1870, September 14 – Then future Tombstone Epitaph founder John Clum joins the US Army for the specific purpose of becoming an Observer Sergeant, the 1870 equivalent of today’s weatherman.  He is assigned to a post in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Several times a day he observes the weather and telegraphs his findings back to Washington, D.C.  He finds the job boring, but preferable to a life of hard work on his parent’s New York farm.  When not observing and reporting the weather, Clum opens a school for local children, teaching English to a primarily Spanish-speaking populace.

1878, September 6 – On this date, freshman newspaper editor John Clum issues his last Arizona Citizen newspaper from Florence, A. T. where he had moved it just months before, returning the paper back to Tucson.  The paper, founded by Arizona pioneers Richard McCormick and John Wasson on October 15, 1870 ceased printing its paper format on May 16, 2009 and now exists in web version only.  Prior to its demise, the Citizen was the oldest continuously operated newspaper in Arizona.  Now holding that mantle is the Tombstone Epitaph, founded May 1, 1880 by the Citizen’s former editor, John Clum.

1879, September – James McKean and Isaac Knight open the McKean and Knight Mercantile on the corner of Sixth and Allen Street in Tombstone where they sell everything from groceries and fruits to miners equipment to boots and clothing.  The business is successful and grows quickly.  However, a major conflagration on June 22, 1881 causes heavy damage to the building.  Fortunately, their suppliers stand behind them and extend credit, supply products to help them rebuild, and the store becomes even more successful – so much so that many Tombstone residents deposited their savings with the store instead of the local bank.  But their trust was misguided as on the morning of March 12, 1882, a “Closed” sign hung on the door.  Tombstone residents lost over $8,000 in deposits.  This is worth about $174,000 in 2008 dollars.

1881, September 1 – The Tombstone Epitaph publishes a full list of the newly enacted city ordinances.  Among them is Ordinance XV entitled “Crime and Punishment.”  Section 55 of the ordinance is perhaps the one most invoked during Tombstone’s heyday which reads in part, “It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in any brawl, riot, quarrel, fight, or noisy dispute, or to use profane or indecent language, or to challenge to fight, or to call another harsh names intending to produce a quarrel or fight, or to be drunk upon the streets or in any public house or place, or to discharge any gun, pistol, fire arm or bomb, or to cruelly beat or treat any animal…”

1881, September 15 - The first performance of the Tombstone Dramatic Relief Association is held in Schieffelin Hall on the evening of Thursday, September 15^th.  It is a crime drama called The Ticket-of-Leave Man.  Tickets sell for $1 each, reserved seats are $1.50.  A repeat performance on a warm Saturday evening, September 17^th, will raise enough money to buy a fire alarm bell for the town.

1881, September 28 – George Parsons writes, “…a cowboy is a rustler at times, and rustler is a synonym for desperado, bandit, outlaw and horse thief.”

1883, September 26 – A ride from Tombstone to Benson via horse and buggy is 25 miles made in 3 ½ hours – and is considered “good time.”  Today, this route has become Arizona SR80… and the travel-time is considerably shorter.

1955, September 6 – On this date, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp starring Hugh O’Brian premiers setting off a new wave of Wyatt Earp and Tombstone-mania.  Actor James Coburn of Magnificent 7 fame played Buckskin Frank Leslie in two episodes in 1959 and character actor Denver Pyle, best known as Uncle Jesse from the Dukes of Hazard played Ben Thompson.  “Brave, courageous and bold…” the adult western (that was seen by practically every “baby-boomer” kid who dreamed about being an old-west gunslinger) ran for 164 episodes garnering two Emmy nominations in 1957.  Many consider O’Brian’s Wyatt Earp to be the most suave and sophisticated ever.