Seven Rivers Warriors.
The Seven Rivers Warriors were mostly small-time ranchers who operated in the 1870s in the Seven Rivers area of southeastern Lincoln County, New Mexico.
This gang of rustlers began their life of crime out of frustration with the cattle barons, specifically John Chisum. The warriors felt that Chisum’s more than 100,000 head of cattle ate up most of the grazing land in the area. In retaliation, several small ranchers grouped, forming the Seven Rivers Warriors, and began to steal Chisum’s livestock.
When Chisum supported the Tunstall/McSween faction against that of Dolan and Murphy in the Lincoln County War, the “Warriors” quickly joined up with Dolan-Murphy to oppose Chisum’s friends. They often rode with the Jesse Evans Gang and the John Kinney Gang, employed by the Murphy-Dolan faction.
Led by Henry M. “Hugh” Beckwith, the gang had influential connections with local law enforcement, which enabled them to carry out cattle rustling without interference. Bob Beckwith and Wallace Olinger were deputies for Sheriff William J. Brady, while gang member Bob Olinger was a U.S. Deputy Marshal.
Lincoln County War in New Mexico.
The Lincoln County Regulators were formed to counter the gunmen on the side of the Murphy-Dolan faction. Including some 40 men, some of them included Billy the Kid, Richard “Dick” Brewer, Charlie Bowdre, and Doc Scurlock.
Several of the gang members were killed in the Lincoln County War, and afterward, they began to turn against each other. Hugh Beckwith killed gang member Bill Johnson on August 17, 1878, and fellow member John Jones killed John Beckwith on August 26, 1879. On November 23, 1879, gang member Tom Walker was killed in a saloon gunfight in Seven Rivers. Gang member and U.S. Deputy Marshal Bob Olinger was killed by Billy the Kid on April 28, 1881, during a jail escape. Afterward, the gang fell apart, with some members working as cowboys and ranchers, others becoming lawmen, and some continuing their outlaw ways.
Gang Members:
Deputy Jose Chavez y Baca – Nothing is known of him after the Lincoln County War.
Henry M. “Hugh” Beckwith – Continued his outlaw ways and was killed during a robbery of a general store at Presidio, Texas, in 1892.
John M. Beckwith, Gunfighter.
John M. Beckwith – Killed by fellow Seven Rivers Warrior John Jones in Seven Rivers, New Mexic,o on August 26, 1879.
Deputy Robert “Bob” M Beckwith – Was killed by a Regulator in Lincoln, New Mexico on July 19, 1878.
Andrew “Andy” Boyle died of unknown causes in Dona Ana County on May 14, 1882, or 1887.
Charlie’ Lollycooler’ Crawford – Killed by Regulator Fernando Herrera in Lincoln, New Mexico on July 17, 1878.
Thomas Gaffney – Nothing is known of him after the Lincoln County War.
John Galvin – Possibly killed by the Regulators in Lincoln, New Mexico, on April 30, 1878.
Tom Green – Probably killed by the Regulators in Lincoln, New Mexico,o on April 30, 1878.
John Hurley, Gunfighter and Lawman.
John Hurley – He survived the war but was killed by Nicholas Aragon in Chaperito, New Mexico, on January 25, 1886.
William “Bill” H. Johnson – Killed by fellow Seven Rivers Warrior Hugh Beckwith at Seven Rivers, New Mexico on August 17, 1878.
John A. Jones – Killed by fellow Seven Rivers Warrior Bob Olinger in Seven Rivers, New Mexico, on August 29, 1879.
Jim P. Jones – He died of cancer in Carlsbad, New Mexico, on February 5, 1930.
William M. ‘Bill’ Jones – He died of natural causes in Carlsbad, New Mexico, on March 17, 1952.
“Dutch Charlie” Kruling – Nothing is known of him after the Lincoln County War.
Charles Marshall – Possibly killed by the Regulators in Lincoln, New Mexico, on April 30, 1878.
Joseph Nash – He was dragged to death by a roped bronco in Denver, Colorado, in July 1901.
John Wallace Olinger After the war, he led a quiet existence until he died of broncho-pneumonia at Van Nuys, California, on February 25, 1940.
Bob Olinger
Robert “Bob: Olinger – Killed by Billy the Kid, along with Deputy Sheriff James Bell, on April 28, 1881, when he escaped from jail in Lincoln, New Mexico.
Jim Patterson – Killed by the Regulators in Lincoln, New Mexico, on April 30, 1878.
Sam R. Perry – Died in a wagon accident at Perry Canyon in November 1901.
Milo L. Pierce – Died of natural causes at Roswell, New Mexico, on October 20, 1919.
Deputy Thomas B. “Buck” Powell – Died of natural causes in Texas on August 31, 1906.
Jim Ramer – Nothing is known of him after the Lincoln County War.
James B. Reese – Killed by the Sanchez brothers at Tularosa, New Mexico, on August 2, 1878.
Bob Speakes -When the conflict was over,r he became a member of Selman’s Scouts, a vicious gang that terrorized the county. He later moved to Texas, enlisted in the Texas Rangers in 1880, was soon discharged, and disappeared.
Deputy Marion F. Turner – He was indicted with John Jones for the murder of Alexander McSween on July 19, 1878. Still, he was later given amnesty and was thought to have moved to California.
Tom Walker – He was Killed in a saloon gunfight in Seven Rivers in Seven Rivers, New Mexico on November 23, 1879.
©Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated March 2025.
Also See:
Lincoln County War of New Mexico
See Sources.