Alexander McSween
Encyclopedia
Alexander McSween was a prominent figure during the Lincoln County War
of the Old West, and a central character, alongside John Tunstall
, opposing the "Murphy-Dolan Faction
".
, McSween was for a time in his youth a preacher
. Afterwards he attended law school
for one year, in St. Louis, Missouri
before moving to Kansas
, then to New Mexico Territory
. He had married Susan Hummer
in 1873. After he arrived in Lincoln County, New Mexico
, McSween worked for Murphy-Dolan as an attorney
, then left them to work for John Tunstall, with whom he became close friends and by 1876, business partners.
, and they hired gunmen from the Evans and Kinney
gangs to rustle Tunstall's cattle and harass him. McSween-Tunstall hired gunmen to protect them and their properties, including Billy the Kid
, Dick Brewer
, George Coe
, and Frank Coe
, among others. On February 18, 1878, Tunstall was murdered by William Morton, Jesse Evans and Tom Hill.
The Lincoln County Regulators
were formed, and on March 6, 1878, the Regulators arrested Frank Baker and William Morton, and executed them. On April 1, 1878, Billy the Kid, Jim French, Frank McNab, John Middleton, Fred Waite, Henry Brown, enter Lincoln and ambush and kill Sheriff Brady
and Deputy Hindman
. Deputy Billy Matthews returns fire during the attack, wounding Billy the Kid and Jim French, but the wounds were minor.
On April 4, 1878, there was a gun battle at Blazer's Mill between Buckshot Roberts
, a bounty hunter
working for Dolan, and the Regulators. Roberts and Regulator Dick Brewer were killed, Middleton was badly wounded, the Kid was grazed by a bullet, and George Coe had his trigger finger shot off. On April 18, Billy the Kid, John Middleton
, Fred Waite
and Henry Newton Brown were indicted for the murder of Sheriff
Brady, while Dolan, Jesse Evans, Matthews and others were indicted for the murder of Tunstall. On May 15, 1878, Manuel Segovia, the cowboy who had killed Frank McNab, was captured.
. On July 19, after numerous exchanges of gunfire over a four day period, the house was set afire. As the flames spread and night fell, Susan McSween was granted safe passage out of the house while the men inside continued to fight the fire. By 9 p.m., the Regulators and McSween made plans to break free of the house. Jim French
went out first, followed by Billy the Kid, Tom O'Folliard
, and Jose Chavez y Chavez
. The Dolan men saw the running men and opened fire, killing Morris. Some US Cavalry troopers had arrived by that time, with instructions to make arrests to avoid executions by the Dolan Faction, and they'd taken up position in the back yard to take those left into custody. However, a close-order gunfight erupted, and McSween was killed, as was Seven Rivers cowboy Bob Beckwith.
With McSween dead the Lincoln County War was in effect over. McSween's widow
, Susan, remarried some time later, to a businessman named George Barber, but the marriage ended in divorce. She would purchase a ranch in Three Rivers, New Mexico
, and later became one of the most prominent cattlewomen of the Old West. She sold out in 1902 to politician
Albert Fall, and moved to White Oaks, New Mexico
, where she remained until her death in 1931, aged 85.
in the 1988 movie Young Guns
. Unlike many other characters, depicted in the movie and its sequel
as having died in different locations and time periods to their real life counter-parts, McSween is accurately shown as being shot and killed at the Battle of Lincoln.
Lincoln County War
The Lincoln County War was a 19th-century range war between two factions during the Old West period. Numerous notable figures of the American West were involved, including Billy the Kid, aka William Henry McCarty; sheriffs William Brady and Pat Garrett; cattle rancher John Chisum, lawyer and...
of the Old West, and a central character, alongside John Tunstall
John Tunstall
John Henry Tunstall , born in England, became a rancher and merchant in New Mexico, where he became a prominent figure and was the first man killed in the Lincoln County War, an economic and political conflict perhaps compounded by ethnic rivalries.-Early life and education:John Henry Tunstall was...
, opposing the "Murphy-Dolan Faction
Lawrence Murphy
Lawrence Murphy was an Irish-American businessman of the Old West, and a main instigator of the Lincoln County War.-Early life:...
".
Early life
Born Alexander Anderson McSween, in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, McSween was for a time in his youth a preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
. Afterwards he attended law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
for one year, in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
before moving to Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, then to New Mexico Territory
New Mexico Territory
thumb|right|240px|Proposed boundaries for State of New Mexico, 1850The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of...
. He had married Susan Hummer
Susan McSween
Susan McSween was a prominent cattlewoman of the 19th century, once called the "Cattle Queen of New Mexico", and the widow of Alexander McSween, a leading factor in the Lincoln County War, and who was shot and killed by members of the Murphy-Dolan faction.-Early life, Lincoln County War:Born Susan...
in 1873. After he arrived in Lincoln County, New Mexico
Lincoln County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*85.1% White*0.5% Black*2.4% Native American*0.4% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.5% Two or more races*9.1% Other races*29.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, McSween worked for Murphy-Dolan as an attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, then left them to work for John Tunstall, with whom he became close friends and by 1876, business partners.
Lincoln County War
When the trouble between the two factions began, Murphy-Dolan accused McSween of embezzlementEmbezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
, and they hired gunmen from the Evans and Kinney
John Kinney Gang
The John Kinney Gang, also known as the Rio Grande Posse, was an outlaw gang of the old West, which operated during the mid-1870s into the mid-1880s....
gangs to rustle Tunstall's cattle and harass him. McSween-Tunstall hired gunmen to protect them and their properties, including Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid
William H. Bonney William H. Bonney William H. Bonney (born William Henry McCarty, Jr. est. November 23, 1859 – c. July 14, 1881, better known as Billy the Kid but also known as Henry Antrim, was a 19th-century American gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War and became a frontier...
, Dick Brewer
Richard Brewer
Richard M. "Dick" Brewer , was an American cowboy and outlaw. He was the first leader of what historically is referred to as Billy the Kid's band, although Billy never led them.-Early life:...
, George Coe
George Coe (Lincoln County War)
George Washington Coe was an Old West cowboy and for a time gunman alongside Billy the Kid during the Lincoln County War.Coe was born in Missouri, and ventured to New Mexico Territory in his youth, around 1871, alongside his cousin, Frank, to work on a ranch near Fort Stanton belonging to a...
, and Frank Coe
Frank Coe (Lincoln County War)
Frank Coe was an Old West cowboy and for a time gunman in the company of Billy the Kid, as a member of the Lincoln County Regulators.-Biography:...
, among others. On February 18, 1878, Tunstall was murdered by William Morton, Jesse Evans and Tom Hill.
The Lincoln County Regulators
Lincoln County Regulators
The Lincoln County Regulators was a deputized posse in Lincoln County, New Mexico during the Lincoln County War, consisting of a dozen or so members who wanted revenge for the killing of their boss, John Tunstall...
were formed, and on March 6, 1878, the Regulators arrested Frank Baker and William Morton, and executed them. On April 1, 1878, Billy the Kid, Jim French, Frank McNab, John Middleton, Fred Waite, Henry Brown, enter Lincoln and ambush and kill Sheriff Brady
William J. Brady
William J. Brady was the sheriff of Lincoln County during the Lincoln County Wars in New Mexico, United States. He was killed in an ambush, aged 48, in which Billy the Kid took part.-Early life:...
and Deputy Hindman
George W. Hindman
George W. Hindman was a 19th-century American cowboy and law enforcement officer serving as a deputy sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico during the early months of the Lincoln County War...
. Deputy Billy Matthews returns fire during the attack, wounding Billy the Kid and Jim French, but the wounds were minor.
On April 4, 1878, there was a gun battle at Blazer's Mill between Buckshot Roberts
Buckshot Roberts
Andrew L. "Buckshot" Roberts was an American buffalo hunter and cowboy whose last stand against the Lincoln County Regulators during the Gunfight of Blazer's Mills near Lincoln, New Mexico is a part of frontier legend....
, a bounty hunter
Bounty hunter
A bounty hunter captures fugitives for a monetary reward . Other names, mainly used in the United States, include bail enforcement agent and fugitive recovery agent.-Laws in the U.S.:...
working for Dolan, and the Regulators. Roberts and Regulator Dick Brewer were killed, Middleton was badly wounded, the Kid was grazed by a bullet, and George Coe had his trigger finger shot off. On April 18, Billy the Kid, John Middleton
John Middleton (cowboy)
John Middleton was friend of Billy the Kid and a key member of the Regulators, who fought on behalf of John Tunstall during the Lincoln County War....
, Fred Waite
Fred Waite
Fred Waite, , was a Chickasaw cowboy who joined Billy the Kid's gang. He left the gang to return to his people....
and Henry Newton Brown were indicted for the murder of Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
Brady, while Dolan, Jesse Evans, Matthews and others were indicted for the murder of Tunstall. On May 15, 1878, Manuel Segovia, the cowboy who had killed Frank McNab, was captured.
Battle of Lincoln
On July 15, 1878, when the Regulators were surrounded in Lincoln at the McSween home, along with Alex McSween and his law partner Harvey Morris. Facing them were the Dolan/Murphy/Seven Rivers cowboys, led by Sheriff George PeppinGeorge Peppin
George Peppin was a corrupt sheriff in Lincoln County, New Mexico, who figured prominently into the Lincoln County War.-Early life:Peppin was born in either Vermont or Ohio around 1841, and later moved to California...
. On July 19, after numerous exchanges of gunfire over a four day period, the house was set afire. As the flames spread and night fell, Susan McSween was granted safe passage out of the house while the men inside continued to fight the fire. By 9 p.m., the Regulators and McSween made plans to break free of the house. Jim French
Jim French (cowboy)
Jim French was a New Mexican cowboy.Out of all Regulators, French remains the most mysterious. Not much is known about him, such as where he came from or how he came to work for John Tunstall. He was known to be a large, powerful man, variously reported to be either half-Indian or half-black...
went out first, followed by Billy the Kid, Tom O'Folliard
Tom O'Folliard
Tom O'Folliard was the best friend of the famous outlaw William Bonney . Both were members of the Regulators, a gang of cattle rustlers operating in the New Mexico Territory....
, and Jose Chavez y Chavez
Jose Chavez y Chavez
Jose Chavez y Chavez was an outlaw from the U.S. state of New Mexico. He was said to be of Mexican-American and Native American ancestry...
. The Dolan men saw the running men and opened fire, killing Morris. Some US Cavalry troopers had arrived by that time, with instructions to make arrests to avoid executions by the Dolan Faction, and they'd taken up position in the back yard to take those left into custody. However, a close-order gunfight erupted, and McSween was killed, as was Seven Rivers cowboy Bob Beckwith.
With McSween dead the Lincoln County War was in effect over. McSween's widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
, Susan, remarried some time later, to a businessman named George Barber, but the marriage ended in divorce. She would purchase a ranch in Three Rivers, New Mexico
Three Rivers, New Mexico
Three Rivers is an unincorporated community in Otero County, United States. Its elevation is 4,570 feet .-Notable people:*Virginia Klinekole, first female president of the Mescalero Apache, 1959*Sara Misquez, president of the Mescalero Apache...
, and later became one of the most prominent cattlewomen of the Old West. She sold out in 1902 to politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
Albert Fall, and moved to White Oaks, New Mexico
White Oaks, New Mexico
White Oaks is a ghost town in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States. Located on the outskirts of the Lincoln National Forest, it became a boomtown in 1879 following the discovery of gold and coal in the nearby Jicarilla Mountains.-History:...
, where she remained until her death in 1931, aged 85.
In popular culture
McSween was portrayed by Terry O'QuinnTerry O'Quinn
Terry O'Quinn is an American actor, most famous for playing John Locke on the TV series Lost. He made his debut in a 1980 television movie called F.D.R.: The Last Year. Since then, O'Quinn has had minor supporting roles in films and TV movies such as Young Guns, All the Right Moves, Silver Bullet,...
in the 1988 movie Young Guns
Young Guns
Young Guns is a 1988 action/western film, directed by Christopher Cain and written by John Fusco. The film was the first to be produced by Morgan Creek Productions...
. Unlike many other characters, depicted in the movie and its sequel
Young Guns II
Young Guns II is a 1990 western film, and the sequel to Young Guns . It stars Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Christian Slater, and features William Petersen as Pat Garrett. It was written and produced by John Fusco and directed by Geoff Murphy.It follows the life of...
as having died in different locations and time periods to their real life counter-parts, McSween is accurately shown as being shot and killed at the Battle of Lincoln.