Lottie Deno, an enigmatic figure of the American Old West, captivated and challenged the rough-and-tumble world of frontier gambling with her unparalleled skill and refined demeanor. Her legendary arrival in Fort Griffin, Texas, a town notorious for its wildness and danger, marked the beginning of her most celebrated period, where she cemented her reputation as a formidable card shark.
As the stagecoach pulled into Fort Griffin, a hub of cowboys, soldiers, and traders, the townspeople were met with a sight that defied their expectations: a well-bred lady of culture and refinement amidst the chaos of saloons and gambling dens. This was Lottie Deno, stepping into a frontier community that proudly boasted “a man for breakfast every morning.”
The Enigmatic Arrival in Fort Griffin
The town of Fort Griffin, often called “The Flat,” thrived in the 1870s at the convergence of major cattle trails, attracting a diverse and often dangerous populace. It was a place where frontier legends such as Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and Bat Masterson once walked its dusty streets. Lottie, with her vivacious red hair and sparkling brown eyes, chose a humble Clear Fork shanty for her residence, fueling an immediate air of mystery. She was a woman of paradox, rarely seen by day, but a dominant presence at night, either playing cards at the Bee Hive Saloon or presiding over its bustling gambling room.
Known by various names throughout her life—Carlotta J. Thompkins, Laura Denbo, Faro Nell, and Charlotte Thurmond—the moniker “Lottie Deno” arose from a memorable night at the Bee Hive. After a particularly successful streak at the poker table, a drunken cowboy, witnessing her extraordinary winnings, reportedly shouted, “Honey, with winnings like them, you oughter call yourself “Lotta Dinero!” Recognizing the strategic advantage of a pseudonym to protect her true identity from her respectable Episcopalian family back in Kentucky, she adopted “Lottie Deno.” This new identity allowed her to send money home, fabricating stories of a marriage to a wealthy Texas cattleman, rather than revealing her true profession. She would never see her family again, nor would they ever discover the truth about her illicit, yet lucrative, means of support.
From Kentucky Belle to Card Shark: Lottie’s Early Life
Born on April 21, 1844, in Warsaw, Kentucky, Lottie came from an upper-class family of farm owners. Her father, a prominent figure in the Kentucky General Assembly, was engaged in the lucrative pursuits of tobacco, hemp, horse breeding, racing, and trading. Like many young ladies of her station, Lottie enjoyed a privileged upbringing, even having a devoted nanny, Mary Poindexter, a seven-foot-tall enslaved woman who remained a loyal companion and protector even after the Civil War.
After completing her education at an Episcopalian convent, Lottie often accompanied her father on business trips to vibrant cities like Detroit, New Orleans, and even Europe. It was during these trips, particularly in New Orleans—a notorious “Good Time Town” and racing mecca—that Lottie’s father indulged his passion for gambling. He was an expert card player, and rather than merely teaching his eldest daughter social graces, he imparted to her all his tricks and skills in card playing, believing that survival in a changing world required more than just being a southern belle. He taught her how to gamble on both land and riverboats, fostering her passionate skill at “flipping the pasteboards.” While Lottie and Mary were subject to an 8:00 p.m. curfew in New Orleans, her father freely explored the city’s many establishments, from elegant drinking houses to galleries where men bet on everything from bullfights to rat races, shaping Lottie’s understanding of the gambling world from a young age.
The Civil War and a Change of Fortune
The political polarization between the North and South profoundly impacted Lottie’s life. When Confederate troops invaded Kentucky in September 1861, Lottie’s father, a Southerner at heart, enlisted in the Confederate army and was tragically killed in battle. This loss deeply affected her mother, whose health subsequently failed. In an effort to secure Lottie’s future, relatives arranged for her and Mary Poindexter to travel to Detroit, hoping Lottie would marry a wealthy man who could take over the family business.
However, Lottie’s destiny took a different path. Instead of focusing on a suitable husband, she rekindled a romance with Johnny Golden, her father’s former jockey and a gambler himself. It is speculated that their earlier affair in New Orleans might have been the true reason for her relocation to Detroit. Disregarding her family’s wishes, Lottie, Johnny, and the ever-loyal Mary Poindexter embarked on a new life, becoming adept at working the riverboat gambling parlors and tidewater towns along the Mississippi River.
Details of Lottie’s riverboat days are scarce, but one poignant story highlights Mary Poindexter’s unwavering devotion. While walking along a sandbar, Lottie was nearly struck by a rattlesnake. Mary, with her sharp eyes and immense strength, lunged and threw herself onto the reptile, saving Lottie but suffering a venomous bite herself, which necessitated the amputation of a finger. Near the war’s end, as Lottie decided to head west to San Antonio, Mary’s protective instincts proved vital again. When a young Union soldier accused Lottie of cheating and lunged at her, Mary intervened, grabbing the soldier and throwing him overboard into the river, demonstrating her fierce loyalty.
The Angel of San Antonio and Frank Thurmond
Upon arriving in San Antonio, Texas, a wide-open gambling town, Lottie quickly established herself. It was commonly understood that professional gamblers on the frontier often cheated to ensure their livelihood, and Lottie, despite her skill, also needed to maintain the elegant lifestyle she had known since childhood. She was soon hired as a dealer at Frank Thurmond’s University Club, earning a percentage of the winnings. Her beauty and refined demeanor made her a popular attraction, with cowboys queuing for the privilege of playing at her table. Lottie, known as the “Angel of San Antonio,” maintained strict rules, forbidding smoking, drinking, or cussing at her table. Mary Poindexter always sat behind her, ever watchful for cheats or unruly losers, ensuring Lottie’s reputation as a respectable, albeit formidable, lady of chance.
In San Antonio, Lottie fell deeply in love with Frank Thurmond, a part-Cherokee gambler and her boss. Their loyalty to each other was evident, with Lottie dismissing other admirers. Their relationship, however, faced peril when Frank became embroiled in a deadly dispute during a poker game, killing an opponent with his signature Bowie knife, which he concealed down his back. A bounty was placed on Frank’s head, forcing him to flee town. It is believed that Frank later shared the secret of his hidden Bowie knife with his friend, Doc Holliday.
Lottie, determined to find him, gambled her way across West Texas, passing through Fort Concho (where she earned the nickname “Mystic Maude”), San Angelo, Denison, Fort Worth, and Jacksboro. Her search eventually led her back to Fort Griffin, where she found Frank working at the Bee Hive Saloon. Lottie secured a position dealing cards there, and it was in this notorious establishment that she was introduced to Doc Holliday. Doc soon became a frequent and often admiring customer at Lottie’s faro table, famously losing a staggering $3,000 to her on one well-recorded occasion.
Return to Fort Griffin and Encounters with Legends
The Bee Hive Saloon was a fixture of Fort Griffin, known for its lively atmosphere. It was within these walls that Lottie’s life intertwined with other legends of the Old West. Legend has it that a tense confrontation unfolded during a faro game between Lottie and Doc Holliday’s jealous girlfriend, Big Nose Kate Elder. Accounts suggest heated words were exchanged, escalating to both women drawing their guns, only for Doc to intervene and prevent bloodshed. While the exact dramatic flair of these stories may be embellished over time, it is highly probable that the two women did have serious words over Doc Holliday.
Tragedy also revisited Lottie in Fort Griffin with the unexpected return of Johnny Golden, her former lover. Shortly after his appearance, Johnny was shot dead on the street behind the saloon. Lottie, though she paid for his burial suit and coffin, did not attend the funeral, choosing instead to grieve privately behind drawn curtains, reflecting the complex and often harsh realities of her life.
Perhaps the most famous story from Lottie Deno’s Fort Griffin days, chronicled in John Myers’ “Doc Holliday,” highlights her unparalleled composure. During a short card game, two tinhorn gamblers, Monte Bill and Smokey Joe, accused each other of cheating. The dispute quickly escalated, resulting in two corpses on the floor when Sheriff Bill Cruger arrived. Amidst the chaos, every witness had fled, except for the redheaded Lottie, who calmly counted her chips. When the sheriff questioned her presence, she simply murmured, “But then you have never been a desperate woman.” In many versions of this tale, the money on the table mysteriously vanished, with most observers believing it found its way into Lottie’s purse, further cementing her legend as a shrewd and fearless gambler.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legend of Lottie Deno
Lottie Deno truly embodied class and refinement, a remarkable Southern lady who thrived in a brutal, male-dominated world without resorting to the typical roles available to women of her time. As one lifelong friend recounted, she was a “fine looker” with impeccable manners, distinctly separate from common prostitutes, and certainly not a “gold digger.” Her ability to command respect at the gambling tables, even from the most hardened frontiersmen, speaks volumes about her character and skill.
Though the exact details of her later life often blend into the annals of Western lore, historical accounts generally agree that Lottie Deno eventually found a measure of peace. She reportedly married her enduring love, Frank Thurmond, and the couple settled into a more conventional life in Deming, New Mexico, away from the wilder frontier towns. There, she lived as Charlotte Thurmond, a respected member of the community, known for her charitable work and involvement in local affairs, successfully shedding her notorious gambling past. Lottie Deno’s journey from a Kentucky gentlewoman to a celebrated gambling queen, and finally to a quiet matriarch, remains a compelling testament to her adaptability, resilience, and extraordinary spirit, forever etching her name into the rich tapestry of the American Old West.
