Urilla Sutherland: The Tragic Life And Mysterious Death Of Wyatt Earp’s First Wife

Urilla Sutherland remains one of the most quietly influential yet least documented women in Old West history. Known as Wyatt Earp’s first and only legally recorded wife, her story is wrapped in mystery, tragedy, and unanswered questions that continue to fascinate historians and readers today. She lived only a short life, but the emotional shock of her death is widely believed to have changed the course of Wyatt Earp’s future, pushing him away from his simple life in Lamar and into a turbulent world of bar fights, drifting, and criminal accusations. Her name appears in many spellings—Urilla, Aurilla, Rilla—which has created confusion in historical records, and no authentic photograph of her exists. Much of what we know comes from scattered documents, family memories, and the research of dedicated historians. Her story matters because it gives us a glimpse into how one woman’s life—and death—may have shaped the destiny of one of the Old West’s most legendary figures. In this article, we explore her childhood, marriage, tragic passing, the conflict it caused, burial mysteries, and her lasting impact on Wyatt Earp.

Profile Bio: Urilla Sutherland

Early Life & Family Background of Urilla Sutherland

Urilla Sutherland was born in 1850 as the sixth child of William “Uncle Billy” Sutherland and his wife Permelia. The Sutherlands were a respected family known for their stability, strong work ethic, and involvement in the Methodist church. When Urilla was around ten years old, the family moved to Lamar, Missouri, where her father operated the Exchange Hotel—a central place of activity in the growing frontier town. Life on the frontier meant neighbors relied heavily on one another, and young Urilla grew up surrounded by travelers, merchants, and families passing through Lamar. Although historical records about her personality are limited, her upbringing in a religious household and small-town environment suggests she likely grew up with modesty, discipline, and a caring nature typical of women raised in tight-knit communities. Her family’s respected social standing also placed her in the circle of the Earp family, setting the stage for the relationship that would change her life.

How Urilla Sutherland Met Wyatt Earp

Although the exact details of their first meeting remain unknown, historians agree that Urilla and Wyatt Earp were brought together by the everyday closeness of their families. The Sutherland Exchange Hotel stood only a few buildings away from the Earp family’s bakery and oyster shop, making it likely that the two crossed paths regularly during church gatherings, social events, or daily business interactions. Lamar was a small town where everyone knew each other, and both families were involved in community life through the Methodist church. Wyatt, around 22, was a hardworking young man attempting to build an honest life, and Urilla, about 19 or 20, was a local girl admired for her quiet beauty. Their relationship likely grew naturally, supported by proximity, shared values, and the approval of both families. The strong affection between them is clear from how quickly they married and how deeply Wyatt grieved after her death.

Marriage to Wyatt Earp — A Short Yet Deep Love Story

On January 10, 1870, Urilla Sutherland and Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp were married in Lamar, Missouri. Their wedding was officiated by Wyatt’s father, Nicholas Earp, who served as Justice of the Peace. This was the only officially documented marriage in Wyatt Earp’s life. The young couple purchased a small $75 home on the outskirts of town, intending to live a peaceful, stable life together. Wyatt soon became the town constable, a respectable position that allowed him to support his new wife. Everything suggested they were building a hopeful future anchored in family and faith. Not long after the wedding, Urilla became pregnant, and the couple eagerly awaited their first child. Their brief time together seemed filled with optimism and affection, making the tragedy that followed even more devastating.

The Tragic Death of Urilla Sutherland

Urilla’s life ended as quickly as it began, and the exact cause of her death remains one of the greatest unanswered questions in Old West history. Sometime in October or early November 1870—less than a year after her marriage—Urilla and her unborn child died unexpectedly. Some records suggest she contracted typhus, a disease known to spread rapidly in frontier communities. Others propose she succumbed to cholera, which was also common at that time. Another strong possibility is that she died due to childbirth complications, which claimed the lives of many women in the 1800s. No official death certificate, medical report, or detailed newspaper notice survives. Her death shocked both the Sutherland and Earp families and tore apart the quiet life she and Wyatt had just begun. Her passing marked the end of Wyatt’s happiest chapter and the beginning of his darkest era.

Aftermath — How Her Death Transformed Wyatt Earp

Wyatt Earp was devastated by Urilla’s death, and many historians believe it changed the direction of his entire life. Once hopeful, grounded, and responsible, he soon spiraled into grief-driven decisions that pulled him away from the respectable path he had built. Wyatt began leaving town for long stretches, getting into bar fights, and drifting between frontier towns. He faced accusations of theft, including the alleged stealing of horses—a serious crime at the time. He was even jailed, though he later escaped under unclear circumstances. This turbulent period is often referred to as Wyatt Earp’s “dark years,” a phase many historians link directly to the emotional trauma of losing his wife and unborn child. If Urilla had lived, Wyatt Earp might never have become the hardened, complex figure known from Wild West legend.

Conflict Between the Sutherland and Earp Families

Following Urilla’s death, tensions between the two families reportedly erupted into a physical altercation on the streets of Lamar. Some accounts say the Sutherland brothers accused Wyatt of seducing their sister and causing her death through pregnancy. Others suggest the conflict was tied to legal tensions surrounding Urilla’s father, who had faced charges for bootlegging while Wyatt and Nicholas Earp held positions in local law enforcement. Although details vary, most historians agree that a heated confrontation occurred and that the emotional strain contributed to Wyatt’s decision to leave Lamar forever. With limited records, the full truth remains uncertain, but the conflict adds another layer of tragedy to Urilla’s story and to Wyatt’s departure from his hometown.

Mystery of Her Burial — Where Is Urilla Sutherland Really Buried?

One of the greatest mysteries surrounding Urilla Sutherland is the location of her final resting place. Because Lamar did not keep consistent burial records in 1870, historians must rely on secondary evidence. Most agree that Urilla was buried in Lamar’s East Side Cemetery, the only cemetery in operation at the time. A simple marker was reportedly crafted by Everett Earp, a cousin, and placed there sometime before his death in 1956. However, in the 1990s, a memorial stone for Urilla appeared in Howell Cemetery, causing historical confusion. No primary documentation supports her burial there, leading experts to conclude that the Howell marker was placed mistakenly or symbolically. The lack of an original gravestone, burial record, or obituary deepens the mystery and reflects the broader loss of historical documentation surrounding her life.

Was There Ever a Photograph of Urilla Sutherland?

Despite the many photographs circulated online claiming to show Urilla Sutherland, there is no confirmed authentic image of her. Historians and genealogists agree that no portrait, cabinet card, or tintype of Urilla has ever been verified. The images commonly repeated on websites are either models, actresses, or later-era women mistakenly identified as her. The absence of a photograph is not unusual for the time period, especially in small frontier towns where photography studios were limited. Still, the lack of a visual record adds to her mystique and makes her one of the most intriguing women in Western history—someone whose face we may never truly know.

Historical Confusion — Why Her Name Appears in Many Forms

One challenge in researching Urilla Sutherland is the variety of spellings used to record her name. In different census, church, and family records, her name appears as Urilla, Aurilla, Arella, and even “Rilla.” Spelling variations were extremely common in the 19th century, especially in handwritten documents where literacy levels varied. Clerks wrote names based on sound, and families often did not strictly standardize spelling. Over time, historians have typically used “Urilla” or “Aurilla” because these appear most frequently. The inconsistent spellings have contributed to lost records, misidentifications, and confusion about her identity, making modern research more difficult but also more intriguing.

Timeline of Urilla Sutherland’s Life (Chronological Summary)

1850 — Born in Missouri, sixth child of William and Permelia Sutherland
1860 — Family moves to Lamar, Missouri
Late 1860s — Meets Wyatt Earp, family businesses nearby
January 10, 1870 — Marries Wyatt Earp, ceremony performed by Nicholas Earp
Mid-1870 — Becomes pregnant
October–November 1870 — Dies tragically along with unborn child
1871 — Wyatt involved in horse theft case, leaves Lamar
1950s — Everett Earp crafts a grave marker for her
1990s — Incorrect memorial stone placed in Howell Cemetery, causing confusion

This timeline helps highlight how short yet historically significant her life was and how quickly tragedy unfolded after her marriage.

Urilla Sutherland’s Legacy — The Woman Who Changed Wyatt Earp’s Life

Although Urilla lived only a brief life, her impact on Wyatt Earp—and therefore on American Western history—is profound. Many historians believe that if she had lived, Wyatt might have remained a quiet lawman in Missouri instead of becoming a drifting gambler, brothel bouncer, cattle thief suspect, and eventually one of the fiercest lawmen of the West. Her death marked a turning point that pushed Wyatt into the hardships and violence that would define his later life. She is remembered today not for dramatic deeds but for her quiet, tragic role in shaping the legend of a man who would become a central figure in American folklore. Urilla’s story matters because it reminds us that even those with brief lives can influence history in tremendous ways.

Conclusion

Urilla Sutherland remains one of the most mysterious women of the American frontier. Little documentation survives, yet the fragments we have reveal a story filled with love, loss, conflict, and historical significance. She was Wyatt Earp’s only legally recorded wife, and her tragic death set in motion events that reshaped his destiny and, ultimately, the mythology of the Wild West. The unanswered questions about her burial, the lack of photographs, and the mystery surrounding her final days continue to captivate historians and readers alike. Though her life was short, her legacy lives on as a reminder of how deeply one quiet life can affect the course of history.

FAQs About Urilla Sutherland

1. Who was Urilla Sutherland?

Urilla (Aurilla) Sutherland was the first and only legally recorded wife of Wyatt Earp. She married him in January 1870 and died later that same year, along with her unborn child, leaving a major emotional impact on Earp’s life.

2. How did Urilla Sutherland die?

Urilla Sutherland died in late 1870, possibly from typhus, cholera, or childbirth complications. No official death record exists, making the exact cause of her death a historical mystery.

3. When did Wyatt Earp marry Urilla Sutherland?

Wyatt Earp married Urilla Sutherland on January 10, 1870, in Lamar, Missouri. The ceremony was performed by his father, Nicholas Earp, who served as Justice of the Peace.

4. Where is Urilla Sutherland buried?

Most historians believe Urilla Sutherland is buried in East Side Cemetery in Lamar, Missouri. A later memorial stone placed in Howell Cemetery is widely considered incorrect due to lack of evidence.

5. Is there any real photograph of Urilla Sutherland?

No, there is no authenticated photograph of Urilla Sutherland. Images found online are misidentified or fictional, as no verified portrait of her has ever been discovered.

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