Billy the Kid and Lincoln County War Tales of the West
The article recounts Billy the Kid born William H. Bonney in 1859, killing at age 12, a dozen more killings by age 21, and a life shaped by frontier feuds. It details the Lincoln County War in New Mexico, pitting cattle baron John Chisum against Maj. L. G. Murphy, with regional violence and shifting alliances fueling the conflict.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Northwest
Southwest
Robin Hood
Slade
Plummer
Lincoln County
Billy the Kid
Bonney
Wiliam H. Bonney
Eastside
New York
Coffeyville
Kan
Colorado
New Mexico
Fort Bowie
Arizona
Tucson
Old Mexico
Jose Martinez
Pennsylvania
Rio Grande River
John Chisum
L. G. Murphy
Fort Stanton
Chisum
Murphy
Billy the Kid figures in Lincoln County war origins
The narrative sketches Billy the Kid as a growing fighter who works for John Chisum and Tunstall. It covers the start of the Lincoln County War after Tunstall is killed, Kid’s vow to avenge him, Brews’ gang formation, a brutal prisoner killing, and a July 1878 street battle at the McSween house with Murphy forces.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Billy the Kid
Lincoln County
John Chisum
J. H. Tunstall
Chisum
Alexander A. McSween
Tunstall
McSween
Major Murphy
Murphy
Morton
Baker
Brewer
Roswell
Kid
McClosky
Agua Negra
Joe McNab
Lincoln
Brady
Peppin
Herrera
Charlie Crawford
Fort Stanton
White Oaks
Greathouse Ranch
Jimmy Carlyle
Carlyle
Garrett
Pat Garrett
Sumner
Pete Maxwell
Maxwell
M.xwell
Maxowwell
Elling's Rise From Penniess Immigrant to Montana Banker
Henry Elling rose from a $6 monthly wage to control seven Montana banks and major mines and ranches. He built a finance empire in Virginia City and Helena, backed key mines like Easton and Boss Tweed, and made multi‑million losses and gains through bold, risky deals.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Henry Elling
Montana
United States
Missouri
Butte
Madison County
Virginia City
Helena
Kansas
Elling
Fairweather
Alder Gulch
St. Louis
Chicago
Union Bank & Trust Co
George Ramsey
Red Lodge
Pony
Sheridan
Bozeman
Easton
Boss Tweed
Hecla
Glendale
Indianapolis
Henry Knipperberg
Knipperberg
Easton Mining Co
Boss Tweed Group of Mines
Pony District
Boston
W. W. Morris
Elling the Princely Gambler and the San Francisco Exchange
A tale recalls Elling a gambler who backed a sheepherder to build a fortune through a peculiar financial scheme. He once sold a five thousand dollar San Francisco exchange and supplied a sealed envelope with cash that became the payment when the draft was honored in San Francisco. A walking stick insect is described as an imitator of twigs, changing color from green to brown with the season.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Elling
San Francisco
Also Mentioned on This Page
Marge
Myrt
Helen Mack
Miss Mack
Donna Damerel Fick
Myrtle Vail
Ellen Drew
Joel McCrea
Paramount
Kate Smith
Anaconda
the Distilling CO
Pemim Oll
Lydian E. Pinksham
W. Pound
Pinkham
Conoco
U.S. Patent Office
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!