Josiah Gordon “Doc” Scurlock (1850-1929)

Outlaw, Folk Figure. Josiah Gordon "Doc" Scurlock was born in Tallapoosa, Alabama, on January 11, 1850. He rode with Billy the Kid during the Lincoln County Wars in New Mexico. He is believed to have studied medicine in New Orleans, earning him the nickname "Doc". He later moved to New Mexico and hired on as a cow hand with an English nobleman cattle rancher named John Tunstall. Another of the more famous cow hands was Mr. William H. Bonney, better known as "Billy the Kid". Mr. Tunstall was murdered and thus started the Lincoln County War of New Mexico. After the end of the Lincoln County War, all involved were given a pardon by the governor, except for "the Kid". "Doc" gave away his guns, except for a squirrel gun, sold a gold mine for $500.00 (later sold for $75,000.00) and moved his family to Tuscola in the Texas panhandle. Later, he and family moved to Eastland, Texas where "Doc" lived until his death in 1929. "Doc" didn't speak much of his "outlaw" days due to the many who still wanted him dead. He worked for the highway department in Eastland and wrote book reports and book reviews for students at the University of Texas.

Bio by: PWS/Mindseer