Historically Speaking More “True” Storys About The Brothers Earp

occasional mention of some of his brothers.

“The Town Too Tough to Die” -Richard Dix -- 1941

“My Darlin’ Clementine” -- Henry Fonda – 1946

“The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral” -- Burt Lancaster --1957

“Hour of the Gun” -- James Garner -- 1967

“Sunset” -- James Garner -- 1988

“Tombstone” -- Kurt Russell -1993

“Wyatt Earp”\ -- Kevin Costner --1994 migrated to California.

By Tom Morrow

For those of you, like yours truly, who gobbles up western folklore and trivia sprinkled with a tinge of truth, the family name “Earp” is the cause of many mythical yarns of the “Old West.” Here’s an attempt to set things right.

Hollywood mostly is responsible for turning rumor into fact. Western film director John Ford once said “... if given the choice of telling the truth or filming fiction, then print the fiction because it’s far more interesting.” (Or was that a quote by Louie B. Mayor of Jack Warner?)

Here are several known movies based on the life and times of frontier lawman Wyatt Earp with an

About the only factual thing of the fifties TV series “The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp” was the spelling of his name. Dozens of other films and series mention the Earp name. Kevin Costner’s film, “Wyatt Earp,” comes the closest of any film made to date.

Nicholas Earp (1813) had six sons and one daughter. In order of birth: Newton (half-brother) was born 1837; James 1841 Virgil 1843; Wyatt 1848; Morgan 1851; and Warren 1855. Their only sister, Adelia Earp in 1861.

Newton Earp was the eldest child of Nicholas Earp and a half -brother to the other Earp siblings. He was in the Union Army during the Civil War. After the War Nicholas

James enlisted in the UnionArmy at the outbreak of the Civil War. He was wounded and lost the use of his left arm. Newton and Virgil served until the end of the War. James married former prostitute Nellie “Bessie” Ketchum and served briefly as a deputy marshal in Dodge City, Kansas. They joined Wyatt and Virgil in Tomb stone, Arizona Territory, but he did not participate in the infamous gunfight. In 1890, James and Bessie settled in San Bernardino, California where he died in 1926 of natural causes.

The third oldest of the Earp boys was Virgil, who was born in 1843. In 1879, he was appointed both Tombstone Marshal and Deputy U.S. Marshal after Town Marshal Fred White was killed by “Outlaw” gunman “Curly Bill” Brocius.

On Oct. 26, 1881, Virgil, with his brothers Wyatt and Morgan, along with friend John “Doc” Holliday, confronted the “Cowboys” in a narrow lot next to the O.K. Corral. Three months later Virgil was am-

Travel Troubleshooter

by Christopher Elliott