Santa Fe Ring facts for kids

The Santa Fe Ring was a group of powerful lawyers and people who bought and sold land in the United States during the late 1800s and early 1900s. They became very rich by using political connections and unfair land deals. Many important people in the New Mexico Territory, like future Senator Stephen Benton Elkins, were connected to this group. The Santa Fe Ring was also involved in several conflicts, such as the Pecos War, the Lincoln County War, and the Colfax County War.

The name "Santa Fe Ring" was used for almost all politicians in the capital city of Santa Fe, New Mexico. They had a lot of control over the area in the late 1800s and early 1900s. People said they either ignored or were actively involved in dishonest activities. The most well-known time involving the Ring was in the 1870s, when the ownership of huge Spanish land grants was being decided.

Members of the Ring were accused of selling land to new farmers that they did not actually own. They were also said to get government contracts to provide food to Native Americans on reservations. They got these contracts through unfair political connections. However, they often supplied less food than promised or provided poor quality meat that was often spoiled.

What Was the Santa Fe Ring?

The Santa Fe Ring was a powerful group of lawyers and land dealers. They operated in the New Mexico Territory during the late 1800s. This group gained a lot of wealth through dishonest methods. They often used their political power to get what they wanted.

How Did They Make Money?

The Ring made money in a few main ways. One way was through land deals. They would sometimes sell land they didn't truly own. Another method involved government contracts. They would get deals to supply goods, like beef, to Native American reservations. However, they often didn't deliver the full amount or provided low-quality items.

The Ring's History and Key People

The Santa Fe Ring grew strong over time. It involved many different people who worked together. Their actions led to several conflicts in the region.

Early Days with Murphy and Fritz

A businessman named Lawrence Murphy became a key figure in the Ring around the 1860s. He was a veteran from the Union Army. Murphy teamed up with his partner, Emil Fritz, to form a company called "L.G. Murphy & Co." in 1866.

Murphy and Fritz would get fake ownership papers for land. Then, they would sell this land, which they didn't actually own, to new farmers and ranchers. If people missed their payments, Murphy and Fritz would take back the land, cattle, or crops. They quickly became very rich. At the same time, they also got government contracts to supply food to Apache Native Americans on reservations. They often did not deliver the correct amounts. Because they had powerful political friends in the Ring, complaints from Native Americans were often ignored.

The Rise of a Monopoly

In 1869, Murphy hired James Dolan to work for his company. Murphy's business was located in Lincoln, New Mexico. It quickly became the only place where local ranchers and farmers could buy supplies. Murphy, Fritz, Dolan, and another businessman named John H. Riley turned it into a monopoly. This meant they had no competition. They could charge very high prices for their goods, which made many people in the area angry.

By 1877, a wealthy rancher named John Chisum supported two new rivals. Rancher John Tunstall and businessman Alexander McSween opened their own businesses. This made Murphy and Dolan very angry. At this time, Murphy was starting to get sick with cancer. However, he still helped make decisions for his business.

The Lincoln County War Begins

Murphy, Dolan, and Riley hired two outlaw groups: the Jesse Evans Gang and the John Kinney Gang. They wanted these gangs to provoke Tunstall into a fight. Both gangs started stealing Tunstall's cattle. To protect himself, Tunstall hired many small ranchers and cowboys as bodyguards.

Dick Brewer, who used to work for Murphy, became Tunstall's foreman. Other skilled gunmen like Doc Scurlock and Charlie Bowdre joined them. Ranchers Frank Coe and George Coe also became part of the group. Later, Frank McNab, Billy the Kid, and Ab Saunders also joined.

This situation led to the Lincoln County War. The conflict began on February 18, 1878, when Jesse Evans and members of his gang murdered Tunstall. Tunstall's supporters then formed a group called the Lincoln County Regulators. On February 18, 1879, Evans also murdered attorney Huston Chapman. Chapman was representing Susan McSween, the wife of Alexander McSween. By October 1878, Murphy had died from cancer. After his death, James Dolan took full control of the Murphy-Dolan businesses.

Opposition to the Ring

Juan Patron, a representative from the New Mexico Territory, became a supporter of Susan McSween. He joined the opposition against the Santa Fe Ring after two local Hispanic businessmen were murdered in Lincoln County, New Mexico. On April 9, 1884, a cowboy named Michael Maney shot and killed Patron in Puerto de Luna, New Mexico. Patron had received many threats because he was against the Santa Fe Ring.

Maney was arrested and went to trial. Several important attorneys represented him. The prosecutor in the case was Thomas B. Catron, a member of the Santa Fe Ring. Maney was found not guilty. Catron was closely connected to Albert Fall, who would later be involved in the Teapot Dome scandal.

According to a popular story, the route of U.S. Route 66 was changed to avoid Santa Fe and go through Albuquerque instead. This was supposedly done by Democratic Governor Arthur T. Hannett to punish the Santa Fe Ring.