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Note: James was a spy for General Kearny and was instrumental in the bloodless capture of Santa Fe, but on a second similar mission he was captured by Mexican authorities and nearly executed. He was known in Mexico os "Don Santiago" or simply "The Don".Much of his story is told in Susan Shelby Magoffin's book "Down the Santa Fe Trail and into Mexico". His biography "James Wiley Magoffin" by W.H. Timmons, is available at the Magoffin Home, now a museum, in El Paso. He eventually moved to a Mexican town called "El Paso del Norte" and, and in 1850, established a settlement called Magoffinsville, which later became part of the city of El Paso. He also supplied the Confederate army in the southwest.
He was the first American Consul to Chihuahua, Mexico, and was there for 16 years. He was also in Durango, and this is where he acquired the name "Don Santiago". He was never paid for this service.
In 1844 he moved to Independence, Mo., where his wife died. He never remarried.
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