frankstillwell

Born 1856 possibly in Iowa City, Iowa. Although there are no records to verify this, it is beleived that he was raised in Kansas City, Kansas. Little is known about his early life, but records show him in the Arizona territory in 1877. Stillwell was appointed Deputy Sheriff by Johnny Behan in April of 1881, but was fired in August of 1881. Stillwell, along with Pete Spence, were accused of robbing the Bisbee stage on September 8, 1881. The stage coach robbery would help fuel the tension between the Earps, Clantons and McLaurys at the OK Corral. Although Stillwell was arrested, he was never prosecuted for the robbery due to lack of evidence.

It has been said that Stillwell was a possible conspirator in the murder of Morgan Earp. On March 20, 1882, he and Pete Spence, while waiting at the train station in Tucson, were ambushed by Wyatt, Doc, Warren Earp and friends.