This timeline is according to Karen Tanner and has not yet been reconciled against Doc’s movements as recorded by Gary Roberts. The two generally coincide, but there are certain points at which the two differ. One thing that is key with Tanner, and something to keep in mind, is that she advocates strongly for Doc having returned to Georgia immediately after the alleged gunfight at the Mexico border. This timeline pics up with Doc’s movements following completion of dental school in Philadelphia.
| Year | Date | Route | Notes |
| 1872 | March | Pennsylvania to St. Louis, MO | Worked with friend at dentist office while awaiting certification at 21 years of age |
| 1872 | September | St. Louis to Georgia | Returned home to Georgia to start career as dentist |
| 1873 | September | Georgia to Dallas, TX | North then South through Tennessee |
| 1874 | Aug/Sep | Dallas to Denison, TX | |
| 1874 | December | Denison to Dallas, TX | Returned for New Years celebration |
| 1875 | April | Denison/Dallas to Fort Griffin, TX | |
| 1875 | June (late) | Fort Griffin to Denver, CO | |
| 1876 | February (5) | Denver to Cheyenne, WY | |
| 1876 | September (?) | Cheyenne to Deadwood, SD | |
| 1877 | Spring | From Deadwood back to Texas | Via Cheyenne, Denver, Laclede Kansas to visit relatives, and then (possibly) to or through Missourri |
| 1877 | June | Arrives in Forth Worth, TX | Verified in town on July 4th |
| 1877 | August | Forth Worth to Fort Griffin, TX | |
| 1878 | March (+/- 1) | Fort Griffin to Dodge City, KS | |
| 1878 | November (?) | Dodge City to Trinidad, CO | Stopped for Doc’s health reasons, possibly got into trouble, then pushed on to Las Vegas |
| 1878 | December | Trinidad to Las Vegas, NM | Arrived 2 days before Christmas |
| 1879 | March (mid) | Las Vegas to Dodge City, KS | For Royal Gorge War, traveled to Royal Gorge with the “unit”, roughly a couple of months |
| 1879 | June | Dodge City to Las Vegas, NM | Post Royal Gorge War, could have gone direct from Colorado |
| 1879 | October (Late) | Las Vegas to Prescott, AZ | With Wyatt |
| 1879 | November (Early) | Arrived in Prescott, AZ | |
| 1880 | March | Return visit to Las Vegas, NM | |
| 1880 | September | Prescott to Tombstone, AZ | After letter from Wyatt |
| 1881 | Summer | Visit home to Valdosta | Tanner has it that Doc went home to recuperate from a wound received in the gunfight against Old Man Clanton and crew |
| 1882 | April | Tombstone to Trinidad, CO | Via Silver City, Albequerque, Las Vegas, Trinidad |
| 1882 | May (1st week) | Trinidad to Pueblo, CO | Wyatt headed to Gunnison, CO |
| 1882 | May (14) | Pueblo to Denver, CO | With Bat to watch the races |
| 1882 | May (29) | Denver to Pueblo, CO | Via Bat and phony charges to avoid extradition to Arizona |
| 1882 | June (15) | Pueblo to Gunnison, CO | Joined up with Wyatt |
| 1882 | July (8) | Salida (near Gunnison) to Arizona | This is the debated time taken to kill Johnny Ringo |
| 1882 | July (18) | Arrives in Leadville, CO | Ten or eleven days after last note of his whereabouts, circumstantial evidence that he could have gone to Arizona |
| 1885 | Winter | Leadville to Denver, CO | For the winter where it is less harsh |
| 1886 | Spring | Denver to Silverton, CO | |
| 1886 | July | Silverton to Denver, CO | Very briefly here, then run out of town |
| 1886 | July | Denver to Leadville, CO | |
| 1887 | Spring | Leadville to Glenwood Springs, CO | Wrote Kate and asked her to come |
| 1887 | Spring | Glenwood Springs to Haroney Cabin | Two weeks, then decided best to return to Glenwood Springs |
| 1887 | Spring | Haroney Cabin to Glenwood Springs, CO | Stayed here until death |
Handy With A Gun...! 