Newman Haynes Clanton, AKA "Old Man" Clanton (c. 1816 - August 13, 1881) was a successful cattle rancher and the father of the four sons. "Old Man" Clanton was believed to be involved with stealing cattle from Mexican ranchers and re-selling them in the United States. He was reported to have participated in the Skeleton Canyon Massacre of Mexican smugglers. In retaliation, Mexican Rurales are reported to have ambushed and killed him and a crew of Cowboys in the Guadalupe Canyon Massacre. Two of his sons were involved in a multiple conflicts in Cochise County, Arizona Territory including stagecoach robbery and cattle rustling. His son Ike Clanton was identified by one witness as a participant in the murder of Morgan Earp. Billy Clanton and Ike were both present at the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in which Billy was killed.
Despite Hollywood's portrayals in film, the outlaw "Cowboys" were a loosely connected and informal group. Although modern media has portrayed Newman Clanton (for example in the film My Darling Clementine and the TV series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) as the leader of an outlaw gang, there was no such gang. There also is no evidence that the real Newman Clanton ever met any members of the Earp brothers, as he had moved to New Mexico by the time the Earps arrived in Tombstone in late 1879.
Read more about Newman Haynes Clanton: Early Life, Move To Texas and Arizona Territory, Ranching and Smuggling in Cochise County, First Skeleton Canyon Massacre, Move To Animas Valley, New Mexico, Second Skeleton Canyon Massacre, Guadalupe Canyon Massacre, Reburial, The Clantons As A Gang
Famous quotes containing the words newman and/or clanton:
“It is as absurd to argue men, as to torture them, into believing.”
—Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801–1890)
“Southern women are ... all at heart abolitionists.”
—Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas, U.S. diarist. As quoted in Divided Houses, ch. 1, by Leeann Whites (1992)