Continuing on with my California trip, I finally visited a grave I knew had existed for a long time. I just never knew the whole story. Why was Morgan Earp killed in Tombstone, Arizona but buried in Colton, California? It took a trip to Hermosa Cemetery in Colton and then to the Library in the same town, but I found the answer!
Hermosa Cemetery, Colton, California
I used to pass this Cemetery on my way to work, years ago. I had heard the rumor that “one of the Earp Brothers was buried here.“ It just didn’t interest me 35 years ago. I had other interests ~ my job and two children to raise as a single mother.
Since I’m visiting my son in the area, I mentioned my desire to see this. . . and would you believe it, he’d been there and knew exactly where it was! Thursday we loaded my grandson in the car and took off to pay our respects to Morgan S. Earp.
Morgan S. Earp's Final Resting Place
First a little background about the Earp Brothers.
We’ve all heard about the shootout at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona and know that the Earp Brothers were involved. We hear the most about Wyatt. There were no Earps killed in that famous event in October of 1881, however, a vendetta assassination did take Morgan’s life. They missed Wyatt who was also a target in March of 1882.
Morgan’s wife was in Colton, California at the time, and Morgan’s body, dressed in Doc Holliday’s suit, was placed in a casket, loaded on a train and accompanied by his older brother, Virgil, was carried to Colton for burial. He was first buried in the old cemetery west of Colton. In 1892 he was reinterred in the Hermosa Cemetery, where the body remains today.
Virgil stayed in Colton and was the first Marshall of the city when it was incorporated in 1887. He held the position until he resigned in 1889. He traveled north and is buried in Portland, Oregon. Wyatt is buried in San Mateo, California and the oldest Earp brother, James, is buried in San Bernardino, California.
Morgan Seth Earp's Headstone, Hermosa Cemetery, Colton, California
I am enjoying these “Old West” Cemeteries I’m finding as I travel from family member to family member! Tomorrow I head to Escondido in the North County area of San Diego County.
Mother’s expecting me, so I can’t visit too many of them. . . .
- Alfred Henry Lewis. The Sunset Trail, New York: A.L. Burt Company, Publishers, Fourth printing 1906, pages 352-353.
- Hazel E. Olson. “As The Sand Shifts” in Colton, California, Rialto, California, The Taylor Print Shop, 1989, page 169.
- Larry Sheffield. Images of America, Colton, Charleston, S.C., Arcadia Publishing, 2004, pages 29-40.
I still haven’t made it to Colton, so I am glad that you shared that. I heard a speaker at the Riverside Historic Society talk about the Earps. I have been wanting to go. Thanks for sharing the story.
[...] March 17, 2009 by Linda in Lancaster I actually had seen my headstone of the week on a previous visit to California, but didn’t have a picture “good enough” to post. I found it in Hermosa Cemetery in Colton, California when I was looking for Morgan Earp’s headstone. [...]
Colton is my home town. Not far from Colton High School is the Earp house. When I was a student at the high school, the owner of the house didn’t know why everyone kept coming over to his house and took pictures until one of the kids told him that they studied it in their U.S. history class!
528 W. H Street
Colton, CA 92324-2229
My friends back home (I’ve been living in Asia for the past three years and haven’t left the continent) tell me the house is still there.
it’s still there, just drove past it today. in fact the people living in it today were out sitting out on the porch and gave me dirty looks for staring. i have a strong feeling they have no idea they live in a historic house.
Hey Bill I too attended Colton High and am also a current resident of Colton. The answer to youre Earp house……yes its still here I live a few blocks away well more than a few blocks but Ive always been a history buff on my hometown. The City acquired rights to the house years ago, refurbished it and tried to sell it to residents as a WYATT EARP FAMILY HOUSE historcal landmark. The city was asking 650,000 dollars no one could afford that when the houses next door were going for 130,000. If you want to know anything about the town let me know I have a lot of references that you might like. Not to mention alot of personal experiences over the years….do you remember the old soda fountain on Valley Blvd, Naugles Burgers, Sandys rest, Old Mule Lip Saloon, Coltons Skating rink, Helmans Dept Store, Millers Honey Fact., FEDCO, Fiesta Village, ahh the list goes on…….LAYMENS CANDY?:) if anyone wants to email me im at goaheadrampart@yahoo.com
I too AM a former Colton resident. IM 65 years old and as a child lived one block from the Earp house. I attended Colton High School in late 50′s. Have walked passed the Earp’s, white house many times. Don’t recall the exact year, but Hugh O’Brien, TV actor starring in Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, made a personal appearance at a local park during the Earp celebration. Still can see him wearing a bright, white shirt, big black hat and astride his horse. And of course his “Buntline” revolver. Those were great times, those were innocent times.
Gary, I too am from Colton. I graduated from Colton High in 1965. I remember that event with Hugh O’Brien. It was called Wyatt Earp Days. There was a small parade. Kids who had horses were also in the parade. After the parade there was a gathering at the Colton Plunge or park. They had booths where memoribilia crap was sold. I was just a kid and on my bicycle. I rode by one of the booths and grabbed a Wyatt Earp button. The actor who played Doc Holiday just happened to be strolling by and saw me. He grabbed my bike by the hanldle bars and yanked the button out of my hand. He never said a word, just turned around and left. Wyatt Earp was my hero and a relative. My Great-grandmother’s birth name was Leticia Earp. Her married name was Leticia Walters. So you see, I had to have a button, even though I had no money. Frankly, I’m still mad at that Doc H actor.
I think the Earp family is very interesting and hope some one can help me find out what happened to the Wyatt Earp Days celebration that the town was so proud of !!
Chuck, I’m a bit late in responding to your post but the Wyatt Earp Old West Days were a lot of fun and lots of history was made available to the public. Earp Days was a 3 day event every October for several years. It started in Moreno Valley, CA then moved over to Colton. The Board of Directors of Wyatt Earp Old West Days slowly moved out of the area. As the original group moved on the Board decided to end Earp Days. This was a sad day for all of us. Some of the individuals are still around the area – Riverside, Banning and Colton. I was the President of the Board for several years and then my brother Don Earp became president. I live in Riverside, my brother Don still lives in Colton. Don is involved with the city of Colton’s historical preservation society. Those were great days with many happy memories. The Wyatt Earp Days’ Board of Directors tried to buy the Virgil Earp house at one time. We had made an offer, went to escrow but on the day escrow was to close, the owner changed his mind about selling it. There was a newspaper article about our group trying to buy Virgil Earp’s house. I am surprised that someone mentioned the house was worth $650,000…we were buying it for $50,000. K.R. Zack Earp, past President of Wyatt Earp Old West Days.
My younger sister and two other family members are buried here and I never knew that Morgan was buried here .I come to get peace and it’s peaceful here next time I pay family a visit I will stop by and see Morgan that wil be cool.
I grew up in Colton as well. Graduated from Colton High School in 1968.
I remember the Wyatt Earp days parade very well. I have a picture of me with Hugh O’Brian on that day.
Gene Evans attended the parade as well. My mother knew Gene Evans very well.
My entire family graduated from Colton High School. Mother, Father, Aunt, brothers. Wow!…… I thought that Science Room at Colton High looked awfully OLD when I sat in class! IT WAS!
I can remember every one of the establishments that Mario mentioned.
Many fun memories growing up in Colton.
My dad was a die hard history buff & knew Morgan was buried at Hermosa. when he became sick from Cancer He requested to be buried there also. Our mom made sure that we did what our dad had requested.
I am Zack Earp, a distant cousin to Wyatt Earp. I have a brother currently living in Colton. My brother and were part of a group of Wyatt Earp & old West history buffs
Continuing on with my comment; My brother & I were part of a group of Wyatt Earp & Old West history buffs. We put on Wyatt Earp Old West Days, a 3 day event, in Moreno Valley & Colton for several years. We incorporated ourselves as the Earp Society. We did renactments, demonstrations, presentations to schools, librarys, historical societies, etc. This was around 1998-2004/5.
My brother and I, along with the Earp Society, were buying the Virgil Earp house back then. We were interviewed + photos in front of Virgil’s house with article & photos in the newspaper. While we were in escrow, after the newspaper article came out, the owner of the house pulled out of the deal 7 escrow closed. We were very upset, sougt legal advice to no avail. Anyway, i know the house, Earps in not just Colton, but the Inland Empire, San Diego, Arizona, San Francisco & a little bit more. Very happy to see others enjoying the Earp story.
My family also may be counted among the many graduates of Colton High, my Father Nicholas and Uncle Albert (Baker) in 1939, brothers Nick, Jr. (1966), Edmund (1969), Michael (1971), Thomas (1974) and myself in 1975. Our sons and daughters have also graduated from Colton. My grandparents established Martinez Bakery in 1911 and many times we would hear the stories of Wyatt Earp and his family. We would also hear stories of how Geronimo would pass through our town, resisting capture from authorities in his fight for freedom. (Our family members are descendents of Geronimo’s brother). I, too remember all the establishments Mario mentioned. We lived not far from Gene Evans and I used to stop by his store on the way home from school. Colton has a great history and was a great place to grow up.
By the way, Kathy, the science wing was torn down and is being rebuilt as we speak!