Alexander McSween (1843?-1878) - A lawyer in Lincoln County, New Mexico, McSween, along with partner, John Tunstall, opened a rival store in Lincoln, vying for the business that had been controlled by the Murphy & Dolan Mercantile and Banking.

Alarmed by McSween and Tunstall's plans, Murphy and Dolan attempted to put the pair out of business, harassing them legally, and when that did not work, Dolan tried to goad Tunstall into a gunfight. However, Tunstall refused to use violence himself, but soon recruited Billy the Kid, and a half dozen other tough cowboys to protect him and his investments. In February, 1878, Tunstall was killed by the rival faction, igniting the Lincoln County War.

Joseph Smith (1805-1844) - The founder of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith was December 23, 1805 in Sharon, Vermont. Though the family moved ten times during his youth, Smith spent the majority of his childhood near near Palmyra, New York, in the heart of what was called the "burned-over district" for its frequent and fervent Protestant revivals. At the age of 14, he claimed to have had an intense spiritual revelation of God and Jesus Christ. At the age of 20, Smith claimed that an angel called Moroni had directed him to a collection of engraved golden tablets that had been buried in a hill near Palmyra. He said that a prophet named Mormon had produced the tablets over a thousand years ago and he was instructed to translate the history. In 1930, he completed the work and published the "Book of Mormon," which together with the Old and New Testaments and some of Smith's later revelations became the sacred scripture of Mormonism. Later that year he founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fayette, New York.

In 1831, they moved their headquarters to Kirkland, Ohio, but there, they found persecution, especially due to spreading rumors of polygamy. In 1837, Smith moved the group to Missouri. But, they would find no peace in the Show me State," as within a year, all out "war" broke out with their fearful neighbors. Missouri's governor soon ordered all Mormons to leave the state, and when the Mormons refused, their stronghold in Far West, Missouri was surrounded, and Smith, fearing an imminent massacre, surrendered.

On July 19, 1878, McSween and his supporters, including Billy the Kid, were besieged by their opponents in McSween's house. His home was set on fire and several people were shot dead as they came out of the house, including an unarmed Alexander McSween.