John “Turkey Creek Jack” Johnson – Riding With the Earps
The annals of the American West are filled with figures whose lives were as colorful as the landscapes they inhabited. Among these individuals stands John "Turkey Creek Jack" Johnson, a man whose story weaves together elements of law, frontier justice, and the complex relationships that defined the era. He was a lawyer, a cowboy with a penchant for gunfights, and a lawman who found himself riding alongside the legendary Earp brothers during their infamous Vendetta Ride.
Born around 1852, the early life of John “Turkey Creek Jack” Johnson remains somewhat shrouded in mystery. Before his name became associated with the tumultuous events of Tombstone, Arizona, it is believed that Johnson worked as a bookkeeper and lawyer in Missouri. Seeking fortune or adventure, he eventually journeyed westward, arriving in the bustling and often lawless town of Deadwood, South Dakota.
Deadwood, a boomtown fueled by gold and rife with opportunity and danger, served as an early stage for Johnson’s developing reputation. Here, he reportedly engaged in a gunfight with two men at a distance of thirty yards. While the exact circumstances remain debated, some accounts suggest that these men were his partners in a gold mining venture, and a dispute led to the violent confrontation. This incident, whether born of a business disagreement or something more personal, marked an early indication of Johnson’s willingness to resort to firearms in the face of conflict.
From the Dakota Territory, John “Turkey Creek Jack” Johnson ventured further south, eventually appearing in Dodge City, Kansas. Dodge City, a notorious cowtown, was known for its saloons, gambling halls, and a transient population of cowboys, gamblers, and outlaws. It was in this environment that Johnson may have first crossed paths with Wyatt Earp. Wyatt, along with his brothers, was carving out a reputation as a formidable lawman, and Dodge City served as a training ground for the conflicts that would later define their careers. While the exact nature of their initial acquaintance is uncertain, it is plausible that Johnson, with his legal background and apparent willingness to use a gun, would have found himself within the same social circles as the Earps.
The paths of John “Turkey Creek Jack” Johnson and the Earps converged more definitively in Tombstone, Arizona Territory. Tombstone, much like Deadwood and Dodge City, was a boomtown fueled by silver mining and plagued by lawlessness. It was here that Johnson took on the role of a deputy marshal, working alongside Wyatt Earp and his brothers, Virgil and Morgan. The Earps were attempting to establish order in a town rife with competing factions, including the notorious Clanton gang and other outlaw elements.
The tensions in Tombstone reached a boiling point with the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in October 1881. While Johnson was not present at the gunfight itself, its aftermath had a profound impact on the events that followed, shaping his involvement in the subsequent Earp Vendetta Ride. The gunfight resulted in the deaths of Billy Clanton and Tom and Frank McLaury, further escalating the conflict between the Earps and their enemies.
In March 1882, the simmering tensions erupted into further violence. Morgan Earp was ambushed and killed while playing billiards. Virgil Earp, already wounded in a previous attack, was deemed to be in danger and the decision was made to move him and the Earp women to California for safety. Wyatt Earp, along with a group of loyal friends, including John “Turkey Creek Jack” Johnson, escorted them on their journey.
As the train carrying Virgil, the Earp women, and Morgan’s body made its way through Tucson, the group encountered Frank Stillwell, a known associate of the Clantons and a suspect in Morgan’s murder. On March 20th, Stillwell’s bullet-ridden body was found near the train tracks. Wyatt Earp and his men were immediately suspected of the killing. John “Turkey Creek Jack” Johnson was among those believed to have been present during the events in Tucson.
Following the events in Tucson, Johnson returned to Tombstone with Wyatt Earp and others. The death of Stillwell marked a turning point, solidifying the Earps’ decision to take matters into their own hands. The next day, joined by Texas Jack Vermillion, they embarked on what became known as the Earp Vendetta Ride.
The Earp Vendetta Ride was a series of retaliatory killings carried out by Wyatt Earp and his posse against those they believed were responsible for the attacks on his brothers. While the exact number of men involved and the specific details of each encounter remain debated, it is clear that the Earps were determined to avenge the deaths of Morgan and the attempted murder of Virgil. John “Turkey Creek Jack” Johnson rode alongside the Earps during this period, participating in the pursuit and confrontation of their enemies.
During the Vendetta Ride, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Warren Earp, Sherman McMasters, and John “Turkey Creek Jack” Johnson were indicted in absentia for the murder of Frank Stillwell. The legal repercussions of their actions, combined with the ongoing conflict in Tombstone, forced them to flee the Arizona Territory.
After the Earp Vendetta Ride, John “Turkey Creek Jack” Johnson sought refuge in Colorado before eventually relocating to Texas. He later moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. He died in Salt Lake City in 1887, succumbing to tuberculosis.
The life of John “Turkey Creek Jack” Johnson remains a testament to the turbulent era of the American West. While not as widely known as the Earp brothers or Doc Holliday, his participation in the Earp Vendetta Ride places him firmly within the historical context of the events that shaped the legend of Tombstone. He was a man of many talents, a lawyer who became a cowboy and a lawman who rode with a posse driven by vengeance. His story serves as a reminder of the complex and often violent realities of life on the frontier.