The Clanton Family of Tombstone, Arizona

The name Clanton Family of Tombstone, Arizona conjures images of dusty streets, simmering feuds, and the untamed spirit of the Old West. In the rugged landscape of southeastern Arizona, the Clantons emerged as a prominent, and often infamous, family during the late 19th century. Their story is interwoven with the burgeoning town of Tombstone, a silver boomtown that attracted fortune seekers, lawmen, and outlaws alike. While some saw them as hardworking ranchers, others viewed the Clantons as the epitome of lawlessness, associating them with cattle rustling, stagecoach robberies, and even murder. This complex legacy has solidified their place in Western lore, ensuring that the Clanton Family of Tombstone, Arizona remains a subject of fascination and debate to this day.

Operating along the volatile Mexican border, the Clanton family, along with their associated ranch hands and sympathizers, were a loosely organized collective. They were frequently referred to as the "Clanton Gang" or, more broadly, "The Cowboys." This group was known for engaging in activities that tested the limits of the law and frequently crossed the line into outright criminality. The Clanton Family of Tombstone, Arizona found themselves embroiled in a conflict with the Earp brothers, a clash that ultimately culminated in the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and its violent aftermath.

At the heart of this saga was Newman Haynes Clanton, often referred to as "Old Man" Clanton, who served as the patriarch of the family. His sons, including Ike and Billy Clanton, played significant roles in the events that unfolded in and around Tombstone. Their story is a complex tapestry of ambition, loyalty, and violence, reflecting the harsh realities of life on the frontier. The history of the Clanton Family of Tombstone, Arizona is inseparable from the narrative of the Old West itself.

Key Figures in the Clanton Saga

The Clanton family’s story is best understood by examining the individual roles played by its key members:

• Finneas Clanton: Son of Ike Clanton, Finneas was a member of the Clanton Gang, though his involvement in outlaw activities was less pronounced than that of his brothers. He did, however, serve a prison sentence for cattle rustling, indicating his participation in the illicit activities associated with the family. His inclusion in the Clanton narrative demonstrates that the family’s reputation extended beyond its most prominent members.
• Isaac "Ike" Clanton (1847-1887): Perhaps the most well-known Clanton, Ike was a central figure in the events leading up to and following the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. He was present, though unarmed, during the infamous shootout with the Earps and Doc Holliday. Ike’s role as the braggart leader of the outlaw faction is cemented in history. He fled at the first sound of gunfire with Billy Claibourne hot on his heels. Ike’s brother William “Billy” Clanton was killed in the shootout along with Frank and Tom McLowry. Following the gunfight, Ike harbored a deep resentment towards the Earps and orchestrated acts of revenge. He schemed the ambush of Virgil Earp in November 1881, leaving Virgil crippled. In March 1882, Clanton and four henchmen shot and killed Morgan Earp. Wyatt Earp then gathered a posse, including his brother Warren and Doc Holliday, and went after the Clanton Gang, killing three of them. Ike fled to Mexico and hid under an assumed name. When Earp finally gave up the search, Ike returned to the Tombstone area, took up his old rustling ways, and was shot in 1887 by lawmen. He was buried where he was shot in an isolated grave in Greenlee County, Arizona. His subsequent actions solidified his reputation as a vengeful and dangerous figure. His demise marked the end of an era for the Clanton Family of Tombstone, Arizona.
• Newman Haynes "Old Man" Clanton (1816-1881): As the patriarch of the Clanton clan, Newman Haynes "Old Man" Clanton was a figure of considerable influence and suspicion in Cochise County. The Earps accused him of a litany of offenses, including rustling, ambushing smugglers, and harboring other outlaws. However, despite these allegations, he was never formally prosecuted or arrested for these alleged crimes. His reputation as a lawless figure was further tarnished by his involvement in the Guadalupe Canyon Massacre in July 1881. He and several of his men ambushed a group of Mexican cowboys driving a herd through Guadalupe Canyon, resulting in the deaths of 19 men. The slaughter sparked outrage and calls for justice. In retaliation, Clanton and four of his men were killed in the same canyon by Mexican cowboys seeking revenge for the earlier ambush. Initially, he was buried in the Animas Valley of New Mexico. However, he was later re-interred in Boot Hill at Tombstone, Arizona. Old Man Clanton’s death marked a turning point in the history of the Clanton Family of Tombstone, Arizona, leaving a void in leadership and contributing to the unraveling of their operations.
• William "Billy" Clanton (1862-1881): Born in Hamilton County, Texas, Billy moved with his family to Fort Bowie, Arizona, in 1865. The following year, the family moved once again to San Buena Ventura, California, and somewhere along the line, Billy’s mother, Mariah Kelso Clanton, died, leaving Newman “Old Man” Clanton with four boys and two girls to care for. They moved several times for the next decade before settling down near Charleston, Arizona, in 1877. Not long afterward, the Clantons began to be known as cattle rustlers, horse thieves, and road agents who often ambushed unsuspecting travelers. Billy soon became involved in the ongoing feud with the Earps in Tombstone and was involved in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881. On that fateful day, Billy Clanton and Frank and Tom McLowery were killed and later buried at the Boothill Graveyard in Tombstone, Arizona. His death at such a young age contributed to the image of the Clantons as tragic figures caught in a cycle of violence.

The Clantons and the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, which occurred on October 26, 1881, is arguably the most famous gunfight in American history. It was a culmination of simmering tensions between the Earp brothers (Wyatt, Virgil, and Morgan) and Doc Holliday on one side, and the Clanton and McLaury brothers on the other. The exact reasons for the animosity are complex and debated, but involved conflicting interests in Tombstone and accusations of cattle rustling and other criminal activities.

On that fateful day, the Earps and Holliday confronted Ike and Billy Clanton, along with Frank and Tom McLaury, in a vacant lot near the O.K. Corral. A brief but intense gun battle ensued, resulting in the deaths of Billy Clanton and both McLaury brothers. Ike Clanton, who was unarmed, fled the scene.

The gunfight had far-reaching consequences, further escalating the conflict between the Earps and the remaining Clanton faction. It also solidified the Clantons’ image as outlaws and cemented their place in the history of the Old West.

The Aftermath and Legacy

Following the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, the feud between the Earps and the Clantons intensified. Ike Clanton, fueled by revenge, orchestrated the ambushes of Virgil and Morgan Earp. Virgil was severely wounded, and Morgan was killed. These acts led to Wyatt Earp’s vendetta ride, during which he and a posse hunted down and killed several suspected Clanton associates.

The events surrounding the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and its aftermath have been romanticized and fictionalized in countless books, movies, and television shows. The Clanton family is often portrayed as villains, but some revisionist accounts have attempted to present a more nuanced perspective, suggesting that they were victims of circumstance or unfairly targeted by the Earps.

Regardless of one’s interpretation, the Clanton Family of Tombstone, Arizona remains an enduring symbol of the Old West, representing the lawlessness, violence, and complex moral landscape of the American frontier. Their story continues to captivate audiences and fuel the ongoing fascination with this turbulent period in American history. The legend of the Clanton Family of Tombstone, Arizona lives on, a testament to the enduring power of myth and the enduring allure of the Wild West.