ikeclanton

Joseph Isaac (Ike) Clanton born 1847 in Callaway County, Missouri. He was one of seven children fathered by Newman Hayes Clanton. After his mother died in 1866 he and his family moved to Tombstone, Arizona Territory. Ike worked on his father's ranch at Lewis Springs about 12 miles west of Tombstone. The Clantons and hired hands were known as The Cowboys, and had reputations as being Cattle Rustlers, Bandits, and Murderers.

Hostilities between the Clantons and the Earps were well known and only fueled by the loud public boasting of Ike. He was a heavy drinker, possessed a quick temper and was known for talking too much.

As soon as the first shots were fired at the Gunfight at The OK Corral, Ike, unarmed, fled the scene unscathed. He did not witness the shootout. Later when charges were brought against the Earps and Doc Holiday, Ike testified that the Earps and Holiday were murderers, he proved a better witness for the defense than the prosecution. The murder charges were dismissed.

On June 1, 1887 while on the run for charges of cattle-rustling, Ike was cornered in Springerville, Arizona by detective Jonas Brighton. Ike resisted arrest and was fatally shot.