<P> Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was born on March 19, 1848, the fourth child of Nicholas Porter Earp and his second wife, Virginia Ann Cooksey . He was named after his father's commanding officer in the Mexican--American War, Captain Wyatt Berry Stapp, of the 2nd Company Illinois Mounted Volunteers . Some evidence supports Wyatt Earp's birthplace as 406 South 3rd Street in Monmouth, Illinois, though the street address is disputed by Monmouth College professor and historian William Urban . Wyatt had seven siblings: James, Virgil, Martha, Morgan, Baxter Warren, Virginia, and Adelia; as well as an elder half - brother from his father's first marriage, Newton . </P> <P> In March 1849 or in early 1850, Nicholas Earp joined about 100 other people in a plan to relocate to San Bernardino County, California, where he intended to buy farmland . Just 150 miles (240 km) west of Monmouth on the journey, their daughter Martha became ill . The family stopped and Nicholas bought a new 160 - acre (65 ha) farm 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Pella, Iowa . Martha died there on May 26, 1856 . </P> <P> Nicholas and Virginia Earp's last child, Adelia, was born in June 1861 in Pella . Newton, James, and Virgil joined the Union Army on November 11, 1861 . Their father was busy recruiting and drilling local companies, so Wyatt and his two younger brothers, Morgan and Warren, were left in charge of tending 80 acres (32 ha) of corn . Wyatt was only 13 years old, too young to enlist, but he tried on several occasions to run away and join the army . Each time, his father found him and brought him home . James was severely wounded in Fredericktown, Missouri, and returned home in summer 1863 . Newton and Virgil fought several battles in the east and later followed the family to California . </P> <P> On May 12, 1864, Nicholas Earp organized a wagon train and headed to San Bernardino, California, arriving on December 17, 1864 . By late summer 1865, Virgil found work as a driver for Phineas Banning's stage coach line in California's Imperial Valley, and 16 - year - old Wyatt assisted . In spring 1866, Wyatt became a teamster, transporting cargo for Chris Taylor . From 1866 to 1868, he drove cargo over the 720 miles (1,160 km) wagon road from Wilmington, through San Bernardino then Las Vegas, Nevada, to Salt Lake City, Utah Territory . </P>

Which outlaw sought revenge for the death of someone he admired