Earps in Willcox

January 22, 2012

Have I ever talked about the Earp family…   Wyatt Earp’s family?      I might  as well talk about them now.   He is on PBS this week or last week.   I know it so I don’t have to watch it.            

The Earp family was from the Midwest, Illinois or Iowa.    They moved west after the Civil War.   Most of them settled in Tombstone.    Wyatt started as a law officer.   During the Geronimo wars he was down in Tombstone fighting that war.    His younger brother Warren came to Willcox and worked on the Sierra Bonita Ranch.    He also worked with Johnny Boyett but there became some friction between the two.   They met up in Willcox one night at the bar on Railroad Avenue.  It’s just at the other end of the block from the Commercial.   

 Warren Earp was kind of a bully I guess.   He told Johnny “You don’t have enough guts to pull a gun if you had one with you.”   “I can too”, he said and he walked outside where he took his gun out and shot and killed Warren Earp.   Warren Earp was buried in the old Pioneer Cemetery which is about a half mile from the Willcox Commercial.   

He is the only one of the Earp family that was buried in Arizona.   
 

Wyatt Earp came to Willcox to settle the affairs of his brother.   He said that Willcox was just a wild and lawless town.   Wyatt Earp’s wife talked to him and asked what happened to Johnny Boyett.   He just smiled a little smile.   Johnny Boyett was never seen again.  

This story is supposed to be on PBS but they may have to change it after I have told the true story….  so theirs will conform to mine.   PBS American Experience

I expect to have my store painted and the picture will be in the Willcox Range news in Wednesday’s issue.   Willcox Commercial Ad

WOW is Wings over Willcox.    Dan you can use WOW as ‘Wings over Wheat’.   I don’t want my wheat destroyed by them pulling it out of the ground.   You watch out and take care of it.  

 

This is Dick Seidel on Historic Railroad Avenue