Newton Jasper Earp

Early Life and Family

Newton Jasper Earp was born on October 7, 1837, in Ohio County, Kentucky, to Nicholas Porter Earp and his first wife, Abigail Storm. As the eldest child of the Earp family, Newton’s early life was marked by tragedy; his mother died on October 8, 1839, shortly after giving birth to his sister, Mariah Ann, who also passed away two months later. Following Abigail’s death, Nicholas married Virginia Ann Cooksey in 1840, and their union produced Newton’s half-siblings, including James, Virgil, Wyatt, Morgan, and Warren Earp, who would later become iconic figures of the American Old West. Newton remained particularly close to his half-brothers James and Virgil, naming two of his sons after them.

Civil War Service

With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Newton, along with his half-brothers James and Virgil, enlisted in the Union Army on November 11, 1861. He served with Company F of the Fourth Cavalry, Iowa Volunteers, demonstrating steadfast commitment through several battles in the eastern theater. Newton rose through the ranks, achieving the position of fourth corporal by January 1, 1865, and mustered out of the army on June 26, 1865, in Louisville, Kentucky. Unlike James, who was wounded early in the war and returned home, Newton and Virgil served the entirety of the conflict.

Post-War Life and Marriage

After the war, Newton married Nancy Jane “Jennie” Adam on September 12, 1865, in Marion County, Missouri. The couple joined Nicholas and other Earp family members in San Bernardino, California, where Newton briefly worked as a saloon manager. By 1868, they returned to the Midwest, settling in Lamar, Missouri, where Newton took up farming. Over the years, Newton and Jennie had five children: Effie May (born 1870), Wyatt Clyde (born 1872), Mary Elizabeth (born 1875, died 1885), Alice Abigail (born 1878), and Virgil Edwin (born 1879). Newton named his sons Wyatt and Virgil after his half-brothers, reflecting their close familial bonds.

In 1870, Newton ran against his half-brother Wyatt for the position of constable in Lamar, Missouri, in a contest that may have been an attempt to keep the role within the family. Wyatt won with 137 votes to Newton’s 108, though their father, Nicholas, lost a concurrent election for justice of the peace. This episode highlights the Earp family’s engagement in local civic life, even as they navigated internal rivalries.

Migration and Career

Newton’s life was characterized by frequent relocations, reflective of the restless spirit of the American frontier. In 1871, he moved his family to Sterling, Rice County, Kansas, where he continued farming and became a pioneer settler. By 1873, he was reportedly hunting buffalo near Peace, Kansas. In the early 1880s, Newton settled in Garden City, Kansas, where he was appointed the town’s first city marshal on January 13, 1883, serving until his resignation on August 6 of the same year. This brief stint in law enforcement aligns with the Earp family’s broader association with peacekeeping roles, though Newton never pursued it as extensively as his half-brothers Wyatt, Virgil, and Morgan.

Newton’s travels took him to Wyoming and Nevada, likely residing in towns such as Casper and Paradise, before he returned to California. Following Jennie’s death on March 29, 1898, in Paradise Hill, Nevada, Newton settled in northern California and northwestern Nevada, where he worked as a carpenter, building homes. Unlike his more famous half-brothers, Newton avoided the high-stakes world of law enforcement and gunfights, opting instead for a quieter life focused on family and manual labor.

Later Years and Legacy

Newton Jasper Earp lived a long life, passing away at the age of 91 on December 18, 1928, in Sacramento, California. He was laid to rest at East Lawn Memorial Park. Of his siblings, only Wyatt and Adelia outlived him, with Wyatt dying just a month later on January 13, 1929. Newton’s life, while less documented than those of his half-brothers, offers a lens into the broader Earp family narrative, one rooted in resilience, adaptability, and familial loyalty.

Though overshadowed by the legendary exploits of Wyatt, Virgil, and Morgan—most notably their involvement in the 1881 Gunfight at the O.K. Corral—Newton’s contributions as a soldier, farmer, marshal, and carpenter reflect the diverse roles required to build and sustain communities in the American West. His story underscores the less glamorous but equally vital experiences of countless pioneers who shaped the frontier.

Earp Family