Ike Clanton

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Ike Clanton, Tombstone, about 1881. Photo by C.S. Fly

Joseph Isaac (Ike) Clanton (1847-1887) was born in Callaway County, Missouri, and grew up to be one of the pivotal players in The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, one of the most famous events of the American West.

Clanton was one of five brothers (four surviving to adulthood) and two daughters born to Mariah Sexton Clanton nee Kelso and Newman Haynes Clanton (Old Man Clanton, 1816-1881), a frontiersman who worked at times as a day laborer, gold miner, farmer and --by the late 1870s-- a cattleman in Arizona Territory. Ike had stayed with the family well into their move to Tombstone, Arizona Territory, and by 1878 is documented to have been running a small meal counter ("lunch counter") in town. By 1880 to 1881, however, he is known to have been involved with his father's ranch, located 20 miles east of Tombstone.

The Clantons and their ranch hands and associates were known as "Cow-boys" and also had a reputation at best for reckless behavior. At worst they were known to steal livestock (Cattle rustling) from across the U.S.-Mexico border as well as other acts of banditry. "Old Man" Clanton was killed in August, 1881 probably by Mexicans in retaliation for an earlier ambush by rustlers (perhaps other rustlers).

Ike Clanton's notoriety is based on his conflict with the Earps, especially Wyatt Earp and Wyatt's friend Doc Holliday. The Earps and the Clantons had a number of political, economic, and philosophical reasons to hate each other, and the animosity grew throughout 1881. In late 1880 or early 1881, Wyatt Earp had a horse stolen, and was forced to ride to the Clanton's ranch near Charleston city, to recover it. According to Wyatt, 18 year-old Billy Clanton asked him insolently if he had any more horses to "lose," but gave the horse up. Johnny Behan later testified that the incident had also angered Ike Clanton. It certainly angered Wyatt Earp.

In March, 1881 a bungled stagecoach robbery that killed two men divided the two factions, with the Earps believing the cowboys were involved, and the Clantons claiming Doc Holliday was one of the culprits. Ike would later claim that Holliday had "piped off" money from the stagecoach which was supposed to have been robbed, and had told Ike about it. Unfortunately for Ike's credibility, no money was reported missing from the stage, as the robbery had not succeeded. Thus, Ike's story could not be made to square with facts.

By October 25, 1881, Ike Clanton was reported in Tombstone, very drunk and very loud, accusing Holliday of the stage hold-up. Clanton kept drinking by all reports and by noon of the next day was seen arming himself with a Winchester rifle and sidearm. Virgil Earp and Morgan Earp, as city police officers, caught Ike unaware and "buffaloed" him (knocking him unconscious with the heavy butt of a pistol). Ike was held at the recorder's office until a judge appeared to fine him for disorderly conduct and carrying of a concealed weapon in town.

At the courthouse Tom McLaury arrived to get Ike, during which Wyatt and Tom had a heated exchange that led to Wyatt buffaloing Tom. Later, Tom's older brother Frank and Ike's younger brother Billy arrived in town armed, on horseback. That afternoon witnesses reported that the Cowboys were loading up on ammunition and were gathering at a vacant lot on Fremont street (through the block and in back of the O.K. Corral). With that, the Earps, joined by Doc, marched down the streets of Tombstone to the vacant lot for the purpose of disarming their opponents. A few minutes later, the most famous gunfight in American history took place (see O.K. Corral).

Based on testimony from the pro-Earp eyewitnesses, Ike Clanton had spent all day, even after his arrest and disarming, threatening to gun down the Earps. Ironically, when the gunfight began, Ike was unarmed and indeed was allowed to flee the shooting unscathed. Ike's boasting had unfortunately left his younger brother Billy Clanton, and his two friends the McLaurys, dead. Afterwards, Ike testified in a preliminary hearing to his behavior before and during the gunfight, trying to paint the Earps and Holliday as unforgiving murderers. Murder charges were brought against Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp at Ike's instigation. However, the Earps were able to provide a strong defense, pointing out that Ike had not been harmed in the middle of the gunfight, because he was known to be unarmed. With at least two unbiased eyewitnesses to the beginning of the fight (H.F. Sills and A. Bauer) who backed up the Earp claims that the cowboys had not been shot while trying to surrender, the murder charges were dismissed.

Afterward, Ike Clanton was accused of being involved in an attempted assassination of Virgil Earp in December, 1881, which crippled the lawman for life. Though Ike's hat was found at the scene where the ambushers waited, Ike's friends provided an alibi and the case was dismissed. Further attempts in March, 1882 against the Earps left Morgan dead, and soon afterwards the Earp faction left Tombstone. Wyatt later said that Ike Clanton, along with Frank Stilwell and other Cow-boys, attempted another ambush, this time in Tucson, Arizona, but the Earps were prepared, and Wyatt killed Stilwell. Clanton and the others fled, and soon found themselves targetted by the Earp Vendetta Ride, led by Wyatt against those he blamed for Morgan's death. Although most likely a prime target for Wyatt's vengeance, Ike survived the vendetta, with Wyatt, Holliday and their associates leaving Arizona Territory for good by April of 1882.

Ike Clanton's run-ins with the law were not over. Charged with cattle-rustling, Ike and his brother Phineas (Fin/Phin) were cornered by sheriff Jonas V. Brighton on 1 June 1887 in Springerville, Arizona. Finn surrendered, but Ike resisted and was shot dead.

The Westerns based on the Earps and the gunfight usually depict Ike in an unfavorable light: as a braggart, drunk, prone to violence, and, when cornered, a coward. However, Ike did choose to fight at the very end--- he simply lost.

Ike Clanton was played by actor Stephen Lang in the film Tombstone.

External links

• Ike Clanton's biographical timeline – from a family descendant's website