h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Lil,

I spent a day exploring Lincoln in 1999. What a great day in my life that was as I have spent many years studying the Lincoln County war. Anyway I just read your article on tha BBC website and noticed you stated Kansas as the place where Billys mother and stepfather married. I think this may be a mistake, as all my reference books put this as the presbyterian church in Santa Fe?
Are there any descendents from the key players still living around Lincoln I wonder?

I believe you're right, although I don't have my books to hand just now.

As for descendants, yes, there are families around here that date back to those times. Baca, Salazar, Polaco, Brady, Bonnell, and Garrett spring to mind. This makes the history more difficult in some ways, because they are still fiercely partisan on behalf of their ancestors!

Lil

That is really interesting to learn that there are still descendants living in and around Lincoln. I knew that there was a Jarvis Garrett (Pats son?) but whether he is still alive I dont know? How great it would be to make contact with some of them?
I just finished reading the book on Tunstall by Frederick Nolan, which was a mine of information. I live in London and plan to visit the addresses shown in the book for Tunstalls family to see if the houses are still standing.
I plan to re visit Lincoln next year sometime with my wife so maybe we could all meet up? I remember a very nice lady who showed us around Dr Woods house. What a wonderful little town you live in!
I would like to spend a week or two there and really explore all Billys old haunts! Last time we stayed in El Paso and it was a long drive to Lincoln so we didnt get to spend much time there!
Thanks again.

There's plenty of cheap accommodation in Ruidoso -- all the standard brand-name places. In New Mexico terms, Ruidoso is just down the road. Capitan is even closer, and they have a funky little privately-owned motel there, as well as one of the best restaurants in the state. Also a nice cheap diner that looks like a time-warp back to the fifties, full of big-hat ranchers.

You should save up your money to buy a tour with Drew Gomber. He 's an outstanding historian, been on TV, very funny as well.

It would be great to have a micro-meet!

Thanks so much. I will keep you informed of our plans for next year. Last time we came we flew to El Paso via Houston but I have since noticed that BA do direct flights to Phoenix, which might be better for us? A tour with Drew Gomber sounds like the ideal thing for a Lincoln County War buff like me. I will check to see if he has a website?
I have a penpal in LA who I also would like to finally meet up with as well, so as you say, I will have to start saving up for at least a month out there! We did two other trips to America. In 98 we toured Montana and Wyoming to see the Custer and Fetterman battlefields. Also Deadwood and Yellowstone Park. In 97 we did California, taking in the Grand Canyon, Tombstone and Monument Valley and of course Las Vegas. They were all fantastic, but I still enjoyed our El Paso trip the most, where we spent 3 weeks visiting San Antonio,Juarez, Santa Fe, and also visiting Old Fort Sumner and Lincoln. Hey, I must be boring you! I get carried away when I talk of those lovely places out there! Great to make contact with you Lil. Regards, John.