After an enjoyable breakfast in Bloomington, California headed north to Colton, California. This small community has an interesting place in western folk lore that is not well known to most Californians. Located in the 40-acre Hermosa Garden Cemetery one can find the final resting place of Deputy Marshal Morgan Earp. Marshal Earp was one of the participants involved in the 26 October 1881 shootout at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona Territory. This 30 second gunfight between 4 lawmen (Wyatt, Morgan, and Virgil Earp, and Doc Holliday) and the outlaw gang consisting of the Clanton brothers, McLaury brothers, and Billy Claibourne is recorded in history books as the last major gun fight in the West. When the gun fight was over Morgan walked away from the gunfight at the O.K. Corral with only a minor bullet wound. Despite receiving many death threats, Morgan continued to remain in Tombstone. Five months after the gunfight, Deputy Marshal Morgan Earp was shot in the back while was playing billiards in Campbell & Hatch Billiard Parlor in Tombstone. After his death James and Virgil transported his body to Colton, California to be buried where his wife and parents lived. Morgan was initially buried in the Mount Slover cemetery but was reinterred in the Hermosa Garden Cemetery in 1892. Moran Earps grave site can be found at the south end of the cemetery. The tombstone is a simple gray stone inscribed with “US Deputy Marshall / Morgan S. Earp / Born 1851 / Assassinated / Tombstone, Arizona / March 18, 1882. A second plaque at the base of the tombstone, presented by the Colton Police Department recognizes his 125 years of law enforcement services. A remarkable tribute to a fallen peace officer. Having lived in California for many years, I was not aware of this site. If you are interested in history, suggest a quick visit to the grave site.

We are in Colton, Ca where the Brother of Wyatt Earp is buried . This is the second burial site since the original site was closed for mining activities in Colton. This is where his parents lived. He was shot in the back in Tombstone, Az and his brother's Virgil and Jame's Earp brought him to Colton to be buried. Interesting history of the family The graveside is located at the far end of the cemetery on the right side and up the hill. Worth seeing as part of our history.