The Life and Legend Begins

Wyatt Earp is born in Illinois.

March 19, 1848. Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp is born in Monmouth, IL. He will live a long and interesting life, often a wandering journey seeking the next big score. He works both sides of the law at various times. And he gains eternal fame for participating in an 1881 gunfight in Tombstone, AZ–and for the Vendetta Ride that soon followed.

Perhaps ironically, he died quietly in Los Angeles more than 80 years later. And his legend was really created by books, movies and TV shows that came out after he was gone.