And the Winner Is…. Susan McSween may have been the winner of the Lincoln County War.

If there was a winner in New Mexico’s Lincoln County War, it may have been Susan McSween. The widow of Alexander McSween used some gift cattle and a head for business to build one of the top ranch operations in the territory. By 1890, she controlled more than 1000 acres and at least 5000 cattle. A small silver vein was discovered on her land.  And a fruit orchard—trees obtained from John Chisum—gave the operation even greater renown. She died in poverty in 1931 but lived an extraordinary life.