  • Line 10: "July 4.th"
  • Line 11: "Denver July 21st"
  • Line 12: "Grand Army Republic"
Page 15 - Bottom
  • Line 13: "Fairs that day"
  • Line 14: "be [I?] worked"
  • Line 15: "I. E. Laighman"
  • Line 16: "prop" [proprietor]
  • Line 17: "Hamburg" [Iowa]
  • Line 18: "Red Oak" [Iowa]
  • Line 19: "Sioux City" [Iowa]
  • Line 20: "Shenandoah" [Iowa]
  • Line 21: "Races at"
  • Line 22: "Mason City" [Iowa]
  • Line 23: "July 3, 4, 5, & 6"
  • Line 24: "Good"

In looking at the deciphered text above we see that Soapy was planning to operate his swindles at the Grand Army Republic "Grand Reunion" in Nebraska in September 1883. The Hastings Weekly Nebraskan newspaper reveals that the affair was large enough to warrant Soapy attending. 


Hastings Weekly Nebraskan
The Grand Army Republic Reunion
September 6, 1883

The grand parade by states yesterday was grand indeed. We could make no proper estimate of the numbers in rank, but to the naked eye it looked as though the whole Grand Army of the Republic was there assembled. Sheridan avenue from headquarters to the grand pavilion was filled so full of moving squadrons that civilians found it necessary to look for standing room in the alleys, cross avenues and nearest tents. The old vets were supremely happy. 
The Hastings Weekly Nebraskan, September 20, 1883 states that there were over 30,000 civilian attendees and 8,000 veterans, so the event was plenty big for Soapy's liking. There were plenty of dupes to swindle, so it is unlikely that Soapy included vets in his game. Besides, Soapy was very patriotic and sought a military commission later in life so he probably left the old soldiers alone.
     The only mention of crime comes from the Hastings Weekly Gazette-Journal, September 13, 1883 

Bold Thieves
The Grand Army Republic Reunion
September 13, 1883


"If any 'gouging' was done it was by traveling mountebanks"
The "mountebank" is three-card monte, and besides the house burglars ("Bold Thieves"), it is the only crime mentioned at the event that Soapy may have enacted.
     Lines 1-3 are regarding the "Grand Reunion" (Grand Army of the Republic) "at Hastings Neb" [Nebraska] "in September 1883." 
     Lines 4 & 5 is an additional note added, dating two months before the Grand Army Republic Reunion, are horse "races" in Lincoln, Nebraska, July 3 & 4. 
     Lines 6 & 7 show that less than a month after the Reunion, the Pawnee County Fair, Nebraska, takes place October 2-5, 1883. It is not know if Soapy attended.
     Line 8 only mentions "Clinton, Iowa" for July 4. 
     Line 9 (& 10) has a decipher issue, appearing to read "Ln M_____ July 4th." Is it the name of a town or county? The word starting with an "M" could be Missouri? 
     Lines 11 & 12 deal with the seventeenth Grand Army Republic Reunion held near Denver, but it was held in June 1883, not July 21. Smaller encampments occurred here and there, some recorded and probably some not.
     Lines 13 - 20 deal with fairs Soapy may have attended, or was planning to, in the Iowa towns of Hamburg, Red Oak, Sioux City and Shenandoah.
     Lines 21-24 are in regards to horse "races" at Mason City, Iowa, running July 3-6, 1883. Line 24 is a last notation from Soapy, reminding himself that the races and perhaps the fairs, are "good."   






 









Part #18 (not published yet)
Part #19 (not published yet)
Part #20 (not published yet)
Part #21 (not published yet)
Part #22 (not published yet)
Part #23 (not published yet)
Part #24 (not published yet)








"Cards are war, in disguise of a sport."
—Charles Lamb










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