Wyatt
Earp
Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was born on March 19, 1848, in Monmouth,
Illinois and grew up on a farm in Iowa.
In 1864 he moved with his parents to California. After working as a
stagecoach driver and buffalo hunter, he served as deputy marshal in
Wichita, Kansas and Dodge City, Kansas, where he became friends with Bat
Masterson and Doc Holliday, and established his reputation as a lawman and
gambler. His first wife died and his second marriage did not last.
In Tombstone, Arizona, Earp acquired the gambling concession at the
Oriental Saloon and met his third wife Josie. In 1881, a feud with the
Clanton gang ended with the famous Gunfight at the OK Corral.
The three Earp brothers, Virgil, Wyatt and
Morgan, survived, along with Doc Holliday.
Wyatt and Josie Earp moved often. Between 1885 and 1887, they arrived in
booming San Diego, where Wyatt gambled and invested heavily in real estate
and saloons in the Stingaree district, now the Gas Lamp Quarter.
They lived here on and off for several years. Earp owned or leased four
saloons and gambling halls in San Diego. The most famous was the Oyster
Bar located in the Louis Bank Building at 837 5th Avenue. He refereed at
local prize fights. During the heyday of San Diego's boom, Earp won a
trotting horse named Otto Rex. He and Josie began to travel the racehorse
circuit. They left San Diego in the early 1890s.
In 1897 Wyatt and Josie operated a saloon in Nome, Alaska, during the
height of the Alaska Gold Rush. In 1901 they moved on to a gold strike in
Tonopah, Nevada, where saloon, gambling and mining interests again proved
profitable.
Wyatt Earp spent his final years working mining claims in the Mojave
Desert. He and Josie summered in Los Angeles, where they befriended early
Hollywood actors and lived off real estate and mining investments. He died
in Los Angeles at the age of 80 on January 13, 1929.
|
|
Virgil Earp
The second oldest full brother to Wyatt.
Virgil was born on July 18, 1843 in Kentucky. Virgil secretly married
Ellen Rysdam in Iowa on September 21, 1861.
After the Civil War, each was convinced that the other was dead. Ellen
would remarry and move to the Oregon Territory.
Virgil didn't know until 1888, that while he was away at war he had a
daughter, Nellie Jane. He and Allie would in later years pay a visit to
see his child.
In 1870 Virgil married Rosella Dragoo in Lamar, Missouri. Whatever
happened to their marriage and Rosella is a mystery.
Virgil most likely met Allie in 1874, but it is unknown whether there was
an actual ceremony or marriage certificate. In 1877, Virgil and Allie were
living in Prescott, Arizona where he worked occasionally in law
enforcement prior to moving to Tombstone.
Virgil was the Deputy United States Marshal and Tombstone Police Chief
when the Gunfight at the OK Corral occurred and thus was the primary law
enforcement officer in the incident.
Virgil was permanently crippled following the wounds he received in an
ambush in Tombstone after the gunfight, forever unable to use one arm.
Virgil went on to be the first Marshal in Colton, California and in 1900
was nominated to run for Sheriff of Yavapai County, Arizona on the
Republican ticket.
He eventually dropped out due to poor health.
Virgil was working as a Deputy Sheriff in Esmeralda County, Nevada when he
died of pneumonia in October of 1905.
 |
|
Morgan Earp
He was younger brother to Wyatt.
Morgan was born on April 24, 1851in Iowa. Morgan. Like his brothers
worked as a lawman. He was a lawman in Dodge City before Wyatt.
Morgan would follow his older brothers to Tombstone, with his wife Louisa,
age 25, whom he married in California in 1880.
Morgan was involved, and wounded in the Gunfight at the OK Corral.
Morgan had a hot temper, but was well liked by those who knew him.
He went on trial for murder with his brothers after the gunfight, however
he would be found not guilty. As a result of the not guilty verdict Morgan
was murdered on the night of March 18, 1882 while playing billiards at the
Campbell and Hatch Saloon with brother Wyatt.
Wyatt held members of the county rustler ring responsible for Morgan's
death. Frank Stilwell, Indian Charlie and William Brocius were believed to
be involved in the killing, but nothing was ever proven. Wyatt
hunted them all down and killed them. Some considered Wyatt to be a
vigilante.
Morgan was buried in Colton, California. Morgan's wife, Louisa, remained
in California after his death.
She married Gustav Peters in 1885 and died at Long Beach, California on
June 24, 1894.
Warren Earp
His full name Baxter Warren Earp. He
was the youngest of the Earp Brothers. He was born on March 9, 1855 in
Pella, Iowa. He died July 6, 1900 in Wilcox, Arizona where he is buried.
Due to his age, Warren did not participate in most of his older brother's
activities. He was still living at home with his parents when the
events at Tombstone occurred.
After hearing the news of the gunfight, he went to Tombstone to lend a
hand to Wyatt; as both Virgil and Morgan were seriously wounded during the
shootout.
He served a short stint as a "policeman," patrolling the streets of
Tombstone against looters after the June 22, l88l fire that roared through
town.
After the ambush of Virgil and the murder of Morgan, Warren joined Wyatt
in what became known as the Wyatt's "bloody ride of vengeance."
Doc Holliday rode with both Wyatt and Warren seeking out those who killed
Morgan. |
