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Wyatt Earp

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Wyatt Earp was a famous lawman of the American West.

Wyatt Earp 1869
Wyatt Earp 1869

He lived during a time of many growing towns. These towns were often called boomtowns. People moved there to find work in silver or gold mines. Wyatt moved often to follow these new opportunities. His life was full of many different jobs. He worked as a teamster driving large wagons.

Downtown San Bernardino in 1864
Downtown San Bernardino in 1864

He also worked on the Union Pacific Railroad. He even learned how to box and gamble.

Wyatt's early life was spent in the Midwest. He was born in Monmouth, Illinois, in 1848. His father was named Nicholas Porter Earp.

Wyatt-earp-mother
Wyatt-earp-mother

The family moved to Pella, Iowa, later on. During the Civil War, Wyatt's older brothers joined the Union Army. Wyatt wanted to join them too. He was only 13 years old at the time. His father would not let him enlist. This was because he was too young for the army.

As an adult, Wyatt had a very busy life. He served as a constable in Lamar, Missouri. He also worked as a police officer in Wichita, Kansas.

Lamar Missouri summons Wyatt Earp constable
Lamar Missouri summons Wyatt Earp constable

Later, he became an assistant marshal in Dodge City, Kansas. In 1878, he went to Texas to find an outlaw. There, he met a man named Doc Holliday. Wyatt said that Doc Holliday saved his life.

Wyatt Earp und Bat Masterson 1876
Wyatt Earp und Bat Masterson 1876

These men often worked together in the West.

In 1879, Wyatt moved to Tombstone, Arizona. A silver boom was happening there.

Tombstone (probably in 1881)
Tombstone (probably in 1881)

Wyatt and his brothers held jobs in law enforcement. They often clashed with a group called the Cowboys. This conflict led to a famous shootout. It happened at the O.K. Corral in 1881. Wyatt and Doc Holliday were there. The fight resulted in the deaths of three Cowboys. Wyatt was never wounded in these famous gunfights.

Wyatt's life did not end in the West. He later moved to San Francisco and joined a gold rush.

Josephine-Sarah-Marcus-c1881
Josephine-Sarah-Marcus-c1881

He lived in Nome, Alaska, in 1899. There, he owned the Dexter Saloon.

Dexter Saloon, Nome, Alaska
Dexter Saloon, Nome, Alaska

He also worked in mining in California. Wyatt died in 1929. After he died, a book was written about him. This book made him even more famous. Now, many movies and shows tell his story.

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🖼️ Images & Media (31)
File:Wyatt-earp-mother.jpg
Wyatt-earp-mother.jpg
File:Wyatt Earp House.jpg
Wyatt Earp House.jpg
File:Downtown San Bernardino in 1864.jpg
Downtown San Bernardino in 1864.jpg
File:Wyatt Earp 1869.png
Wyatt Earp 1869.png
File:Urilla Sutherland.jpg
Urilla Sutherland.jpg
File:Lamar Missouri summons Wyatt Earp constable.jpg
Lamar Missouri summons Wyatt Earp constable.jpg
File:The Long Branch Saloon in 1874.jpg
The Long Branch Saloon in 1874.jpg
File:Long Branch Saloon interior.jpg
Long Branch Saloon interior.jpg
File:Deadwood13.jpg
Deadwood13.jpg
File:celia ann mattie blaylock.jpg
celia ann mattie blaylock.jpg
File:Wyatt Earp und Bat Masterson 1876.jpg
Wyatt Earp und Bat Masterson 1876.jpg
File:Tombstone (probably in 1881).jpg
Tombstone (probably in 1881).jpg

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