Morgan Earp grave (Colton, California)

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Birth: Apr. 24, 1851
Death: Mar. 18, 1882

U.S. Deputy Marshall best known for the gunfight with Ike Clanton's gang at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. Morgan Earp was born April 24, 1851 in Marian County, Iowa. The youngest of "Fighting Earps." His father moved the family, to San Bernardino, California in 1864. He married Luisa Houston in Dodge City in 1875. They lived in Butte, Montana until 1879. Morgan moved to Tombstone, Arizona in January 1880 and worked as a shotgun messenger for Wells Fargo. In October 1880, Virgil Earp became city marshal of Tombstone. Soon afterwards he recruited Wyatt and Morgan as special deputy policemen. Over the next few months the Earp family came into conflict with two families, the Clantons and the McLaurys when they sold livestock to Tombstone. The Earp brothers believed that some of these animals had been stolen from farmers in Mexico. Wyatt Earp was also convinced that the Clanton brothers had stolen one of his horses. On October 26, 1881, he was shot in both shoulders during the gunfight at the OK Corral. On March 18, 1882, Morgan was killed while playing pool at Campbell and Hatch's Saloon at the age of 30. A shot from the darkness shattered his spine. Virgil and James Earp took Morgan's body to the home of his parents in Colton, California, for burial. (bio by: Debbie)