Gottfried Georg (Godfrey) Gauss
Godfrey Gauss was born in Wurttemberg, Germany in 1823. He wound up in America and joined the army at Pittsburgh in 1851. He deserted from the army later that same year. He was captured and forced to serve out his five years. He reenlisted in 1856 at Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was discharged in 1861. He then enlisted for three years in the Third Regular New Mexico Mounted Infantry. He also served as a hospital seward at Fort Craig. After he was diagnosed with poor eyesite, he was discharged for good. He lived at La Junta in San Miguel County and later arrived in Lincoln County to work for L. G. Murphy & Co. He quit eighteen months later because he said they cheated him out of money. He was hired by John Tunstall as a cook on Tunstall's ranch after this. After the war ended, Gauss remained in Lincoln. He was in town on April 28, 1881 when his friend, Billy the Kid, escaped from the jail. Gauss helped Billy escape by helping him with his shackles. He then told in interviews about the mysterious escape. He continued to live in Lincoln and White Oaks, but eventually left New Mexico. He was said to have died in Kansas in March 1902.
