Cherokee Bill possibly riding with Brushy Bill?

[MissyS]

I stumbled across a page from the TSHA Texas State Historical Association, there’s a nice photo of Cherokee Bill (Crawford Goldsby) standing beside his Mother Ellen Goldsby Lynch on the page and below the photo is all about Cherokee Bill’s life, in it states that Cherokee Bill formed his own gang and rode with well known outlaws as Henry Starr and Billy the Kid. I’m guessing that if this is true since Cherokee Bill was born in Fort Concho Texas in 1876 he would have had to have ridden with Brushy Bill, and it must have been sometime before March of 1896 because that date is when Cherokee Bill was hung. Henry Starr I believe is related to Belle Starr and Brushy said he met Belle when he was young in Indian Country when he ran away. This page stating that Cherokee Bill rode with Henry Starr and Billy the Kid could possibly tie in with Brushy’s account of Belle Starr taking him in. Could it be possible Brushy met Cherokee Bill at sometime and rode with him? How did the TSHA get the information of Cherokee Bill riding with Billy the Kid? Did Brushy ever mention anything about Cherokee Bill I wonder?

[MissyS]

I also found mention that Cherokee Bill joined the Bill Cook Gang in May of 1894. When looking up info about Bill Cook I found a mention that he had worked awhile on the Mule Shoe Cross Ranch. Brushy Bill mentioned he worked with Billy Barlow on a ranch in Muleshoe Texas and I found that the town of Muleshoe, Texas was named after the nearby Muleshoe ranch (founded in 1877 by Civil War veteran Henry Black). There were probably other ranches nearby and other Mule Shoe Ranches in different locations, so I don’t know if the Mule Shoe Cross Ranch could be the same ranch in or near Muleshoe Texas or if it was located elsewhere? I was wondering if there was a possibility Brushy may had worked with Bill Cook on a ranch, and got acquainted with Cherokee Bill? I’m wondering if there could be a connection somehow with the Bill Cook gang and Brushy?

[MissyS]

I also wanted to add that the name Jim French is listed as a known member of the Bill Cook gang, I’m wondering if he could be the same Regulator Jim French that fought in the Lincoln County War alongside Billy the Kid? if so this could be how Brushy became associated with Cherokee Bill through the association of Jim French, it’s just a thought.

[MissyS]

I also found mention of Cherokee Bill riding with Billy the Kid on the Frontier Times page.

www.frontiertimes.com/outlaws/chrokee_bill.html