My understanding is that the reason we think of neckerchiefs as "cowboy" wear is that the de-mobbed civil war vets who went west rather than going back to the farm had only their wool uniforms, and used a cotton kerchief to prevent chafing in the heat. It was also useful as a dustmask (and therefore the classic bad-guy disguise). Of course many of them would have been suffering from various war-caused disorders, as we think of them now, and that was why there were so many stories of violence and lawlessness. Nothing kilt-related, but it all goes into the understanding and appreciation of clothing as culture.
Cheers,
John