Price: $21.99
Author and historian Ray John de Aragon explores the story
of Lincoln County by looking at the lives of people who lived, worked, raised
hell and raised families during a tumultuous time in history.
Lincoln, the newest in the popular Images of America series
published by Arcadia Publishing, features vintage photos with interesting facts
about the people and places captured by the camera. Cattle rustling, fraudulent
claims against landowners, murder and mayhem were the order of the day. As
often as not, the bad guys prevailed leaving devastation and death in their
wake. For a time Lincoln seemed to be at the center of more corruption than
anywhere in the state. Members of the Santa Fe Ring – unscrupulous lawyers,
lawmen, judges and landowners – held sway over anyone unwilling to go along
with their plans. Yet people continued moving into the territory bringing
education, churches, and families.
The area teemed with colorful, and often violent characters.
Aragon writes of Jose Chavez y Chavez: “(He) was Billy the Kid’s sidekick. He
went back and forth from lawman to outlaw. Chavez joined the Alexander McSween
faction (opponents of
the Santa Fe Ring). He was sentenced to death for murder, but Gov. Miguel
Antonio Otero commuted the sentence. Later, Gov. George Curry pardoned Chavez.
He spent the rest of his life thrilling youngsters with stories of Billy the
Kid as he sat on a park bench on the Old Town Plaza in Las Vegas, New Mexico.”
These factoids about people make for interesting reading and
offer insight into what life was like in the Old West.
The town of Lincoln has been described as the most authentic
Old West town remaining in America. It sits in the lush green valley of the Rio
Bonito in southeastern New Mexico and has been a National Landmark since 1960. Spanish settlers arrived in the area during the 1840s. By
the 1860s it served as a supply center for local ranches, mines and nearby Fort
Stanton. Merchants vied for lucrative government contracts creating conflict
and resulting in the Lincoln Country War.
The small town boasts 17 historic
buildings and four museums. Many notable characters crossed paths in Lincoln
and rode into history. Among them Lew Wallace, Billy the Kid, Sherriff Pat
Garrett and John Chisum.
In Lincoln Aragon recreates the drama, intrigue and
turbulence of the town, the county and the times, bringing to life an era that spawned a legend.
Aragon’s book is available in bookstores, independent and
online retailers, and through Arcadia Publishing (888-313-2665)
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