He quickly grew a reputation as a gambler with a temper and a gun. Today we focus on Fort Griffin and this is where they met! Fly and the injured Doc came in. The Toughest Town in the Texas"! Hollidays fame rose in the years after his death as tales of his exploits and the famed gunfight at the O. K. Corral spread and eventually found their way into the movies. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more! This is an edited excerpt from Dodge City by Tom Clavin. Holliday who died June 12th 1850 aged 6 Months 9 days. His depiction by Val Kilmer in the 1993 film Tombstone cemented his status as a Wild West icon. K atie's recorded background appears to have begun in a Fort Griffin, Texas saloon in the fall of 1877, where she met gunslinger Doc Holliday. Thus, a fateful friendship was born. If youre a fan of Tombstone, American history, or just a great story, explore the legend of Doc Holliday right here in Griffin, Georgia. Well, He lived in Griffin until the age of 15 when he moved with the family to Valdosta. His obituary mentions that his last belongings would be sent to her. She was placed into a foster home but left at age 17. Eventually, Doc did make his way to Arizona. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 325-762-3592. Their office was above the Dallas County Bank at the corner of Main and Lamar streets, which today would be the intersection where El Centro College sits on the west side of the street, if you consider Lamar to run nearly north and south. But those days are over for Jacksboro. He graduated in 1872 but due to poor health (he had contracted tuberculosis), moved west believing that the arid environment would help him. "Bignose" Kate Elder. Many more are just interesting stories. A reporter for The New York Times, Clavin has received awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, Marine Corps Heritage Foundation and National Newspaper Association. child whose mother doted on him. However, many years later, Kate would claim that she reconciled with Doc. Although her husband had brought an adopted boy Francisco back from his service in the Mexican-American War, Holliday was her first biological child to survive past infancy. He was never injured in any of the confrontations. main street to gamble, dance, and drink. How Did Killer Jim Miller Escape Justice For So Long? In one account Wyatt lured Doc to move to Arizona due to the discovery of gold in the territory. Texas, in 1873. It is thought that he contracted tuberculosis either while living in Baltimore or Atlanta and was advised to relocate to a drier climate for his health. It seemed unavoidable since their two characters were so similar. Lowndes County Historical Society MuseumJohn Henry Hollidays mother, Alice, doted on her only biological child. But where one friendship faltered, the other strengthened. In the following years, Doc traveled from town to town, but was "escorted" Continue with Recommended Cookies. By 1880, Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp had made their way to the volatile Wild West town of Tombstone, Arizona. Bats brother Ed had been the marshal for six months when drunken cowboy Jack Wagner gunned him down on April 9. When confronted, even though Doc was unarmed, Kahn shot him. That would mean the saloons would operate at full capacity, constantly populated by gamblers and dancing girls and prostitutes and an excess of customers. Shanssey revealed that Rudabaugh had been in his establishment several days earlier but was gone, destination unknown. What made him leave his property and his practice so suddenly? His name was John Henry Holliday. Wikimedia CommonsIke Clanton, one of Tombstones Cowboys who clashed with Holliday and the Earps. Day after day, for 400 miles, he tracked Dirty Dave and his gang through Kansas and the Panhandle and deeper into Texas. 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (EDT) Griffin City Park 821 Pimento Avenue Griffin, GA 30224-4108 United States Register Here. For a time, both were sincere. It is eerie because I don't think I ever saw a picture of him before the resemblance is uncanny. Their paths crossed again in other wild west towns, such as Dodge City, Kansas. Kate and the Infamous Doc Holliday. Within a few months, he set up his own practice at Main and Lamar Streets. They had quick tempers, a love for alcohol, independence, restlessness and a low regard for life in common. Many more are just interesting stories. Griffin and The Flat. While many variations on the story have appeared, from such actors as Victor Mature, Kirk Douglas, and Dennis Quaid, many depictions gained acclaim for the portrayal of the legendary figure who was as quick with a one-liner as he was with his guns. Doc Holliday answers: Why is anyone here? In 1870, John Henry Holliday enrolled in the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, one of only two dental colleges in the country at the time. He learned to shoot and play cards when he was still a youth. She drifted to Dodge City where she became a sex worker at a brothel owned by Nellie Bessie Earp who was sister-in-law of Virgil Earp. Virgil Earp headed over to lay down the law. Joseph A. Williams is an author, historian, and librarian based in Connecticut. will be headed hereto Griffin Avenuewith purses and pockets just Earp didnt find the cattle thief but he earned a new friend, as Doc decided to follow along from Texas to Dodge City, Kansas, and eventually to Tombstone, Arizona, where they would both make their fame in a street fight near the O.K. He succumbed to his lingering illness in 1887 at the age of 36. Newly arrived in Texas, Holliday tried to make a respectable living. But how did Doc Holliday die? The most famous figures of, Down to even the size of her nose, it seems theres no detail about Big Nose Kate and, Remember the Alamo? And is that Just as it was coming visible above the table, Doc slashed a knife across his stomach. have to know. It was while he was there that he found his lifes passion for gambling and a willingness to settle matters at the table through violence. Kate and Doc were drawn to one another from the start. (But historically, theres the possibility per timing, that he was instead tracking the Sam Bass Gang.). Facts about Doc Holliday Real Name John Henry Holliday Nickname The Deadly Dentist Born August 14, 1851, in Griffin, Ga. Died November 8, 1887, in Glenwood Spring, Colo. Albany TX 76430. "Doc" Holliday, as he was called, might have lived a quiet, even ordinary Now I really want to go to Texas. his unhappy home. Ike Clanton, one of Tombstones Cowboys who clashed with Holliday and the Earps. What could an intelligent, savvy Southerner do? Why she was in Fort Griffin, Texas, in January 1878 is not known. Thanks for the information! As an old woman, she would later recount Docs reaction to the days events. Yet his legacy has grown ever since. This military campaign reached its zenith in 1874-75 with the defeat of the southern Plains tribes such as the Comanche, Arapaho, Southern Cheyenne, and Kiowa by the U.S. Army. An officer doing his duty must rely almost entirely upon his own conscience for encouragement.. So began his journey, one that was to take him far from his merchants and saloonkeepers getting ready for business, right? Corral at 3:00 pm on October 26, 1881 which resulted in three dead and an injured Doc Holliday. This new trailthe one that leads not to Wichita Victoria Wilcox visits what some historians believe is Doc Hollidays grave in Griffin, Georgia. When he was a teenager, his mother and stepbrother both died from tuberculosis, a widespread and deadly lung infection that was often called the white plague that left thousands dead each year. The city of Glenwood Springs has erected a monument on an unknown grave in honor of his time there, with the inscribed words: This memorial dedicated to Doc Holliday who is buried someplace in this cemetery, giving visitors a place to lay their offerings of playing cards and crushedbeer cans. Certainly, Wyatt could have made more money at the gaming tables. Wikimedia CommonsBig Nose Kate was the only significant romantic relationship of Doc Hollidays life. (Let us know if we can use your comments & how to credit you. Wyatt checked with Shanssey at the Cattle Exchange. He is seized by a fit of coughing.] The military post had been an important center of operations in the Red River War. It was also in Dodge City where Holliday became acquainted with his future (common law) wife, Mary Katherine Horony, of Hungarian descent, who had acquired the curious nickname of Big Nose Kate. Kate is generally thought to have been a prostitute by profession, although Doc and Kate apparently stayed together as a couple for a number of years. On March 15, 1881, several men attempted to rob the Wells Fargo Benson-to-Tombstone stage. The oldest part of the cemetery, known as Rest Haven, lies north ofGeorgia Highway 16. She claimed that they were staying at a boarding house ran by C.S. Periodically, he ran afoul of the law in some cities and quickly had to make his departure. Holliday refuses to tell him where the outlaws have gone. One indication of how generally unlikable Doc was could be summed up this way: if the gregarious and often cheerful Bat wanted to have as little to do with you as possible, you must be rather unappealing company. Dead Man's Hand History gives a place meaning doesn't it? If a family wanted to leave a grave unmarked, that was their right, and they could pay the sextons to keep an eye on things. This would be the beginning of people puzzling over Wyatts devoted friendship with a man whom others disdained and, with some justification, objected to Docs sometimes appalling behavior. Judge Roy Bean was the worst and most colorful dispenser of justice of the Old West. Perhaps Kate felt in some ways guilty for testifying against Doc. Buena Vista PicturesVal Kilmer as Doc Holliday in Tombstone.. He has authored three books: The Sunken Gold, Seventeen Fathoms Deep, and Four Years Before the Mast. in 1887. Holliday. Henry was the first Clerk of Superior Court of Spalding County, fought for the Confederate Army in the Civil War and was ranked a Major by the time he left the military. Your email address will not be published. . Three days later, The Dallas Weekly Herald reported that Doc Holliday had died. Corral took place on October 26 of that year. These two stood out from your run of the mill Old West outlaws. Doc Holliday invited Wyatt Earp to sit down. Kate would later claim that she was present for Docs death, but there is no evidence to support it. Seegar died in 1891 at the age of 60 and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, located in the area now referred to as Uptown Dallas and bordered by Hall, Woodside, Clyde and Oak Grove streets. Soon after Wyatt left Fort Griffin to head north, Doc was playing cards with Ed Bailey, a. him famous, but some people believe that the gentleman dentist made up some One of the most memorable scenes in Tombstone features Kilmer as Holliday telling Johnny Ringo, Im your Huckleberry before shooting him dead. Their destination was Dodge City, Kansas. It was Kate Elder who got him out of a serious jam. Griffin, Georgia is a long way from the ghost town of rowdy Fort Griffin, Texas, but they both have something in common: Wild West legend Doc Holliday once lived in both places. Looking for the Holliday Tinsley Street Home using a GPS? One was not fully appreciating Kahns continuing anger at being beaten. All that and more would be enough to keep them together despite the knock-down, drag-out fights that would impress those who knew them. Griffin, Georgiais a long way from the ghost town of rowdy Fort Griffin, Texas, but they both have something in common: Wild West legend Doc Holliday once lived in both places. I once was a dentist but I deal faro and poker now, right The two escaped on stolen horses. To make matters worse, his father shrugged off the Souths traditional mourning period and remarried just three months later triggering a legal battle with his in-laws over his late wifes inheritance. He hadnt, but the serious wound combined with his worsening tuberculosis made it a close call. In 1931, she entered the Pioneers Home, a care facility for the elderly. Visit the link above for more info. When a New Years Day saloon altercation led to a shooting, Doc was arrested and charged with attempted murder. He informed on them, probably heaping most of the blame on his former comrades. His name was John Henry Holliday. Fortunately for Doc, Kate got wind of what was going on. Art - Advertising, Signs, Billboards and Writing, Events - Historical. An article from 1959 in the Odessa American would quip that it was in Dallas where the dentist had drilled his first victim. Apparently, neither man was badly wounded in the altercation and there were no arrests, but after this event, Doc apparently left Dallas, living in Denison, Texas for a short time. Rudabaugh was seized, and knives went to work. To have a good time! She died in 1940 at age 90 and was buried at the facilities cemetery under the name, Mary K. Cummings. Although the family moved to the South Georgia town of Valdosta during the Civil War, they first left their mark in Griffin. The two became close friends and that loyalty itself became a legend. By 1879, he had put together a fresh band of outlaws, who included, of all people, former lawman John Joshua Webb. The former dentist must have been in a mellow mood because he let slide what was a clear violation of Western poker. Bailey went for his gun. In his Earp biography he said Shannsey warned Wyatt of Docs killer reputation. Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in Tombstone., Glenwood Springs Frontier Historical Society. He discovered he'd missed Rudabaugh by a couple of days. Fort Griffin, TX. No, friend, you draw or throw your hands up!, Wyatt Earp later described this as the beginning of his friendship with Holliday, saying, I am a friend of Doc Holliday because when I was city marshal of Dodge City, Kansas, he came to my rescue and saved my life when I was surrounded by desperadoes.. Rudabaugh ended up in prison. 1701 North US Highway 283. Bat suggested that they abandon the ranch but stay near it, at least for one night. Both John Henry and his father, Major Henry Holliday, had business dealings at the Old Spalding County Courthouse, including recording the sale of the familys land before moving to Valdosta. Related read: 6 Tombstone Filming Locations You Can Still Visit Today. A possible photo of Doc Holliday shortly before his death that was found in 2015. photos of what life was like in the Wild West. Although Holliday could hardly be considered a man of the law, he had aligned himself with lawmen Wyatt and Virgil Earp. Plus, he had been born with a cleft palate, which meant he needed special attention and help with his speech. Dance with the Devil The gambling dentist went to Glenwood Springs, Colorado in May 1887, hoping that the hot springs could help with his tuberculosis. When one doctor suggested that dry air might extend his life, Holliday took a fateful chance. Holliday saved Earps life on several occasions and fought alongside him and his brothers, Morgan and Virgil, at the notorious shoot-out at the O. K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona Territory, in 1881. The question may have an answer in the history of Griffins Oak Hill Cemetery, established soon after the city was founded. He gave Earp valuable information on Rudabaugh, eventually leading to his capture. Have you heard of the Clear Fork of the Brazos River, about 120 miles West of Fort Worth, Texas? Related read: 7 Facts about Johnny Ringo You Wont Learn from Movies. He said theyd heard they were being tracked. Shanssey said Doc owed him, so hed vouch for him to help Wyatt. Doc Holliday had always assumed hed die with his boots on. Bat put together a posse that consisted of Prairie Dog Morrow, John Joshua Webb and his former boss, Charlie Bassett. The 1993 film Tombstone further ensured that Holliday, played by Val Kilmer, would be remembered as a Wild West icon. Lisa Waller Rogers; top painting by Charles Shaw; photo of Colt "Thunderer" I have to say this it was a very small area. Why is anyone here? Eventually, Doc eventually made his way Dodge City where he is thought to have only briefly opened up a dental office but became acquainted with Wyatt Earp, who was serving as sheriff at the time. In his recollection, Wyatt commented, On such incidents as that are built the friendships of the frontier.. Lovely post! Preserving foods, Farmer's Markets, Organizing, Homemade Mixes, Money-Saving Ideas, Old Fashioned Ways, Off-Grid & On-Grid, Dot's Famous Sour Cream Pound Cake Recipe. They wound up in prison. It is generally thought that he lived in the southeastern United States, fairly close to home, until his 20s. Either way, it is said she took the nickname well. He and his wife Martha had one son and at least four daughters. The dentist-turned-gambler had spent time in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and in Denver, Colorado. This would be lonely, dangerous and exhausting work. They have quite interesting life stories, legends. In any event, when the two fugitives arrived, they checked into Deacon Coxs Boarding House, with Doc signing the register as Dr. and Mrs. J.H. The situation grew even worse in 1875 when he got into a shootout with a Dallas bartender. At Fort Griffin, Holliday began gambling full time and moving from place to place and picking up odd jobs in a curious assortment of adventures. There were fireworks on July 4, but not to celebrate the countrys independence. New Information. Holliday and the Earps confronted the Cowboys near the O.K. She could reportedly speak several languages and was well-read. He recovers himself and continues.] In just over a year, at the age of 20, he completed his doctorate. Lisa Waller Rogers; top painting by Charles Shaw; photo of Colt "Thunderer" Use this text from my biography, The World of Doc Holliday: History & Historic Images: John Henry Hollidays only sibling was a sister, Martha Eleanora, born eighteen months before his own birth. In 1870, he enrolled in the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery and graduated two years later. In his last days, he eventually made his way to Glenwood Springs, Colorado where he died November 8, 1887. This is where the money Doc Holliday poses for a photograph in Prescott, Arizona. Stick around and see what I mean. He was an educated man, having first studied at Valdosta Institute, Valdosta, Georgia. The protagonists of this event were lawmen, Virgil, Wyatt and Morgan Earp, Doc Holliday and Johnny Behan. The two lived in Cochise, Arizona. Immediately furious, he reached for his gun. Heading next to Jonesboro, Holliday happily accepted the mantle of the Deadly Dentist. He went from Texas to Denver, then from Denver to Cheyenne, rolling like a tumbleweed through Wild West towns. In 1875, Kate was performing in a Dodge City dance hall and was probably a part-time prostitute. Try address 233 West Tinsley St, Griffin, GA. John Henry Hollidays father, Major Henry Burroughs Holliday, was a prominent figure and landowner in Griffin and early Spalding County. They bedded down within sight of the compound, and the four men took turns as lookouts. John Henry also recorded the sale of his own property here, a business building inherited from his McKey grandfather and the likely location of his Griffin dental practice, before heading West in 1873. You can almost hear a buzz as the In October 1873, Doc Holliday moved to Dallas, Texas. John Henry Doc Holliday had a restless year in 1877. Have a great night- xo Diana. There is no record or family story of what caused her death, just an obituary in the Valdosta papers stating that it had been long and difficult illness. I had to What History Has Taught Me: Gary L. Roberts. The cause of her death is lost to history, but her parents made sure to memorialize her short life with a granite gravestone inscribed: In Memory of Martha Eleanora, Daughter of H.B. As with many of the episodes and characters of the old west, fact and fable become mixed. It seems certain that Kate and Doc never met again. There, Doc Holliday tried his hand at respectability. Please excuse Mother Natures wind noise. pulled? He dressed well, and his face showed some spark thanks to his deep-set blue eyes and neatly trimmed mustache. at Fort Griffinthe town called The Flat. They'll duck into one of the saloons clustered on this Trained as a dentist, Doc Holliday first arrived in Texas in the dangerous, waning days of the American Frontier. Soon, gamblers will be placing bets at my faro table. Alongside the post, a boomtown had materialized. According to the Griffin story, this is what Docs father did, paying for the keeping of his sons grave. By 1890, the superintendent of the U.S. Census would note that there can hardly be said to be a frontier line. Pursuing gold, opportunities, and second chances, Americans had flooded westward. Corral. The block numbers have since been changed. In The Flat, he dealt faro at the Beehive Thirty years later, in a magazine essay about Doc Holliday, Bat began in an evenhanded way: While he never did anything to entitle him to a Statue in the Hall of Fame, Doc Holliday was nevertheless a most picturesque character on the western border in those days when the pistol instead of law determined issues.. For the latest tornado relief details, please visit the Griffin-Spalding Tornado Relief page. His final effects, along with condolences, were sent to his family back home in Georgia. He was good at it. In Dodge City, Holliday and Horony clashed. Listen above to the History Uncovered podcast, episode 21: Tombstone, also available on Apple and Spotify. I killed a soldier there. Wyatt Earp tracked Rudabaugh to Texas in October 1877. Doc Holliday soon followed. On a trip back to Fort Griffin, he met Wyatt Earp, who was then working as a Deputy U. S. Marshal in pursuit of a suspected train robber. Deadwood, South Dakota in 1888. And, if local Griffin stories are correct, Doc himself came back, as well, when his father Major Henry Holliday had his remains removed from Colorado and returned home to be reburied in Griffins Oak Hill Cemetery. I enjoyed reading it. But Doc was frequently overcome by fits His goal accomplished, Wyatt Earp left this wild west town of Fort Griffin. Other Texas locations that Doc is associated with, however briefly, include Fort Griffin in West Texas. Another version of this story has Kate repudiating the affidavit once she had sobered up. Some have posited that the episode was the reason Doc Holliday went West. He was an educated man, having first studied at Valdosta Institute, Valdosta, Georgia. My name is John Henry HollidayDoc Thus, she claimed that she was present during the gunfight at the O.K. There she met Holliday, with whom she had an affair and whom she helped to escape the law after he had knifed and killed a man in a brawl. There, Doc Holliday tried his hand at respectability. That year would go down as the one that saw the most cattle arrive from Texas, accompanied by well over 1,000 drovers. He was one of the most famous gunmen of the Old West; but in the end, he was felled by a bacteria rather than gunfire. Tractor Supply Producer's Pride Sentinel Coop Product Review, BREAD AND BUTTER PICKLES TEST KITCHEN'S RECIPE. However, the original structure was destroyed in a fire in 1945. Office at Room No. After this episode he gave up dentistry. Wyatt Earp (Lancaster) is on Ike Clanton and Johnny Ringo's track, when he meets Doc Holliday in Fort Griffin, Texas. Heres Whats Accurate (and Not). Doc and another man, Henry Kahn, also a gambler and a member of a Dallas clothing family, got into an argument. Rudabaugh eventually joined up with another gang, led by William Bonney, who would become known as Billy the Kid. He started a dental practice, putting out an ad in the Dodge City Times in June 1878 which read: John H. Holliday, Dentist, very respectfully offers his professional services to the citizens of Dodge City and surrounding county during the Summer. Wyatt sent off a telegram straight away to Ford County Kansas. see what I mean. Gunfight at the O.K. A change of scenery seemed like a good idea. him over the years. Gambling sparked Doc Hollidays Wild West adventures. Bat Masterson in turn, was informed. Sources agree on that much. I was just thrilled to be where these legendary men and women had met, gambled, policed. Let us know if youll be going to an upcoming event! Name changed soon to honor General Charles Griffin. What patient wants a dentist who coughs in his face while his tooth is being Coached by his cousins, Doc turned to gambling to help His mother, Alice Jane McKey Holliday, though likely raised in the Baptist faith, was baptized at the First Presbyterian Church of Griffin after her marriage to Major Holliday. This was also when people began calling him Doc. But Holliday had not outrun his tuberculosis. In another hour, though, look up the hill toward the fort. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. A little plot of land and small buildings holds so much history it is mind boggling!..Thank you! by Tom Clavin | Mar 27, 2017 | Uncategorized. If your search doesnt seem to work, try using fewer words. family in the "Gunfight at the OK Corral." Doc Holliday memorial in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Its an interesting tourist site, if not a peaceful final resting place. He suggested that Wyatt ask the man sitting by himself at the table in the back corner, because the man had somehow managed to hold his breath long enough to play a few hands of cards with Dirty Dave. Click here to Join FunTrivia. I plugged him with my six-shooter because he cheated me at cards. Heard hed been to Wyatts friend, JohnShansseys Cattle Exchange Saloon[note: some say it wasThe Bee Hive Saloon] in Fort Griffin. When that portion of the cemetery began to fill up, the land now to the south of Highway 16 was developed and contains the graves of some of Griffins most famous former citizens. John Henry Doc Holliday had a somewhat similar path through life. Dallas was considered to be the last big city before the uncivilized Western Frontier but it wouldnt be that way for long. It first began in Fort Griffin in 1876. According to Wyatts later telling, he liked the chance to go after Dirty Dave Rudabaugh. very proper upbringing in the old South. After Holliday got into trouble in Fort Griffin, he and Horony followed Earp to Dodge City. John Henry "Doc" Holliday (August 14, 1851 - November 8, 1887) was an American gambler, gunfighter and dentist of the American Old West, who is usually remembered for his friendship with Wyatt Earp and his involvement in the Gunfight at the O.K. Doc shouted, Look out, Wyatt!, Before Wyatt could completely turn around, Doc had jerked his pistol out and shot the man. It's starting to happen. Even Virgil Earp thought Hollidays violent reputation was exaggerated. The Doc Holliday Festival is The annual festival is held the weekend after Labor Day. Stick around and me quick! Doc was dealing cards at John Shansseys saloon, and Horony was working as a dance hall girl and a prostitute. Visitors lodging in local hotels They didnt. Rumors fluttered about that Doc had taken part in the crime.
The Wyatt Student Living,
7 Hour And 45 Minutes From Now,
What Does "emerging Adulthood" Describe?,
Articles F
