Colfax County War facts for kids

The Colfax County War was a big fight over land. It happened in Colfax County, New Mexico, from 1873 to 1888. This conflict was between settlers already living on the land and new owners of a huge area called the Maxwell Land Grant. The new owners wanted the settlers to leave, but the settlers had built their lives there and refused. This led to fighting and violence starting in 1875.

Why the Conflict Started

The Maxwell Land Grant's History

This large area of land was first given as a grant in 1841. It was given by the Mexican governor of Santa Fe de Nuevo México. The original owners were Charles H. Beaubien and Guadalupe Miranda. The grant included parts of what is now Colfax County and Las Animas County.

In 1849, the land became part of the United States. This happened after the Mexican–American War. An American pioneer named Lucien B. Maxwell moved to the area. He married Beaubien's daughter and became a part-owner.

Maxwell's Lenient Approach

Over many years, more pioneer families arrived. The land was near the Santa Fe Trail, making it a good place to settle. Maxwell was very kind to these new settlers. He let them live and ranch on the land. He also allowed Ute and Jicarilla Native Americans to hunt there. Miners could even lease parts of the land to dig for minerals.

New Owners and Rising Tensions

In 1870, Maxwell sold the grant for about $1.35 million. A group of English business people bought it. They formed a company called the Maxwell Land Grant and Railway Company.

When the new owners arrived, problems started right away. People already living on the land were upset. The company believed these settlers were squatters, meaning they were living there without permission. They said the settlers were causing trouble for their work. Many settlers, including white, Spanish, and Native American people, believed the land was public. Others felt Maxwell had given them unspoken permission to live there.

The War Begins

Settlers Prepare for Conflict

On March 30, 1873, the settlers held a large meeting. They decided to arm themselves to protect their homes. They wanted to be ready if they needed to defend their property.

The Killing of Reverend Tolby

A major event that sparked more fighting was the death of Reverend Franklin J. Tolby. He was a strong supporter of the settlers. On September 14, 1875, he was found killed in Cimarron Canyon. Many people quickly thought someone from the company was responsible.

Blame fell on a person named Cruz Vega. Vega's family had first supported the Hispanic settlers. His uncle, Francisco Griego, was a leader among the Hispanic people. However, Vega's family later switched sides. This happened because Griego and his family faced accusations. They were accused of killing soldiers. It was said they were forced to switch sides to avoid these charges.

Clay Allison's Actions

Because of his family's reputation, Cruz Vega became the main suspect. Townspeople, led by the well-known Robert Clay Allison, formed a group. They hunted Vega down and killed him.

Vega's family was very sad about his death. His uncle Francisco swore to get revenge on Allison. On November 1, Griego found Allison in a hotel saloon. As Griego reached for his weapon, Allison was faster and killed Griego. Allison was later accused of the killing. But after an investigation, the charge was dropped. The shooting was ruled as self-defense. Allison had also killed another person named Chunk Colbert the year before.

Company Retaliation and Law Enforcement

People working for the company fought back. They raided settlers' homes at night. They destroyed property and killed those who resisted.

There were many lawbreakers in Cimarron. Local police could not keep the peace. The attorney general of the New Mexico Territory asked for federal troops. Soldiers from Fort Union were needed to help the sheriff.

The Maxwell Land Grant and Railway Company also had powerful allies. They were connected to the Santa Fe Ring. This was a group of powerful lawyers and politicians. The settlers did not like the soldiers coming onto the land. This caused more violence between the groups.

Buffalo soldiers from the 9th U.S. Cavalry were sent. Once, some of them had a fight with Texas cowboys in a hotel. Three soldiers died. A few months later, one of the cowboys involved, Davy Crockett, was killed by local sheriffs. Clay Allison also killed a Black sergeant in a bar.

The End of the Conflict

A man named Cardenas later admitted to killing Tolby. He was then killed by a group of 20 armed men on November 10. It is thought that about 200 people died during the Colfax County War.

The conflict slowly ended between the leaders. Clay Allison was arrested in late 1876. He left the county in December of that year. The English owners of the Maxwell Land Grant Company lost the land by 1879. New owners from the Netherlands bought the company.

In 1885, one of the last fights happened at the Colfax County Courthouse. A group led by George Curry was attacked by sheriff's deputies. Curry's brother and a follower were killed. Curry admitted to carrying weapons illegally and paid a small fine.

The Dutch owners also faced money problems. The United States government sued them in the early 1880s. The government said the company claimed land in Colorado that was public. On March 8, 1887, the company took its case to the United States Supreme Court. Five weeks later, the court ruled that the company owned the land. The court said the land grant and its survey were valid.

Some settlers left the land, but many made agreements with the company. The fighting calmed down between the settlers who stayed and the landowners. However, some people were still being forced off the land as late as 1894. One of the last people to die in the war was Richard Russell. He was killed in a fight with company enforcers in Colorado in 1888.

Popular Culture

• The 2005 video game Gun features a character named Clay Allison. He leads a resistance group, similar to the events of the Colfax County War.