Much has been written about Wyatt Earp, most of which is very controversial. Sadly, much of the factual events have been overshadowed by sensationalism and fictionalized accounts written by enthusiastic young writers from back East whose intent it was to make a name for themselves. The zeal with which these young writers created their stories in order to capture the attention of their readers often left out or forever altered actual events of historical significance.

There has been much speculation concerning the events surrounding the life of Wyatt Earp, however, a few events have been documented and preserved for posterity and the enjoyment of history buffs such as myself.

Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp, born March 19, 1848 in Monmouth, Illinoise, was the fourth child and third son of Nicholas Porter Earp and Virginia Cooksey Earp. Wyatt was named after Col. Wyatt Berry Stapp, Nicholas's Commanding Officer during The Mexican War.

Nicholas again was called to duty after The Cival War broke out serving with The Union Army. After the war was over, he returned to Barton County and became a Justice Of The Peace. As a Justice of The Peace, Nicholas was often called upon to perform wedding ceremonies, one of which was the wedding of his son Wyatt to Miss Willa Sutherland on January 10, 1870. The wedding was conducted at The Lamar House in the grandest style. The Lamar House Hotel was owned by Miss Sutherland's father and family. It was built in 1868 on the Northeast corner of the Lamar square and had become the major social center for the area. It was a massive three story building which covered nearly one fourth of the block.

The following month, February, Wyatt became Lamar's first town Constable at a salary of $15.00 a month. Lamar was a typical western town with several saloons, boardwalks, men who wore broad rimmed hats, high heeled boots, and holstered guns at their side. They walked the streets of Lamar with the confidence that they could better handle any situation that arose than any young upstart of a constable. Little notice was given to Wyatt by any of the newspapers of the time or of his performance as town Constable. However, it was reported that on June 16, 1870, Constable Earp jailed three drunks after a short chase, one of which escaped by cutting through the roof of the wood frame building being used as the jail. There was no mention of the escaped man ever being recaptured. The other two men were fined $5.00 each for disturbing the peace.

On November 8, 1870, Wyatt was elected Lamar Township Constable, the post he held by appointment simultaneously with the city office. The nearest runner up was N. J. Earp, probably Wyatt's half-brother Newton.

Toward the end of 1870, Wyatt's young bride became ill and died. According to the records, the cause of death was not disclosed. She was laid to rest in East Cemetary, in the south part of Lamar. ( The Full Gospel Tabernacle Church sits just to the north of the cemetary now, and her grave stone is still there. There has long been speculation that she died in child birth and that she and the child were buried together.)

Shortly after the death of Wyatt's wife, a fight broke out at one of the local saloons on the square. which continued out into the street. After the fight, Wyatt and his brothers left town and were never known to have returned.

Regardless of the unsubstantiated and sensationalized accounts of the exploits of Wyatt Earp, one true fact remains, he began his career in law enforcement in Lamar, Missouri and that career came to an end in 1929 when he died of natural causes in Las Angeles, California.

Wyatt Earp's uncle, Nicholas's brother, The Reverend Jonathon D. Earp continued to live in Barton County and then in later years in Lamar. His decendents and their families continued to live in and around the Lamar area and were well known prominent business, civic and political leaders in Barton and Vernon County.

© 1998 One Missouri Country Girl