Wyatt Earp

Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (March 19, 1848 - January 13, 1929), was an officer of the law, gambler and saloon keeper in the Wild West. He is most known for his participation in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral along with Doc Holliday, Virgil Earp, and Morgan Earp.

Early life

Wyatt Earp, born during the California Gold Rush, was named after Nicholas Earp's commanding officer during the Mexican-American War, Captain Wyatt Berry Strap of the Illinois Mounted Volunteers. In March, 1850, the Earps left Monmouth for California, but they never reached there, settling instead in Iowa. Their new farm consisted of 160 acres (0.6 km²), seven miles (10 km) northeast of Pella, Iowa.

Related Topics:
California Gold Rush - Mexican-American War - Captain - Volunteer - March - 1850 - California - Iowa - Farm - Acre - Pella, Iowa

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On March 4, 1856, Nicholas sold his farm to Aquillin Waters Noe (c. 1800 - May 4, 1880), who resold it on the same day to Hiram Zenas Webster (March 1, 1829 - after 1915).

Related Topics:
March 4 - 1856 - 1800 - May 4 - 1880 - March 1 - 1829 - 1915

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The family returned to Monmouth, but Nicholas found that nobody wanted his services as cooper or farmer. Faced with unemployment, Nicholas chose to become a municipal constable. He served for about three years. He reportedly had a second source of income from the selling of alcoholic beverages which made him the target of the local Temperance movement and in 1859 he was tried for bootlegging, convicted and publicly humiliated. Nicholas was unable to pay his fines and on November 11, 1859, Nicholas's property was sold at an auction. Two days later the Earps left for Pella, Iowa.

Related Topics:
Unemployment - Municipal - Constable - Income - Selling - Alcoholic beverage - Temperance movement - 1859 - Bootleg - Fine - November 11 - Auction

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Nicholas apparently made frequent travels to Monmouth throughout 1860 to confirm and conclude the sale of his properties and to face several lawsuits for debt and accusations of tax evasion.

Related Topics:
1860 - Lawsuit - Debt - Tax evasion

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During the family's second stay in Pella, the American Civil War broke out. James, Virgil and Newton joined the Union Army. Wyatt was too young to join, but tried on several occasions to run away and join the army only to have his father find him and bring him back home. While Nicholas was busy recruiting and drilling local companies, Wyatt, with the help of his two younger brothers, Morgan and Warren, was left in charge of bringing in an 80-acre corn crop. James returned home in summer 1863 after being severely wounded in Fredricktown, Missouri. On May 12th, 1864, the Earp family joined a wagon train heading to California. The 1931 book Frontier Marshall by Stuart Lake, claims that the Earps had an encounter with Indians near Fort Laramie and that Wyatt reportedly took the opportunity of their stop at Fort Bridger to go hunting American Bison with Jim Bridger. Later researchers determined that Lake's account of Earp's life was probably embellished as there is little corroborating evidence to many of the stories he wrote about.

Related Topics:
Union Army - 1863 - Fredricktown - Missouri - May 12 - 1864 - Wagon train - 1931 - Frontier Marshall - Stuart Lake - Indians - Fort Laramie - Fort Bridger - American Bison - Jim Bridger

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By late summer, 1865, Wyatt and Virgil had found a common occupation as stagecoach drivers for Phineas Banning?s Banning Stage Line in Southern California. This is presumed to be the time Wyatt had his first taste of whiskey. He reportedly felt sick enough to abstain from it for the following two decades.

Related Topics:
Summer - 1865 - Stagecoach - Phineas Banning - Southern California - Whiskey

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In spring, 1866, Earp became a teamster, transporting cargo for Chris Taylor. His assigned trail for 1866 - 1868 was from Wilmington, California to Prescott, Arizona. In spring 1868, Earp was hired by Charles Chrisman to transport supplies for the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad. This is presumed to be the time of his introduction to gambling and boxing.

Related Topics:
1866 - Teamster - Cargo - 1868 - Wilmington - Prescott - Union Pacific Railroad - Gambling - Boxing

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