Biography of Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp Essay -- Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp Wi

Biography of Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was born on March 19, 1848 in Monmouth, Illinois. His father Nicholas was a lawyer who preferred a life of farming. From an early age, Wyatt learned from his father to stand up for what was right. When Wyatt was two years old, the family moved to Iowa. In 1861, the Civil War broke out, and Wyatts father and tether older brothers joined the Union Army. Soon after, Wyatt ran away to enlist, but his father caught him and sent him back home. In 1864, Nicholas left the army, and the family set out for the West. It took seven months to perish from Iowa to California. On the way they encountered Indians at Fort Laramie. The Earps settled in San Bernardino, where Nicholas bought a ranch. It was assumed that Wyatt would study to be a lawyer, but instead he became a stagecoach driver for the Banning Stage Line. He traveled between Los Angeles and Prescott, Arizona. In 1868, Wyatt went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad in Wyo ming, where he was fit to save some money. In 1870, he returned to Monmouth, where he married a girl named Urilla Sutherland on January 10, 1870. Sadly, she died a few months after their marriage from typhoid. After the devastation of his wife, Earp moved on to Lamar, Missouri, where he worked as the town Marshall for a year. Ellsworth was mean, and it was ugly. The stench of the its streets fell second to the odor of the unbathed saddle tramps who had just delivered 150,000 cattle from San Antonio to its clog yards. Adding to these smells were the blends of whisky, tanning leather, kerosene and carved carcasses, a revolting combination. Gunfights were spontaneous, either over a woman or a card game. When Wyatt crossed the Smoky pile River into Ellsworth in 1873, he may have remembered the rules of the gunman, but had no intention of employing them. The two main rules of a gunman were to take his time and always be armed. Although many peopl e had warned him that it would be naive to go westward without being properly armed, Wyatt didnt own a gun. All he hoped for was to find a peaceable job. But, only hours after hitching his horse in town he began to wonder if perhaps everyone was right. The most boisterous spot in town was Brennans Saloon, off Ellsworth Square its faro and poker tables buzzed 24 hours, bartenders tapped beer and ... ...rnia. Wyatt Earp died on January 13, 1929, and his fame as a lawman has continued to grow since his death. Wyatt Earp literally flavour his way into the hearts of occidental America. He is familiar to the nations people, young and old. From Ellsworth, Kansas to Tombstone, Arizona, he cleaned the streets of desperadoes in town after town. He shot coolly, he shot straight, and he shot deadly, but only in self-defense. Like any other person whose reputation leaned on firepower, there were those who wanted to test, to see if their draw was a founder second quicker or if they could find a weak spot. Wyatt put many of their doubts to rest. When the history of the western lawmen is placed in view, Earps name leads the order of battle of Hickok, Masterson, Garrett, Tilghman and all the rest.BibliographyThe Wild West. 12 Mar. 2000. 30 Apr 2001 http//www.thewildwest.org/The O.K. Coral. 5 Jan. 2001. 30 Apr. 2001 http//www.tombstone-epitaph.com/Tombtown. 2 May 2001. 2 May 2001 http//www.tombtown.com/bios/wyatt.htmTefertiller, Casey. Wyatt Earp The Life behind the Legend. Wiley, John and Sons. 1998West, Paul. O.K. Corral, the Earps and Doc Holliday. Simon and Schuster Trade. 2000