Infamous Arizona cattle rustler and cause of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Isaac "Ike" Clanton was a member of the "Cowboy" faction in Tombstone and an enemy of the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday. The morning of the gunfight Ike, drunk and angry, went around, saying he was going to kill the Earps. His big mouth and hollow threats led to the gunfight, which resulted in the death of his brother Billy. Ike's cowardice most likely saved his life that day. He tried, unsuccessfully, to have the Earps and Holliday tried and convicted for murder. Ike is thought to have been an assailant in the December, 1881 attempt on Virgil Earp outside the Crystal Palace. After the Earps and Holliday left Arizona in 1882, Ike continued his rustler ways. In June of 1887, he was caught trying to steal cattle near present-day Eaglecreek in Greenlee County, Arizona. Ike attempted to escape. The county sheriff's pistol fired and Ike, like his brother and father, died of lead poisoning. He was buried that same day in an unmarked grave near the spot where he fell.
Infamous Arizona cattle rustler and cause of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Isaac "Ike" Clanton was a member of the "Cowboy" faction in Tombstone and an enemy of the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday. The morning of the gunfight Ike, drunk and angry, went around, saying he was going to kill the Earps. His big mouth and hollow threats led to the gunfight, which resulted in the death of his brother Billy. Ike's cowardice most likely saved his life that day. He tried, unsuccessfully, to have the Earps and Holliday tried and convicted for murder. Ike is thought to have been an assailant in the December, 1881 attempt on Virgil Earp outside the Crystal Palace. After the Earps and Holliday left Arizona in 1882, Ike continued his rustler ways. In June of 1887, he was caught trying to steal cattle near present-day Eaglecreek in Greenlee County, Arizona. Ike attempted to escape. The county sheriff's pistol fired and Ike, like his brother and father, died of lead poisoning. He was buried that same day in an unmarked grave near the spot where he fell.
Bio by: James Crawley
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