Wyatt Earp
Fresh from his exploits as marshal of Tombstone, Ariz. Wyatt Earp joined many who came to San Diego in 1887, seeking the prosperity of a California boom town. Listing himself as a “capitalist” in the city’s directory, Earp began his entrepreneurial adventure by opening three gambling establishments: on E Street near 6th Avenue near the Hotel St. James, and on 4th Avenue opposite the Horton Plaza. Visitors to his casinos could test their skill at such games as poker, keno, faro and blackjack. In 1892, Earp sold his business interests and departed San Diego. He died in Los Angeles on January 3, 1927.
Source: The Story of New San Diego and its Founder Alonzoe E. Horton. By Elizabeth C. MacPhail
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