Is Wyatt Earp a Wild West gunslinger?
Wyatt Earp (1848-1929) Wyatt Earp was a famous lawman in several Wild West towns including Wichita, Kansas; Dodge City, Kansas; and Tombstone, Arizona. He earned the reputation as one of the toughest and deadliest gunslingers of the Old West. Earp was most famous for his showdown with an outlaw gang in Tombstone.
What was Wyatt Earp famous for?
Wyatt Earp, in full Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp, (born March 19, 1848, Monmouth, Illinois, U.S.—died January 13, 1929, Los Angeles, California), legendary frontiersman of the American West, who was an itinerant saloonkeeper, gambler, lawman, gunslinger, and confidence man but was perhaps best known for his involvement in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1881).
Did Wyatt Earp have any descendants?
James R Earp is also a direct descendant of Wyatt Earp, the legendary lawman and deputy town sheriff from Tombstone who took part in the infamous gunfight at the OK Corral. Like his notorious relative, James R Earp is also a former lawman and city councillor in his home town of Kyle, Texas, where he is deputy city manager.
What was Wyatt Earp mothers name?
Wyatt Earp w. mother Virginia Ann Cooksey Earp c. 1856. Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was born on March 19, 1848, the fourth child of Nicholas Porter Earp and his second wife, Virginia Ann Cooksey. He was named after his father's commanding officer in the Mexican–American War, Captain Wyatt Berry Stapp, of the 2nd Company Illinois Mounted Volunteers.
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When was Wyatt Earp in Tombstone?
Earp arrived in the silver-mining boom town of Tombstone, Arizona, in 1879, and eventually found periodic work as a law officer.
How old was Wyatt Earp during Tombstone?
about age 42Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (March 19, 1848 – January 13, 1929) was a Deputy U.S. Marshal, Deputy Sheriff, and Deputy Town Marshal in the Old West. In Tombstone, Arizona Territory, Earp took part in the Gunfight at (near) the O.K. Corral, during which lawmen killed three outlaws. Earp at about age 42.
Who was Wyatt Earp's true love?
Celia Ann "Mattie" Blaylock (January 1850 – July 3, 1888) was a prostitute who became the romantic companion and common-law wife of Old West lawman and gambler Wyatt Earp for about six years.
How long did Doc Holliday know Wyatt Earp?
Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday Weren't That Close But they'd met only four years earlier, while passing through Texas.
What does it mean to be your Huckleberry?
What does “I'm your huckleberry” or “I'll be your huckleberry” mean? Well, it basically means you're up to do something for someone. In other words, you're in for the game or the task at hand. For Doc Holliday, he meant that he was ready to fight the taunting Johnny Ringo.
Was Doc Holliday a good guy?
In the 1993 movie Tombstone, Doc Holliday (portrayed by actor Val Kilmer) is depicted as a good guy at heart, helping Wyatt Earp to keep order and law in the dangerous old west town of Tombstone, Arizona. As is the case with Earp, there is a mound of evidence that the real Doc Holliday wasn't nearly so squeaky clean.
Was Johnny Ringo a real person?
John Peters Ringo (May 3, 1850 – July 13, 1882), known as Johnny Ringo, was an American Old West outlaw loosely associated with the Cochise County Cowboys in frontier boomtown Tombstone, Arizona Territory. He took part in the Mason County War in Texas during which he committed his first murder.
Did Wyatt Earp find gold in Alaska?
Many hardy gunslingers and prospectors who made Tombstone a household word in the late 1800s, landed in Alaska and the Yukon after the demise of the Arizona city. One of the most famous was Wyatt Earp. Earp arrived in the north during the height of the Alaska gold rush in Nome. But he didn't go there to mine for gold.
Did Doc Holliday have children?
After serving in the Mexican War, he returned to Griffin, Georgia, with an orphaned Mexican boy named Francisco Hidalgo. On January 8, 1849, Major Holliday married Alice Jane McKay and, within just a year, had a daughter, Martha Eleanora, who died in infancy. On August 14, 1851, John Henry (Doc) Holliday was born.
Who was the fastest gun in the Wild West?
Bob Munden was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as “The Fastest Man with a Gun Who Ever Lived”. One journalist reckoned that if Munden had been at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, on October 26, 1881, the gunfight would have been over in 5 to 10 seconds.
Who was the most feared gunslinger in the Old West?
Wild Bill Hickok Wild Bill may hold the title of the deadliest gunslinger in the whole West. He carried his two Colt 1851 Navy revolvers with ivory grips and nickel plating, which can be seen on display at the Adams Museum in Deadwood, South Dakota.
Was Doc Holliday Wyatt Earp's best friend?
John Henry Holliday (August 14, 1851 – November 8, 1887), better known as Doc Holliday, was an American gambler, gunfighter, and dentist. A close friend and associate of lawman Wyatt Earp, Holliday is best known for his role in the events leading up to and following the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
How accurate was the movie Tombstone?
Tombstone is fairly accurate historically. In fact, some of the more unbelieveable scenes (such as Bill Brosius missing Wyatt three times from point-blank range before Earp cuts him in half with a shotgun) are actually documented.
Which Earp brother lived the longest?
10 Wyatt Earp Siblings Ranked Oldest to YoungestWyatt Earp (March 19, 1848 – January 13, 1929) ... Morgan Earp (April 24, 1851 – March 18, 1882) ... Warren Earp (March 9, 1855 – July 6, 1900) ... Virginia Earp (February 28, 1858 – October 26, 1861) ... Adelia Earp (June 16, 1861 – January 16, 1941)More items...
How old was Doc Holliday when he passed away?
36 years (1851–1887)Doc Holliday / Age at deathIn 1882, Holliday fled Arizona and returned to the life of a western drifter, gambler, and gunslinger. By 1887, his hard living had caught up to him, forcing him to seek treatment for his tuberculosis at a sanitarium in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. He died in his bed at only 36 years old.
Are there any living descendants of the Earps?
James R Earp is also a direct descendant of Wyatt Earp, the legendary lawman and deputy town sheriff from Tombstone who took part in the infamous gunfight at the OK Corral.
Who was Wyatt Earp?
Wyatt Earp was a legendary frontiersman of the American West. He was an itinerant saloonkeeper, gambler, lawman, gunslinger, and confidence man, bu...
What happened at the O.K. Corral?
In 1881 Wyatt Earp and his brothers clashed with a local outlaw gang led by Ike Clanton. The conflict resulted in a famous gunfight at the O.K. Cor...
When did Wyatt Earp die?
Wyatt Earp died on January 13th, 1929, in Los Angeles, California.
What movies have been made about the story of Wyatt Earp?
Wyatt Earp has been the subject of movies and books that furthered his legendary status, though these became less frequent in the 21st century. Not...
Who was Wyatt Earp?
Wyatt Earp was a legendary frontiersman of the American West. He was an itinerant saloonkeeper, gambler, lawman, gunslinger, and confidence man, but he is perhaps best known for his involvement in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881.
What movies did Wyatt Earp make?
Notable films include My Darling Clementine (1946), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), Tombstone (1993), and Wyatt Earp (1994).
How long did the Wyatt shootout last?
Although the shoot-out, which allegedly lasted only 30 seconds, later made Wyatt famous, various reports indicate that Virgil played a more central role. The gunfight, however, failed to end the feud. In December 1881 Virgil was ambushed—allegedly by Clanton and his colleagues—though he survived his gunshot wounds.
How many brothers did Earp have?
Earp was the fourth of eight children born to Nicholas Earp and his second wife, Virginia Ann Cooksey. His four brothers—James (1841–1926), Virgil (1843–1905), Morgan (1851–82), and Warren (1855–1900)—as well as a half-brother, Newton, would play integral roles throughout Wyatt’s life. He grew up in Illinois and Iowa but in 1864, ...
Where did the Earps go to work?
In 1868 most of the Earps returned to Illinois via the Union Pacific Railroad, on which Wyatt and Virgil lingered to work in what is now Wyoming. The following year Wyatt rejoined his family, which had moved to Lamar, Missouri. There he married in 1870 and was elected local constable.
Who was the outlaw gang leader that killed Wyatt Earp?
In 1881 Wyatt Earp and his brothers clashed with a local outlaw gang led by Ike Clanton. The conflict resulted in a famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881. It pitted the Clanton gang against three Earp brothers and Doc Holliday. Three of the outlaws were killed, but Ike and another member escaped.
Who was Wyatt's brother?
Wyatt became a gambler and a guard in a saloon, and his brother Virgil became town marshal. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now. By 1881 a feud between the Earps and a local outlaw gang led by Ike Clanton had escalated.
Who played Wyatt Earp in the movie?
He became the subject of numerous TV shows and movies, and has been portrayed by such leading actors as Henry Fonda, Burt Lancaster, James Garner, Kurt Russell and Kevin Costner.
What was Wyatt Earp's career?
Wyatt Earp’s Early Life and Pre-Tombstone Career. Wyatt Earp & The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Wyatt Earp’s Post-Tombstone Life and Legend. One of the most famous figures to emerge from the colorful 19th-century history of the American West, Wyatt Earp (1848-1929) was known first and foremost for his participation in a notorious gunfight at ...
What did Earp do on the frontier?
During this period, Earp frequented the saloons, gambling houses and brothels that proliferated on the front ier, and had several run-ins with law enforcement.
How did Earp make his living?
Over the years, he made a living by gambling, saloon-keeping, mining and real estate speculation. He also worked with a personal secretary, John H. Flood, to write his memoirs, which received a poor reception during his lifetime. Earp died in Los Angeles in January 1929, at the age of 80.
Where did Wyatt Earp and Mattie Blaylock fight?
Wyatt Earp & The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. In 1879, Earp and his longtime companion, the former prostitute Mattie Blaylock, left Dodge City for Tombstone, Arizona. The town was booming after a silver rush, and most of the Earp family had gathered there.
When was Wyatt Earp published?
The first major Earp biography, “Wyatt Earp, Frontier Marshal” by Stuart N. Lake, was published in 1931 and became a bestseller, establishing Earp as a folk hero among millions of Americans searching for inspiration and excitement during the hard times of the Great Depression.
Who were the Earp brothers in the 1881 gunfight?
The feud escalated, and finally exploded into violence on October 26, 1881 at the O.K. Corral. In the gunfight, Virgil, Morgan and Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday faced off against the Clanton gang (Ike, his brother Billy, and Tom and Frank McLaury).
How did Wyatt Earp die?
Earp died at his home in Los Angeles, possibly of chronic cystitis, on January 13, 1929, at age 80. His longtime companion Josephine (she called herself Josephine Earp, although there’s no record they ever were married) had his cremated remains buried at a cemetery in Colma, California. Earp, who had no children, was the last surviving participant of the OK Corral gunfight. In his later years, he’d consulted on Hollywood westerns and gotten to known various actors and directors. His funeral was attended by such celebrities as Western film star Tom Mix, who served as a pallbearer.#N#After his death, Earp was portrayed by Hollywood as a heroic lawman, thanks in part to a best-selling—but significantly embellished—1931 biography, “Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshall” by Stuart Lake. The book helped spawn movies and TV series about Earp, starring actors from Henry Fonda to James Garner to Kevin Costner in the lead role.
Who is Wyatt Earp?
After his death, Earp was portrayed by Hollywood as a heroic lawman, thanks in part to a best-selling—but significantly embellished—1931 biography, “Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshall” by Stuart Lake.
Where did Virgil Earp work?
Earp arrived in the silver-mining boom town of Tombstone, Arizona, in 1879, and eventually found periodic work as a law officer. The famous gunfight took place on the afternoon of October 26, 1881, in a lot behind the OK Corral, when Earp and his brothers Morgan and Virgil, along with Doc Holliday, confronted cattle-thieving brothers Billy and Ike Clanton and Frank and Tom McLaury. Virgil Earp ordered the cowboys to give up their guns but instead shots were fired, although it’s unclear who pulled the trigger first. The shootout, thought to have lasted less than a minute, left three people dead: Frank and Tom McLaury and Billy Clanton.
Why did Earp leave the job?
He left the job in 1871, having been accused of mishandling public funds. That same year, he was arrested for stealing horses in Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma), although his case never went to trial. In 1872, Earp was living in Peoria, Illinois, working as an enforcer in a brothel.
What occupation did Earp's father have?
Earp’s father had a number of occupations, including farmer, justice of the peace and bootlegger, and Wyatt spent his childhood in both Illinois and Iowa. After the American Civil War broke out in 1861, Earp ran away from the family farm and tried to join the Union army; however, his father found him and brought him home. ...
Where did Earp live in the 1880s?
After leaving Tombstone in 1882, Earp moved around the West, laying low and supporting himself through gambling. By the late 1880s, he was living in San Diego with his companion, Josephine Marcus, a New York City-born actress he met in Tombstone.
Who did Earp meet?
Earp met Doc Holliday on the gambling circuit. Earp met fellow gambler John Henry “Doc” Holliday in Texas in 1878. Holliday, a Georgia native born in 1851, had studied dentistry in Philadelphia. In 1872, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and doctors recommended he move to a drier climate.
What happened to Earp in Tombstone?
Losing the undersheriff position left Earp without a job in Tombstone; however, he and his brothers were beginning to make some money on their mining claims in the Tombstone area. In January 1881, Oriental Saloon owner Milt Joyce gave Earp a 25-percent interest in the faro concession at the Oriental Saloon in exchange for his services as a manager and enforcer. Gambling was regarded as a legitimate profession at the time. Earp invited his friend Bat Masterson to Tombstone to help him run the faro tables in the saloon, and he telegraphed Luke Short in June 1881 to offer him a job as a faro dealer. Masterson remained until April 1881, when he returned to Dodge City to assist his brother Jim.
How tall was Wyatt Earp?
Tall like his brothers, Wyatt Earp was 6 feet (1.8 m) when the average height was about 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m). He was described in 1887 by the Los Angeles Herald as "quiet, unassuming, broad-shouldered, with a large blonde mustache. He is dignified, self-contained, game and fearless, and no man commands greater respect ... " He weighed about 165 to 170 pounds (75 to 77 kg), was long-armed, and muscular, and was very capable of using his fists instead of his weapon to control those resisting his authority.
When was Wyatt Earp married?
Wyatt Earp, age 21 in 1869 or '70, while married to Urilla Sutherland; taken in Lamar, Missouri.
What was the plan of Earp?
Earp arrived in Seattle with a plan to open a saloon and gambling room. On November 25, 1899, the Seattle Star described him as "a man of great reputation among the toughs and criminals, inasmuch as he formerly walked the streets of a rough frontier mining town with big pistols stuck in his belt, spurs on his boots, and a devil-may-care expression upon his official face". The Seattle Daily Times was less full of praise, announcing in a very small article that he had a reputation in Arizona as a "bad man", which in that era was synonymous with "villain" and "desperado".
How long did the Tombstone gunfight last?
The gunfight in Tombstone lasted only 30 seconds, but it ended up defining Earp for the rest of his life. His movements began to receive national press coverage after he killed Frank Stilwell in Tucson, and he left Arizona with his brother Warren, Holliday, McMaster, "Turkey Creek" Jack Johnson, and Texas Jack Vermillion. They stopped in Albuquerque, New Mexico where they met up with Earp's friend Deputy U.S. Marshal Bat Masterson. Masterson went with them to Trinidad, Colorado where he opened a faro game in a saloon and later became marshal.
When was the Earp statue built?
A statue built on March 25, 2005. Depicting Earp and Holliday on location of 1880s Tucson Depot where Frank Stilwell was killed by Earp. Now part of Amtrak Station.
Where did Wyatt deal Faro?
Wyatt dealt faro at the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City, Kansas.
When did Wyatt Earp arrive in Tombstone?
Wyatt arrived in Tombstone AZ in early December 1879. His common law wife, Mattie, with him. We know from Allie Earp, Virgil's wife, that Wyatt Earp bought a house of their own in Tombstone. It's first discussed in the writings of Frank Waters.
How much is the Wyatt Earp House in the Tombstone?
Why? This Tombstone "Wyatt Earp House" is now up for sale - for $650,000 as seen on Zillow.
How long did Wyatt have to repay the gold coin?
He received the funds in gold coin. Wyatt's home was collateral, on a promissory note. Wyatt had to repay in gold coin in three months, with no grace period. Particularly important related to the Tombstone Wyatt Earp house, was the description of Wyatt's home location in this mortgage document. 4
Why did Wyatt get a warrant?
Wyatt recruited friends for a posse to hunt down those who were out to get them. He got a Federal warrant to arrest law-breakers. He took his posse to Charleston and raided homes throughout, without finding any culprits. The population there wasn't thrilled with that event!
What was the summons for Tombstone?
The summons was a judgment "to serve the payment of said note on said property in the City of Tombstone, Cochise County..." 2 It was now worrisome, as the bank was headed for trouble, that Wyatt might not be held accountable for this loan.
Where did Wyatt and Mattie live?
What caused later confusion is that Waters's book describes her saying "Wyatt and Mattie lived on the Northeast corner." 1 That describes the Wyatt Earp house in Tombstone that visitors to town now go to see. The Northeast corner of Fremont and 1st.
What does Rose relate to Tombstone?
Rose relates another factor adding to the confusion. It helps support this current, general belief of the Wyatt Earp house in Tombstone's location.
Early Life
Tombstone, Arizona
- During this period, Earp frequented the saloons, gambling houses and brothels that proliferated on the frontier, and had several run-ins with law enforcement. But after helping a police officer in Wichita track down a wagon thief, Earp joined that city’s police force in 1875 and later became deputy town marshal of Dodge City. It was in Dodge City that Earp would make the acquaintanc…
OK Corral
- In March 1881, while pursuing a group of cowboys who had robbed a stagecoach, Wyatt struck a deal with local rancher Ike Clanton, who had ties to the cowboys. Clanton soon turned against him, however, and began threatening the Earp brothers. The feud escalated, and on October 26, 1881, it finally exploded into violence in a gunfight at the OK Corralin Tombstone. In the gunfight…
Later Life and Legend
- After leaving Tombstone, Wyatt Earp moved around the West, eventually settling in Californiawith Josephine Marcus, with whom he would spend the next 40 years. Over the years, he made an itinerant living by gambling, saloon-keeping, mining and real estate speculation. He also worked with a personal secretary, John H. Flood, to write his memoirs, which received a poor reception …
Sources
- Who Was Wyatt Earp? American Heritage. The Life of Wyatt Earp. PBS: American Experience. Wyatt Earp. West Adams Heritage Association.