Lady Gambler

BIOGRAPHICAL WESTERN NOT CONNECTED TO MY OTHER WESTERNS

Her family was reportedly quite wealthy and her father, a racehorse breeder and prominent gambler, traveled extensively with Lottie, teaching her the secrets of winning at cards at some of the finest casinos. After her father's death in the Civil War, Lottie's mother sent her to Detroit to find a husband. She was accompanied by Mary Poindexter, her loyal slave and nanny. After running out of money in Detroit, she fell into a life of gambling, traveling the Mississippi River. Lottie arrived in San Antonio in 1865. She became a house gambler at the University Club working for the Thurmond family. She met and fell in love with Frank Thurmond, a fellow gambler. After being accused of murder, Frank fled San Antonio and Lottie followed. The pair traveled for many years throughout the frontier areas of Texas, like Fort Concho, Jacksboro, San Angelo, Denison, Fort Worth, and Fort Griffin. They moved to Kingston, New Mexico, in 1877, where they ran a gambling room in the Victorio Hotel. Lottie later became the owner of the Broadway Restaurant in Silver City. In 1880, Lottie and Frank were married in Silver City. In 1882 they moved to Deming, New Mexico, where they settled permanently and gave up their gambling life. They became upstanding citizens in the community, with Frank eventually becoming vice president of Deming National Bank and Lottie helping to found St. Luke's Episcopal Church. Lottie died on February 9, 1934 and was buried in Deming.

Story added by jakubduda on September 6, 2022