Wyatt's Professional LifeWyatt's Professional Life
Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was born in Monmouth, Illinois on March 19, 1848, (the same day as my Grandfather John Wesley Yingst, Sr. and my mother), the son of Nicolas Porter Earp and Virginia Ann Cooksey. He was a little of everything depending who you talk to: lawman, buffalo hunter, gambler, miner, stagecoach guard, and even vigilante. He was 5 years younger than Virgil. At the age of 15, Wyatt ran away from home and enlisted in the army, but the first person he encountered among the army ranks was his father, who sent him home. He died in Los Angeles, California on January 13, 1929, Wyatt was buried in the Jewish Section of the Hills of Eternity Cemetery in Colma, California. The pallbearers at Wyatt's funeral included two of his close friends from Tombstone, John Clum and George Parsons as well as his attorney from the Tombstone days, W.J. Hunsacker. Wilson Mizner, a friend from the Alaska days and early Hollywood western stars Tom Mix and William S. Hart were the other pallbearers. . He was 80 years old. Wyatt Earp along with brothers, Morgan and Virgil, as well as "Doc" Holliday were famous for their gunfight with the Clantons and McLaury families in the "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral". Virgil Earp received a wound to the leg, Morgan received a wound in the back and Doc Holliday was grazed on the hip in this gunfight. Wyatt's Personal Life Wyatt Earp married Urilla Sutherland in Lamar, Missouri on January 10, 1870. The ceremony was performed by Wyatt's father, Nicholas. Sometime that same year, Urilla died (possibly of typhoid.) Later Wyatt tried his hand at buffalo hunting there is a good possibility this is when Wyatt met Bat Masterson. Wyatt's second wife was Celia Ann "Mattie" Blaylock. It is believed that Mattie might 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 until Wyatt became attracted to John Behan's girlfriend, Josephine Sarah Marcus. Wyatt left Mattie for Josie and this drove Mattie over the edge. At some point, she ended up in Globe, Arizona. She died of a laudanum overdose on July 4, 1888 in Pinal, Arizona. Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp: Third wife to Wyatt Earp. Born in 1861, probably in New York. 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. Whether or not she was an stage actress was questionable, 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. Josie didn't want people to know that she stole Wyatt away, or that Wyatt left Mattie for her. Josie lived with her family California after the gunfight 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 died on December 19, 1944.