Near White Sands Missile Range in Otero County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Disappearance of Albert J. Fountain and his son Henry

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 25, 2011

1. Disappearance of Albert J. Fountain and his son Henry Marker

Inscription. Albert Jennings Fountain was a Civil War veteran, New Mexico legislator and prominent lawyer. On February 1, 1896, Fountain and his eight-year-old son, Henry, were traveling home to Mesilla from Lincoln. They carried grand jury indictments against cattle rustlers. Both disappeared at Chalk Hill, and their bodies were never found. In 1899 Oliver Lee and James Gililland were tried for their murder. Both were acquitted.

Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Animals • Law Enforcement • Notable Events. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1949.

Location. 32° 31.052′ N, 106° 22.54′ W. Marker is near White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, in Otero County. It is on U.S. 70 at milepost 178, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: White Sands Missile Range NM 88002, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Pecos Valley. It is also in the American Borderlands

and in the Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western

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Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

and the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Albert J. Fountain Murder Site (approx. 2.8 miles away); MK 39 5-inch Gun (approx. 10.9 miles away); MK 5 Guided Missile Launcher (approx. 10.9 miles away); Pershing (approx. 10.9 miles away); 36.9 Megahertz Helix Antenna Doppler Velocity and Position (DOVAP) (approx. 10.9 miles away); US Navy Standard Missile 2 Block II (approx. 10.9 miles away); SRAM (approx. 10.9 miles away); TOW Missile (approx. 10.9 miles away).

Also see . . . Murders Most Foul. An article by Jay W. Sharp detailing the disappearance of Albert Fountain. (Submitted on August 20, 2011.)

Photographed by Maria Tellier, May 24, 2020

2. Disappearance of Albert J. Fountain and his son Henry Marker

Disappearance of Albert J. Fountain and his son Henry Marker reverse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 25, 2011

3. Disappearance of Albert J. Fountain and his son Henry Marker reverse

Points of Interest
New Mexico's Historic Markers typically have a map on the back side showing the location of other OSHM's. This is an excellent source of information when exploring for other Historical Markers and locations.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 25, 2011

4. Disappearance of Albert J. Fountain and his son Henry Marker

View east on US-70.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2011, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 2,652 times since then and 165 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 13, 2011, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 2. submitted on May 26, 2020. 3, 4. submitted on August 13, 2011, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.