Clanton Gang, aka: The Cowboys -

The Clanton family and their ranch hands were a loosely organized gang of outlaws who operated along the Mexican border, stealing cattle, robbing stage coaches, ambushing teamsters, and committing murder. Before the Earps arrived in Tombstone, Arizona, their unlawful and reckless behavior was unchallenged. Newman Haynes "Old Man" Clanton and his sons arrived in Arizona Territory in 1873, where they initially were involved in freighting and ranching. However, by the time that brothers, Tom and Frank McLaury became their neighbors in 1878, the Clantons were avidly involved in outlaw pursuits. With "Old Man" Clanton at its helm, the "Cowboys" included his sons, Ike, Billy and Phin; Tom and Frank McLaury, Curly Bill Brocius, Johnny Ringo, Pete Spence, and several others, including many who may not have actually participated in their outlaw activities, but supported or overlooked them, such as Sheriff Johnny Behan.

Newman "Old Man" Clanton was at the helm of the Clanton Gang, photo about 1880.

Isaac “Ike” Clanton

Controlling the territory from Tombstone, Arizona to the Animas Valley of New Mexico, they operated undaunted until Marshal Virgil Earp began to come down on them when he was elected. This, of course, led to the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881 where Wyatt, Morgan and Virgil Earp, along with Doc Holliday fought against Tom and Frank McLaury, Billy and Ike Clanton, and Billy Claiborne. When the dust settled, Tom and Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton lay dead. While the Earps faired much better, Virgil was shot in the leg, Morgan in the shoulder, and Holliday grazed on the hip.

However, the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral did not end the feud, as the real death toll began after the fight when both sides began to assassinate key members of the opposing factions.

The main members of the gang were:

Newman Haynes "Old Man" Clanton
Joseph Isaac "Ike" Clanton
Phineas Fray "Phin" Clanton
William "Billy" Clanton
Robert Findley "Frank" McLaury
Thomas Clark "Tom" McLaury
William "Curly Bill" Brocius
Billy Claiborne
John Peters Ringo

William “Billy” Clanton (1862-1881) -- Born in Hamily County, Texas , Billy moved with his family to Fort Bowie, Arizona in 1865. The next year, the family moved once again to San Buena Ventura, California and somewhere along the line, Billy's mother, Mariah Kelso Clanton dies leaving Newman "Old Man" Clanton with four boys and two girls to care for. For the next decade they move several times before finally settling down near Charleston, Arizona in 1877. Not long afterwards, 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, along with Frank and Tom McLowery were killed and later buried at the Boothill Graveyard in Tombstone, Arizona.

Isaac “Ike” Clanton (1847-1887) - A member of the Clanton family in Cochise County, Arizona, he was unarmed when the Earps and Doc Holliday advanced on them at the O.K. Corral. Ike, the braggart leader of the outlaws, fled at the first sound of gunfire with Billy Claibourne hot on his heels. His brother William “Billy” Clanton was killed in the shootout along with Frank and Tom McLowery. Ike Clanton schemed revenge on the Earps, arranging to have Virgil Earp ambushed in November 1881. Virgil was hit in the back and was crippled for the rest of his life. In March 1882 Clanton and 4 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 Greelee County, Arizona.

Newman Haynes “Old Man” Clanton (1816-1881) - The head of the Clanton Clan in Cochise County, Arizona, Clanton was accused by the Earps of rustling, ambushing smugglers and harboring rustlers. However, he was never prosecuted or arrested for these alleged crimes. In July 1881, Old Man Clanton and several of his rustlers, ambushed a group of Mexican cowboys driving a herd through Guadalupe Canyon, killing 19 of them. The slaughter was later known as the Guadalupe Canyon Massacre. In retaliation, Clanton and four of his men were killed in the same canyon by Mexican cowboys seeking revenge for the earlier ambush. Originally, he was buried in the Animas Valley of New Mexico. However, he was later reinterred in Boot Hill at Tombstone, Arizona.