Lawrence G. Murphy’s story didn’t begin with gun smoke — it began with deeds.
This video traces Murphy’s rise as a land grantee. Each purchase and recorded transaction added to the foundation of his empire in Lincoln County, New Mexico.
Starting in the 1870s, Murphy bought water rights, land, and livestock. These gave him leverage over ranchers, soldiers, and neighbors. With the backing of the Santa Fe Ring, his power spread beyond his store in Lincoln. Contracts, mortgages, and quitclaim deeds pulled others into debt.
Before the Lincoln County War began, Murphy’s empire was already laid out in courthouse records. These documents reveal a story of credit, collateral, and control — the paper trail that fueled the conflict.
If you want to see how land records shaped the struggle between Murphy, Dolan, Catron, McSween, and others,
watch the video.
These records tell a story of credit, collateral, and consolidation — the paper trail behind the conflict. If you want to understand how land records shaped the struggle between Murphy, Dolan, Catron, McSween, and others, this is the essential first step.
In the end, Lawrence G. Murphy’s empire was not defined by bullets, but by paper. Every deed, every lien, every contract pulled men into his orbit — until those same records became the evidence of his downfall. By the time the shooting started, the foundation of the Lincoln County War had already been laid in ink.