The Colfax County War was a range war that occurred from 1873 to 1888 between settlers and the new owners of the Maxwell Land Grant in Colfax County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. The war started when the new landowners tried to remove the local settlers from the land they had just bought. The locals refused to leave, as they had settled much of their livelihood in the grant, which resulted in conflict and violence in 1875.
George Curry, who was a sheriff at that time, collected 600 willing citizens to drive off a gang to 35 killers, thugs, and bums. George Curry ordered the 600 citizens to buy up all ammunition and stand firm against the 35 intruders. When the small band saw the strength of the citizens, they went back to Colorado. George Curry's action in the Colfax County War was one of the examples of George's exemplary character that Teddy Roosevelt admired.
