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Lottie DenoLegendary female player
Date of Birth: 21.04.1844
Country: ![]() |
Content:
- Biography of Lottie Deno
- Life in Detroit
- Card Playing Adventures on the Mississippi River
- Life in San Antonio
- Fort Griffin and the Queen of Poker
- Life in New Mexico
- Later Life and Legacy
Biography of Lottie Deno
Early LifeLottie Deno, born Carlotta J. Thompkins, was a legendary female gambler and one of the most renowned professional women players of the 19th century. She was born in 1844 in Warsaw, Kentucky, USA, and grew up in a fairly well-off family. Her father, who was a horse breeder and a gambler, taught her the basics of card games from a young age. Together, they traveled to casinos and racetracks around the country, and her father even taught her some tricks of the trade.
Life in Detroit
When Lottie was 17 years old, her father passed away during the Civil War, and she was sent to Detroit, Michigan by her mother in search of a suitable husband. Her loyal companion and bodyguard, a tall African American woman named Mary Poindexter, accompanied her on this journey.
Card Playing Adventures on the Mississippi River
After running out of money in Detroit and not finding a husband, Lottie started playing cards. Along with Mary, she embarked on a journey along the Mississippi River. By this time, she had already met a charming card player named Johnny Golden, who invited Lottie to join him on steamboats along the river. As they traveled, Lottie and Johnny skillfully relieved the pockets and wallets of fellow gambling passengers. It is worth noting that Lottie kept her mother unaware of her illicit activities.
Life in San Antonio
In 1865, Lottie and Mary arrived in San Antonio, Texas, where they planned to reunite with Johnny Golden. However, Johnny's arrival was delayed by five years. During this time, Lottie started working as a dealer at the "University Club" gambling establishment and quickly gained fame in card playing circles. She earned the nickname "Angel of San Antonio" and fell in love with a player named Frank Thurmond.
Fort Griffin and the Queen of Poker
When Johnny Golden finally arrived in San Antonio, he tried to claim Lottie as his wife, but she had already given her heart to Frank. However, their happiness was short-lived when Frank killed a man during an argument at the card table and fled the city. Driven by her brave heart, Lottie set out to find him across Texas and eventually located Frank working as a dealer in Fort Griffin. Lottie immediately joined him there, and it was in Fort Griffin that she adopted the name Lottie Deno, forever entering the history of poker. She started winning large sums of money and became known as the Queen of Poker.
Life in New Mexico
In 1877, Lottie and Frank left Fort Griffin and settled in Kingston, New Mexico. After another deadly incident during a game, Frank and Lottie vowed to never play again. Keeping true to their promise, they left Kingston and moved to Deming, New Mexico. Frank worked as a banker while Lottie managed their household and engaged in charitable activities. Lottie even played cards once to raise money for the construction of St. Luke's Episcopal Church.
Later Life and Legacy
Lottie outlived her husband by a quarter of a century and passed away on February 9, 1934. She was buried under the name Charlotte Thurmond. Lottie Deno's life as a skilled gambler and her role as the Queen of Poker left a lasting mark on the history of the game.