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By Davy Delgado The Agua Negra Land Grant's 17,631 acres were originally allot ted ‘to Antonio Sandoval on November 24, 1824 by the Repub lic of Mexico through ‘then Governor Bartolome Baca who served from 1822'through 1825. Don Celso Baca y Baca, as well as several other parties, had an interest in ‘this grant. On ‘this unfenced land and on ‘the sur rounding public domain, ‘the cattle, sheep, horses and burros of the owners and other neighbor ing herds grazed. Early in 1888 a suit for petition of the grant was filed in the district court of San Miguel County, (in which the land grant was then located), entitled one Spiegelberg, a German Jew ish immigrant, who had become a prominent merchant, plaintiff, versus Celso Baca, Lorenzo La badie, Viviana Villanueva Baca (wife of Don Celso), and Royltas Labadie, wife of Lorenzo Labadie. While the case was pending, several other parties were named as additional de fendants, and ‘‘diver’’ claimants made their appearance. The case was not decided until 1901, and the court, not being able ‘to partition the grant, ordered it sold and ‘the receipts disbursed according ‘to the interests determined. Brig ham and John H. Hicks were ‘the purchasers. Being Strictly a stock raising district, ‘the entire population could have been counted as a few dozen, scattered over ‘the widely separated ranches. It was a tranquil pastoral region, its peaceful serenity disturbed only occasionally by ‘the ‘traditional bailles at the Don Celso Baca HEARING AIDS BELTONE HEARING AID SERVICE 884-6461 2413 San Pedro Dr. N.E. Albuquerque hacienda for a weekly social gathering. In the summer of 1982, when the village of Puerto de Luna held its Centennial celebration for ‘the building of Nuestra Senora de Refugio de Pecadores Catholic Church historians again reviewed the actual premesis of ‘the exist ing community which has not played -- but participated in ‘the most eventful life-giving day ‘to day ‘apargas’. Don Celso Baca has given testimony 'to Sanita Rosa‘s “vida estila,’’ and'the likes of Billy ‘the Kid, Juan Patron, Alexander Grzelachowski (‘Padre Polaco’, and Charles Ilfeld were as responsible and importantt ‘to ‘the understanding of ‘the historical entity known as Santa Rosa, Guadalupe County and New Mex ico. Don Celso Baca enlisted volun teers in Puerto de Luna and in the area of Sata Rosa, became a captain in the Union Army during the Civil War of 1861-1865, and along with ‘the fair number of “volunteers”, ‘took part in ‘the Battle of Valverde, south of Socorro. Don Juan Patron was only ‘ten years of age when ‘the Civil War ended, but by 1878, ait the age of 23, he had been elected Speaker of the New Mexico House of Repre sentatives in Santa Fe. He was the representative from Puerto de Luna and San Miguel County. His wife, Beatriz Labadie Patron was ‘to pass on ‘the legend of Guadalupe County’s famous ‘quin’ Governor Marsh Giddings, on January 7, 1874 revealed ‘that Zacariah Crompton, E. Scott, and three other persons by ‘the last name of Harrold had killed Isidro Patron and ‘three others, which focused attention on 'the desper ate situation which had developed in and about'the 'town of Lincoln, down ‘the river from Puerto de Luna on'the Pecos. The five Harrold brothers were recent participants in a bloody feud with ‘the Higgins family in Texas. Then they had started a private war in New Mexico after one of the brothers, Ben, had been shot and killed after an alterca tion with a deputy sheriff. Juan Patron, county clerk of Lincoln county du thal time gave an eyewitness account of a retaliation by the Harrolds, which was published in ‘the Santa Fe New Mexican on January 9, 1874. A mass meeting was held in Lincoln on January 3, in which steps were ‘taken to protect ithe people of'the Lincoln community. L.G. Murphey, who was later recorded in New Mexico history as'the leader of the Murphy-Dolan gang, presided at the meeting. Dolan was secretary, and Jose Montano and William Brady were also meeting orderlies. Patton would also ‘testify later after Brady’s assasination, when he became Sheriff and Billy ‘the Kid entered'the picture. On February 2, 1874 Lincoln County Sheriff A.H. Mills and Patton met with Governor Gid dings and ‘the commander of federal ‘troops in New Mexico, General Gordon Granger, be cause ordinary citizens of ‘the county were fearful of becoming involved in arguments, disputes or controversies of any kind. Many factors contributed to'the inherent possibilities of gunplay ; the apparently irresistable urge and impulse of some men io kill without justification or reckon ing; 'the universal habit of carry ing firearms; ‘the widespread habit of drinking intoxicating liquor ‘to excess; ‘the ‘trait of misinterpreting ‘the intenn of a man‘s chance remarks, and ‘tak ing offense where none was intended. In ‘the 1870’s and 1880’s, ‘there appeared'to be available in every town or village, an ample and continually replenished supply of whiskey and brandy. Double Anchor and Pike’s Magnolia, each reatifying 90 Proof, were two of ‘the most popular. And in ‘the 1870's, improved weapons were introduced and offered for sale in Post-war New Mexico. Two who figured prominently in ‘the Lincoln County war also, John H. Tunstall and Alexander Mc Sween initially entered the brew ing situation when Tunstall, through arrangements made by McSween, purchased a quantity of cattle from the estate of Robert Casey, who had been killed by one William Wilson. There were ‘two versions of'the killing: One, it was a politically motivated murder, ‘the other, ‘that ‘the men had a dispute over settlement of an eight dollar debt. Wilson was ‘the first man'to be legally hanged in Lincoln Countty. Some of Casey’s friends and neighbors, who ex pected to buy some of the Casey cattle at favorable prices, did not relish ‘the fact ‘that Tunstall, a Stranger, had come into ‘the community, with plenity of ready money, and paid higher prices. John S. Chisum, portrayed in modern ‘times by a more legen dary figure, John Wayne, was also a cattle king, and was an aggressive bidder who won many beef contracts to supply army forts -- Fort Staunton -- and Indian agencies. He was a close friend and business associate of Mc Sween. Chisum was indebted ‘to Grzel achowski in ‘the amount of $3,456.75, and Chisum was also looked upon by Billy ‘the Kid as the antagonist of a legal scam against him for cattle rustling in which ‘‘the Kid’’ and others had carried out an operation ‘that benefited Chisum. On May 12, 1877 Chisum was visiting McSween at his house in Lincoln, when Frank Freeman and Charles Bowdre, later a companion of Billy ‘the Kid, rode up ‘to McSween’s house and demanded that Chisum step out side. When he refused, Freeman and Bowdre fired 20'to 50 shots at the house, shattering windows and splintering doors. Afterwards, ‘through with ‘the sport of shooting all the two inside the house, Freeman and Bowdre went to a nearby restaurant and killed a sergeant from Fort Stanton without provocation. Sheriff William Brady and a posse arrested Freeman follow ing a fight in which Brady knocked Freeman down with a blow from his pistol. When Freeman got to his feet, he knocked Brady down with a blow from his fist. When Bowdre attempted ‘to interfere in ‘the melee, John H. Riley, with a gun in his hand, held him at bay. Freeman was subdued and arres ted, and ‘taken ‘to Fort Staunton, where on'the way from Lincoln'to ‘the fort, Freeman managed ‘to escape. Billy the Kid later killed Brady. Sheriff Tomas B. Catron arres ted Chisum and McSween in Las Vegas on December 26, 1877, just outside of Las Vegas Grandes. They were en route to St. Louis, after Catron had held them in that city for the legal 48 hour period. The sheriff had 40 men with him. Mrs. McSween, left alone, was later ‘taken ‘to a hotel. Before McSween was'taken'to Mesilla on an embezzlement charge, ‘the sheriff asked Chisum ‘to pay ‘the amount of judgement obtained against him in the suit filed by Grzelachowski, who was ‘then a merchant in Anton Chico. Papers were also served on Chisum for three lawsuits from Bernalillo and Sanita Fe counties. McSween was charged for embezzling, after Emil Fritz passed away in Germany, leaving his estate in Lincoln, where he was a partner with Lawrence G. Murphey. William Brady was appointed administrator of the estate. Spiegelberg Brothers of Sannta Fe had contended that Fritz had assigned his insurance policy to them as security for a debt, and then ‘the question arose as ‘to whether ‘the debt was Fritz’ personal obligation or the debt of ‘the Murphey and Company part nership. Brady resigned as ad ministrator and Fritz’s brother and sister succeeded him. Their bondsmen were James J. Dolan, a partner of L.G. Murphey and Company, and McSween, ‘the attorney employed by Brady. It became well known in Lincoln'that'the Fritz family was now following ‘the advice of James J. Dolan in all matters concerning ‘the administration of the estate. McSween became convinced ‘that his enemies were conspiring ‘to cripple him finan cially and drive him out of ‘the county. Thus, ‘the fending and fighting expanded in scope during ‘the last months of 1877 and ‘the first months of 1878. Governor Lew Wallace, know ing ‘that it would be a waste of ‘time to ask the government ‘troops for help, galvanized into action, and somewhat excited, sent a note'to Juan Patron, who was ‘then the Captain of ‘the Lincoln County Riflemen, which he, Wallace had organized. Juan Patron became a resident of Puerto de Luna after the Lincoln County War, which he was chiefly responsible for bring ing to a peaceful conclusion, having killed over 20 men him self. He was elected no i the legislature, and named speaker of the House. He donated a large sum of money for ‘the building of Nuestra Senora de Refugio de Pecadores. On April 12, 1884 he was murdered by an emissary of the Murphey-Dolan gang years after the war. The first funeral mass to be celebrated in Nuestra Senora de Refugio was for Patton, who fell to the floor of Moore’s Saloon, not even one hundred paces from the church. Completes Marine Training Marine Pvt. David Chewiwie, son of Anna M. Lucero of Santa Rosa, has completed recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Calif. During the 11-week ‘training cycle, he learned ‘the basics of battlefield survival. WEDDING ANNOUNCE MENTS. Choose from our beauti ful selection of hundreds. The Office Supply in News building. SCHOOL SUPPLIES-RETAIL WARREN’S EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES Duplicator Books - Work Books All Major Lines 1518 Girard Bird NE Albuquerque 365-8518 DON JUAN PATRON moved to Puerto de Luna in 1878 with his wife, Beatriz Labadie, to set up a mercantile business. He had been educated at Notre Dame through the support of Archbishop James Lamy. In January 1878 he was elected Speaker of the State House of Representatives at age 23.
Newspaper Details
Santa Rosa News
Santa Rosa, New Mexico, US
Thu, Apr 14, 1983
Page 6
Full Page
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USA 03 Feb 2026
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