I like this video on Upson, who remains a somewhat obscure actor in the history of the Old West, especially regarding his role in New Mexico history and the Lincoln County War. The voice of Paul Johnson, the accompanying photos and illustrations, all the previously un-exposed details of his colorful life, and the light this video shines on Ash are fantastic. This video is very well done, whoever wrote it did a swell job on an unsung hero of the West, historians and regular readers alike needed this; what a life! Perhaps the biggest remaining mystery is the fate of that trunk of his, that promised to contain untold written treasures, where did it go after Garrett sent it to Upson's sister? It is a tribute to the dedication and purpose of the Wild West History Association that his grave was finally marked in 2021.
Lol. My young grandson watched this with me. Before I could ask him what he thought of it he snarkily says " Grandma they were all this one guy. He gave Billy the Kid his birthday, John Miller his trunk, and Brushy bill the gun shot in the mouth". Haha, kids say the cutest things sometimes.
Great video, gentlemen. I've always assumed it to be a fact that Ash boarded with Mrs. Antrim in Silver City, yet I have to wonder if there is any evidence of that besides Upson's own claims. Asking mostly rhetorically, but I wonder if that is as made up as much of Ash's contributions to The Authentic Life?
Personally I am not a expert on BtK, but I know nothing about Ash boarding with Billy's mom. If you remember the Steve McQueen Western: Wanted Dead or Alive, it tells the story of Billy and his mother on the Santa Fe Trail and meeting up with Ash. tvwriting.co.uk/tv_scripts/2021/Drama/Billy_The_Kid_1x02_-_The_Rattler.pdf
@@WildWestHistoryAssociation Thanks for that link. I was unaware of that episode, though familiar with the series. What is remarkable is how much more has been learned about the Kid because of local records that survive. These were hard to access and largely unknown until the digital world emerged. Now we have such examples as Catherine McCarty's signature on the petition to incorporate Wichita, the only woman prominent enough to sign. Imagine how the Kid's life would have been different had his mother remained healthy and continued building on her success in Kansas! As for Ash, he writes of being a boarder with the McCarty/Antrim house in Silver City, and describes the woman as he says he knew her. There is confusion over her first name, but in documents and her signature it is Catherine, not Kathleen.
Interesting to hear more about Ash! 🤠 👍
Interesting project. Great research effort. Upson was a testament to the power of publicity.
Thanks DAVE!
I like this video on Upson, who remains a somewhat obscure actor in the history of the Old West, especially regarding his role in New Mexico history and the Lincoln County War. The voice of Paul Johnson, the accompanying photos and illustrations, all the previously un-exposed details of his colorful life, and the light this video shines on Ash are fantastic. This video is very well done, whoever wrote it did a swell job on an unsung hero of the West, historians and regular readers alike needed this; what a life! Perhaps the biggest remaining mystery is the fate of that trunk of his, that promised to contain untold written treasures, where did it go after Garrett sent it to Upson's sister? It is a tribute to the dedication and purpose of the Wild West History Association that his grave was finally marked in 2021.
I know you!
Really good videoabout Ash. Well done!!
Thanks Mike! Love to travel those backroads in search of real history.
Lol. My young grandson watched this with me. Before I could ask him what he thought of it he snarkily says " Grandma they were all this one guy. He gave Billy the Kid his birthday, John Miller his trunk, and Brushy bill the gun shot in the mouth". Haha, kids say the cutest things sometimes.
Your grandson is one perceptive young fellow. That's just brilliant!
You must have read John Lemay.'s the man who invented Billy the Kid.
👌
Never heard of him,till now.
He was an interesting well educated fellow.
Great video, gentlemen. I've always assumed it to be a fact that Ash boarded with Mrs. Antrim in Silver City, yet I have to wonder if there is any evidence of that besides Upson's own claims. Asking mostly rhetorically, but I wonder if that is as made up as much of Ash's contributions to The Authentic Life?
Personally I am not a expert on BtK, but I know nothing about Ash boarding with Billy's mom. If you remember the Steve McQueen Western: Wanted Dead or Alive, it tells the story of Billy and his mother on the Santa Fe Trail and meeting up with Ash.
tvwriting.co.uk/tv_scripts/2021/Drama/Billy_The_Kid_1x02_-_The_Rattler.pdf
@@WildWestHistoryAssociation Thanks for that link. I was unaware of that episode, though familiar with the series. What is remarkable is how much more has been learned about the Kid because of local records that survive. These were hard to access and largely unknown until the digital world emerged. Now we have such examples as Catherine McCarty's signature on the petition to incorporate Wichita, the only woman prominent enough to sign. Imagine how the Kid's life would have been different had his mother remained healthy and continued building on her success in Kansas! As for Ash, he writes of being a boarder with the McCarty/Antrim house in Silver City, and describes the woman as he says he knew her. There is confusion over her first name, but in documents and her signature it is Catherine, not Kathleen.
That is Donald trump in the picture I'm telling you