Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Earp
The family moved around between Iowa and Illinois before the family eventually moved to San Bernardino, California after the Civil War; however, Virgil and Wyatt stayed in Wyoming to work. He rejoined his family the following year in Lamar, Missouri where he would marry and become the local constable.
There was a period of time after the death of his pregnant wife that Earp had a run-in with the law. Multiple times, in fact. Eventually he relocated to Peoria, Illinois where he was arrested for dealing with brothels. It was after this that he once again relocated to Wichita, Kansas, where he worked as a police office for the first time. His next stint as a lawman was in Dodge City. Wyatt was eventually drawn to the Black Hills by the prospect of striking rich on gold.
It was his return to Dodge City where the most notible time in his life began. He became an Assistant Marshal, though he was known for being a good lawman and a gambler. It was here that he met both Doc Holliday and Bat Masterson.
Earp reolcated to Tombstone in 1879, after a few breif stays in both California and New Mexico. Most of the Earp family was located in Tombstone at the time. A fued broke out between the Earp family and a local gang led by Ike Clanton. This is how the Fight at the O.K. Corral came to be. Three outlaws died, though Ike and one another escaped. Wyatt got famous from this fight for his heroic actions, though it is speculated the Virgil Earp might have actually been the face of this fight.
It was later that Virgil was shot, though he survived his wounds. Morgan Earp wasn't as lucky. Due to get revenge, Wyatt and Warren sent assailants to kill the perpotraitors. After thwo were reported dead, Wyatt was accused of murder. He fled to Colorado and then California.
It was later reported in the accounts of his life in the Wyatt Earp, Frontier Marshal (1931) that a lot of the events in his life were exaggerated. Yet, here we are, the man one of the most well known lawmen in the history of it all.