PAS has highlighted family histories of some of Purgatory's notable residents: The Haught family thread was a fascinating dive into Arizona history (see below). But the Clanton family was also established in AZ before the Earps!
#WynonnaEarp https://twitter.com/PurgatoryArcheo/status/1295820310583939077?s=20

Newman Clanton was born in Tennesee in 1816, and married his wife, Mariah, in Missouri. The family moved to California, following the Gold Rush before establishing a ranch in Texas. Newman & his son John would join the Confederate Home Guard during the Civil War, to later desert.

At the end of the Civil War the Clantons moved briefly to Arizona before founding another small ranch in California. Here they seemed to establish the lasting reputation of cattle thieving and general thuggery as a means to make a living.

In 1873 the Clantons squatted on land in the Gila River Valley in Arizona and operated a ranch, hotel, and grist mill that served the local population around the Indian Agency. This community they dubbed "Clantonville".

By 1877 the Clantons had moved outside the community of Charleston, just outside of Tombstone. Tombstone had not been established as a burgeoning mining boomtown at this time. The Clantons again set up their ranching establishment, this time brothers John and Phin at the head.

John moved to California with his own family but Newman "Old Man" Clanton, tried his hand at opening a saloon in Charleston which failed. He then purchased land in New Mexico, closer to the border in order to facilitate the family's cattle rustling between the countries.

Ike attempted to work at another saloon in town but fell back to working at the family ranch, primarily run by his brothers. The Clanton family ranch was crowned by an adobe walled structure, situated on a rise, for good visibility of the area.

Well known cowboy names around Tombstone all worked at the Clanton Ranch at one time or another: Frank & Tom McLaury, Johnny Ringo, Curly Bill Brocius & Pete Spence. The McLaury brothers would be two of the victims, along with Billy Clanton and Billy Claiborn, at the O.K. Corral.

The Clantons, their ranch hands, associates were known as the "Cowboys", had a reputation for reckless behavior. They were accused of cattle rustling from across the U.S.–Mexican border, as well as other acts of banditry - such as stage coach robbery- and murder.

On August 12, 1881, Old Man Clanton & 6 other men were herding stolen cattle through Guadalupe Canyon near the Mexico border. They were ambushed by Mexicans soldiers in what became known as the Guadalupe Canyon Massacre. Old Man Clanton & five other men were killed in the ambush.

3 months later, on October 26, Ike Clanton, Billy Clanton, & the Earp brothers would be involved in the O.K. Corral shootout that resulted in the death of Billy Clanton & three others. (See the thread below for more context on the Earps & the shootout) https://twitter.com/PurgatoryArcheo/status/1302010675129200643?s=20

You can read Billy Claiborne's account here: https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/digital/collection/ccolch/id/161/rec/2

Ike Clanton pursued the Earps and Doc Holliday after he felt Judge Spicer hadn't delivered justice for the death of his brother Billy & the other victims. Ike, Phin, & friend Pony Diehl, were accused of attempting to kill Virgil Earp on December 30, 1881.
https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/digital/collection/ccolch/id/160/

The shooting left Virgil's left arm incapacitated. Although Ike's hat was found at the scene, a number of associates stood up for him, saying that he had been in elsewhere that night, and the case was dismissed for lack of evidence.

On March 18, 1882, Morgan Earp was killed by a shot through a door window facing an alley while playing billiards at Hatch's Saloon in Tombstone. Wyatt was shot at & missed. Wyatt concluded that he could not rely on civil justice and decided to take matters into his own hands.

Wyatt Earp led a federal posse and escorted Virgil Earp to the railroad, bound for California. Wyatt shot & killed Frank Stilwell, who was lying in wait at the Tucson, Arizona rail yard. Ike was said to be with him, but escaped. Days later Wyatt, and posse, set out on a vendetta.

Wyatt never located Ike Clanton, although they killed three other outlaw Cowboys, and the Earps and Holliday left the Arizona Territory in late April, 1882. In June 1882 Phin moved 200 miles north & Ike Clanton arrived in August.

By 1885, both brothers had bought a quarter-section of land, east of Springerville, near the New Mexico border. In 1887, Ike, Phin, and their ranch posse were indicted on livestock theft. The grand jury returned 15 indictments the same day accusing Phin of grand larceny

Phin was arrested and jailed on April 30 but more livestock continued to be reported stolen in the area and Ike was not behind bars at the time. 2 deputies and a detective tracked the cattle trails to Peg-leg" Jim Wilson's ranch on Eagle Creek & the lawmen laid in-wait.

Early the next morning Ike Clanton rode up to the door on horseback. When the lawmen answered the door, he immediately recognized them. He turned his horse to flee & withdrew his rifle. Detective Brighton shot and killed Ike Clanton.

In September 1887 Phin was found guilty of his charges & sentenced to 10 years but was released & pardoned after 2 years when it as discovered a key witness in the case had lied on the stand. Phin Clanton would die by accidental death in Globe, AZ in 1905.

Today the Clanton ranch near Charleston, AZ is can only be marked by a partially standing adobe brick structure on the slight rise that overlooks the former ranch land. There are handful of internet guides and directions to locate the trail that leads to the old homestead.

Newman "Old Man" Clanton was initially buried where he died in Guadalupe Canyon but Phin and Ike Clanton exhumed his body and reinterred him at the Boot Hill Cemetery in Tombstone next to his son Billy, in 1887.

Ike Clanton is likely buried near Eagle Creek, where he was killed by law enforcement. Amateur historians believe they located a shallow grave near the remains of Peg-leg Wilson's cabin, but confirmation is lacking. Clanton descendants push for Ike to be buried at Boot Hill.

For more information on the Boot Hill Cemetery at Tombstone (and others like it in 'frontier towns') check out this thread: https://twitter.com/PurgatoryArcheo/status/1186000979810013187?s=20

With this context, is it any wonder why there seems to be on-going tensions and lingering hard feelings between the Clantons, Earps, Holidays and Claibornes in Purgatory? The history runs deep!

As someone famously said: 'History is always written by the winners"
If Ike and Billy had won the Shootout, how do you think history might have been written differently?

Now, back to the present... has anyone heard from Sheriff Claiborne, Billy, or Margo Clanton lately?

Sources:

https://www.wyattearpexplorers.com/clantons.html 
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=37771 
https://www.tombstonetraveltips.com/Tombstone_Tips-clanton-ranch.html
https://apcrp.org/CLANTON,%20Ike/1_CLANTON_IKE_AZ_Pioneer_INT_MAST.htm#_Toc341260086
https://www.eacourier.com/history/did-you-know-the-clantons-were-here-before-tombstone/article_770fcf3a-4289-11e8-a8a0-2f0f0b15dafa.html
https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/digital/collection/ccolch