In the annals of the American Old West, few figures embody both rugged individualism and unwavering loyalty quite like Charlie Utter. Known affectionately as “Colorado Charlie,” this enigmatic trapper, guide, and prospector etched his place in history not only through his unique persona but also as the steadfast companion to the legendary Wild Bill Hickok. His story is a vibrant thread in the tapestry of frontier life, marked by an obsession with cleanliness, a dapper appearance, and an enduring friendship that transcended the harsh realities of the era.
Born Charles H. Utter around 1838 near Niagara Falls, New York, Charlie Utter spent his formative years in Illinois before heeding the siren call of the burgeoning American West. By the 1860s, he had firmly established himself in Colorado, honing his skills as a trapper, prospector, and guide. It was during this period that he earned his enduring moniker, “Colorado Charlie,” a testament to his expertise and widespread recognition in the territory.
The Dapper Frontiersman: A Study in Contrasts
Charlie Utter was a man of intriguing contradictions. Despite his relatively small stature, standing at five and a half feet, he commanded attention with his meticulously cultivated appearance. Far from the typical unkempt frontiersman, Utter was an ardent adherent to personal grooming. His long, flowing blond hair and perfectly sculpted mustache were always immaculate, complementing his custom-tailored fringed buckskins, fine linen shirts, and beaded moccasins. He carried an air of distinction, accentuated by a large silver belt buckle and a pair of revolvers adorned with gold, silver, and pearl.
His fastidiousness extended beyond his attire. Utter’s living arrangements were equally unique for the time and place. He slept in a tent adorned with luxurious California blankets, always keeping a mirror, combs, razors, and whisk brooms within reach. His obsession with cleanliness was legendary; he bathed every morning, a remarkable and often puzzling habit in the grimy mining camps and settlements of the Old West. This personal sanctuary was sacrosanct; Utter famously threatened to shoot anyone, even his closest friend Wild Bill Hickok, who dared to enter his tent uninvited.
Life in Colorado and the Lure of Gold
While establishing his reputation in Colorado, Charlie Utter met and married Tilly Nash in 1866. Tilly, a 15-year-old baker’s daughter from Empire, Colorado, was captivated by his charisma and boyishly handsome looks. Their marriage marked a personal milestone amidst his continuous work in the rugged Colorado landscape.
The whisper of gold in the Black Hills of South Dakota soon reached Utter’s ears. Convinced of the area’s immense potential—which he enthusiastically described as “a real lollapalooza”—Charlie and his brother Steve began to formulate plans for an expedition to Deadwood. This decision would irrevocably link his destiny with some of the most iconic figures of the Old West.
The Epic Journey to Deadwood
In the spring of 1876, Charlie and Steve Utter organized a formidable wagon train in Georgetown, Colorado, setting their sights on the burgeoning goldfields of South Dakota. As the caravan traversed Cheyenne, Wyoming, Charlie Utter serendipitously reunited with his old friend, James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok. Hickok, along with more than a hundred other adventurers—a diverse group including prospectors, gamblers, and a troop of “working girls”—joined Utter’s convoy. Later, in Fort Laramie, the audacious Martha Jane Canary, better known as Calamity Jane, also attached herself to the wagon train, further solidifying the legendary cast on this historic journey.
The exact circumstances of Utter and Hickok’s initial encounter remain somewhat shrouded in mystery, but it is widely believed they first crossed paths in Kansas during the mid-1850s, maintaining contact during their respective travels through Colorado. By the time the wagon train arrived in Deadwood in mid-July, Utter and Hickok had formally partnered, with Utter taking on the self-appointed, yet crucial, role of Hickok’s guardian. Having known Hickok for an extended period, Utter was acutely aware of his friend’s self-destructive tendencies, particularly his excessive drinking and gambling habits. He often attempted to shield Bill from the pitfalls of his vices, though these efforts were, more often than not, in vain.
Deadwood Ventures and Unwavering Loyalty
Upon their arrival in the bustling camp of Deadwood, Utter wasted no time establishing a practical enterprise: a mail express service connecting Deadwood with Cheyenne. For 25 cents per letter, he and his riders braved hostile plains and treacherous mountains, often transporting over 2,000 letters at a time, a vital link for the isolated mining community.
However, the relatively peaceful rhythm of Deadwood was shattered on August 2, 1876, with the tragic murder of Wild Bill Hickok. Though attending to business affairs at the time, Charlie Utter rushed to the saloon upon hearing the news, bravely claiming his friend’s body. His profound grief and respect were evident in the poignant notice he placed in the Black Hills Pioneer:
“Died in Deadwood, Black Hills, August 2, 1876, from the effects of a pistol shot, J. B. Hickok, formerly of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Funeral services will be held at Charlie Utter’s Camp on Thursday afternoon, August 3, 1876, at 3 p.m. All are respectfully invited to attend.”
On the day of the funeral, mourners filed past Hickok’s coffin to pay their final respects. Before the burial, Utter carefully cut a lock of Hickok’s hair, which he later sent to Hickok’s grieving widow, Agnes Lake. The funeral was held the following day, and Utter provided a deeply personal marker for his fallen friend:
“Wild Bill, J. B. Hickok, was killed by the assassin Jack McCall in Deadwood, Black Hills, on August 2, 1876. Pard, we will meet again in the happy hunting ground to part no more. Goodbye, Colorado Charlie, C.H. Utter.”
Justice and Subsequent Struggles
The immediate aftermath of Hickok’s death saw a controversial trial for his killer, Jack McCall, held at McDaniel’s Theatre. In a shocking miscarriage of justice, McCall was initially acquitted. However, this ruling was swiftly overturned when it was determined that the Deadwood camp lacked legal authority. McCall was subsequently apprehended by U.S. Marshals, retried, found guilty, and hanged in Yankton, South Dakota, on March 1, 1877, finally bringing a measure of justice for Wild Bill.
Later that year, Charlie Utter briefly returned to Colorado, but his loyalty drew him back to Deadwood in 1879 to oversee the relocation of Hickok’s remains to the Mt. Moriah Cemetery. His attempts at entrepreneurship continued, as he purchased the Eaves Saloon in nearby Gayville, South Dakota, in February 1879. However, trouble soon followed; he faced charges for selling liquor without a license and was found guilty of operating a “nuisance dance hall” in June. His fortunes took another downturn when he lost all his possessions in the devastating Deadwood fire of September 26, 1879, which ravaged much of the mining camp.
The Fading Trail: New Ventures and an Enduring Mystery
The Deadwood fire prompted many miners to seek gold in other territories, and Utter was among them. By February 1880, he was in Leadville, Colorado, exploring its rich mining camps. That same year, he and Tilly separated, and Charlie moved on to the Durango, Colorado, area before heading to Socorro, New Mexico, where he ran a saloon and gambling den. While there, he reportedly fell in love with a beautiful faro dealer named Minnie Fowler.
Beyond New Mexico, the historical trail of Charlie Utter becomes increasingly elusive. Biographer Agnes Wright Spring’s research suggests that a Mr. C.H. Utter traveled to Panama. Supporting this account, Utter’s friend Upton Lorentz maintained that Charlie settled in Panama around 1888. In Panama, he reportedly operated a pharmacy, ministered to local Indigenous communities as a doctor, and even delivered babies. Lorentz claimed to have last seen a blind and grizzled Utter in 1910, sitting in a rocking chair in front of his Panamanian pharmacy. Whether this indeed was the famed “Colorado Charlie” remains a historical enigma, adding a layer of mystery to the final chapter of his remarkable life.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Loyalty and Distinctiveness
Charlie Utter, or Colorado Charlie, carved out a unique and memorable niche in the chaotic world of the American Old West. More than just a trapper or a prospector, he was a character of singular distinction—a dapper, fastidious frontiersman whose personal habits stood in stark contrast to the rough-and-tumble environment he inhabited. His unwavering loyalty to Wild Bill Hickok, culminating in his meticulous care for his fallen friend’s burial and remembrance, underscores a bond of friendship that resonates through history. While the ultimate fate of this intriguing figure remains shrouded in the mists of time, his legacy as a loyal companion, a distinctive personality, and a resilient pioneer in the untamed West endures.
