Newton Earp
Encyclopedia
Newton Jasper Earp was the eldest child of Nicholas Porter Earp
, patriarch of the famous Earp family. While he was the little known half-brother of Old West lawmen Wyatt
, Virgil
, and Morgan Earp
, Newton remained close to his father and half-siblings, residing in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, California, Nevada and Arizona near other members of the Earp family.
, to Nicholas and his first wife, Abigail Storm (also spelled "Sturm" in family records). Abigail died at age 26 on October 8, 1839 in Hartford, Kentucky
just eight months after the birth of their second child, daughter Mariah Ann Earp. Mariah then died two months after Abigail on December 13, 1839. Now a widower and single father, Nicholas married local girl Virginia Cooksey in July 1840.
Separated by only three and five years respectively, Earp and half-brothers James
and Virgil, were close for their entire lives; Newton named his first-born son (born on August 25, 1872) after his not-yet-famous younger brother, Wyatt, and his second son (born April 19, 1880) after his younger brother Virgil. Morgan and Warren
on the other hand, were much younger and never particularly close to their older half-brother.
At the outbreak of the Civil War
, Newton enlisted in the Union Army
, along with both James and Virgil on November 11, 1861. Newton served with Company F of the Fourth Cavalry, Iowa Volunteers, and was promoted to fourth corporal on January 1, 1865. James was badly wounded in a battle near Fredericktown, Missouri
and returned home only months after his enlistment. Virgil and Newton served the entire war, fighting several battles in the east with Newton mustering out of the Army on June 26, 1865 in Louisville, Kentucky.
, he married Nancy Jane (Jennie) Adam. After marrying Jennie in Marion County, Missouri, the newlyweds joined his father Nicholas and the other Earps in Southern California
, where most of the family had relocated. Once in California, Newton originally worked as a saloon
manager. After Newton and Jennie returned to the midwest in 1868, this time in Lamar, Missouri
, Earp took up farming. Their first child, Effie May, was born on May 6, 1870 in Philadelphia, Missouri
. Their second child, Wyatt Clyde, was born on August 25, 1872 in Kansas. The birth of Wyatt was followed by Mary Elizabeth, born also August 25, in Kansas, 1875; Mary Elizabeth later died at 10 years of age in 1885. Alice Abigail was born on December 18, 1878 in Kansas and then Virgil Edwin around 1879, also in Kansas.
Newton's five children later married and raised families of their own: Effie May married Elias Erdman; Wyatt Clyde married Virginia I. Tambert; Alice Abigail married Warren Hurt in 1896, John Wells in 1898, and then Robert Carson after 1900; Virgil Edwin married Grace J. Scott. Both Earp's daughter Effie May and wife Jennie died on March 29, 1898 in Paradise Hill, Nevada
also known as Paradise Valley
, while Newton died thirty years later in Sacramento, California
, on December 18, 1928. He is buried in Sacramento
's East Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
Nicholas Porter Earp
Nicholas Porter Earp was born in Lincoln County, North Carolina, to Walter and Martha Ann Earp. He is most famously known as the father of OK Corral shootout participants and Old West lawmen Wyatt Earp, Virgil Earp, and Morgan Earp.Nicholas' father Walter Earp, a school teacher and Methodist...
, patriarch of the famous Earp family. While he was the little known half-brother of Old West lawmen Wyatt
Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was an American gambler, investor, and law enforcement officer who served in several Western frontier towns. He was also at different times a farmer, teamster, bouncer, saloon-keeper, miner and boxing referee. However, he was never a drover or cowboy. He is most well known...
, Virgil
Virgil Earp
Virgil Walter Earp fought in the Civil War. He was U.S. Deputy Marshal for south-eastern Arizona and Tombstone City Marshal at the time of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in the Arizona Territory. Two months after the shootout in Tombstone, outlaw Cowboys ambushed Virgil on the streets of...
, and Morgan Earp
Morgan Earp
Morgan Seth Earp was the younger brother of Deputy U.S. Marshals Virgil and Wyatt Earp. Morgan was a deputy of Virgil's and all three men were the target of repeated death threats made by outlaw Cowboys who were upset by the Earps' interference in their illegal activities. This conflict eventually...
, Newton remained close to his father and half-siblings, residing in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, California, Nevada and Arizona near other members of the Earp family.
Early life and Civil War service
Newton was born in Ohio County, KentuckyOhio County, Kentucky
Ohio County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 22,916. Its county seat is Hartford. The county is named for the Ohio River, which originally formed its northern boundary. It is a dry county, which means that the sale of alcohol is restricted or...
, to Nicholas and his first wife, Abigail Storm (also spelled "Sturm" in family records). Abigail died at age 26 on October 8, 1839 in Hartford, Kentucky
Hartford, Kentucky
Hartford is a city in Ohio County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,571 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Ohio County. It is believed to be named for a deer crossing on the nearby Rough River....
just eight months after the birth of their second child, daughter Mariah Ann Earp. Mariah then died two months after Abigail on December 13, 1839. Now a widower and single father, Nicholas married local girl Virginia Cooksey in July 1840.
Separated by only three and five years respectively, Earp and half-brothers James
James Earp
James Cooksey Earp was the little known older brother to old west lawman Virgil Earp and lawman/gambler Wyatt Earp. Unlike his lawmen brothers, he was a saloon-keeper and was not present at the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral....
and Virgil, were close for their entire lives; Newton named his first-born son (born on August 25, 1872) after his not-yet-famous younger brother, Wyatt, and his second son (born April 19, 1880) after his younger brother Virgil. Morgan and Warren
Warren Earp
Baxter Warren Earp was the youngest brother of Wyatt, Morgan, Virgil, James, and Newton Earp. He was not present during the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. After Virgil was maimed in an ambush, he joined Wyatt and was in town when Morgan was assassinated. He helped Wyatt in the hunt for the outlaw...
on the other hand, were much younger and never particularly close to their older half-brother.
At the outbreak of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Newton enlisted in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
, along with both James and Virgil on November 11, 1861. Newton served with Company F of the Fourth Cavalry, Iowa Volunteers, and was promoted to fourth corporal on January 1, 1865. James was badly wounded in a battle near Fredericktown, Missouri
Fredericktown, Missouri
Fredericktown is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Missouri, United States, in the northeastern foothills of the Ozark Mountains. The population was 3,928 at the 2000 census...
and returned home only months after his enlistment. Virgil and Newton served the entire war, fighting several battles in the east with Newton mustering out of the Army on June 26, 1865 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Post Civil-War
Sometime after Earp's return from the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he married Nancy Jane (Jennie) Adam. After marrying Jennie in Marion County, Missouri, the newlyweds joined his father Nicholas and the other Earps in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, where most of the family had relocated. Once in California, Newton originally worked as a saloon
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
manager. After Newton and Jennie returned to the midwest in 1868, this time in Lamar, Missouri
Lamar, Missouri
Lamar is a city in Barton County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,474 at the 2011 census. It is the county seat of Barton County. Lamar is well known as the birthplace of President Harry S. Truman.-Geography:...
, Earp took up farming. Their first child, Effie May, was born on May 6, 1870 in Philadelphia, Missouri
Philadelphia, Missouri
Philadelphia is an unincorporated community in western Marion County, Missouri, United States. It is located about ten miles west of Palmyra on Route 168. It was named for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The community is part of the Hannibal Micropolitan Statistical Area.There is a small school...
. Their second child, Wyatt Clyde, was born on August 25, 1872 in Kansas. The birth of Wyatt was followed by Mary Elizabeth, born also August 25, in Kansas, 1875; Mary Elizabeth later died at 10 years of age in 1885. Alice Abigail was born on December 18, 1878 in Kansas and then Virgil Edwin around 1879, also in Kansas.
Later life
After another Earp family relocation to California, Newton became a carpenter, building homes in northern California as well as northwestern Nevada. Unlike his more famous brothers, he never entered law enforcement.Newton's five children later married and raised families of their own: Effie May married Elias Erdman; Wyatt Clyde married Virginia I. Tambert; Alice Abigail married Warren Hurt in 1896, John Wells in 1898, and then Robert Carson after 1900; Virgil Edwin married Grace J. Scott. Both Earp's daughter Effie May and wife Jennie died on March 29, 1898 in Paradise Hill, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
also known as Paradise Valley
Paradise Valley, Nevada
Paradise Valley is an unincorporated community in Humboldt County, Nevada, near the southeastern boundary of Humboldt National Forest. It is about fifteen miles east of Orovada and U.S...
, while Newton died thirty years later in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, on December 18, 1928. He is buried in Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
's East Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.