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Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp, known as “Josie” or “Sadie,” was the common-law wife of Wyatt Earp, a legendary figure of the American West. Born around 1861 to German-Jewish immigrants in Brooklyn, New York

Early Life and Background

Josephine Sarah Marcus, known as “Josie” or “Sadie,” was born around 1861 in Brooklyn, New York, to German-Jewish immigrant parents, Hyman (Henry) Marcus and Sophie Lewis. The family, originally from Prussia, moved to Manhattan and later San Francisco in the late 1860s. Josephine, the second of three children, grew up with an older step-sister, Rebecca, an older brother, Nathan, and a younger sister, Henrietta. Her exact birth date is unrecorded, adding to the enigma of her life. Raised in a relatively prosperous household, Josephine developed a taste for adventure, inspired by a performance of H.M.S. Pinafore. At 17, she ran away to join a traveling theater troupe, seeking independence, but returned home after her parents’ persuasion.

Her restlessness persisted, and by 1879, at around 19, Josephine became involved with Johnny Behan, a rising politician and future sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona. Behan convinced her parents to permit an engagement, and she left San Francisco for Tombstone, Arizona, expecting marriage. Some evidence suggests she used the alias “Sadie Mansfield” and may have worked as a courtesan in Arizona, a claim supported by census records and Doc Holliday’s later assertions, though Josephine vehemently denied it. Her secrecy about this period indicates a desire to obscure parts of her early life.

Relationship with Johnny Behan

Johnny Behan, born in 1844, was a charismatic and ambitious figure in Tombstone, a silver mining boomtown. By 1880, when Josephine arrived, Behan was a prominent saloon keeper and politician, later appointed sheriff in 1881. Their relationship began with promise, as Behan presented himself as a stable suitor, but it quickly deteriorated. Josephine lived with him as his common-law wife, but Behan’s infidelity—reportedly with multiple women, including a prostitute named Sadie—caused a rift. Josephine’s discovery of his affairs, possibly as early as mid-1880, led to their separation by early 1881.

Behan’s political rivalry with the Earp brothers, particularly Wyatt, further complicated matters. As sheriff, Behan aligned with the Cowboys, a loosely organized group of outlaws including the Clantons and McLaurys, who clashed with the Earps’ law enforcement efforts. This rivalry culminated in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in October 1881, where Behan’s failure to intervene and his alleged bias toward the Cowboys heightened tensions. Josephine’s departure from Behan’s life coincided with her growing attraction to Wyatt Earp, marking a pivotal shift in her personal and social alliances.

Meeting Wyatt Earp and the Tombstone Years

In late 1880 or early 1881, Josephine met Wyatt Earp, a deputy U.S. marshal and gambler, in Tombstone. Wyatt, born in 1848, was already in a common-law marriage with Celia Ann “Mattie” Blaylock, but their relationship was strained. Josephine and Wyatt likely met at Sol Israel’s Union News Depot, and their mutual attraction was immediate, despite their respective commitments. By mid-1881, Josephine had left Behan, and she and Wyatt began a romance, possibly overlapping with his relationship with Blaylock.

The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881, was a defining moment in Tombstone and indirectly in Josephine’s life. The 30-second shootout saw Wyatt, his brothers Virgil and Morgan, and Doc Holliday confront the Clanton and McLaury brothers, killing three. Behan, as sheriff, attempted to arrest the Earps but was overruled, and his testimony against them in the subsequent hearing reflected his animosity. Josephine’s memoir claims she witnessed the aftermath, running to ensure Wyatt’s safety, though some evidence suggests she may have been in San Francisco. Her account, like much of her narrative, blends fact and embellishment.

After the gunfight, violence escalated. Virgil was ambushed in December 1881, and Morgan was killed in March 1882. Wyatt, now a fugitive, embarked on his “Vendetta Ride” to hunt his brothers’ assailants. During this chaotic period, he sent Josephine, along with the other Earp women, to San Francisco for safety. Wyatt never reunited with Blaylock, who died of a drug overdose in 1888. By 1882, Josephine and Wyatt were together in San Francisco, beginning a lifelong partnership.

Life with Wyatt Earp

Josephine and Wyatt claimed to have married in 1892, possibly on a yacht off California, though no record confirms this, suggesting a common-law union. For 47 years, they led a nomadic life, chasing wealth in boomtowns across the West and Alaska. They ran the Dexter saloon in Nome, Alaska, reportedly earning $80,000 (about $3 million in 2024), though Josephine’s gambling often drained their funds. They pursued mining and oil ventures in Colorado, Idaho, Arizona, and California, settling seasonally in Vidal, California, from 1925 to 1928.

Their relationship was passionate but turbulent. Josephine, bold and outspoken, sometimes clashed with Wyatt over finances and his reserved nature. Both may have had extramarital affairs, and Josephine’s controlling tendencies strained their bond. Yet, their partnership endured, with Wyatt calling her “Sadie” (a name she disliked) and Josephine doting on him, as noted by relative Jeanne Cason Laing. They had no children, possibly due to health issues, though no clear evidence exists.

Josephine fiercely guarded Wyatt’s legacy, denying his involvement in gambling or prostitution despite evidence. She interfered with biographers, notably Stuart Lake, whose 1931 book Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshal she tried to suppress to avoid references to her past with Behan or Wyatt’s with Blaylock. Her memoir, I Married Wyatt Earp (1976), edited by Glenn Boyer, was later criticized as largely fictional, reflecting her efforts to craft a heroic narrative.

Creating the Legend

Beyond her role as his companion, Josephine actively shaped Wyatt’s legacy as a heroic lawman, influencing how history remembers him. Through her memoir, interventions with biographers, and efforts to obscure less savory aspects of their lives, she crafted a narrative that elevated Wyatt to mythic status while navigating the complexities of her own past.

Crafting a Heroic Narrative

Josephine was determined to present Wyatt as a paragon of virtue, emphasizing his role as a fearless lawman while downplaying or denying his involvement in gambling, saloon-keeping, and other morally ambiguous activities. After Wyatt’s death in 1929, she became the primary guardian of his reputation. Her most significant contribution was her memoir, I Married Wyatt Earp, compiled with relatives Mabel Earp Cason and Vinnolia Earp Ackerman and published in 1976, edited by Glenn Boyer. The memoir portrayed Wyatt as a stoic, principled figure, focusing on his law enforcement exploits, particularly the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881, while omitting or sanitizing details of his less reputable ventures, such as his management of saloons and gambling houses.

Josephine’s narrative control extended to her own past. She obscured her early life, particularly her time as Johnny Behan’s common-law wife in Tombstone and allegations of working as a courtesan under the alias “Sadie Mansfield.” By distancing herself from these associations, she ensured that Wyatt’s story remained untarnished by her controversial background. Her memoir also minimized Wyatt’s relationship with his previous common-law wife, Celia Ann “Mattie” Blaylock, who died of a drug overdose in 1888, presenting Josephine as his sole and devoted partner.

Influence on Biographers and Media

Josephine actively intervened in early efforts to document Wyatt’s life. In the 1920s, she collaborated with but also clashed with Stuart Lake, author of the 1931 biography Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshal, which became a cornerstone of Wyatt’s legend. Fearing Lake’s inclusion of her past with Behan and Wyatt’s with Blaylock, Josephine threatened legal action to suppress the book. Although she failed to stop its publication, her pressure ensured a more favorable portrayal of Wyatt, cementing his image as a heroic frontier marshal. This book inspired numerous films, television shows, and books, including the 1993 film Tombstone and the 1994 film Wyatt Earp, which drew heavily on the sanitized narrative Josephine promoted.

Her efforts extended to other biographers and family members. She worked with John Flood, Wyatt’s secretary, on an unpublished manuscript that aligned with her vision of Wyatt as a noble figure. Josephine also corresponded with early researchers, selectively sharing information to steer narratives away from inconvenient truths, such as Wyatt’s arrests for minor crimes or his involvement in prostitution-related activities in his early years.

Challenges and Criticisms

Josephine’s efforts, while effective in shaping Wyatt’s legend, were not without flaws. Her memoir, I Married Wyatt Earp, was later criticized for its inaccuracies. Editor Glenn Boyer admitted to embellishing details, and in 1998, the University of Arizona Press withdrew the book from its catalog after scholars, including historian Gary L. Roberts, questioned its authenticity. The memoir’s blend of fact and fiction muddied historical records, complicating efforts to separate truth from legend. For instance, Josephine’s claim of witnessing the aftermath of the O.K. Corral gunfight is disputed, as some evidence suggests she was in San Francisco at the time.

Her selective storytelling also alienated some contemporaries. Her disputes with Lake and others created tensions, and her refusal to acknowledge Wyatt’s less heroic traits frustrated historians seeking a balanced account. Additionally, her efforts to erase her own past, including her Jewish heritage and early life in Tombstone, limited the historical record’s clarity, leaving gaps that researchers still struggle to fill.

Impact on Wyatt Earp’s Legacy

Josephine’s influence was pivotal in transforming Wyatt Earp from a multifaceted figure—lawman, gambler, and entrepreneur—into an enduring symbol of the Wild West. Her curated narrative emphasized his role in the O.K. Corral gunfight and his Vendetta Ride, overshadowing his less glamorous activities. This romanticized image resonated with the public, fueling the Western genre’s popularity in the 20th century. The films, books, and media inspired by her efforts continue to shape perceptions of Wyatt as a stoic hero, even as modern scholarship uncovers a more complex figure.

Her protective stance also ensured that Wyatt’s story remained tied to her own. By burying their ashes together in the Marcus family plot at Hills of Eternity Memorial Park in Colma, California, Josephine symbolically linked their legacies, reinforcing her role as his partner in life and myth. The gravesite remains a popular destination, reflecting the lasting impact of her narrative control.

Later Years and Legacy

After Wyatt’s death in 1929 in Los Angeles, Josephine lived modestly, dying penniless on December 19, 1944. Her ashes were buried with Wyatt’s in the Marcus family plot at Hills of Eternity Memorial Park, a Jewish cemetery in Colma, California, a site that remains a popular attraction. Her Jewish heritage shaped her identity, and Wyatt’s respect for it—evidenced by his kissing the mezuzah at Jewish homes—strengthened their bond, though it also caused friction, notably with Doc Holliday’s antisemitic remark in 1882, which ended his friendship with Wyatt.

Conclusion

Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp was a complex figure, blending Jewish immigrant roots with the rugged individualism of the American West. Her relationships with Johnny Behan and Wyatt Earp shaped her life’s trajectory, from a fleeting engagement marked by betrayal to a decades-long partnership defined by adventure and loyalty. Her efforts to control her and Wyatt’s legacy, though often misleading, ensured their place in Western mythology. Josephine’s story, fraught with contradictions, embodies the blurred lines between truth and legend in the Wild West.

Sources

• Wikipedia, “Josephine Earp”
• Shapell, “Wyatt Earp & Josephine Marcus”
• Jewish Women’s Archive, “Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp”
• OldWest.org, “Josephine Earp: Adventurous Woman of the West”
• Amazon, “I Married Wyatt Earp: The Recollections of Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp”