Peabody was first told about the Tombstone troubles by Judge Stilwell over dinner shortly after he arrived. Milton Clapp was another of his regular associates while he was in Tombstone. If you haven't read his diary, you might find it enlightening in the balance it shows. Best!
"Secondly, because of Peabody, this is a vindication for the life of Wyatt Earp. A man's character can best be judged by the character of those who admire and knew him. Wyatt Earp can have no greater ... more
I realize I have been busy the past week so I'm late to the dance, but it seems to me the quote that started this thread should be attributed to Cindy and not Peabody - am I missing something here?... more
One has to wonder just how much close association and observation of the Earp brothers Endicott Peabody actually had. Peabody seemed to be closely associated with Parsons, a man who was totally... more
I know Cindy's book is a must read that I haven't read yet (it's on my list, Cindy), but I doubt that Rev. Peabody would have admired Wyatt if he knew about his pimping out the teen aged Sarah... more
Bob, You really should read this book. Peabody did not arrive in Tombstone until January 1882. He left in July, 1882. So he was there during the turmoil of the vendetta. In 1925, he described the... more
Gary, I did read Cindy's book on Peabody's diaries and found it quite interesting and revealing about the man. However, on the quotes you offered regarding his comments on Earp's exit from Tombstone, ... more
Joyce, I find diaries frequently frustrating because of what is NOT said. Most are written for one's self with no intent to share, so what IS shared is frequently important because it tells us what... more
Hello Gary, There's a great deal of merit in what you say and much I have to agree with. But you do make my point that Peabody's viewpoint was likely more built on the views of the company he kept... more
Joyce, you're making a whole lot of assumptions and judgments here that are based upon conclusions that frankly were not possible for most people on the ground at the time. I certainly am not... more
Most will agree that Soapy Smith was not one of the "good" guys...yet in my research there are at least two priests that had good things to say about the man...and not so good things about lawmen.... more
I think that we are all forgetting that my comments and critical evaluations are based on and should be contained in the context of a discussion on the opening post from Tucson Bernie. Here Peabody,... more
in your posts you didn't disagree with Cindy and suggest that she overstated the case; you attacked Peabody. That led inevitably to the rest. And I fail to see what in Peabody's behavior in Tombstone ... more
Gary, Cindy's book is on my short list and several people have told me it was a signifigant contribution to the field. I was aware that Peabody, in general, viewed the Earps favorably as far as their ... more
he would have excluded virtually everyone on the frontier, as just about everyone partook of similar vices some where along the line. As he got money for building St.Paul's from Wyatt's gambling... more
from my perspective that preachers are not exactly the kind of people I want to have vouching for me. Otherwise, I would have no trouble with the likes of Jim Bakker, Jerry Falwell, etc., etc.,... more
you're going to connect Endy Peabody and Jerry Falwell/Jim Bakker. Peabody was hugely respected in his own time, not merely as a man of the cloth but as an educator. Ask FDR.
those guys. Was connecting ALL PREACHERS with those guys. I was raised a Southern Baptist. I am now a BACKSLIDIN' BAPTIST and Proud of It. All PREACERS - Baptist or otherwise - are hypocrites. That's ... more
opinions today of what Rev. Billy Graham has done. But he was just another shyster looking for a politcal "in." And he found it in the person of Richard Nixon among others. Why do preachers get... more
and you don't get away with dismissing Peabody because you have an "opinion" of him based on no evidence at all. Everyone has a right to an opinion; noone has a right to have that opinion respected... more
Butch, There is a lot of truth in what you say. Clergymen are not supposed to be involved in politics nor take sides in civic matters. Jesus said his followers would be 'no part of the world.' yet,... more
Joyce, In the 19th century, the notion of "justifiable homicide" was much more widely applied and embraced than it is today. Remember Joyce, you are simply a "commentator". Your opinions aren't... more
Jeff, Scratch that last silly post, please. You are absolutely right. My opinions are indeed less than lightening bolts, and they don't come down from heaven. A good observation! However, are my... more
Joyce, Whatever your accomplishments, your disparagement of Endicott Peabody was very poorly considered. And, yes, I expect the Rev. Peabody did understand the difference between justifiable homicide ... more
Jeff, Perhaps so, but it has grown like Topsy unnecessarily. I would expect to hold any clergyman at any time and of any Christian denomination to the high standards set out in the scriptures they... more
I've noticed that. Seems odd to me, but then.......there are people who feel inclined to defend others who have less of a derogatory reputation than Wyatt Earp. Is the fact that many admired Earp... more
spent quite a bit of time with people of low character. Peabody obviously regarded Wyatt Earp as of a better moral character than the people Earp was up against -- Billy Claiborne and his pals, for... more
I find it rather amusing that in order to turn Wyatt Earp into some sort of 'monster' or very bad character, or at least of someone 'worse' than the Behan bunch, his detractors must now take on... more
Hi, SJ Reidhead. I am not sure if you saw my post regarding ministers who admired my g-grandfather, but basically I show that the admiration from a religious leader does not alter or change the truth ... more
Do you think Ike was ashamed of anything he did? Do you think there was any difference? How about Behan? Should he be ashamed? How about Curly Bill? Ringo? Stilwell?
Hello Larry, I am reasonably sure that all the people you mentioned seldom felt ashamed of things they did, though I really can't know, can I? But we are discussing Wyatt Earp and HE made the... more
Joyce, I seem to recall reading the "not ashamed" comment somewhere myself although, I can't remember if that was the actual wording. I do think the comment pertained to his time in AZ territory. The ... more
Doesn't it make you mad when you know you read something and now can't find it? I guess we all do that. Larry, If Wyatt did use the words I quoted, I would expect him to be ashamed of a number of... more
Hi, Larry K. It's that teeter-totter effect again. When one side goes up the other automatically goes down. Everyone needs to stop seeing Tombstone and the events that occurred there in this way.... more
Jeff, Perhaps so, but it has grown like Topsy unnecessarily. I would expect to hold any clergyman at any time and of any Christian denomination to the high standards set out in the scriptures they... more
Ah, Jeff! Now you have me. I was reading it just the other day again and cannot remember exactly where it is in this mess on my file cabinets. I will look for it and get back to you. I remember... more
Hi, Joyce and Jeff. I do not recall reading any of Joyce's posts and coming away with the idea that she believes she is 100% correct. In fact, often times I feel she tends to down-play herself.... more