How common were common-law marriages in the Old West?

How common were common-law marriages in the Old West? Joel ConwayDoraville, Georgia On the remote frontier, common-law marriages were fairly common. Oftentimes couples...well...coupled without a license or ceremony, because they could not find a preacher or judge near them who could marry them. This practice went beyond just living together. The couple had to publicly acknowledge that they were spouses. Wyatt Earp is a good example of how the West made its own rules when it came to such mat