Baca, Elfego << BAH kah, ehl FEH goh >> (1865-1945), was a Mexican American folk hero. He became known as a fearless lawman in the New Mexico Territory during the late 1800’s.
Many white settlers from Texas had moved into the New Mexico Territory. Cultural conflicts between the Texans and the Mexican Americans who already lived there reached a peak, and violence sometimes occurred. The Texans bullied the Mexican Americans and often robbed or murdered them.
Baca became famous for his part in an incident that occurred in the territorial town of Upper Frisco (now Reserve) in 1884. Baca, who had appointed himself a deputy sheriff, arrested a drunken Texas cowboy for firing gunshots throughout the town. A group of angry Texans attempted to free Baca’s prisoner. Baca killed one of the Texans and took refuge in a small hut. Approximately 80 men fired shots into the hut for more than 30 hours, but they did not hit Baca. Baca surrendered to the group only after being promised a fair trial. He was found innocent. Baca later became sheriff of Socorro County.
Baca was born on Feb. 10, 1865, in Socorro. He practiced law in New Mexico from 1894 until his death on Aug. 27, 1945.
