| Wyatt Earp |
| Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp, born March 19, 1848 in Monmouth, Illinois son of Nicholas and Virginia Ann (Cooksey) Earp. Wyatt was the fourth born son and had five brothers, Warren 1855, Morgan 1851, Virgil 1843, James 1841 and a stepbrother Newton born 1836. Newtons Mother was Abigail Storm Earp who died in 1839. The Earp family was on the move most of the time not staying put anywhere for long. In 1840 Nicholas and Virginia were married in Hartsford Kentucky, then moved to Monmouth Illinois, and in 1850 on to Pella Iowa and then around 1868 to Lamar Missouri. In 1869 Wyatt was elected or appointed to the position of constable of Lamar, this would be his first job as a lawman. January 10, 1870 Wyatt married Urilla Southerland who would die a short time later the same year. No one knows for sure the cause of death, most people say she died of Typhus or during childbirth. In 1871 Barton County filed suite against Wyatt for collecting taxes and keeping the money, but Wyatt wisely had already packed up and left. Later the same year another suite was filed by James Cromwell of Barton County but without the ability to serve the summons the suite was later dropped. On April 6, 1871 Deputy US Marshall J.C. Owens arrested Wyatt for stealing two horses in the Indian Territory. Wyatt posted 500.00 bond and lit out again. There was a warrent issued for his arrest but it was never served. The early 70's found Wyatt in Kansas where he made friends with Bat Masterson and in 1874 was working for M.R.Mosier in some capacity. On April 21, 1875 Wyatt was hired by the Wichita police force until 1876 when he was fired. Again it was said he was collecting money and keeping it. May 1876 Wyatt was a deputy in Dodge City where he would serve for a short time, then leave only to return later to be rehired. In July 1878 Wyatt would be credited with killing his first man. Geroge Hoy who had gotten drunk and became a little rowdy then started shooting his gun. Wyatt and Jim Masterson were called for, when they approched him he pulled his gun. Who actually shot Hoy we will never know but Wyatt got the credit. September 1879 Wyatt left Kansas and headed to Las Vegas Nevada and then on to Tombstone. By December 1879 he had met up with his brother Virgil who was a deputy U.S. Marshal. Wyatt and Virgil quickly got in the mining buisness, and in July 1880 Wyatt was appointed deputy sheriff of Pima County. Around midnight on October 28, 1880 shots were fired in the town of Tombstone. Quick to respond was Marshall Fred White and Wyatt Earp. White ran the man down behind a building and ordered the man to drop his weapon, a struggle ensued and the pistol was accidently discharged hitting White in the Groin, before Wyatt arrived and disarmed him. The man turned out to be Curly Bill Brocius, who was arrested and charged with attempted murder but the charges were later dropped own Fred White's testimony that the shooting was accidental. Fred White would later die because of complications of the wound he received that night. Virgil Earp was appointed as temporary Marshall of Tombstone after the death of White and ran in the election for the position but was defeated by part time policeman Ben Sippy. Word was now out that Pima County was to be split and Tombstone will be located in a newly formed Cochise County. This is upsetting to the Earps. Virgil has been defeated in an election for Marshall of Tombstone and now there is a new man Bob Paul running for sheriff of Pima Coutny, against Charles Shibell who gave Wyatt his job as deputy sheriff. Wyatt decides to throw his support to Bob Paul who he thinks will win the election, giving him the best chance to retain his job and later a chance to become the first sheriff of the new County to be Cochise. Unfortunate for Wyat,t Paul was elected sheriff but it was month's later only after a recount of votes, and in the mean time Shibell gave Wyatt the option of either quiting his job or be fired. On November 9, 1880 Wyatt turned in his resignation.......... |
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| Wyatt Earp and his brothers |
| Tombstone Allen Street |
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| What Happened at The OK Coral? |
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| Top left: Newton Top Right: James Bottom left: Morgan Bottom Right: Virgil |
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