Wyatt Earp

There's a small place in Missouri which is the real place where Wyatt Earp's legendary career as a lawman began.

If you know your wild west history, you probably already know that the real John Henry 'Doc' Holliday spent some time in St. Louis, Missouri. What you might not know is how much the time in the state affected him and how he likely found love and the beginnings of his legend in the Show Me State.

If you're interested in wild west history and Wyatt Earp specifically, you no doubt know about Dodge City, Kansas and Tombstone, Arizona. But, you should also know about where his history led him which includes his grave and that of his first wife who was laid to rest in a small Missouri cemetery.

When you think of Wyatt Earp, you likely think of Dodge City, Kansas or probably Tombstone, Arizona. His origin is actually in a small Missouri town where he lost his wife, but became a law enforcement legend.

Before Dodge City and Tombstone, Wyatt Earp spent his first years as a lawman in Missouri. Many aren't aware that his first wife is buried in a small cemetery in Milford, Missouri.

Exactly 140 years ago today, a showdown at the O.K. Corral cast the location into wild west legend. But, the circumstances leading to that day really began in the tri-state area as there are many connections between the men that were involved in the shootout that happened that day.

I have no doubt that you know about wild west legend Wyatt Earp, but did you know that he got his start as a lawman in Missouri? It's true including an interesting twist involving Harry S. Truman.