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This is the page where you can find information about other significant people in Wyatt Earp's life, everyone from Mattie Earp to Bat Masterson.

John Behan: Pima and Cochise County Sheriff and Earp opponent in Tombstone. John Behan was born in what is now Kansas City, Missouri on October 23, 1845. Behan first came to Prescott, Arizona from San Francisco in 1863. He soon became prominent in local politics, holding various elected law enforcement positions. In 1869 he married Victoria Zaff and had two children. Behan divorced in 1875 and never remarried. He moved to Tombstone around 1880 and soon became Sheriff of Pima County and then the first Sheriff of the newly formed Cochise County. For a brief period of time, he lived as husband and wife with a women named Josephine Sarah Marcus, who would soon become enamored with a man named Wyatt Earp. This set the stage for much of the troubles between Earp and Behan. After the Earps left Tombstone, Behan had some run-ins with the law of his own and later served as Deputy Superintendent of the Arizona Penitentiary and was a Spanish American War Veteran. He died in Tucson, Arizona on June 7, 1912. 

Celia Ann Blaylock (Mattie Earp): Celia Ann Blaylock is believed to have been born in 1850 in Fairfax, Iowa. She might have met Wyatt in 1873 in Dodge City, Kansas. They would move to Tombstone together and live as husband and wife there. When Wyatt became attracted to John Behan's girlfriend, Josephine Sarah Marcus, Wyatt left Mattie for Josie. This drove Mattie over the edge. Some historians have supposed she traveled back to California with the Earp family when they left Tombstone. At some point, she ended up in Globe, Arizona. She died of a laudanum overdose on July 3, 1888 in Pinal, Arizona. Mattie Earp's existence was not conclusively known until the 1940's. Stuart Lake apparently knew that the existence of Mattie Earp was a possibility and he subsequently covered it up. How would it make his hero from Frontier Marshal look if people knew he had left his wife for another women?

William Breakenridge: Deputy Sheriff of Cochise County under John Behan and Earp opponent in Tombstone. Breakenridge was believed to be involved with "looking the other way" along with his friend Behan when it came to the county rustler element. He claimed in later years to be the "Tombstone Deputy". Most who knew him thought he was a amiable character. Breakenridge was openly jealous of the attention that Wyatt had gotten in the early part of the 20th century and made it clear he intended to "burn the Earps up" in his book, Helldorado, which came out in 1928. Breakenridge really did burn the Earps up when he first asked them for their assistance in helping him recall dates, old-timers names, etc. The Earps had heard a rumor that Breakenridge's book was not going to be favorable to them before he came to visit, but they must have been naive. His book was not overtly anti-Earp, but it didn't paint him in the best light either. Breakenridge died July 31, 1931 in Tucson, Arizona.

William "Curly Bill" Brocius: Known as the leader of the rustler element in Tombstone, Arizona and friend of the Clantons and McLaurys. Little is known about Brocius prior to 1880. Earp biographer Glenn Boyer theorizes that it was the killing of Marshal White that propelled Brocius to the top of the rustler gang. Brocius may have participated in the Lincoln County War in New Mexico, which was essentially started by William "Billy The Kid" Bonney. Wyatt Earp thought Brocius was involved in the killing of his brother Morgan and hunted him down and killed him at Iron Springs in March of 1882.

William "Billy The Kid" Claiborne: Not to be confused with the original "Billy the Kid", William H. Bonney, Billy Claiborne is the little heard about 5th participant in the OK Corral shoot-out. A member of the rustler gang and friend of the Clantons and McLaurys, Claiborne was with the other four cowboys when the shooting started. When the shooting started, he turned and ran, as did Ike Clanton. Claiborne was shot and killed in front of the Oriental Saloon by sometimes Earp supporter Buckskin Frank Leslie in the summer of 1882 who claimed that Claiborne had been making threats against him. Leslie was cleared of murder charges in Claiborne's death.

Billy Clanton: One of the three men killed at the OK Corral shoot-out. Billy, his brothers Ike, Phin and their father, known as "Old Man" Clanton, ran one of the largest rustling outfits in the area.

Ike Clanton: Brother of Billy Clanton and the man probably most responsible for getting his brother and friends killed. It was Ike's running off at the mouth that put him at the top of Doc Holliday's list and thus brought the wrath of Doc upon the cowboys. Josie Earp described Ike as being the one cowboy who had absolutely no redeeming qualities. After his brother and friends were killed, Ike would try three times to get the Earps tried for murder, all would fail. Ike was shot down and killed by Detective J.V. Brighton in 1887 at Eagle Creek. Ike was reported to be running away when he was shot. 

John Clum: Mayor of Tombstone, founder of the historical Tombstone Epitaph newspaper and life long Earp supporter. His support of the Earps after the shoot-out earned him an assassination attempt while he was leaving town on a stage. Clum would leave Tombstone for California shortly after the Earps. He would remain a life long friend of Wyatt's, visiting him in Nome, Alaska in 1900. Clum was at Wyatt's bedside shortly before his death. He supposedly collaborated with Josie in helping her write her memoirs and he wrote his own, called, "It all Happened in Tombstone". Clum died on May 2, 1932.

Fred Dodge: Wells Fargo detective and lifelong Earp friend. Dodge, unbeknownst to Wyatt, was an Undercover Detective for Wells Fargo in Tombstone. He posed as a gambler to keep suspicion away from himself and it was probably in this way that he met Wyatt. Dodge would ride on posses and help out Earp when he could, as long as it didn't give him away as a Detective. Dodge stood by his friend Wyatt before and after the shoot-out, but he always disagreed with Wyatt on Doc Holliday's involvement in the Benson Stage Robbery that got Bud Philpot killed. Dodge would say in later years that he had proof that Holliday was involved in the robbery, but he never did elaborate because, at the time he made the comment, Wyatt was still alive and Dodge didn't want to say anything out of respect for his friend. Dodge would go on to work for Wells Fargo after the Earps left Tombstone and led a very adventurous life of his own. His story, "Undercover for Wells Fargo" is an excellent insight into the Dodge's life as well as a different perspective into the events surrounding the Tombstone. Dodge died on December 16, 1938.

Allie Earp: Third wife of Virgil Earp. Allie and Virgil most likely met in or about 1874. Allie had no love loss for Josie Earp. Allie had been good friends with Mattie Earp, and blamed Josie for Wyatt leaving Mattie and Mattie's subsequent suicide. Allie was said to "love all the Earp boys", although in her later years she didn't like Wyatt getting all the attention he did. She felt, and possibly rightly so, that her husband should have got most of the credit for their Arizona days, since he was the Tombstone Police Chief and Deputy US Marshal at the time. Allie would collaborate with Frank Waters in writing his book, "The Earp brothers of Tombstone". Many now believe Waters book to be sensationalized against Wyatt, much as "Frontier Marshal" built him up. Allie knew the book was going to be critical of Wyatt, but Waters got a bit carried a way and kicked dirt on her husband Virgil's name as well. Allie, who loved her husband to death, was furious and declared Water's book a "bunch of lies" and threatened to sue if he published. (1) Furthering Water's problems at the time was Josie Earp ranting and raving about his book painting her husband in an unfavorable light. Possibly due to one or the other woman's complaints, Waters didn't publish his book until Josie and Allie were both dead. On November 17, 1947, Allie Earp died. She was just shy of her 100th birthday and she was the last surviving immediate family member of the Earps.

James Earp: Oldest child to Nicholas and Virginia Earp, born in June 28, 1841. James stayed close to his family during his life but never did join in the exploits of law enforcement and bounty hunting like his other brothers did. James was a Civil War Veteran, enlisting in Company F, Seventeenth Illinois Infantry on May 25, 1861. He was seriously wounded at Fredricktown, Missouri on March 22, 1863 and would forever draw a disability pension because of it. James spent most of his adult years with Wyatt and was in Tombstone during the shoot-out. James accompanied the family home to California when Morgan was killed. James worked mostly as a bartender or saloon keeper/gambler during his life. He was married to Nellie Bartlett Ketchum on April 18, 1873. She would later die in California in 1887. Even in his later years, James was out in the desert with Wyatt and Josie during their prospecting days of the early 20th century. James died in Los Angeles on January 25, 1926.

Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp: Third wife to Wyatt Earp. Born in 1861, probably in New York, Josie's early years are not well known. Josie was always misleading and prone to "story-telling" when someone would ask her of her past. She said that she ran away from home and first came to Tombstone with a touring play, working as an actress. Later she would return to be with her boyfriend, John Behan in 1880. Some historians have questioned whether or not she was a stage actress, believing that her tendency to cover up her early days was due to the fact that she was indeed a showgirl rather than an actress. Josie initially lived with John Behan as his common-law wife in Tombstone until she fell for Wyatt Earp. Another reason for Josie's evasiveness in her later years about her Tombstone days is that she didn't want people to know that she stole Wyatt away, or that Wyatt left Mattie for her. After the shoot-out, Josie left to stay with her family California and waited until Wyatt sent for her to come join him in Colorado. She lived with Wyatt the rest of his life, and was fiercely protective of him. Josie wrote her memoirs in what is commanly called the "Cason Manuscript". Author Glenn Boyer turned these into his popular book, "I Married Wyatt Earp". This book has recently been pulled from publication due to concerns over authenticity. Until someone can determine what is fact and fiction in Boyer's book, only the aforementioned Cason MS can be taken as "from the mouth" of Josie Earp. Josie died on December 19, 1944.

Morgan Earp: Wyatt's younger brother, and participant in the OK Corral shoot-out. Morgan was born on April 24, 1851 in Iowa. Morgan actually worked as a lawman in Dodge City before his brother Wyatt. Records show he received payment for working for Sheriff Charlie Basset in 1875. 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 shoot-out in Tombstone. Morg was known to have a hot temper, but was well liked by those who knew him. Morg would be tried for murder with his brothers after the shooting, but found not guilty. As a result, 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 as Wyatt hunted them all down and killed them. Morgan was buried in Colton, California. Morgan's wife, Louisa, remained in California after his death. She would go on to marry Gustav Peters in 1885 and died at Long Beach, California on June 24, 1894.

Nicholas Earp: The head of the Earp family, father to Wyatt, Virgil, Morgan, Warren, Newton and Adelia. Born on September 6, 1813. Nick, as he was known to friends and family, finally settled down in Colton, California after wandering around the west during his children's younger years. See the "Earp Family" section for more about Nicholas Earp. Nicholas Earp died at age 94 on November 12, 1907 in Sawtelle, California.

Virgil Earp: Second oldest full brother to Wyatt. Virgil was born on July 18, 1843 in Kentucky. Against his family's wishes, 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 find out until 1888 that Ellen had his child, Nellie Jane, while he was away at war. He and Allie would in later years pay a visit to see his child. In 1870 Virgil married Rosella Dragoo in Lamar, Missouri. What became of their marriage and what happened to 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 permanently crippled following the wounds he received in the ambush in Tombstone, forever unable to use one arm. Virgil would go 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. To this day Virgil is still considered by many, even Earp detractors, as being the most respectable Earp brother. Virgil had a long career in law enforcement, while Wyatt only worked in the field for about 5 years. Earp author Glenn Boyer notes, possibly quite correctly, that if Virgil had not died in 1905, the "hero" we know from Tombstone today would probably be him. Virgil was the Deputy United States Marshal and Tombstone Police Chief when the shooting occurred and thus was the primary law enforcement officer in the incident.

Warren Earp: Full name Baxter Warren Earp, youngest brother of Wyatt. Warren was born on March 9, 1855. Due to his age, Warren didn't participate in most of his older brother's activities. He was still living at home with his parents when the shooting in Tombstone happened. He had been to Tombstone previously in 1880 and 1881 for visits, hence some of the stories about Wyatt in Tombstone include Warren. Warren would ride along with Wyatt's posse on the Tombstone vendetta to kill the men they thought were responsible for Morgan's death. After Wyatt fled Arizona, Warren returned to work for Colonel Hooker on the Sierra Bonita Ranch in Wilcox, Arizona. Warren was shot and killed by a man named Johnny Boyett in a saloon confrontation in July of 1900, Warren was unarmed. There was a history of bad feelings between the two, Warren had claimed earlier that Boyett was making threats to kill him. Boyett was found not guilty in court. Some have said Wyatt and Virgil went to Wilcox and found that Boyett had fled the area, maybe hearing that Warren's brothers were coming to town. It is more than likely that Warren was dead and buried before Wyatt even got the news in Alaska. That he traveled back to Arizona from Alaska seems unlikely. What ever became of Boyett is unknown.

John Henry "Doc" Holliday: Doc Holliday was Wyatt Earp's best friend and, some historians believe, responsible for quite a few of the troubles that ensued in Tombstone. Doc was born in August 14th 1851 in Georgia. He was educated at the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery and practiced for a short time as a dentist. Soon, however, Holliday was diagnosed with Tuberculosis, and headed out west. Doc tried to keep up with his dental practice, but patients found it uneasy to have a man with Tuberculosis coughing in their face. Doc found that there was money and adventure to be had in gambling, so this became his profession. He built himself a reputation as a dangerous man, "homicidal", and "killer" are often used to describe Holliday. Doc had nothing to lose, he was dying of Tuberculosis and this was probably the likely cause of his reckless attitude. Doc's reputation as being an ace with a gun are by most accounts, inaccurate. Doc may have been well and good with a gun when he was sober, but since he spent most his later years in a pickle, we don't really know. Many humorous stories about Doc are told of him, usually in a drunken stupor, trying to shoot someone that has come into confrontation with him, and missing badly. Whatever bad things Doc was, there is no doubt he was a man you wanted as your friend when the chips were down. He was a lifelong friend of Wyatt's, riding with him on his Tombstone vendetta. Doc is given a lot of the blame for what happened in Tombstone by some historians, and as such equal criticism is given to Wyatt for being friends with, and protecting such a dangerous man. There was weak circumstantial evidence that Doc may have been involved in the stage robbery that got Bud Philpot killed (this is hotly debated, in his defense, Holliday was charged in the robbery, but all charges were dropped for lack of evidence), and he had an ungovernable temper which likely only increased the tension between the Cowboys and the Earps. Doc fled to Colorado with Wyatt where they parted ways. He died of Tuberculosis on November 8, 1887, in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

Bartholomew "Bat" Masterson: One of Wyatt's best friends, fellow lawman, and one of the famous Masterson brothers that tamed Dodge City. "Bat", as he was known, was born on November 24, 1853. In his youth he would change his name to William Barclay Masterson. His exact place of birth is not known, but some believe he could have been born in Canada, or possibly Illinois. Bat and Wyatt are said to have met when both were buffalo hunters in their early twenties. They would later meet up again when both worked on the Dodge City Police Force in the 1870's. Masterson would become Sheriff of Ford County, Kansas in 1877. His brother Ed would become Marshal of Dodge City and would be killed in the line of duty. Brother James also worked on the Dodge Police Force. Arguably, Bat's popularity and reputation often rivaled that of Wyatt's. He had a much longer law enforcement career than Wyatt, although he learned the art of gambling from Earp. Bat was one of the first writers to help launch Wyatt into legendary status. In 1907 Bat wrote several articles for Human Life magazine about "Famous Gunfighters of the West". He talked Wyatt up as one of the most feared gunfighters/lawmen in the West and said Earp was the only man he ever knew being absolutely fearless. Bat would be a lifelong friend of Wyatt's, and helped save Earp and Holliday from being extradited back to Arizona on murder charges. Bat would eventually become a professional sports writer in New York and became a Deputy US Marshal for his precinct. Bat died at his desk on October 25, 1921. Bat Masterson's life story is just as interesting, if not more, than Wyatt's. I would encourage anyone wanting to know more about Masterson to check out a biography on him, or read Paula Mitchell Marks' book "And Die in the West" which contains many notes on Masterson's law career and how his life intersected with Wyatt's. 

Frank, Tom and Will McLaury: The McLaury Brothers of Tombstone were central figures in the events leading up to the OK Corral Shoot-out. Frank and Tom were ranchers in the Tombstone area (Will was an attorney back east), and were well respected by their peers. Most writers and historians agree that the McLaurys did have some sort of connection or involvement with the rustler ring surrounding Tombstone, but how far that connection went is still being debated. The central problem being, that even if the McLaurys were rustlers, so were many of the ranchers of that era. The McLaurys were never charged with being directly involved in any stage robberies surrounding Tombstone, it was mostly their cohorts or supposed friends who were charged in those matters. Frank McLaury was known to have a nasty temper and a deadly shot with a pistol, but Tom was reasonably liked by most who knew or met him and it was Tom who was most likely unarmed and shouting "I don't want to fight!" at the OK Corral when the shooting started. Brother Frank was armed though, and with his known temper, was probably more than willing to go to fighting if he thought the Earps or Doc Holliday meant to start one. As sad as it may have been that an unarmed Tom McLaury was shot down at the OK Corral, Judge Wells Spicer noted in his judgment that Tom was guilty by association by being in the company of men who were illegally armed. Brother Will McLaury, who was an attorney in another state, would come to Tombstone and try to hang the Earps for the shooting of his two brothers, but would lose. Evidence arose in later years showing that Will McLaury may have been behind the murder of Morgan Earp and attempts on Virgil, Wyatt and Judge Wells Spicer. Letters to his father would show that he most likely was behind the retribution tactics aimed at the Earps. 

John Ringo: John Ringo was probably born in 1842 or 1843. Sometimes called the spokesman of the Cowboys, Ringo was often considered an "educated" man by those who knew him and some thought he might have even had a college education. Ringo was known by those around him to be a gentleman when sober, dangerous when drunk, prone to depression, and suicidal. His skill with a gun has been embellished time and again, but there has never been any evidence that he was any better with a gun than anyone else of the time. Ringo's background is hazy at best. He was known to be involved in the Mason County War of Texas in which he was charged with at least two killings. He was sentenced to jail in 1876 but escaped and was recaptured later that year. The case against Ringo was eventually dropped and in 1878 he was elected a Constable in Loyal Valley, Mason County, Texas. In 1879 he wandered to Tombstone where he became involved with the local rustlers. On or near July 14, 1882, John Ringo was found dead near Turkey Creek Canyon. His body was found leaning up against a tree with a bullet hole to the head. The coroner's inquest ruled the death a suicide. The cause of John Ringo's death has been the subject of much debate. Conspiracy students have charged everyone from Buckskin Frank Leslie to Wyatt Earp for his murder. Wyatt supposedly claimed that he snuck back into Arizona from Colorado and killed Ringo, but I have found no evidence that Earp made this claim. The claim may have been attributed to him due to Josie Earp's belief that she thought her husband did indeed murder Ringo (or at least this was stated as her belief in "I Married Wyatt Earp). Earp did believe that Ringo was involved in Morgan's murder but the idea that he risked hanging by sneaking back into Arizona is pretty far fetched. Frank Leslie had been seen arguing with Ringo a short time before he was found dead, some believe he did it. The answer to this mystery will never be solved. Ringo biographer Jack Burrows believes that Ringo died of a self inflicted gunshot wound. Read Jack Burrows "John Ringo: The Gunfighter who Never Was" for more information on this Tombstone figure.

Pete Spencer: A member of the cowboy faction and suspect in the Bisbee Stage Robbery. Usually called "Spence", Spencer was also a suspect and charged in the death of Morgan Earp. Marietta Spencer, Pete's wife, testified as a prosecution witness that her husband had been acting very suspicously the day Morgan was killed and Pete had threatened to kill her if she told "what she knew". The case against Spencer in the murder of Morgan Earp was thrown out on lack of evidence, in large part because Marietta's testimony was ruled inadmissable. When Wyatt and friends went on their revenge hunt after Morgan's death, Spencer turned himself in to John Behan to be put in jail on protective custody. Wyatt's party never got their hand on Spencer. He would do time for various crimes after the Earps left Arizona, most notably of which was spending time in the Yuma Prison under Superintendent John Behan. Spencer would later change his name to Peter Ferguson and marry Fin Clanton's widow. He died in 1914.

Frank Stilwell: Another member of the cowboy faction, and Deputy Sheriff of Cochise County under John Behan. Stilwell was arrested by the Earps and was charged along with Peter Spencer for the robbery of the Bisbee Stage. Stilwell was also accused by various sources of being involved in the shooting of Virgil Earp and the killing of Morgan Earp. Stilwell was killed by Wyatt Earp at the Tucson train depot while the Earp family was fleeing to California with an injured Virgil and the body of Morgan aboard. The train had stopped and everyone had left the train to get something to eat. Wyatt noticed Stilwell near the tracks and ran him down and shot him. Earp and his friends claimed that Stilwell was "laying for them" and Stilwell's friends claimed he was just there to meet a witness that was to testify at his trial for the Bisbee Stage Robbery. Wyatt and his party were charged with murder in the death, shortly after which they fled to Colorado.

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