Doc Scurlock
By J.Young

Josiah Gordon “Doc” Scurlock was a highly skilled individual with a diverse range of professions. Beyond his notable reputation as a killer and lawman, he also demonstrated proficiency as a doctor, rancher, farmer, poet, teacher, linguist, clerk, and postmaster. Born on January 11th, 1850, Doc embodied the characteristic of a true frontier Renaissance Man. His parents Priestly Norman Scurlock and Ester Ann Scurlock welcomed Doc into this world in Tallapoosa County, Alabama. Doc’s family names were Scurlock, Brown and Holsomback. Doc had several siblings, three were brothers and a sister that were born before him. His older brothers fought in the civil war, while Doc was yet still too young for gunplay. After the civil war some of the Scurlock family moved to Texas.
Scurlock’s father made it his priority to get his sons an education. In the late 1860’s Doc studied medicine at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. The school had been re-established a few times and the records today are in bad shape, not to mention most of it is missing. But it is believed that this is where Doc attended. After a failed relationship with a nurse, Doc dropped out.

In 1853, New Orleans had been struck by The Yellow Fever epidemic, which caused widespread havoc. In 1869, Doc migrated to Tampico, Mexico with a team of medical professionals, most likely arriving by boat, in order to assist in the management of the yellow fever epidemic, which was rapidly spreading. An alternative motive for his move to Mexico could be that that Doc killed the lover of the nurse he was in love with.  In the Frank Angel report it states that Doc Scurlock had killed a man in Louisiana. 

While in Mexico, story has it that Doc was in an argument during a card game. Both men drew their pistols, Doc was shot in the mouth. The hot lead knocked out his front teeth and ripped through the back of his throat. The other man died on the spot. Doc was positive and a fighter. He survived the wound. Doc then sported a mustache to cover his missing teeth. Doc left Mexico and returned to the USA by 1871. After arriving in New Mexico Territory, Doc went to work for John Chisum. Here he and other cowboys were used to defend Chisum’s cattle stock from thieves.

Sometime during 1873, Doc and his riding partner Jack Holt were ambushed by a group of Apache and Holt was killed. Doc took cover and, after a shootout, he killed their leader. During the night he skinned out and walked about 20 miles for help. When Holt’s body was found, his right arm was missing at the elbow for some reason.
In September 1875, Doc’s riding partner, Newt Higgins, was killed by Apaches. Doc was upset over this incident and he told Chisum he wanted to quit. Chisum, angry, refused to pay him. Doc made the newspapers when he stole three horses, two saddles, and a rifle from Chisum and left for Arizona. The Santa Fe daily New Mexican published the following item on Saturday May 15th 1875
“We received information too late for last week’s issue that a young man by the name of JG Scurlock usually known as Doc Scurlock, a little previous to the May 11th, stole three horses two saddles and a gun from parties living in New Mexico and made his way to Arizona. He is described as being twenty-two years of age between 5 foot 8 or 10 inches high, light hair, light complexion, front teeth knocked out, writes a very good hand, quick spoken and usually makes a good impression on first acquaintance.”
Upon his arrival in Arizona in 1875, Doc formed a business partnership with Charlie Bowdre. Drawing on their entrepreneurial spirit, the two devised a plan to produce and distribute cheese as a means of supporting themselves while working in the vicinity of a mine located on the Gila River. Their innovative approach to business put them on a path to success and enabled them to establish a solid footing in the community. Through their diligent efforts, Doc and Charlie demonstrated a steadfast commitment to their goals and a willingness to work hard to achieve success. The location of this establishment has been lost to history for now, but was likely east of or at Globe, Arizona.
In the spring of 1876 Charlie and Doc abandoned their factory. According to legend they left one very young employee unemployed, William Henry McCarty, later known as Billy the Kid.
Charlie and Doc arrived at Lincoln and acquired some property along the Rio Ruidoso on credit from LG Murphy/Dolan co. It was actually public domain land up for grabs to anyone willing to develop and farm it. The unknowing always fell victim to Murphy/Dolans schemes. Here they met neighbors George Coe and Dick Brewer, who were also “sold” land from Murphy on credit. It wasn’t long until Charlie and his neighbors noticed their stock disappearing in the nights. Reports say, one of the thieves was jailed at Lincoln. The Coe cousins George and Frank, Ab Saunders, Doc Scurlock and Bowdre rode to Lincoln and took the thief, Jesus Largo from jail and lynched him outside of town. The Sheriff at the time, Saturnino Baca, did not engage and no charges were ever filed. Over the next year, Doc helped his neighbor, Richard Brewer and new pals capture more thieves and had them jailed in the Pit-jail at Lincoln.
On a certain day, Sheriff Brady apprehended Doc and George Coe on the suspicion of harboring a fugitive. In an attempt to transport them to Lincoln jail, the sheriff instructed the two to ride the same pony while tied up. The incident caused tension among the locals, and the boys were later released on bail. It is safe to say that the occurrence gave rise to negative feelings towards Sheriff Brady, who was falling into Dolans pocket and would soon be their mortal enemy.
During an inspection of a pistol, Doc unintentionally caused the tragic death of his friend Mike G. Harkins in either Blazers Mill or Lincoln. (more on this soon)
On October 19, 1876, Doc entered into matrimonial union with Mrs. Maria Antonia Herrera. The marriage was solemnized in accordance with all customary formalities. By his union with Mrs. Herrera, Doc Scurlock later became brother-in-law to Mr. Charlie Bowdre after his marriage to Maria’s sister.
Doc and Charlie were re-acquainted with young Billy the Kid who was now on the scene in Lincoln. A wealthy young Englishman named John Tunstall also moved into the area and opened a store in Lincoln, to be in competition with Dolans. Tunstall befriended his neighbors, Doc, Charlie, the Coes, and Brewer and convinced the boys to join his cause and were promised a bright future in a business relationship with he (Tunstall) and for the use of his store to sell their produce. They readily consented. It seemed like things were just getting better for the boys until the Murphy faction went bankrupt and rival leader, James Dolan, acted with violence.
John Tunstall was murdered starting the Lincoln County War. Tunstall’s friend and business manager/attorney Alex Mcsween put up a bounty at the request of Tunstalls father for his son’s death, at $5,000 and also paid the Tunstall ranch hands five dollars a day to fight. Richard Brewer was deputized and formed The Regulators. Doc was a founding member. Bowdre and Doc were the oldest, Doc was 29 and Charlie was 30.

Killings and ambushes went back and forth between The Regulators and Dolans men. Sheriff Brady and his Deputy were ambushed and killed. He would be replaced with Regulator pal Sheriff Copeland. Later the widow Mrs. Brady would give testimony…
“Doc Scurlock has tried to shoot down my eldest son and have murdered my husband… not satisfied with this, they now want to kill my boy!”

Just days after, the men were at Blazer’s Mill, engaged in a gunfight. Richard Brewer, first captain of the Regulators, was shot and killed in the shootout. Doc’s pistol holster was shot through and his leg was grazed. Frank Mcnab then took the command of the Regulators but would be killed in an ambush soon after.
Doc was arrested with some of the other Regulators and held on charges of murder from the killing at Blazer’s Mill. He was locked in at Fort Stanton guardhouse. But Col. Dudley withdrew his involvement due to the warrant issuer resigning. Sheriff Copeland then came and freed the Regulators, and swore Doc in as his deputy sheriff of Lincoln.
Doc also took command of the Regulators. They were now in control. Doc called together Bonney, Middleton and about 10 others and proceeded South to rain lead down on the Dolan cow camp near Seven Rivers. When they arrived, The Regulators scattered the herd and herders and helped themselves to about 25 horses and a couple of mules. They captured their cook Manuel “Indian” Segova and executed him. Segova was possibly in the posse that killed Tunstall and was the man who pulled the trigger, killing Frank McNab.
Dolan’s partner John Riley was nearby at the Johnson’s ranch, the herd that Doc and company scattered were part of a Dolan beef contract for the Apache. Riley was in charge of it. Riley sent a message to Col. Dudley at Fort Stanton for help pleading that if he did not the Apaches would go hungry. Dudley legally couldn’t and didn’t.
Dolan went crying to his Santa Fe Ring connection with Thomas Catron whom Dolan had mortgaged all his assets to. The politicians had Sheriff Copeland replaced with Dolanite, George Peppin. They enlisted many fighters, putting a price on the Regulators. This ran the Regulators back out of town into San Patricio, and the hills surrounding it. The Posses came looking for them.
Eventually the Regulators had enough and came to Lincoln to end the war. They took positions throughout town. Their presence turned into a five-day battle. Doc was stationed at the Ellis house on the East end of Lincoln along with Frank Coe, Bowdre, Dan Dietrich, John Middleton and “dirty” Steve Stephens. Eventually Doc and Charlie joined Billy at McSweens. The battle ended with Mcsween dead and his house burnt to the ground.
Doc had regrouped the boys, but were in need of fresh horses. After nabbing a few they appeared at the Mescalero Indian Agency. When they approached they were engaged in a gunfight with some of the Mescalero tribe. An agent clerk named Morris Bernstein rushed out of the building toward the shooting and was killed.
The boys took to Fort Sumner for refuge. It was the largest settlement between Lincoln and Las Vegas. Billy had a good reputation there and put on a baile for them. Doc and Charlie decided to call it quits with the Regulators and found work, working on the Maxwells and Yerby ranches. They moved their wives down into Fort Sumner and got settled.

Sometime in the spring of 1879 a meeting of parlay was called for and Doc attended with Billy, Salazar, George Bowers and Tom Folliard to meet Dolan and company. After the agreement a drunk man in Dolan’s party killed Susan Mcsweens lawyer Huston Chapman. The boys slipped out of town, from a waste of time and separated.
Later Billy the Kid had been promised a pardon from Governor Lew Wallace if he testified to the facts of Chapman’s murder before a grand jury. 
The infamous gang led by Doc, once again, initiated a series of unlawful activities causing chaos. The members, including Billy, Tom, and Charlie, were involved in the widespread theft of cattle from renowned ranchers. However, their actions led to dire consequences when they stole a significant number of 120 cattle from John Chisum, thereby attracting the attention of the legal authorities who sought to bring the gang to justice. Doc made the difficult decision to relocate with his family from New Mexico territory to Tascosa Texas as he felt that the law was closing in on him. Once there, he decided to retire from his gun-toting ways and instead pursued a career at the local post office, potentially serving as Postmaster.

After Billy the Kid made his daring escape from Lincoln in 1881 reports suggest Billy stayed with Doc in Tascosa, Texas for a few days. Billy cradled Doc’s baby boy John Joshua Scurlock in his arms and John constantly boasted about this later in life. Doc became a teacher in Vernon, Texas before moving to Cleburne, Granbury, Mabank, then Eastland. During these last years of his life, Doc served the locals as farmer, doctor and a teacher. 
Mr. Scurlock became a dedicated family man who devoted a significant amount of time to spending quality moments with his children and grandchildren. Additionally, he had a strong passion for poetry, which he indulged in during his leisure time. It’s worth noting that he and his wife had a large family, comprising of ten children. Despite his involvement in the Lincoln County war and his association with Billy the Kid, Doc chose not to discuss these experiences for the rest of his life.
Doc Scurlock’s spouse passed away in 1919. Following this, ten years later, Doc unfortunately suffered a heart attack and passed away on July 25th, 1929. Doc Scurlock, along with his wife and other family members final resting places can be located at the Eastland City Cemetery in Texas.