George W. Coe (1856-1941) and Nan Hillary Harrison
Old Lincoln County courthouse, Texas ca 1934
Coe rode with Billy the Kid during the Lincoln County War. Coe moved near Ft Stanton New Mexico in 1874 and worked with a cousin on a ranch. In 1878 he leased his own ranch near Lincoln County, which at that time was in the first stages of an all out range war. Shortly after purchasing the lease, Coe was unjustly arrested by Sheriff William Brady. While in custody, Brady’s men treated Coe in a brutal manner. When released, Coe swore revenge against Brady and his men. After the Lincoln War erupted, he joined Billy the Kid as a Regulator. One of Coe’s first actions as a Regulator was the attempted arrest of Buckshot Roberts at Blazer’s Mill on April 4, 1878. The attempted arrest evolved into a gunfight and the eventual death of Roberts. During the gunfight Roberts shot off Coe’s trigger finger.
While riding with Billy the Kid, Coe would be involved in five gunfights, including the five day seige of the Mc Sween Headquarters in Lincoln County. Coe was one of the few Regulators to escape the seige unharmed.
After the death of Billy the Kid, Coe relocated to San Juan County and married. Coe was later able to obtain an amnesty from New Mexico Governor Lew Wallace.
In 1884 he returned to Lincoln County where he became a devoted family man and church attendee. He started a ranch called the Golden Glow Ranch and operated a store.
In 1934, along with Nan Hillary Harrison, Coe published his autobiography, Frontier Fighter. Coe died of natural causes at his ranch and is considered to be the last survivor of the Lincoln County war.
While riding with Billy the Kid, Coe would be involved in five gunfights, including the five day seige of the Mc Sween Headquarters in Lincoln County. Coe was one of the few Regulators to escape the seige unharmed.
After the death of Billy the Kid, Coe relocated to San Juan County and married. Coe was later able to obtain an amnesty from New Mexico Governor Lew Wallace.
In 1884 he returned to Lincoln County where he became a devoted family man and church attendee. He started a ranch called the Golden Glow Ranch and operated a store.
In 1934, along with Nan Hillary Harrison, Coe published his autobiography, Frontier Fighter. Coe died of natural causes at his ranch and is considered to be the last survivor of the Lincoln County war.
Interesting.
ReplyDeleteJust FYI it's Lincoln County, New Mexico (as it says in the story) - not Texas. There's no Lincoln County in Texas, although there actually is a Lincoln, Texas, not much more than a Post Office now...and the former home of Wild Bill Longley:
ReplyDeleteWilliam Preston Longley (October 6, 1851 – October 11, 1878), also known as
Wild Bill Longley, was an American Old West outlaw and gunfighter noted for his ruthless nature, speed with a gun, quick temper, and unpredictable demeanor. He is considered to have been one of the deadliest gunfighters in the Old West.
But that's another story!
Sometimes you take what life throws at you and you never know how it will turn out (or what it will turn you into).
ReplyDeleteThat is a helluva story. I often think of the "old timers" such as my grandparents who grew up in a 4 m.p.h. world without autos, electricity, running water, etc. and then witnessed the advent of all that plus jet flight and space travel. Some people think times are hard now. "These days, people have it better than they ever have and they're more screwed up than they've ever been" (my grandmother 1920-2012).
ReplyDelete