Roughing It · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Roughing It by Mark Twain.
The Narrator
major
Also known as I, me, my, myself, mine
The unnamed first-person narrator, a young man traveling west to Nevada.
Slade
supporting
Also known as J. A. Slade
A notorious desperado and stagecoach driver, feared in the Montana territory.
The Admiral
supporting
Also known as Admiral
A colorful, boastful old sailor who travels with the narrator.
Mr. Winters
minor
Also known as Winters
A fellow passenger on the overland stagecoach journey.
Higbie
supporting
Also known as Mr. Higbie, staid and steadfast Higbie
A miner and the narrator's partner in a silver mining claim.
Mr. Young
minor
A passenger on the stagecoach, later a minor acquaintance.
Scotty Briggs
supporting
Also known as Scott, Scotty
A rough but good-hearted miner and friend of Buck Fanshaw.
Arkansas
minor
Also known as Mr. Arkansas
A quarrelsome and drunken passenger on the steamer.
Buck Fanshaw
supporting
Also known as Buck
A popular and generous miner whose funeral is a major event.
Mr. Ballou
supporting
Also known as old Mr. Ballou, old Ballou, Ballou
An elderly, philosophical miner and member of the narrator's cabin.
Capt. Ned Blakely
supporting
Also known as Capt . Ned Blakely, Ned, Ned Blakely, Blakely
A tough sea captain who administers frontier justice.
Tom Quartz
minor
Also known as Tom So - and - So, old Tom Quartz
A clever and mischievous cat belonging to a miner.
Ollendorff
supporting
Also known as Poor Ollendorff
A German miner and friend of the narrator, often unlucky.
Jack Williams
minor
Also known as Deputy Marshal Jack Williams, Williams, last Jack Williams, the quiet passenger Williams, Meantime Williams, Marshall
A deputy marshal and passenger on the overland stage.
Col. Jack
minor
Also known as Jack, Johnny, Col
A military officer and acquaintance in the Nevada territory.
Brigham Young
supporting
Also known as Brigham, Brigham Young President
The leader of the Mormon Church, met by the narrator in Salt Lake City.
Captain Cook
minor
Also known as Cook, Captain James Cook
The famous British explorer, discussed in the Hawaiian section.
Mr. Street
minor
Also known as XIV Mr. Street, Street
A fellow passenger and later acquaintance in Nevada.
Horace Greeley
minor
Also known as Horace, Greeley
The famous newspaper editor, mentioned in a stagecoach anecdote.
Tom Reeder
minor
Also known as Reeder
A miner and acquaintance of the narrator in the camps.
Eckert
minor
A miner and friend of the narrator in the silver fields.
George Gumbert
minor
Also known as Gumbert
A miner and companion in the narrator's early Nevada days.
Hank Monk
minor
Also known as Hank
A famous stagecoach driver known for a wild ride with Horace Greeley.
Jim Blaine
minor
Also known as one Jim Blaine, haunting Blaine, Blaine
A garrulous old miner who tells a long, rambling story.
Sugarfoot Mike
minor
Also known as Mike, Presently Mike
A minor character in the mining camps, often mentioned.
Capt. John Nye
minor
Also known as John, Capt . John Nye, Capt . John
A captain and acquaintance of the narrator in Nevada.
Governor Roop
minor
Also known as Roop, ex - Governor Roop, referee Roop, Ex - Governor Roop
A territorial governor and referee in a mining dispute.
Lan'lord
minor
The landlord of a hotel or boarding house in the mining town.
Old Robbins
minor
Also known as Robbins
An old miner and storyteller in the camps.
The General
minor
A military figure encountered by the narrator in the West.
Mr. Jules
minor
Also known as Jules
A Frenchman and station keeper on the overland route.
Boggs
minor
Also known as Meantime Boggs
A miner and acquaintance in the Nevada territory.
George Bemis
minor
Also known as Mr. George Bemis, George, Bemis
A miner and friend of the narrator in the camps.
Dan
minor
Also known as Daniel
A miner and companion of the narrator.
Marlette
minor
A miner and acquaintance in the Nevada silver fields.
The Captain
minor
Also known as the captain, the Captain
A ship captain encountered during the Hawaiian portion of the book.
Shiz
minor
A minor character in the mining camp anecdotes.
Coriantumr
minor
A figure from the Book of Mormon, discussed in the Salt Lake City section.
Miss Wagner
minor
Also known as Old Miss Wagner
An old woman in the mining town, known for her eccentricities.
Captain Fish
minor
A sea captain encountered during the narrator's travels.
Reuel Gridley
minor
Also known as Gridley
A man who runs a humorous sack of flour auction for charity.
Conrad Wiegand
minor
Also known as Conrad
A German miner involved in a notable incident in the camps.
Joseph Smith
minor
Also known as Joseph Smith , Jr., the said Smith, Joseph, Smith
The founder of Mormonism, discussed in the Salt Lake City section.
The Smiling Stranger
minor
A mysterious, cheerful man encountered in a mining camp.
Billy Brown
minor
Also known as Brown, Willis
A miner and acquaintance of the narrator.
John James Godfrey
minor
Also known as John Godfrey
A minor character in the Nevada mining community.
Philip Lynch
minor
Also known as Lynch
A miner and acquaintance in the camps.
Mr. Jarves
minor
A passenger on the overland stagecoach.
Markiss
minor
A minor character in the mining camp stories.
The Dissolute Stranger
minor
Also known as a dissolute stranger with a literary turn of mind—rather seedy
A seedy, literary-minded stranger encountered in a bar.
John Smith
minor
Also known as Presently Smith, Smith
A common name used for a minor character in the camps.
Bill Noakes
minor
Also known as one Bill Noakes, Noakes
A miner known for a particular anecdote in the book.
Col. Jim
minor
Also known as Col, Jimmy
A military officer and acquaintance in the West.
Liholiho
minor
Also known as King Liholiho
A Hawaiian king, mentioned in the Sandwich Islands section.
John B. Winters
minor
Also known as Gen. John B. Winters, Winters, Gen. Winters
A general and acquaintance in the Nevada territory.
Dick Hyde
minor
Also known as Hyde
A miner involved in a humorous incident in the camps.
The Mild Stranger
minor
Also known as The mild stranger , not yet more than half sober
A half-sober stranger who appears in a barroom scene.
Tom Morgan
minor
Also known as Morgan
A miner and acquaintance of the narrator.
Mr. Lynch
minor
A minor character in the Nevada mining community.
Mr. Baker
minor
Also known as Baker
A minor character encountered in the West.
Kaikioewa
minor
A Hawaiian chief, mentioned in the Sandwich Islands section.
Kaahumanu
minor
A Hawaiian queen, mentioned in the Sandwich Islands section.
Baldy Johnson
minor
Also known as Johnson, Presently Johnson
A miner and acquaintance in the camps.
Whiteman
minor
A minor character in the mining camp stories.
Bascom
minor
A minor character in the Nevada territory.
Mr. Goodman
minor
A newspaper editor and acquaintance of the narrator.
Dollinger
minor
A minor character in the mining camp anecdotes.
Mr. Ah Sing
minor
A Chinese merchant encountered in the West.
Mr. W.
minor
Also known as W.
A minor character referred to by initial only.
Mr. F.
minor
A minor character referred to by initial only.
Kamehameha
minor
Also known as Kamehameha I, Kamehameha the Great
The great Hawaiian king, discussed in the Sandwich Islands section.
Mrs. Beazeley
minor
A minor female character in the mining town.
Mr. Greely
minor
A minor character, possibly a variant of Horace Greeley.
Sam Brown
minor
Also known as Samson, Brown, Little Brown
A miner and acquaintance in the camps.
Johnny K—
minor
Also known as Johnny
A minor character in the Nevada mining community.
Old Curry
minor
Also known as Old Abe Curry, Curry, Abe Curry
An old miner and acquaintance of the narrator.
Mr. Stewart
minor
A minor character encountered in the West.
Dick Baker
minor
A miner and storyteller, known for his cat Tom Quartz.
