Charlie (Charley) Utter
aka "Colorado Charlie"
About
Charley Utter | Links | Information
Sources
"COLORADO
CHARLIE" / CHARLEY (CHARLES H.) UTTER
Much of this information was researched by William Wallworth.
He can be reached at william@31centuries.com.
My deepest gratitude to him for sharing his work.
Born: reportedly 1832-38 reportedly near Niagara Falls, New York
Died: after 1910
Buried: unknown
Brief
Bio:
Born: reportedly born 1838 near Niagara Falls, New York; spent
youth in Illinois
Died: unknown: reportedly his biographer, Agnes Wright Spring,
traced him to Panama after the turn of the century where it is
believed that he was known as Dr. C. H. Utter. Found in ship listing
in 1910, so living at that time.
At the moment the names of his parents is not known. He isknown
as Charles H., C.H., Charlie and Charley Utter. He was one of
the historical people that was involved with Deadwood, North Dakota.
He also lived in Colorado, New Mexico, and Columbia / Panama.
Concerning
his birth, there is a wide range of dates depending on which record
you look at.
1831 - based on age of 49 in the June 1880 Census
1832 - based on age of 56 in the January 1888 Passenger list
1838 - based on age of 32 in the September 1870 Census
1842 - based on age of 68 in the July 1910 Passenger list
1842 - based on age of 70 in the November 1912 Passenger list
His
relationship to Stephen Utter is not clear at the moment. Some
say that "Steve Utter" was his brother, another says
perhaps a cousin.
From
the 1870 Census of Georgetown, Clear Creek, Colorado Territory,
Enumerated 5th day of Sept 1870, we find the followings, all on
the same page: Lines 4-8, 83/74
Utter Stephen 26 M W Mule Packer 1000 / - New York
Alma 24 F W Keeping House New York
Agnes 2 F W New York
Harriel* 1 F W Colorado
* probably because the enumerator was lazy he didn't "dash
the t" the name "Harriel" is probably actually
"Harriet"
------
SAME CENSUS Lines
24-25, 89/79
Utter Charles 32 M W Livery 7000/7000 New York
Matilda 19 F W Keeping House Wisconsin
(Matilda's Father of foreign birth and Mother of foreign birth)
Before the listing of Charles Utter, there was the listing of
the family of William Bement age 54, he was a Mining Agent. It
is possible that Charles Utter had some business dealings with
him.
In
the 1880 Census of Ruby City, Gunnison, Colorado, enumerated on
Ninth day of June 1880, we find the following:
Utter Charles H W M 49 (married) Miner New York NY NY
Davis D W W M 59 (married) Miner Wales Wales Wales
Brown David W M 40 (single) Butcher Scotland Scotland Scotland
Tallman George W W M 27 (single) Miner Pennsylvania PA PA
Embick Lambert W M 27 (single) Miner Illinois PA MS
Bates Louis R W M 21 (single) Miner Massachusetts Mass Mass
Sometime
before 1888, Charles H. Utter went to Columbia (present day Panama)
and established himself there. He became a Doctor and a Druggist.
A
possible son of his was probably the Richard Van Winkle Utter
age 30 who was on a passenger list for 1912, that would put him
born 1882 and it stated he was born in Denver, Colorado. Charles
Utter's 2nd wife was probably the Mrs. Minnie Utter that appears
in the passenger lists and there is another Minnie Utter that
was probably Charles Utter's daughter. All these passenger lists
involves with ship coming from Colombia - (later became) Panama
and Canal Zone. Possibly Charles Utter's father, or his uncle
was Josiah Utter.
There
is a Report and List of Passengers taken on board the British
ship "Costa Rican" of Liverpool. The ship with Robert
Watson as Master, burthen 2,133 tons, was bound from the Port
of Colon for New Orleans, Louisiana. Among the passengers was:
Charles H. Utter, age 56, Male, Doctor, he was staying at the
Cabin of the ship. The ship arrived at New Orleans on January
4, 1888.
Also
another list, of passengers taken on board the "S.S. Finance"
sailing from Colon, Panama, departed May 17, 1905 and arriving
at the Port of New York. Among the passengers was:
Chas H. Utter
Another
list, of passengers taken on board the ship "S.S. Turrialba"
sailing from Colon, Panama, departed July 21, 1910 and arriving
at New Orleans on July 26, 1910. Among the passengers was:
Charles H. Utter, age 68, Male, Married, a Druggist
Another
list, of passengers taken on board the ship "S.S. Pennsylvania"
sailing from Ancon, Canal Zone, departed November 19th 1912 and
arriving at San Pedro, California on January 2, 1913. Among the
passengers was:
Chas. H. Utter, age 70, Male, Married, a citizen of the United
States
So it is apparent that he stayed in Columbia / Panama for years.
Perhaps in Colon itself.
SOME
Sources:
1.
1870 Census of Colorado Territory, Clear Creek, Georgetown, Image
No. 8, Ancestry.com. The households of Stephen Utter and Charles
Utter, Lines 4-8 and Lines 24-25. December 28, 2006 Thursday 2:00
PM.
2. 1880 Census of Colorado, Gunnison, Ruby City, District 57,
Image No. 10, Ancestry.com. The household of Charles H. Utter,
Lines 37-42. Original Page No. 10. December 29, 2006 Friday 7:49
PM.
3. 1888 Passenger List, Charles H. Utter. New Orleans Passenger
Lists. The ship Costa Rican for January 1888. Ancestry.com, Original
Source - the National Archives' Series Number: M259_71. January
1, 2007 Monday 4:41 PM.
4. 1905 Passenger List, Chas H. Utter. New York Passenger Lists.
The ship S.S. Finance for May 1905. Ancestry.com, Original Source
- the Year: 1905: Microfilm serial: T715; Microfilm roll: T715_578.
January 1, 2007 Monday 7:01 PM.
5. 1910 Passenger List, Charles H. Utter. New Orleans Passenger
Lists. The ship S.S. Turrialba for July 1910. Ancestry.com, Original
Source - the National Archives' Series Number: T905_31. January
1, 2007 Monday 4:53 PM.
6. 1912 Passenger List, Chas H Utter. California Passenger and
Crew Lists. The ship S.S. Pennsylvania for November 1912. Ancestry.com,
January 1, 2007 Monday 6:46 PM.
OTHER FACTS:
- By the 1860s Charlie had moved to Colorado where he earned his
reputation as a trapper and prospector. "Colorado Charlie,"
Steve Utter and Wild Bill Hickok arrived in Deadwood in July 1876.
- By 1872 he was a guide, and led a group of men and women up
Gray's Peak in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. A description of
'Charley Utter' is given as follows: "Our guide is Charley
Utter, who furnishes the twenty-eight saddle horses and the double
wagon required by our somewhat numerous party. Dressed in his
trapper-suit, Charley presents a figure well worth looking at.
Buckskin coat and pantaloons--the latter ornamented with a leather
fringe and two broad stripes of handsome bead-work; the former
borered with a similar fringe rimmed by a band of otter fur, and
embroidered on the back and sleeves with many-colored beads, the
handiwork of a Sioux squaw, and a wonderful specimen of Indian
skill; vest of buckskin tanned with the hair on, and clasped with
immense bear-claws instead of buttons; pistol, knife, and tomahawk
in belt, the belt-buckle of Colorado silver and very large; a
broad-brimmed hat and stout mocassins;--these are the externals
of this famous Rocky mountain guide." [by E.J. Mallett,
Jr. in September 1872 edition of Scribner's Monthly].
- In 1876, Utter and Seymour established a Deadwood to Fort Laramie
Pony Express.
- The Lead newspaper, Black Hills Time, June 24, 1879 reported:
"Charlie Utter, nuisance, keeping a dance house. To Mr.
Utter the Court delivered a very severe lecture, condemning all
such practices in unmeasured terms. But in considering that Mr.
Utter had closed the place (Judge Moody) sentenced to one hour's
confinement and a fifty dollar fine and costs."
- Charlie Utter paid for the gravesite and funeral expenses of
"Wild Bill" Hickok when he was killed. He later assisted
with the removal of Wild Bill's body to Mt. Moriah Cemetery (where
it remains today) and purchased a monument.
Colorado
Charlie Utter - from Digital Deadwood
Information
Sources
1.
Encyclopedia of South Dakota, by Doane Robinson, First Edition, Pierre, S.D.,
1925; page 669-670
2. Scribner's Monthly, article by E.J. Mallet, Jr.
in the September 1872 edition.
