Category: People

Celia Ann Blaylock

Posted on by
Celia Ann Blaylock
Celia Ann Blaylock

Early Life

Celia Ann Blaylock, known as “Mattie,” was born in January 1850 in Monroe Township, Johnson County, Iowa, to Henry Blaylock and Elizabeth “Betsy” Vance. The third of six children and second daughter, she grew up on a small farm near Fairfax, Iowa, where her strict, fundamentalist parents instilled a religious upbringing. Family accounts describe a disciplined household with little tolerance for frivolity, card playing, or alcohol. Mattie, likely skilled in sewing and domestic tasks, stood about five feet tall with a slight frame. Her childhood was marked by church attendance and community events like picnics and barn dances, but she yearned for adventure beyond the confines of farm life.

At around 16, between March and October 1868, Mattie and her younger sister Sarah ran away from home, rejecting the prospect of arranged marriages and a predictable life as housewives. Seeking freedom, they headed west, likely drawn by the allure of the frontier. By 1871, Mattie appeared in a photograph in Fort Scott, Kansas, marking her presence in the West. Court records indicate she began working as a prostitute in 1872 in Fort Scott, later moving to Dodge City, Kansas, where she adopted the alias “Mattie” to maintain anonymity, though she often used her childhood nickname “Celie” or “Sally” in legal documents.

Relationship with Wyatt Earp

Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp - Aged 39
Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp – Aged 39

Mattie likely met Wyatt Earp around 1873 in Dodge City, Kansas, where he was working as an assistant marshal under Marshal Lawrence Deger starting in May 1876. Earp, a widower after the death of his first wife, Urilla Sutherland, in 1870, was known for his roles as a lawman, gambler, and occasional participant in less reputable activities, including brothel management. Their relationship began after Earp’s time in Wichita, Kansas, and the end of his association with Sally Heckell, who had called herself Sally Earp. Mattie, working as a prostitute, became Earp’s romantic companion and common-law wife, a status recognized by their cohabitation without a formal marriage.

The couple’s early years together were transient. In 1876, Earp and Mattie, along with his brother Morgan, traveled to Deadwood, Dakota Territory, where Earp worked hauling firewood but found no mining opportunities. They returned to Dodge City in 1877, and by September 1879, Earp resigned from the police force. He and Mattie, joined by his brother Jim and Jim’s wife Bessie, traveled to Las Vegas, New Mexico Territory, where they reunited with Doc Holliday and Big Nose Kate. The group moved to Prescott, Arizona, and then to Pinal City, Arizona Territory, for two months in 1879, chasing the silver boom. On December 1, 1879, Wyatt, Mattie, and his brothers Virgil and James, along with their wives, arrived in Tombstone, Arizona, a burgeoning silver mining town.

In Tombstone, the 1880 U.S. Census listed Mattie as Wyatt’s wife, though no legal marriage record exists. They co-signed a mortgage as husband and wife, indicating a committed relationship. Mattie continued working as a prostitute, while Wyatt took on roles as a Wells Fargo shotgun guard and faro dealer at the Oriental Saloon. During this time, Mattie suffered from severe headaches and began using laudanum, a common opiate-based painkiller, which led to her addiction. Her health deteriorated, and tensions in their relationship grew as Wyatt’s attention shifted to Josephine “Sadie” Marcus, an aspiring actress who had recently ended a relationship with Sheriff Johnny Behan. By mid-1881, Wyatt was openly involved with Josephine, and public altercations between Mattie and Josephine became a scandal in Tombstone.

End of Relationship and Life After Wyatt

The exact end of Mattie and Wyatt’s relationship is unclear, but it unraveled after the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881, and the assassination of Morgan Earp on March 18, 1882. Following Morgan’s death, Wyatt sent Mattie, along with other Earp family members, to Colton, California, to escort Morgan’s body to the Earp family home. Mattie expected a telegram from Wyatt instructing her to rejoin him, but it never arrived. Instead, Wyatt left Arizona for New Mexico and Colorado in April 1882, pursuing a vendetta against the Cochise County Cowboys he believed responsible for his brother’s death. In late 1882, Wyatt arrived in San Francisco, where he began a lifelong relationship with Josephine Marcus.

Abandoned by Wyatt, Mattie left Colton and returned to Arizona, settling in Globe and later Pinal City, where the silver boom had collapsed. With few prospects, she resumed prostitution to support herself. Her laudanum addiction worsened, compounded by alcohol abuse. Family accounts suggest she may have suffered from abscessed teeth or possibly cancer by the late 1880s, further exacerbating her physical and emotional decline. On July 3, 1888, Mattie died in Pinal City, Arizona, at age 38. The coroner’s report, signed by Dr. Thomas H. Kennaird, listed her cause of death as “supposed suicide by opium poisoning,” likely from a lethal combination of laudanum and alcohol. Some historians speculate it may have been an accidental overdose due to her addiction, but a deathbed statement attributed to Mattie, where she reportedly said, “Wyatt Earp had ruined my life,” supports the suicide narrative.

Legacy and Historical Suppression

Mattie’s story was largely obscured until the 1950s, when researchers John Gilchriese and Frank Waters uncovered a coroner’s report for “Mattie Earp” and her deathbed statement. Josephine Marcus, Wyatt’s final common-law wife, worked diligently to suppress information about Mattie to protect their reputations. Josephine successfully pressured biographer Stuart Lake to omit Mattie from his 1931 book, Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshal. Mattie’s grave in the Pinal Burial Ground near Superior, Arizona, remained unmarked until 2009, when preservation efforts by the Tonto National Forest and local groups added a marker to honor her.

Mattie Blaylock’s life reflects the harsh realities of the American frontier, where women like her often faced limited choices and societal stigma. Her relationship with Wyatt Earp, marked by companionship and eventual betrayal, ended in tragedy, overshadowed by his later fame and Josephine’s efforts to control his legacy. Today, her story is recognized as a poignant chapter in the history of the Old West.

Sources:

Robert Holland Vance

Posted on by

Robert Holland Vance (1825–1876) was a pioneering American photographer known for his work during the California Gold Rush. Born in Maine, he trained in daguerreotype photography and established studios in Boston before moving to San Francisco in 1850. Vance became a leading figure in California photography, operating galleries in multiple cities, including Sacramento and San José. He is credited with some of the earliest photographic records of the American West, including a notable 1851 exhibition of over 300 California daguerreotypes in New York. His work captured significant events, like the 1856 San Francisco lynching of James P. Casey, and possibly included early images of California’s Native Americans. A savvy entrepreneur, he advertised in multiple languages and amassed significant wealth before financial setbacks led him to relocate to New York in 1865, where he continued his career until his death.

Early Life and Background

Robert Holland Vance was born in 1825 in Baring Plantation, Maine, to William Vance and his fourth wife, Charlotte Holland. His early life was marked by instability; when he was eight, his family relocated to Kennebec County, Maine, where his parents’ divorce and his father’s subsequent remarriage disrupted his childhood. The Vance children were placed under the guardianship of Lot M. Morrill, a future governor of Maine. It is believed that Robert received his initial photographic training from his brother William, a successful photographer, and further honed his skills through apprenticeships in New England studios. Following his father’s death when Robert was 16, a three-year court battle resulted in an inheritance that allowed him to establish his first daguerreotype gallery in Dover, New Hampshire. By age 21, he was operating a studio at 91 Washington Street in Boston in partnership with John A. Lerow.

Career Beginnings and Move to California

Vance’s early career was shaped by the daguerreotype, a pioneering photographic process. After gaining experience in Boston, he traveled to South America and Chile, likely to expand his photographic ventures. In 1850, drawn by the California Gold Rush, Vance relocated to San Francisco, where he became a leading figure in photography. He capitalized on the demand for cartes-de-visite and ambrotypes, boasting that his thick glass ambrotypes would “last forever.” His preference for large-format cameras for landscapes contrasted with his use of small-format cameras for studio portraits, which he believed produced superior results.

By the end of the 1850s, Vance operated portrait galleries in San Francisco, Sacramento, San José, Virginia City, Carson City, and later Hong Kong. A natural promoter, he advertised in multiple languages (Spanish, Chinese, French, and German) and claimed to use pure silver and specially formulated chemicals for his plates. He also boasted of having the largest skylight in the world at his San Francisco studio, located at Sacramento and Montgomery Streets. His business acumen led to real estate holdings valued at over $40,000 by 1860, earning him the self-proclaimed title of the “father of California photography.”

Notable Contributions and Exhibitions

In 1851, Vance made a significant mark by exhibiting over 300 daguerreotype views of California in New York City, showcasing the landscapes and life of the burgeoning state. These works, described as “Views in California,” were later acquired by Jeremiah Gurney and John Fitzgibbon but have since been lost. The exhibition, though not a commercial success, highlighted Vance’s ambition to document the American West. He is also credited with possibly taking the first photographs of California’s Native American populations, though these images are unconfirmed. His galleries employed notable photographers, including Carleton Eugene Watkins, who managed one of Vance’s studios and later became a renowned landscape photographer. Vance’s photographs of the 1862 Sacramento Flood were widely reproduced as engravings, further cementing his influence.

One of Vance’s notable works is a whole-plate daguerreotype documenting the 1856 lynching of James P. Casey, who murdered James King of William, editor of the San Francisco Evening Bulletin. This photograph, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, captures a pivotal moment in San Francisco’s history, reflecting the vigilantism of the city’s Committee of Vigilance.

Later Years and Legacy

Vance’s success was not without challenges. Over-speculation in the stock market led to the closure of his California businesses in 1864. In 1865, he relocated to New York, where he continued his photographic work until his death in 1876. His brother, William Vance, also a photographer, remained active in California from 1854 to 1861 and 1872 to 1885.

Robert H. Vance’s legacy lies in his pioneering role in California photography during the Gold Rush era. His studios produced some of the earliest visual records of the American West, influencing the development of photography as both an art and a commercial enterprise. His work, preserved in institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, continues to offer insight into the cultural and historical landscape of 19th-century America.

John Philip Clum

Posted on by
John Philip Clum
John Philip Clum

John Philip Clum (1829–1900) was an American frontiersman, Indian agent, and newspaper editor. Appointed by President Grant, he served as Indian agent for the San Carlos Apache Reservation, uniquely capturing Geronimo without violence through diplomacy. Clum founded The Tombstone Epitaph and became Tombstone, Arizona’s first mayor, advocating for law and order during its wild frontier era. His legacy reflects his roles as a humane administrator, journalist, and civic leader in the American West.

Early Life and Education

John Philip Clum was born on September 1, 1829, in Claverack, New York, to a family of Dutch descent. Raised in a rural setting, he developed a strong work ethic and a sense of independence. Clum briefly attended Rutgers College in New Jersey, intending to study for the ministry, but financial constraints and a desire for adventure led him to abandon formal education. During the Civil War, he served as a signal officer in the Union Army, gaining experience that would later inform his leadership in challenging environments.

Career as an Indian Agent

In 1874, at the age of 24, Clum was appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant as the Indian agent for the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona Territory. His appointment came during a period of tense relations between the U.S. government and Native American tribes. Unlike many agents of the time, Clum adopted a progressive and humane approach, emphasizing diplomacy and self-governance for the Apache. He established a tribal police force and court system, empowering the Apache to manage their own affairs to some extent.

Clum’s most notable achievement was his peaceful capture of Apache leader Geronimo in 1877, a feat accomplished without bloodshed—an extraordinary rarity for the era. His diplomatic skills earned him respect among the Apache, who called him “Nantan Betunnikiyeh” (Boss with the High Forehead). However, Clum grew frustrated with bureaucratic interference from Washington and rampant corruption within the Indian Bureau. Disillusioned, he resigned from his post in July 1877, seeking new opportunities in Arizona’s burgeoning frontier.

Role in Tombstone, Arizona

After leaving San Carlos, Clum settled in Tombstone, Arizona, a booming silver-mining town in the late 1870s. His arrival marked the beginning of his influential role in shaping the town’s early history. In May 1880, Clum founded The Tombstone Epitaph, a newspaper that became one of the most prominent publications in the American Southwest. The Epitaph served as a voice for law and order, reflecting Clum’s commitment to civic stability in a town plagued by lawlessness, outlaws, and rival factions.

As Tombstone’s first mayor, elected in 1881, Clum worked to establish municipal governance and infrastructure in a chaotic frontier environment. He aligned himself with the town’s law-and-order faction, including figures like Wyatt Earp and his brothers, who were embroiled in conflicts with the notorious Cowboy faction. Clum’s Epitaph provided favorable coverage of the Earps, particularly during the events surrounding the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in October 1881. His editorial stance often put him at odds with rival newspapers like The Tombstone Nugget, which supported the Cowboys.

Clum’s tenure as mayor was marked by efforts to improve public safety, establish a fire department, and promote Tombstone’s growth as a legitimate community. However, the town’s volatile atmosphere—fueled by mining wealth, gambling, and violence—made governance challenging. Clum’s principled stance and outspoken editorials earned him both admirers and enemies. In 1882, after surviving an assassination attempt, he sold the Epitaph and left Tombstone, seeking safer and less contentious opportunities.

Later Life and Legacy

After Tombstone, Clum pursued a varied career. He worked as a postal inspector in Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush, served as a lecturer sharing tales of the Wild West, and engaged in real estate ventures in California. His adventurous spirit and commitment to public service defined his later years. Clum died on May 2, 1900, in Los Angeles, leaving behind a legacy as a multifaceted figure in the American West.

In Tombstone, Clum’s contributions were pivotal during its formative years. His establishment of The Tombstone Epitaph provided a lasting record of the town’s history, and his mayoral leadership laid the groundwork for civic institutions. His nickname, “Tombstone’s Fighting Parson,” reflected his moral conviction and tenacity, qualities that made him a standout figure in a turbulent era.

Conclusion

John Philip Clum’s life embodied the spirit of the American frontier—bold, principled, and adaptive. From his diplomatic triumphs at San Carlos to his influential role as a journalist and mayor in Tombstone, Clum left an indelible mark on Arizona’s history. His work in fostering law, order, and community in Tombstone, combined with his humane approach to Native American relations, cemented his reputation as a pioneering figure of the Old West.

Edward Lawrence Schieffelin

Posted on by

Edward Lawrence Schieffelin, a rugged and determined prospector, carved his name in the annals of American history as the man who discovered silver and founded the legendary mining town of Tombstone, Arizona. Born on May 7, 1847, in the small town of Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, Schieffelin embodied the spirit of adventure and exploration that characterized the American West during the late 19th century. From his humble beginnings as a prospector to his eventual success in striking it rich, this biography delves into the life and achievements of Ed Schieffelin, shedding light on his extraordinary journey and his enduring legacy in the American mining industry.

Edward Lawrence Schieffelin
Ed Schieffelin

Early Years and Adventurous Spirit

Edward Lawrence Schieffelin, known as Ed, was born into a family of eight siblings. Raised in a modest household, he developed a strong work ethic and a sense of wanderlust from an early age. Ed’s adventurous spirit led him to leave his hometown in pursuit of opportunities out West when he was just a teenager. Inspired by stories of the California Gold Rush, Schieffelin set out on a quest for fortune and adventure into California, Death Valley, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.

In 1877, at the age of 30, Schieffelin arrived in Arizona Territory. The region was known for its hostile terrain, inhabited by hostile Native American tribes and infested with outlaws. It was an untamed and dangerous land, yet Schieffelin saw the untapped potential hidden within the rocky mountains and rugged landscapes.

The Discovery of Tombstone

Undeterred by the challenges, Schieffelin embarked on a solo prospecting expedition in the southeastern part of Arizona Territory. Despite being warned by soldiers at the nearby Fort Huachuca about the “all he would find would be his own tombstone,” Schieffelin remained undeterred and ventured into the wilderness.

After several months of searching and enduring hardships, Schieffelin struck silver in 1877. His find, located in the area that would become Tombstone, Arizona, ignited a rush of prospectors and speculators. Schieffelin named the mining district “Tombstone” in response to a friend,  Al Sieber who predicted he would only find his own tombstone.

As the news of Schieffelin’s discovery spread, the town of Tombstone boomed with activity. Miners, gamblers, and businessmen flocked to the area, transforming the once desolate region into a thriving mining town. Schieffelin, known for his eccentric personality and adventurous spirit, became a legend in his own right.

The Legacy of Tombstone

Tombstone, under Schieffelin’s influence, rapidly grew into a bustling frontier town. The rich silver veins of the area attracted numerous mining companies, turning Tombstone into one of the wealthiest towns in the West. The town quickly developed essential infrastructure, including saloons, theaters, banks, and a newspaper, the “Tombstone Epitaph,” which chronicled the tumultuous events that unfolded in the region.

Schieffelin, though he had made his fortune, continued to lead the life of a prospector, always searching for the next big strike. However, he faced his fair share of challenges and setbacks. The mines faced legal disputes, water shortages, and labor conflicts, which took a toll on the town’s prosperity. Despite the challenges, Tombstone remained a symbol of the American frontier spirit and resilience.

Ed Schieffelin Monument

A 25 ft tall monument is erected near to spot of Ed Shieffelin original claim in Tombstone. The monument represents the type of marker a miner makes in claiming a strike. A plaque on the monument reads, “Ed Shieffelin, died May 12, 1897, aged 49 years, 8 months. A dutiful son, a faithful husband, a kind brother, and a true friend.” The monument is located just to the East of Ed Schieffelin Monument road, north of the town of Tombstone.

John Peters “Johnny” Ringo

Posted on by

Johnny Ringo was an American gunfighter and outlaw most commonly associated with the infamous happenings in Tombstone, Arizona. He was often portrayed as the hired gun of the Clanton faction, an antagonist to Doc Holiday, and could be responsible for the kill of Morgan Earp. Although not formally educated, he supposedly quoted Shakespeare and cultivate an image of the refined gunman. Although in Tombstone at the time, and quarreled with Doc Holiday, he did not participate in the gunfight or every mince more than words with Holiday.

John Peters "Johnny" Ringo ( May 3, 1850 – July 13, 1882 )
John Peters “Johnny” Ringo ( May 3, 1850 – July 13, 1882 )

John Peters “Johnny” Ringo is born May 3, 1850 to Martin and Mary Peters Ringo in Greens Fork, Indiana. On July 30, 1864, when Johnny was 14, his family was relocation from Wyoming to California. While en route, Martin Ringo, Johnny’s father was killed when he stepped off their wagon holding a shotgun, which accidentally discharged. The head wound was gruesome and the family if forced to bury him on a hillside next to the trail. On their arrival in California, the family settled in San Jose.

Mason County War

In 1869, Johnny aged 19, left San Jose and moved to Mason County, Texas. While in Texas be befriended a former Texas Ranger Scott Cooley, who was the adoptive son of Rancher Tim Williamson. Williamson is arrested by a hostile mob and killed by Peter “Bad Man” Bader on May 13th, 1875. Following, Ringo and Colley rage a war of terror of those they felt guilty to Williamson’s murder. This became locally know as the “Hoodoo War” or the “Mason County Ware”.

On August 19th, 1875, Scott Cooley and Ringo killed Charley Bader when they mistook him for his brother Pete. The two men are jailed for the murder in Burnet, Texas, but soon escaped.

The Mason County War is over in November 1876 with about a dozen lives lost.

Ringo in Tombstone

Johnny found his way to Tombstone in the winter of 1880. He had a reputation of a bad temper and an alcoholic. He becomes associated with the Cochise County Cowboys alongs with the Clanton’s and may have participated in some of their “activities”. Ringo did not participate in the famous gunfight, however, on January 17th, 1882, he and Doc Holiday traded words and almost had a gunfight before both men were arrested.

Ringo was a fine man any way you look at him. Physically, intellectually, morally. He was six feet tall, rather slim in build, although broad-shouldered, medium fair as to complexion with gray-blue eyes and light brown hair. His face was somewhat long. He was what might be called an attractive man. His attitude toward all women was gentlemanly. He must have been a gentleman born. Sometimes I noticed something wistful about him, as if his thoughts were far away on something sad. He would say, ‘Oh, well,’ and sigh. Then he would smile, but his smiles were always sad. There was something in his life that only he, himself, knew about …. He was always neat, clean, well dressed, showed that he took good care of himself. He never boasted of his deeds, good or bad, a trait I have always liked in men. John…was a loyal friend. And he was noble, for he never fought anyone except face to face. Every time I think of him, my eyes fill with tears.

Mary Katherine Horony Cummings – Big Nose Kate

Following the attacks on Virgil and Morgan Earp, Wyatt Earp blamed Ringo for the ambush and murder of Morgan on March 18th, 1882. Morgans death prompted a “vendetta” ride which sees Wyatt hunting those whom he blamed for Morgan’s death. March 20th, 1882, Wyatt killed Frank Stillwell in Tucson, Arizona. Following, Johnny Ringo is deputized into a possse to search for the Wyatt and Holiday, although they never find them.

Mysterious Death

During Tombstone’s Fourth of July festivities, Ringo drank heavily. Two days letter he left Tombstone with several bottles of liquor. On July 8th, Deputy Billy Breakenridge ran into Ringo at Dial’s Ranch in the South Pass of the Dragoon Mountains. During this encounter “Ringo was very drunk, reeling in the saddle.” He encouraged Ringo to follow him back to the Goodrich Ranch. But, “he was drunk and stubborn and went on his way. I think this was the last time he was seen alive.”

At about 3pm on July 13, ranch hands at a nearby ranch heard a shot.

On July 14th, 1882, Ringo’s lifeless body is discovered by Teamster James Yoast, Ringo is found dead among “a bunch of five large black jack oaks growing up in a semicircle from one root, and in the center of them was a large flat rock which made a comfortable seat.” 

On discovery, Ringos body is already blacked from the hot Arizona sun.

His feet were wrapped in strips of cloth torn from his undershirt. Ringo had lost his horse with his boots tied to the saddle. The coroner’s report noted that “He had evidently traveled but a short distance in this foot gear.” A bullet hole is found at his right temple and an exit wound at the back of his head. The fatal wound was upward at a 45-degree angle between the right eye and ear. His Colt Single Action Army .45 revolver was still in his right hand with the hammer rested on the empty chamber. A knife cut was found at the base of his scalp, as if “someone had cut it with a knife.” His horse was found eleven days later about 2 miles away with Ringo’s boots still tied to the saddle. 

Despite the later claims by Wyatt Earp to have killed him, or movie depictions of Doc Holiday dispatching him and a show down, it is not difficult to image a very drunk Johnny Ringo committing suicide, after falling off and loosing his horse.

Summary

NameJohn Peters Ringo
Also Know ASJohnny Ringo, Johnny Ringgold
Birth / DeathMay 3, 1850 – July 13, 1882
Cause of DeathSuicide, Cochise County, Ariona
Side armColt Single Action Army .45 revolver
VictimsJames Cheyney – Killed – September 25, 1875 – Mason County, Texas
Charley Bader – Killed – August 19th, 1875 – Mason County, Texas
Louis Hancock – Wounded – December 1879 – Safford Arizona

References