Soapy Smith's Soap Box

April 11, 2010

Artifact #6: Letter from Yank Fewcloths to Mary Smith, 1895.

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The Brown Palace

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Letter from Hi-Ki and Yank Fewclothes to Soapy's wife Mary
(artifact #6-A)

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Letter from Hi-Ki and Yank Fewclothes to Soapy's wife Mary
(artifact #6-B)

The above letter is written to Soapy's wife Mary in St. Louis by husband and wife team, Henry Edwards (alias Yank V. Fewclothes), "the Poet Laureate of Seventeenth Street" and Hi-Ki were very good and loyal friends with the Smith's. Edwards was a booster in the Soap Gang. After Mary left Denver it was "Yank" and Hi-Ki who often stayed in the Smith household maintaining it for Mary's return, which never came. Edwards revealed his immense sustaining friendship and loyalty when he refused to talk bad of his long deceased friend in a 1914 interview, crowning his allegiance with the words, "He never threw down a pal." Details of Henry Edwards and his association with the Soap Gang are detailed in the pages of Alias Soapy Smith listed at the end of this post.

The letter may have been written by either Hi-Ki or "Yank" on stationary from the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, Colorado. Although it is known that "Yank" often resided at local hotels, a common effect of being "on call" for swindles, it is not known if "Yank" was living at the hotel or just using their stationary, which was a common habit. Below is the contents of the letter.

Dec. 14, 1895
Mrs. Mary E. Smith

Dear Friend:

Your most welcome letter was received by due course of mail, and am pleased to hear from you, and to learn of the good health of the children and yourself. Hope Jimmie will continue to improve. The boys are kicking foot ball out on the lot, and are having a great play at it. The house and its contents remain just the same as when you left, one year ago, on the fifth of this month. The taxes for last year were paid on the thirty-first day of last May, and the receipts that have been paid on this and the other property are in a large envelope in your desk. The taxes for this year are not due till after the first of next year, and the books are not ready at present. Have not seen Ellen A. Dalton since August 15th, and do not know her address. This morning I learned that she was out on West Colfax Ave., yesterday, and that she is at work somewhere in the city, and is well and looking nicely. Will ask her address the next time she comes out there. This is all I have been able to learn of her since you wrote me. I will continue to look for her. Hoping to hear from you, or see you soon, with kind regards to all family friends we remain as ever

Hi-Ki and Yank Fewclothes.

"Jimmie" is Soapy and Mary's youngest child, James Luther Smith, born November 27, 1889.

At this time I do not know who Ellen A. Dalton is, although Mary's mother's maiden name was Dalton. Could it be an aunt or cousin?

From the letter we can see that Mary was in Denver for a time, previous to December 5, 1894 when she returned to St. Louis.

Brown Palace: pp. 368, 404.
Henry Edwards (Fewclothes): pp. 50, 52-53, 80, 92, 111-12, 172, 232, 243, 258, 386, 388-89, 395-96- 422, 582, 589, 592, 595.

The Brown Palace is still in operation

April 10, 2010

Sam Steel spies on the Soap Gang.

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A spies note
courtesy of the University of Alberta

One of the blog sites I "follow" is The Sir Samuel Steele Collection which is sharing what it finds during the processing of the Steele collection. If you read my book then you know that Steele's notes to his superiors are responsible for disclosing that J. M. Tanner knew that Jesse Murphy was the man who shot and killed Soapy and not Frank Reid. That makes the Steele Collection site worthy of "following" and it has not been in vain. The above note was posted on that site and is most worthy of being repeated here.

Soap Gang in the Yukon

One of Sam Steele’s duties while policing the Yukon was keeping control over the gangs and ne’er do wells that were attracted to prosperous Dawson City during the Gold Rush. The image above is of an undercover report addressed to Sam Steele that provides notes on the gamblers and criminals of the area. Many traveled through Skagway, Alaska and were members of the infamous Soapy Smith’s gang.

Fred McArthur

Clever pickpocket, & member of Soapy Smith gang. Generally found at Bonnifield’s.
Jack Kerwin

One of the leaders of the Bull Hill riots in Colorado. Several murders were committed & valuable property destroyed by this gang. Is also considered a dangerous hold-up. Working on roulette wheel in Monte Carlo.

Tommy Deering

Has served several short sentences for robbery & petty crimes, lives with woman in alley

The report goes on for another few pages, profiling criminals with such names as ‘Hobo Kid,’ ‘Kid Kelley,’ and ‘Cherokee Bob.’ While I know that I shouldn’t condone the deeds of these (alleged) criminals, their cleverness is impressive!

As a last remark, if you’re wondering who wrote the note at the top right corner, it was done by Harwood Steele, Sam Steele’s son. As I mentioned in a past entry, Harwood went through many of his father’s papers and wrote notes on the items. Sometimes it was only a classification, other times background information on the person and their relationship to the Steeles, or (most helpfully!) the date of the item.

At this time none of the names are recognized members of the Soap Gang, however it should be noted that the list of men who worked for Soapy is not complete by any means. It was a secret organization.

Skaguay Cornet Band

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Skaguay Cornet Band
courtesy of Jules A. Martino

May 1, 1898 was a big day for Capt. Jefferson Randolph Smith II in Skagway. He was the "hero" of the day and a special parade was about to begin. What is a parade without a band?

Jules Martino, a member of the True West forum, has been sharing his fine collection of early photographs in his collection. The above example is one he allowed me to share on this blog.

Denver Evening Post, May 24, 1898

... By 7 o’clock … upwards of six hundred men and many ladies could be seen on the streets wearing red, white and blue badges which read: “Freedom for Cuba! Remember the Maine! Compliments of Skaguay Military Company. Jeff R. Smith, captain.” At 7:30 o’clock a procession nearly two blocks in length formed on Broadway, led by a carriage containing Dr. Hornsby and Moore, Walter Church and Deputy United States Marshal John Cudihee, and headed by the Skaguay Cornet band. Standard Bearer Tanner of Denver, Colo., proudly bore a large silk flag on which is inscribed the words, “First Regiment of Alaska Militia.”

Beside him marched Captain Jeff R. Smith of the Skaguay guards.

April 9, 2010

Artifact #4: Soapy in Mexico, 1895.

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Artifact #4, side A

In 1895 Soapy had several adventures down in old Mexico. The most important one involved the creation of an all-volunteer militia based on the French Foreign Legion. Soapy became "Colonel Jefferson Randolph Smith" and in grand showmanship Soapy convinced Mexican President José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz that he could aid the great nation to the south during a small revolution that was gaining popularity. According to the Denver newspapers Soapy went as far as opening up a recruitment office in Denver. We will never know how far Soapy would have taken this offer as Díaz called the deal off in mid stream.

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Mexican President José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz

Page 368, Alias Soapy Smith:

The most probable scenario is that sometime in latter February or early March, President Diaz received reliable information that the Colonel Smith who represented himself as a soldier was an imposter and that he was instead a notorious gambler and confidence man. Possibly the President was sent word by the News, although any number of Jeff’s enemies could have done the same. With hopes of military greatness in Mexico shattered, Jeff, as stories tell, also had to endure the Mexican dictator’s warning him never to put boots on Mexican soil again. Doing so would mean imprisonment, even execution. Jeff had no friends in Mexico’s capital to help him work the system. Beginning at the top of the dictatorship and being discovered by the dictator himself, Jeff could do nothing but take the stern rebuke and move on. In addition to the private blow to his pride, he must have been in for another when it came to explaining to confederates who had followed him that the adventure was off.

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Artifact #4, side B)

Ignoring the warning, however, Jeff made several more trips to Mexico but apparently only so far as Monterey—about 500 miles northeast of Mexico City. The last solid reference to Jeff’s being in Mexico appears on a postcard, one side of which advertises one John Haley who was apparently “well connected” there. On the card Haley writes to Jeff,

What about the concession you wanted me to get you? Please tell Julio Levies if he wants anything in Monterey to write me stating what he is willing to pay. The faro game here is doing well. Do you intend to return to Monterey if so when?
Truly yours
John Haley

The advertisement on Haley’s card gives insight to the type of work he prefers:

Nota Bene
I will manage, compromise, or fight to a finish Law Suits in any part of Mexico. … Will assist in getting Concessions from the City, State and Federal Governments, and make a specialty of
EXTRADITING FUGITIVES
from the United States. I will have nothing to do with Divorce Suits, Shadowing, reporting the conduct of Employés, nor hunting husbands and wives that are “lost, strayed or stolen.”

I have some of the best legal advisers in the Republic. State your case, and if I take it I will give you my references.
Truly yours,
JOHN HALEY
Monterey, Mexico.

On March 1, 1895, Jeff arrived in Denver was immediately interviewed by the Post about his two-month stay in Mexico.

He Returns From a Pleasant Trip to Mexico.
Colonel Jefferson Runnymeade Smith arrived in Denver yesterday from the City of Mexico, where he has been the honorary guest of President Diaz for the past two months.

The colonel entertained his many friends with glowing and interesting accounts of his experience at the Mexican capital, and with many tears of regret for the dear friends he left behind, he referred to his numerous trips into the interior with his “grip” filled with neat packages of soap and a trio of indispensable shells.

Jeff denies that he left Denver to avoid taking part in the old police board row, and treats with contempt the report that he intended to join the revolution in Nicaragua.

The colonel remarked that he returned home simply to meet his old friends and, if possible, to increase the list of his acquaintances.

Eight days later, Jeff announced his candidacy for Alderman in the Ninth Ward. That's Soapy for you.

April 8, 2010

Nellie Kate Smith

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"Lovingly Nellie"
Nellie Kate (Smith) Favar
Kyle Rosene Collection
(front view)

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"For Aunt Em"
Mrs. Sam Favar (Faver?)

Kyle Rosene Collection
(back view)

Here is another fine photograph from the Kyle Rosene Collection.

The photograph is of Nellie Kate Smith taken at the A. T. Walker studio in Newnan, Georgia in the nineteenth century. She signed the front of the picture, "Lovingly Nellie." She also signed it on the back, "For Aunt Em" (Emily Dawson Edmundson: Soapy's mother). Someone wrote, "Mrs Sam Favar (Faver) (Nellie Smith) Double cousin Eva K. Light (Smith)." Being double cousins means that they (Nellie and Emily) are related to each other through both parents' families. It would seem she married Sam Faver. This is where I get lost. I have information on the Faver's and there is a Samuel Lumpkin Faver but he married Ellen Elizabeth Smith. Either my tree at this branch is in error, or there is another Sam Faver, perhaps a son? Samuel and Ellen did have five children but none are "Sam." Could there be a son I don't have on my tree?

Born: December 19, 1868.
Father: Ira Ellis Caspar Wistar Smith.
Mother: Catherine Romanz "Kate" Edmundson.
died: July 27, 1950.

If anyone in the family has more information please let me know and I will post it here. Thank you.

April 7, 2010

Rev. Robert Dickey on Marshal Taylor, 1898.

Did Soapy Smith have another wife?

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Frank Reid's grave
Note the lack of trees. Today this area is literally a forest.
In 1897-98 the trees were felled to build the town.

Boy, did I receive a shocking e-mail last night! I had to re-read it about seven times before attempting to respond. It comes from Dee Longenbaugh who is reviewing Alias Soapy Smith. Dee has her own story to tell so I'll let her tell it.

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am reviewing your new book for the "Sitka Sentinel" and KTOO radio here in Juneau. I have a personal problem. When I worked in the library of the "Denver Post" many years ago, I ran across the stories on Soapy and his time in Creede & Denver, etc. Rather amusing.

In the early 1960s we moved to Mt. Edgecumbe, Alaska (now just a part of Sitka). Our next door neighbors and later dear friends, George and Margaret Wagnon, and my husband and I decided to break the winter's monotony by taking the ferry to Skagway. Margaret had told me about her family and Soapy so she took flowers (plastic, as no fresh ones in Sitka in 1965) for Uncle Soapy's grave.

Margaret, nee Smith, told me - when she and her two sisters were children, they were fascinated to find Jefferson Randolph Smith name crossed out in the family Bible. Upon asking the adults, they were told he was a bad man. When they grew older, they found he had married a woman from a small town not far from Atlanta, then deserted her. The family was so horrified that I invited his young wife to live with them, which she did until her death.

Margaret's father was a doctor; her mother, who came to visit Sitka a few times, very much a Lady of the Old South. I shall never forget the chill in her voice when the segregationist governor of Georgia's name came up. "Poor man. No one invites him anywhere." Clearly, Atlanta society had no welcome for him.

At any rate, George Wagnon was a doctor as well (as was my husband).

In Skagway, Margaret and I were startled when we asked someone where Soapy was buried. He asked M. if she was a relative; when she replied she was, he grew abrupt and said every so often someone would come up, saying they were related. As M. had a lighthearted approach to her uncle, she was taken aback. We did find the grave and M. left the flowers. We also saw that Jeff Smith's Parlor was still there, small and shabby though it was.

Both Margaret and George died some years ago, as I expect Margaret's sisters did as well. However, I am still in touch with the Wagnon's three children.

So - my question is - did you ever hear the story of the abandoned wife? Since they never divorced as far as Margaret knew, any subsequent marriage of Soapy would not have been legal.

I had hoped your book might go into that, but there's no mention. Before I proceed with my review, I would like to hear your views on this.

Thank you.

Dee
Dee Longenbaugh
The Observatory, ABAA
299 North Franklin Street
Juneau, Alaska, 99801
www.observatorybooks.com

I thought to myself, How in the world am I going to handle this? You want to be honest but you don't want to anger someone who is writing your books review! Margaret was obviously a close friend but according to my entire families combined 100+ years of research the story has never been heard of before now. Below is how I responded.

Hi, Dee.

Soapy has been a huge part of my family since the day he was born. He saved perhaps 90% of his letters and documents of which the family still retains. His cousin grew up with him and his sisters in Georgia and Texas. There are no stories or mention in my family of another wife, let alone any other woman, other than Mary Eva Noonan whom he married in 1886 and stayed with until his death. My family was close one and a story of that nature would have surely been heard from. This is the very first I have ever heard of it. To be honest I have doubt that Margaret is family. I hope me doubting your friend's story does not anger you, but please understand that I too could be angered by such a story.

Soapy's parents moved to Round Rock,Texas in 1876-1877. If he had married another woman in Georgia then he would have been only 16 or 17 yrs old at most.

Margaret does not show on the family tree and to be quite honest many people over the decades have claimed to be relatives but were not. If Soapy were indeed her uncle, then Margaret's mother or father would have had to be one of Soapy's sisters or brother. None had a child name Margaret.

I thank you for choosing my book to write a review of. Soapy's children and grandchildren researched his life and adventures. I myself have spent 24 years researching his life and continue to do so. In reading Alias Soapy Smith you can see that I worked very hard to keep the history well sourced and accurate. With that being said I ask that you please keep Margaret's story as a separate entity as there is no provenance that her story is true and I do not wish to confuse people. If you feel that you must mention her story I ask you to include that no such story exists in family records and verbal histories. If something should arise at a later date that indicates there is a possible chance of an abandoned wife I would be glad to look into it. As of now I can only view it as fiction.

I have always promised myself to keep an open mind so I now ask if anyone in the family has ever heard any hint of a story that Soapy married another woman and then abandoned her? Please let us know.

Soapy Smith's Aunt Francis Edmundson

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Francis (Edmundson) Watts
Kyle Rosene Collection
(front)

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"Aunt Francis Watts, sister Em. D. Edmundson,
(Smith) Died 70 years ago 1912."
Kyle Rosene Collection
(back)

Here is another excellent photograph from the Kyle Rosene Collection.

Francis (Edmundson) Watts

Birth: August 31, 1834.
Parents: Joseph E. Edmundson and Elizabeth Austin.
Spouse: A man named Watts.
Death: 1866.

Francis was the sister of Emily Dawson Edmundson, Soapy's mother, which makes Francis his aunt. I question the date of death. I obtained my date from Ellen Rafeedie's family tree and I am confused by the note of death on the back writing of the photograph that Francis "Died 70 years ago 1912." I wager that either Emmie Lou or Eva Katherine Smith wrote the message. but was it written in 1912, which would place the date of death for Francis at 1842?

I am asking the family for help on this please.

April 6, 2010

The life of a gambler..

Paul Eugene Smith-Peniston

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Paul Eugene Smith-Peniston
(front view)

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"(Aral) Aunt Kate Smith, sister J R Smith's wife, Paul E. Smith changed
name to Peniston at Washn account too many Dr Smiths in Ga"
(back view)

Another gem from the Kyle Rosene Collection. Doctor Paul Eugene Smith is best known to me as the Smith who changed his last name to Peniston, the maiden name of his grandmother. What a genealogical nightmare.

Born: March 5, 1867 Coweta county, Georgia.

Died: November 13, 1947 Newnan, Georgia.

Spouse: Nora Hardeman Smith (married January 17, 1890).

Children: 6

Paul Eugene Peniston II
Joseph Bowdoin Peniston
Sarah Catherine "Sally" Peniston
Ellis Hardeman Peniston
Mary Louise Peniston
Thomas Jackson Peniston

April 5, 2010

Eva Katherine (maiden: Smith) Light

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Eva Katherine Smith
(front view)

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"A very bad picture of mama."
(back view)

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Eva Katherine Smith
1895(?)
(front view)

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"Eva Light ____ date 1895(?)"
(back view)

The above photographs come from the Kyle Rosene collection. I am ever so grateful that he is sharing his collection with the family.

As of now I have very little on Soapy's sister Eva Katherine Smith and these two pictures have me yearning to learn more. Below is all I have on her.

Birth date: unknown
Spouse: William S. Light, June 1887.
Children:
Emma Ruby Light
William Jeff Light
Death date: 1959 in Big Springs, Texas

If anyone in the family has more information on Eva please let us know?

April 4, 2010

A mystery descendant.

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WHO IS THIS?

From the Kyle Rosene Collection comes this tintype photograph of an unnamed family member. I am hoping someone in the family might know who this is?

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The same photo enhanced

Could this be Eva K. or Emmie Lou Smith, Soapy's sisters,
or could it even be his daughter, Mary Eva Smith II?

I posted the photograph over on True West forum as there are a couple of historians who know their stuff regarding photography and nineteenth century fashion.

Odessa Red: Jeff...I think possibly this photo is from the 1840s or 50s?....it's hard for me to tell..the dress appears loosely fitting and hemmed below the knees. Jeff, do you know what she is holding in her left hand?

What is she holding?

Odessa Red: Thanks Jeff...definitely looks like a photo in a frame now! I still don't know year of dress.

Jules Martino: Tintype of the 1870s + or - a few years

Ginny Morgan: Jeff, This is a tough one...It looks like her dress is a cut down from a larger size..strange that she has short hair..but she looks a bit as if she had been ill...hair might have been cut due to fever..I have copied it and am going to look at it in my photo program...I am wanting to say...pre-1860..intriguing...

Odessa Red: I have heard that women grew their hair long unless they had an illness..then it was often cut... I had even tried to do a search on Victorian short haircuts to help try to date the photo (prior to Ginny posting :) but couldn't find anything helpful so I didn't comment...this photo is intriguing because of its mystery!

Ginny Morgan: Ok, my photo program was really no help...it is just really grainy when I try to enlarge it...my husband pointed out that the dress may even be much older...now I just am not sure it is pre-1860. I don't see a fitted waist and it looks as if the bottom has a section that has been pleated almost like a so called prairie dress or mother hubbard although I do not see a yoke at the top... here is a picture of some that I found..these are Tahitians but the style was popular in America..taken to Tahiti by missionaries...So if so, that would make it @ the 1870s-1880s. Also, the white at the cuffs was usually a piece that was detachable...to keep the dress clean.

I chose to first show the "gang" at True West the photographs because I knew from past experience that they would be able to work together in a rough and quick analysis of the tintype. There are others who did not or could not participate that I wager I will hear from regarding this post in the coming days. To all of them I extend a most sincere thank you.

*The following has been added after posting date:

Gold Lady: I'm not an expert on vintage clothing, but it looks to me like she's wearing a hand-me-down dress from an older sister or her mother that is too large. The shoulders don't fit, and the sleeves are long. Holding the photo may mean it's of her dead mother or maybe a namesake grandmother or aunt?

Ginny Morgan: I don't see her as the other lady...just my guess...the chin and other features don't look right and the hair is so much darker but the time frame would be right...

Ginny Morgan: The earrings are an odd touch...I have never seen a child wearing those kind of hoops unless it is an ethnic thing...I definitely think the dress is a hand me down mother hubbard type dress....Gosh, she is just fascinating me...so many things are just not right in the picture..

Gold Lady: I don't think it's a photo of a younger Eva either, the facial structures are completely different.

Odessa Red: I thought she might be a young or adolescent girl at first, too...saw the earrings and she appears to be of petite stature...also her lace collar would have been detachable/interchangeable as well. Ginny you are right...there are many things about this photo that just don't seem quite right. Doesn't it also look like she has on striped stockings, too?

Ginny Morgan: Yes, Odessa and that was very common for children. i have seen lots of pictures of children wearing striped stockings but very few with such grown up accessories...strange

April 3, 2010

Join Friends of Bad Man Soapy Smith

JOIN

Letter to Jefferson R. Smith from Luther Martin Smith, 1877.

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One of the goals of the recent newsletter I sent out is to encourage family members with artifacts and photographs to share them with us here on the blog so that other family members and all interested historians may have the pleasure of seeing them. Bringing each item out to be seen by others also allows new information to be utilized in telling the true stories of Soapy Smith and his family. Kyle Rosene, a great-grandnephew of Soapy has never shied away from sharing his fine collection. In fact five photographs in the book, Alias Soapy Smith are from his collection, including the one on the cover. A day of receiving the newsletter Kyle was once again sending me scans of his collection. The four page letter seen here is the first he is sharing with us. We all thank you Kyle.

The letter deciphered.

(From Alias Soapy Smith, p. 26)
Sometime between 1876 and 1877, the father picked up the remains of his family and moved them to Round Rock, Texas.

The state was a haven for Southerners after the war. Laws were lax, and growth was everywhere. Round Rock had become a prosperous frontier-trading center for ranchers and farmers since arrival of the railroad in 1876, which turned Round Rock into a railway terminus. Round Rock was home to the Smith family for almost five years, but records of Smith activities there are few. The father attempted to resurrect his law practice but without success.

On July 1, 1877 Jefferson's wife, Emily Dawson Edmundson, passed away. The family, especially the children which included a young Soapy, began to suffer without their mother. Folks back in Georgia worried for the children and that's the story behind this letter. It was not long after this that young Jefferson R. Smith II struck out on his own.

Addendum #3 to "Historical mistakes can definitely be a plus."

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George Augustus Brackett
1916

*The following is an addendum to a post on April 1, 2010 Historical mistakes can definitely be a plus. Sorry if it gets a little confusing with all the jumping around. History is an on-going adventure at which we never stop learning something new.

Genealogist Gay Mathis sent in a link to the Minnesota Historical Society that holds the above photograph taken in 1916.

George Augustus Brackett or Isaac Newton Wilcoxen

Historian Art Petersen is leaning towards the belief that the man on the horse in photograph 37A & B being Wilcoxen. Art writes.

Well, now ... might be hard to say. The ears aren't wrong, the set of the eyes in the head are not wrong, the general shape of the head is not wrong. Even the nose and cheek bones don't seem to me to be wrong. This Wilcoxen photo/painting could have been made before or after he had a beard. Be good to see more of Wilcoxen before ruling him out. Take a look at the poor images of the two together. Do you see anything to make you say, "Definitely not," yet?

I have to agree with Art. We can't rule out either man yet, but there is one thing we all missed. Wilcoxen has a mustache and in all three photographs of Brackett, he only has the beard, sans mustache. I'm leaning towards Wilcoxen.

Thank you Gay and Art.