The Lucky Cuss, the Tough Nut and the Contention - all were finds discovered, claimed and worked by Ed Schieffelin, his brother, Al, and a miner friend of theirs, Dick Gird. Ed came out of California intent on prospecting the Grand Canyon and, finding it an unlikely source, picked up a grubstake and lit out for one of the most dangerous, unwelcoming places in the west: southern Arizona Territory. If the snakes didn't get ya' the Apaches probably would - and I'd rather die of snake bite! One guy chided him, saying, "The only thing you'll find down there is your tombstone." He didn't find it, though, he founded it.
What you need to know, what drew Wyatt Earp and made Doc Holliday and Big Nose Kate join Wyatt, is that Tombstone in 1880 - due to it's miners wealth - was the most cultivated city west of the Mississippi and bigger even than San Francisco! Tombstone even had an exceptional opera house where none other than Lily Langtry and (surprise!) Eddie Foy performed.
Ol' Ed has been inducted into the Mining Hall of Fame for his discoveries. Even after selling his claims for $600,000 to a Philadelphia syndicate he never quit mining. Ol' Ed died in Oregon in 1897 - workin' a couple of his claims.
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