When thinking about “Old West” characters, many come to mind – Wyatt Earp, Jesse James, Billy the Kid among others. While people tend to categorize these characters as “good” or “bad”, the reality is that most were both. Time and those who write about history tend to exaggerate. For example, consider the legend of Doc Holliday. He is mostly know for his participation in the shootout at the OK Corral in Tombstone, AZ and close friendship with Wyatt Earp. While some assert he killed as many as a dozen men, most experts believe that he killed two or three. What is certain is that Doc Holliday is one of the most interesting personalities of the old west, and deservingly so.
John Henry “Doc” Holliday was born 14 Aug 1851 and lived just 36 years. At 20 he earned a degree in Dentistry and began his practice in Georgia. But a diagnosis of tuberculosis caused him to move to warmer and dryer conditions of the southwest. While in Texas, he saved the life of Wyatt Earp which fueled a strong friendship that would last until his death.
In 1879 they rode together to Prescott, AZ which was a fast growing town and at the time the territorial capital. Wyatt’s brother Virgil was the town’s constable. They stayed in Prescott a short time, then moved on to Tombstone while Holliday remained in Prescott. In September 1880 Holliday joined the Earps in Tombstone. It was there where the Cochise County Cowboys gang were causing trouble and the famous shootout occurred.
Wyatt Earp, Holliday and others formed a federal posse and pursued the cowboys who were able to flee from the shootout. In the following weeks they killed a number of cowboys during their vendetta ride.
Holliday went to Colorado where Earp persuaded Bat Masterson to help Holliday when he faced charges of killing Frank Stillwell in Tombstone. He lived his last days in Glenwood Springs, Colorado and died there on 8 November 1887.
While Holliday is mostly known for the events in Tombstone, he was also a talented card player and feared shooter. His peers thought of him as a well-tempered, calm Southern gentleman. Wyatt Earp described him as a loyal friend whose disease necessitated his gambling and “the deadliest man with a six-gun I ever knew”. He was one of many men (and women) who lived in tough, small, growing western towns in the “wild west”. His brief life was filled with challenges brought on by his disease, the need to make a living through gambling, false and not so false accusations of illegal activity, and few real friends. One of those few friends was Wyatt Earp.
