To Understand Wyatt Earp, you must know Nicholas Earp.
-Scott Dyke
Sound bites in historic documentaries, and Hollywood movies do true research a great disservice. The story of Nicholas Porter Earp the father of the famed Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp, is one figure in American history that deserves a better investigation.
Nicholas Porter Earp was born the son of Walter and Martha Ann Earp in 1813. He married Virginia Ann Cooksey and his most famed son Wyatt was born in 1848.. Nick was an adventurer, Entrepeneur, soldier, Sergeant and political leader. For some reason, these aspects of Nick Earps life are glossed over, as juxtaposed against Wyatt Earps life, like a comma in a sentence or an abbreviation.
Environmental Historian Andrew Isenberg (PBS documentary on Wyatt Earp) described Nicholas Earp as " colorful, larger than life... But to round him out, he was a dead beat, and that he skipped out on debts and was a drinker". But to describe Nicholas from the 21st century perspective is nearly impossible, and lost on the modern historian, who fails at understand how difficult peoples lives really were during this time. Nick was a strong father figure, a military Sergeant in a time when all warfare conducted on the new frontier was brutal and bloody. He had crossed the continent during war time and experienced things that very few modern men could survive.
The Earp family was of English and Scots-Irish descent. The first Earp immigrants to arrive in the American colonies was Thomas Earp Jr., who arrived in Anne Arundel County on July 6, 1674, as an indentured servant from Ireland. He is buried in St. Anne's Parish in Annapolis. Nicholas was named for a circuit-riding judge in Kentucky. Nicholas' father Walter Earp was born in Montgomery County, Maryland, in 1787, a fifth-generation Marylander who later became a school teacher, Justice of the Peace in Monmouth, Illinois and a Methodist Episcopal preacher.
Nicholas' mother, Martha Ann Early, was born in Avery County, North Carolina, on August 28, 1790. Nicholas was the third of ten children; his siblings include six brothers: Lorenzo Dow, Josiah Jackson, James Kelly, Francis Asbury, Jonathan Douglas and Walter C (twins); as well as three sisters: Elizabeth, Mary Ann, and Sarah Ann. When Martha Earp died at age 91, she had eight living children, 85 grandchildren, 130 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
Soon after Nicholas' birth, the family moved from Virginia to Hartford, Kentucky, in 1813, where Nicholas spent the rest of his childhood. As a young man, Nicholas may have served in the Black Hawk War of 1831 though, no record of this is found in the state of Illinois Black Hawk War Records online. We do however know that he served as a sergeant in the Mexican–American War. During the Mexican–American War Nicholas served under Captain Wyatt Berry Stapp of the Illinois Mounted Volunteers. Then during the Civil War, Nicholas served in Pella, Iowa, as a United States Provost Marshal for recruitment. His sons Newton, James, and Virgil enlisted in the Union Army on November 11, 1861.
While his father was busy recruiting and drilling local companies, Wyatt, along with his two younger brothers, Morgan and Warren, were left in charge of tending the 80-acre corn crop. Only 13 years old, Wyatt was too young to enlist, but he tried on several occasions to run away and enlist. Each time his father found him and brought him back home.
WAGON MASTER
May 12, 1864
Forty wagons and one hundred and fifty emigrants line up at Pella, Iowa. Nicholas "Captain" Earp leads the caravan across the Missouri River into Omaha Nebraska and beyond. Sixteen year old Wyatt is in charge of Earp wagons and stock. He also draws the hunters job and with a gift from his father of an under and over combination rifle and shotgun, he is able to keep a group of twenty people in fresh meat all the way to California.
- The Illustrated Life and Times of Wyatt Earp, by Bob Boze Bell.
The story of Wyatt's boyhood surroundings is carried to the point where his father resigns from the Army (Provost Marshall Position) and with his family begins the covered wagon journey to California.
-Letter to Ira Rich Kent, Houghton Mifflin Co, From Stuart Lake in reference to the content of Wyatt Earp, Frontier Marshall.
We know quite a bit about the Earps trip to San Bernandino California, thanks to a member of his wagon train Sarah Rousseau. She was the wife of Doctor, born into a well to do English family in 1816 by the name of Sarah Jane Daglish, according to Author Nicholas Cataldo, She "bloomed into a highly educated woman". When she came to America, she lived for a while in the Michigan area, presumably the Michigan Territory, as Michigan gained statehood in 1855.She married Physician husband James A. Rousseau and they moved to Kentucky in 1939 before eventually moving to Knoxville Iowa.
So it's also probable that Sarah Jane at sometime in her early life encountered native Americans. This is mentioned because multiple encounters with Indians would occur in the coming months. It just so happens that sometime shortly after the move to Knoxville, they decided to risk the distant, arduous and highly dangerous trip to California by way of wagon train. And Nicholas Earps plans for moving Wyatt and his family out of the area from their home in Pella Iowa began after brother Jims discharge from the union army. The civil war would soon be over and the flood of pioneers moving to the west, was just beginning for the ghost of manifest destiny that would drive people far into the interior of the continent.
The Earp residence in Pella Iowa
both photos taken by the Author Gene Stevens
Photo Courtesy of Bob Boze Bell from
"The Illustrated Life and Times of Wyatt Earp"
The wagon train west rendezvoused in Pella Iowa and departed on May 12th 1864. It wasn't long before and early in the trip, that the people in the wagon train began to experience difficulties. It started with the Curtis's losing a cow and a horse. The cow was not recovered. Later in the journey. It started becoming apparent that the entire trip was going to be fraught with danger, as they began to encounter people that dishonest and not obliging. Upon reaching the Missouri River one of the wagon train folks, la small child fell from a wagon be pulled by mules and was run over, he fortunately recovered,. But by this time, it was becoming very apparent that they undisciplined people of this wagon train were heading into a terrible situation. The entire trip was fraught with internal fighting and lack of cooperation from the families who were onboard the wagon train. And Sarah Jane, probably did more to aggravate the situation, rather than help. The one thing that she was good at was she documented her surroundings, the weather, birds, the temperature, the rivers, the grass, Indians, and people being sick. And the one person she disliked the most was the Wagon Master. Nicholas Earp.
Map showing the route of the forlorn
Wagon Train to San Bernadino California
On July 7th and 8th, Mrs. Rousseau made the following entry;
WHILE AT FORT LARAMIE
"We have to keep a close watch day and night over the stock. Mr. Earp went out to see about the guards (Military guards) and found that they had got up a dance. And he told them they must quit their dancing on be on duty".
Certainly a common sense request and Mrs. Rousseau understood that they needed the stock looked after, then she continued with her entry;
One of the soldiers told him to mind his own business and ordered him off. I made him awful mad and he was for killing. He used very profane language, he could hardly be appeased. But he cooled down after a while.
Could it be that Nicholas Earp actually had concern for the people in his wagon train?
Other serios issues plagued the wagon train. They had frequent encounters with Indians during the course of the journey. Upon running into Piute Indians, Sarah declared that they;
Were a tribe that is very fond of horse flesh to eat, and great hands to steal anything they can lay their hands on.
The problems with Indians continued;
"We crossed the Santa Clara 14 times today, after going twelve miles made a dry camp at Camp Springs. After filling our kegs (at) the last crossing place, The Indian Chief told the guide we must give them something for traveling through their country, to renumerate them for using water and grass. We all gave them some flour. We intend to let them have the care of our horses tonight, they are going to take cattle as well. The Chief with four others we kept as prisoners till morning when they bring back the stock... Then they will be free.
The following day Sarah Jane's diary states that they fed the Indians who were with them. Nicholas was apparently unhappy about this decision and derided the members of the wagon train . But the loss of food and stock would prove nearly deadly towards the end of the long trip. Because on the same day, they were beginning to enter a crucial stage of their travels, as Sarah Jane reported seeing unusual trees, probable Cactus, because shortly after this, Sarah Jane reported that they had entered the desert. But she erroneously blamed the situation on Nicholas Earp. A mistake that he did not make. A mistake that was done independently by the people of the wagon train and not the wagon master, who it appears was being undermined.
We fed the five among us. All are willing to do so but Mr. Earp. He swears and cuts up about it, although (sic) he derives the same benefit as the rest of us. I fear he may cause us some trouble when we get to the muddy.
-Sarah Jane Rouseau
On November 16th 1864, Mrs. Rouseau reported that they were approaching an area somewhere between Las Vegas Nevada and Salt Springs California where they were traversing very difficult and sandy terrain. And it seems that the social fabric of the wagon train members was declining as time went on. The coming days would prove to be a test of will and survival, as they approached California. Mrs. Rousseau would document their crossing over steep mountains.
Toward the top there was perpendicular rock some six feet to get up, besides others not so bad. We all doubled up teams but Mr. Earps wagon. He's up that started up that awful mountain with our mare and Mr. Hamilton started a span of mules after them to help them get along. they got up safely. It appeared to me that he didn't care if he killed our horses or not. If he had he wouldn't have tried to go with only two. All the Indians have traveled with us today.
The next day
Went on about ten miles, met some 30 or 40 Indians, large and small. Watered our horses ate a luncheon, went two miles further and camped. The Indians all followed on. We gave them all something to eat and they herded stock.
These astounding entries in Sarahs diary exemplifies the lack of discipline on the wagon train west. And also shows further contempt for Nicholas Earp. As an observation, conjecture did not kill the animals, but giving away supplies in the way of food could have proven to be deadly in these circumstances.
At this point angers were flaring. Mrs.Rousseau had made yet another entry in her diary but whether or not she ever tried to speak to Mr. Earp about her complaints was never mentioned in her diary.
November 25th
This evening Mr. Earp had another rippet with Warren ( (The youngest Earp Son) fighting with Jimmy Haten. And then commenced about all the children. Used very profane language and swore if the childrens parents did not correct their children, he would whip every last one of them. He still shows out more and more every day what kind of man he is.
By Tuesday December 6th, 1864, the members of the wagon train were in a very tenuous situation. The lack of discipline and misjudgment was taking its toll. They were low on food, starving and their live stock was giving out. They were very close to dying in the desert and they knew it.
Oh, how my heart aches to see them. They look like skeletons, and act so pitiful begging something to eat. They try to eat the dry brush or anything they can get a hold of, we went about three miles when the stopped and couldn't travel any farther. My poor little children have walked most of the way. And how desolate we feel. We had to let the poor little boys go back with Mack and the horses to Bitter Springs where there may be some grass that may save the poor things from starving to death. What bitter tears I have shed to think of our condition. Here in the wild desert with a small quantity of flour, enough with care to last a few days.
The Wagon train reached San Bernadino on December 17th, 1864. The families set up camp just east of todays San Bernadino County Court House. The town that greeted the newcomers was a pretty tough western town, known for its saloons, gambling halls and red light district on south "D" street. According to author Nicholas Cataldo, This was Nicks kind of town.
.Third street in downtown San Bernadino looking east from "D" street
Known as "whiskey Point" Photo Courtesy Nicholas Cataldo, The Earp Clan
The Southern California Years.
A Sense of morals, justice, duty and the courage to apply those traits, are instilled by God and a strong father figure.
- The Author
Nicholas and family were quick to settle down in San Bernadino, The Earps rented a farm on the Carpenter ranch near the Santa Ana River. In a letter written to a friend in Pella Iowa, James Copla, the senior Earp made some small talk and bragged about California and the great weather, but then reflected on the trip from Pella to California saying;
"I did not start from home expecting to stop here, when we got here, we are all so near run through that we would not go any longer"
While living on Carpenter ranch Nick Earp visited downtown San Bernadino regularly, and became a rather well known figure, championing the cause of the common man against what he defined as "the hypocrisy of big business and politicians. Nick was also elected foreman of the grand jury in 1867.
But, the Earp Clan was a very restless bunch and one day son Wyatt took a little vacation, and ran away. But according to historian Glenn Boyer, Wyatt returned and was whipped by Nick. As it turns out, farm life did not appeal to the Earp boys. Sons Jim and Morgan, Earp had gone to mining towns in Montana, while Virgil and Wyatt worked for a while with a Salt Lake bound freight wagon and later for the Union Pacific. But, by 1868, frustrated that no one would help with the farm he headed back to the Midwest. Nick looked up Virgil and Wyatt who found work at the Union Pacific Railhead in Wyoming, and they all made the trip back to Iowa. The Earps minus Virgil, James and Wyatt returned to Southern California.
The Greenback Party
Upon his return to California, Nick stopped by San Bernadino and bid on a Janitors job position in the court house, but lost to someone else. He was unable to find employment, so the family moved into a small farm community southeast of Corona. A town called Temescal. While there he did some farming and ran a grocery store there for a couple of years. While there, Nick got involved in politics and stirred up rivalries among its residents over issues of the proposed new California Constitution and the virtues of the newly formed Greenback Party. He was an ardent follower of the Greenback party, which was organized in 1874. The group was opposed to the retirement or reduction of the greenback and favored an increase as the only paper currency. Nicholas even wrote an essay on the subject called "The Greenback Question" which was published in July of 1878.
According to Local Press
"In Temescal they have had a political funeral. They have actually gone through the process of a political funeral, and have raised a monument inscribed as but go Mr. Earp and he will recite to you the inscription, Now is the cold fact. Mr. Earp the old man eloquent of Temescal, is in this town,. He informs us that Temescal is simply solid for the new constitution- that there is not a dissenting vote. He also informs us that the people in that precinct will vote for no man opposed to the new deal reform. That is the proper spirit."
The Old Frontiersman
Unfortunately, the Greenback party nominees lost in the election, but the state constitution that they fought for passed and is still in effect today. And Nicholas Earp had a big part in that. During his later years in southern California, Nick was a saloon keeper, elected Justice of the Peace in Colton California in 1884. Two years later Virgil Earp ran for Constable in Colton and won. Nick was also reelected to the Justice of The Peace. He was also a chapter member of the San Bernadino Society of Pioneers in 1888. In December of 1897, the old frontiersman was seriously injured after he fell from a horse. Nick died in the Old Soldiers Home at Sawtelle, Near Los Angeles on February 12 1907. He was 93 years old.
References
The Earp Clan: The Southern California Years, By Nicholas R. Cataldo.
Rousseau Diary 1864 San Bernadino County Museum.
Family tree of Wyatt EARP - Geneastar
Earp, Nicholas P Rank: Sergeant Regiment: Illinois Independent Mounted Volunteers Company: Stapp US Mexican War Soldiers & Sailors Database - Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Nicholas Porter Earp - Wikipedia
The Illustrated life and times of Wyatt Earp by Bob Boze Bell.
The Stuart Lake Letters from the collection of Glenn Boyer, Courtesy of the Arizona Historic Society.
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