My great-great grandfather is Leonard Sherman Greenville Scurlock. He was born in 1866 in Missouri, and was murdered by his son in 1915 in Benton County, Missouri. The story of how he was a orphan has run through our family, but no one knows if it is true or not, he possibly adopted parents are W H B Scurlock and Louisa Failer. If you can find out who is actual parents are would make me extremely happy! I hypothesized that Greenzille was his actual last name, but I could be completely wrong.

I'm not related to this family, but some possibilities:

1870 Henry Co, Mo (adjoins Benton Co)
W H B Scurlock 33 NY
Louisa Scurlock 22 Mo
Leonard Scurlock 3 Mo

1876 State Census, Benton Co, Mo
Leonard Scurlock and Malvena(?) Scurlock, both under 10, in the Granville Smith household.

They were not in the Smith household 1880 and don't find them elswhere.

Above might fit with the orphan legend, but conflicts with the 1900-1910 censuses which list Leonard's father born Mo and mother born Ireland.

Vol 3, History of Benton County lists a 1940 memorial service and placement of a bronze plaque at Leonard's grave, and states he was on his own from age 13, and came to Benton Co 1896, driving a farm wagon from Arkansas, but Benton Co. court records list his marriage to Paulina Moor in Dec 1890.

Thanks for the information, although that made it more confusing, it did clear some things up!

Do you know whatever happened to Melvina? I can't seem to find any other information on her.

Just found them in 1880 Benton Co census (misread as 'Kurlock' by Ancestry):

In Greenberry Polson household
Leonard Scurlock 13 servant, works on farm, Mo NY Mo
Melvina Scurlock 9 boarder, Mo NY Mo

Don't find a marriage record for Melvina in Benton Co.

Here's a possibility for Melvina Scurlock. It's from familysearch.com. Edmonson, Missouri is in Benton County. In 1910 Mellie Balke is 38 so her age matches up with that of Melvina.

Texas, Deaths 1890-1976
name: Samuel Henry Balke
event: Death
event date: 24 Sep 1966
event place: Austin, Travis, Texas, United States
gender: Male
marital status: Married
birth date: 17 Mar 1904
birthplace: Edmondson, Missouri
father's name: Samuel Balke
mother's name: Melbina E Scurlock
certificate number: 62544
film number: 2118406
digital folder number: 005144884
image number: 02953