Billy Breakenridge
Encyclopedia
William Milton "Billy" Breakenridge (December 25, 1846 - January 31, 1931) was an American
lawman, teamster, railroader, soldier and author. He was assistant Tombstone
City Marshal in the Arizona Territory
when the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
took place.
to George D. and Elisa Ann Breakenridge. United States Census
records from 1850 and 1860 indicate that he had an older brother, an older sister, and a younger sister.
After leaving Wisconsin at the age of 16, Breakenridge joined the United States Army
, eventually serving under Colonel John Chivington
with the Colorado Territorial Militia during the Sand Creek Massacre
(also known as the Chivington massacre). Following his stint with the army, he moved on to Arizona, eventually ending up in Phoenix
where he became a Maricopa County deputy sheriff.
. He served as a deputy sheriff under Cochise County Sheriff Behan
during the 1880s at the time of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
. Most old-west historians consider Breakenridge, like his boss Behan, to have been a friend to the local outlaw Cowboys
. Ike Clanton filed murder charges against Wyatt
, Virgil
and Morgan Earp
along with Doc Holliday
for killing Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury and Tom McLaury in the shoot out. Breakenridge remained loyal to the memory of those who died in Tombstone at the gunfight on October 26, 1881.
.
In 1928, he became a published author with the release of his memoirs of life in Tombstone and the old west, Helldorado: Bringing the Law to the Mesquite. Critics of the book, including Wyatt Earp and his wife Josie
, claimed that much of what Breakenridge wrote was biased and more fiction than factual. Although Breakenridge met with Earp in Los Angeles
to interview him, the picture he painted of Earp was less than flattering.
Portrayed as a thief, pimp, crooked gambler, and murderer, Earp loudly protested the book's contents until his death in 1929, and his wife continued in the same vein afterward. Nonetheless, the book was a success and generated so much interest that Tombstone's citizens joined together in 1929 to create an annual October celebration, Helldorado Days
, commemorating the gunfight at the OK Corral. The celebration continues today.
. His death certificate stated that he had previously undergone surgery for cardiac problems. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Tucson.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawman, teamster, railroader, soldier and author. He was assistant Tombstone
Tombstone, Arizona
Tombstone is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, founded in 1879 by Ed Schieffelin in what was then Pima County, Arizona Territory. It was one of the last wide-open frontier boomtowns in the American Old West. From about 1877 to 1890, the town's mines produced USD $40 to $85 million...
City Marshal in the Arizona Territory
Arizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....
when the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral was a roughly 30-second gunfight that took place at about 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26, 1881, in Tombstone, Cochise County, Arizona Territory, of the United States. Outlaw Cowboys Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne ran from the fight, unharmed, but Ike's brother...
took place.
Early life
Breakenridge was born in Watertown, WisconsinWatertown, Wisconsin
Watertown is a city in Dodge and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Most of the city's population is in Jefferson County. Division Street, several blocks north of downtown, marks the county line. The population of Watertown was 21,598 at the 2000 census...
to George D. and Elisa Ann Breakenridge. United States Census
United States Census
The United States Census is a decennial census mandated by the United States Constitution. The population is enumerated every 10 years and the results are used to allocate Congressional seats , electoral votes, and government program funding. The United States Census Bureau The United States Census...
records from 1850 and 1860 indicate that he had an older brother, an older sister, and a younger sister.
After leaving Wisconsin at the age of 16, Breakenridge joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, eventually serving under Colonel John Chivington
John Chivington
John Milton Chivington was a colonel in the United States Army who served in the American Indian Wars during the Colorado War and the New Mexico Campaigns of the American Civil War...
with the Colorado Territorial Militia during the Sand Creek Massacre
Sand Creek Massacre
As conflict between Indians and white settlers and soldiers in Colorado continued, many of the Cheyenne and Arapaho, including bands under Cheyenne chiefs Black Kettle and White Antelope, were resigned to negotiate peace. The chiefs had sought to maintain peace in spite of pressures from whites...
(also known as the Chivington massacre). Following his stint with the army, he moved on to Arizona, eventually ending up in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
where he became a Maricopa County deputy sheriff.
Tombstone, Arizona
After staying in Phoenix for about a year, Breakenridge went south to Cochise County and the growing mining town of TombstoneTombstone, Arizona
Tombstone is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, founded in 1879 by Ed Schieffelin in what was then Pima County, Arizona Territory. It was one of the last wide-open frontier boomtowns in the American Old West. From about 1877 to 1890, the town's mines produced USD $40 to $85 million...
. He served as a deputy sheriff under Cochise County Sheriff Behan
Johnny Behan
John Harris Behan was from April, 1881 to November, 1882 sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona Territory. Behan was appointed the first sheriff of the newly-created county in February, 1881. The mining boomtown of Tombstone was the new county seat and Behan's headquarters...
during the 1880s at the time of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral was a roughly 30-second gunfight that took place at about 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26, 1881, in Tombstone, Cochise County, Arizona Territory, of the United States. Outlaw Cowboys Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne ran from the fight, unharmed, but Ike's brother...
. Most old-west historians consider Breakenridge, like his boss Behan, to have been a friend to the local outlaw Cowboys
The Cowboys (Cochise County)
The Cowboys were a loosely associated group of outlaw cowboys in Pima and Cochise County, Arizona Territory in the late 19th century. They were cattle rustlers and robbers who rode across the border into Mexico and rounded up cattle that they then sold in the United States...
. Ike Clanton filed murder charges against Wyatt
Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was an American gambler, investor, and law enforcement officer who served in several Western frontier towns. He was also at different times a farmer, teamster, bouncer, saloon-keeper, miner and boxing referee. However, he was never a drover or cowboy. He is most well known...
, Virgil
Virgil Earp
Virgil Walter Earp fought in the Civil War. He was U.S. Deputy Marshal for south-eastern Arizona and Tombstone City Marshal at the time of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in the Arizona Territory. Two months after the shootout in Tombstone, outlaw Cowboys ambushed Virgil on the streets of...
and Morgan Earp
Morgan Earp
Morgan Seth Earp was the younger brother of Deputy U.S. Marshals Virgil and Wyatt Earp. Morgan was a deputy of Virgil's and all three men were the target of repeated death threats made by outlaw Cowboys who were upset by the Earps' interference in their illegal activities. This conflict eventually...
along with Doc Holliday
Doc Holliday
John Henry "Doc" Holliday was an American gambler, gunfighter and dentist of the American Old West, who is usually remembered for his friendship with Wyatt Earp and his involvement in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral...
for killing Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury and Tom McLaury in the shoot out. Breakenridge remained loyal to the memory of those who died in Tombstone at the gunfight on October 26, 1881.
Later life, Helldorado, and death
After leaving Tombstone shortly after the gunfight at the OK Corral, Breakenridge later served as a deputy U.S. marshal, a surveyor, and as a claims agent for the Southern Pacific RailroadSouthern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
.
In 1928, he became a published author with the release of his memoirs of life in Tombstone and the old west, Helldorado: Bringing the Law to the Mesquite. Critics of the book, including Wyatt Earp and his wife Josie
Josephine Earp
Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp was an American part time actress and dancer who was best known as the wife of famed Old West lawman and gambler Wyatt Earp. Known as "Sadie" to the public in 1881, she met Wyatt in the frontier boom town Tombstone, Arizona Territory when she was living with Cochise...
, claimed that much of what Breakenridge wrote was biased and more fiction than factual. Although Breakenridge met with Earp in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
to interview him, the picture he painted of Earp was less than flattering.
Portrayed as a thief, pimp, crooked gambler, and murderer, Earp loudly protested the book's contents until his death in 1929, and his wife continued in the same vein afterward. Nonetheless, the book was a success and generated so much interest that Tombstone's citizens joined together in 1929 to create an annual October celebration, Helldorado Days
Helldorado Days (Tombstone)
Helldorado Days is a cowboy themed festival that began in Tombstone in 1929 and is held every year in October, loosely coinciding with the date of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. In 2008, 30 different entertainment groups participated, from belly dancers, gunfighters, line dancers, cowboy...
, commemorating the gunfight at the OK Corral. The celebration continues today.
Death
Breakenridge died before dawn from cardiac failure on January 31, 1931, aged 84, in Tucson, ArizonaTucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
. His death certificate stated that he had previously undergone surgery for cardiac problems. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Tucson.