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Category Archives: Battle of Blair Mountain

Don Chafin: The Most Famous Sheriff in the United States (1925)

26 Saturday Jun 2021

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Battle of Blair Mountain, Matewan, Williamson

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Appalachia, Battle of Blair Mountain, Democratic Party, Don Chafin, Ed Chambers, Ephraim Morgan, history, Logan Banner, Logan County, Matewan, Mingo County, Mingo Republican, politics, sheriff, Sid Hatfield, United Mine Workers of America, West Virginia, Williamson

From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this item about Don Chafin, sheriff of Logan County during the Armed March. The story is dated November 6, 1925.

Don Chafin Renowned as Sheriff of Logan

His Prowess During Threatened Invasion of Union Miners is Recalled in Mingo Republican

Bids Friends Goodbye

Don Chafin, former sheriff of Logan county, paid what might be his farewell visit to Williamson for a long time on Tuesday. While here he expressed to many his appreciation of their concern for him in his present plight.

Chafin was the most famous sheriff in the United States during his regime in Logan county, where he ruled with an iron hand. He was the main prop in the Democratic machine there and a prominent figure in the life of the county.

Sheriff Chafin won his greatest fame during the threatened invasion of Logan county by the armed march of 5,000 or more miners bent on destroying the Logan court house and finally reaching Williamson to release from the local jail a number of union men charged with violations of Gov. Morgan’s martial law.

Sid Hatfield and Ed Chambers, two well known union men of Matewan, had just been killed on the court house steps at Welch and the passions of the miners were thoroughly aroused. The armed march was once halted but was resumed after a midnight battle between the officers and miners on the county road near Sharples.

The invasion then began with forts and vigor. The defenders of Logan under the leadership of Sheriff Chafin were intrenched along a wide front and several clashes took place. The fame of the the doughty sheriff caused many from the outside to rally to his banner.

Mr. Chafin has numerous relatives and friends here to whom the parting was one of real regret. They are steadfast in their belief in his innocence, claiming that he is the victim of a frameup. Chafin was profuse in his expressions of gratitude over the loyalty of his friends on this side of the Logan line.

Mine Guards of Logan (1922)

16 Tuesday Feb 2021

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Battle of Blair Mountain, Coal, Huntington, Logan

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Appalachia, Battle of Blair Mountain, Charles Town, Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, coal, Democratic Party, deputy sheriff, Don Chafin, geography, history, Huntington, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, mine guards, politics, Republican Party, West Virignia

From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this editorial about mine guards, dated June 30, 1922:

MINE GUARDS OF LOGAN

The attorneys for the defense in the miners’ trials at Charles Town, which have been in progress for the past several weeks, have taken every opportunity of referring to the deputy sheriffs of Logan county mine guards as “thugs” and “two-gun men.”

Logan county is, and has been for several years, ruled by officers elected on the Democratic ticket. The Logan Banner adheres to the party of Lincoln, Grant, Roosevelt and Harding. It believes in the policy of the Grand Old Party and so long as that belief endures we will be found advocating the doctrines as preached by the leaders of this political organization.

Politics has no place in the discussion of the so called mine guard system in Logan county. We hold the love and respect of our homes far above any reverence to political parties and when the good name of Logan is attacked we forget political lines and join with the good people of this vast community in resenting any reflection on the fair name of Logan.

It has always been a mystery to us why the demand for the abolishment of the extra number of deputy sheriffs in this county should come from parties who are non-residents of the county? Who has demanded their abolishment? What cry has been heard from Logan county for aid? What facts have been presented of any unlawful acts committed at the hands of officers in this county?

Logan is filled with men of the highest type of intelligence. Likewise, they have many, many men here who are as brave as any men to be found in the nation. These men would not, for an instant, be a party to crimes in the county without raising their voices in protest. When it is all sifted down, it is found the hue and cry for a change of conditions is raised by those other than citizens of Logan county. Here are four points that must be borne in mind when considering Logan county:

  1. Due to the natural geographical conditions, Logan is rather isolated from other sections of the state.
  2. Due to this isolation and the fact that it is far removed from through transportation facilities, it is hard to attract labor here.
  3. In order to secure labor it becomes necessary to employ many who have had previous criminal careers.
  4. The county is mountainous, the operations are many and widely scattered, and the forces of deputies are not too many but otherwise too small to maintain order and uphold the law in an area of 400 square miles

Logan is situated among the mountains with but one natural outlet. This is by way of the C. & O. branch line to Huntington. The county is naturally divided by creeks, valleys, and branch railway lines. On these can be found many operations, employing hundreds of laborers, and to successfully cope with the lawless the sheriff is naturally required to employ more than the usual amount of deputies.

If Logan county was situated on the trunk line of any railway system, it would be a much easier task to supply the mines with labor, but due to the fact that it is far removed from any other section of the state and that in order to reach any other point, east, west, north or south it becomes necessary to travel over a distance of 75 miles to Huntington, labor is hard to obtain.

In securing this labor to fill the requirements of the large corporations operating here, it is necessary to visit the employment agencies located in the larger cities. Anyone acquainted with these agencies recognize the fact they are not scrupulous about whom they list, and the natural consequence is that many brought here on transportation are recognized criminals and members of all nationalities. Not all of them, thank goodness, are of the lawless class, but many are. They require constant watching and close scrutiny to see that their criminal tendencies do not become too pronounced. In order to do this it becomes imperative to have a large force of officers.

In view of the fact that there are 142 operations in this county and that approximately 50,000 people are laboring within our borders it can be readily seen that 35 deputies are a comparative small force to exercise supervision over such a huge population. Should a riot break out within our county it would require at least eight hours to obtain help from any section of the state. The fact that Logan needs as large a force of officers was amply attested when the armed march was made on Logan last August.

This article is not written in the defense of Don Chafin or his deputies. They need no defense at our hands. It is not written in defense of a policy adopted by any political party in the county. Regardless of the political affiliations of the sheriff, the Banner would earnestly recommend to anyone, be he the most rabid Republican in the county, if they should be sheriff, the retention of an official force as large as is now employed.

A great hue and cry has been raised because the salaries of these officers have been paid by the coal operators. Let us for a moment realize that the coal industry in the county is the sole industry in our midst. Upon the shoulders of these operators fall the burden of the peace and happiness of their employees. It is in order to furnish these employees protection and security that they have gone into their pocket books and paid for this protection. Who objects? Have you heard a taxpayer in Logan county object? Not one. They are perfectly willing that this cost shall be borne by the operators. They might as well object to the operators subscribing to better schools in Logan. Also voice opposition to better roads, the burden of which falls on the shoulders of the operators.

No one has heard a Macedonian cry from Logan for aid? Not even when union fields of the state were appealing for bread. If there was ever an example of the benefits of the non-union shop plan it was simply exemplified during the recent dull period. Logan worked and fared well. We have no ills to cure nor any abuses that need redress. The propaganda put forth pour from the foul mouths of others than citizens of Logan county and we beseech them to busy themselves with affairs other than ours, for we are perfectly able to take care of ourselves, and when we need their assistance, or advice, we will call for them loud and long.

Don Chafin’s Deputies (1921)

21 Monday Dec 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Battle of Blair Mountain, Coal, Logan

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A.A. Vance, Albert Butcher, Albert Gore, Allen Mounts, Allie Johnson, Anderson Dempsey, Appalachia, B.B. Young, B.F. Baker, B.M. Hager, Battle of Blair Mountain, Bilton Perry, Bruce Davidson, Buren Browning, C.H. Huffman, C.H. Perry, C.W. Bias, C.W. Hamilton, Cassa Booton, Charles Bryant, Charles Duty, Charles Stollings, deputy sheriff, Don Chafin, E.D. Gore, E.H. Scaggs, E.M. Burke, E.S. Harman, Earl Cook, Ed Cook, Ed Mullins, Elbert Dempsey, Erastus Perry, Evert Dingess, F.C. Mullins, F.H. Hall, Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland, Frank Maynard, Fult Mitchell, G.F. Downey Jr., G.L. Burgess, genealogy, George C. Steele, George Chafin, George Dimitrijevich, George H. Munch, George M. Browning, Guy Fox Gore, H.H. Farley, history, J.C. Gore, J.C.L. Harris, J.E. Mullins, J.F. May, J.H. Ford, J.J. Gilmore, J.O. Hill, J.T. Ashworth, J.T. Walsh, Jess Cook, Jesse Gartin, Joe Blair, John E. Sewell, John L. Gearhart, K.F. Mounts, L.E. Steele, Lawrence Adkins, Lee Belcher, Lee Callaway, Lewis Farley, Logan, Logan County, Lucian Mitchell, Milton Stowers, N.E. Steele, N.L. Barger, P.J. Riley, Patrick L. Murphy, Peter M. Toney, R.F. Booton, R.W. Estep, Red Akers, Ren Stollings, sheriff, Sherwood Baldwin, Simpson Booton, T.C. Chafin, W.C. Holbrook, W.C. Whited, W.D. Henshaw, W.E. White, W.F. Butcher, W.F. Farley, W.M. Patrick, Wayne Chafin, West Virginia, William Gore

The following list of Don Chafin’s deputies prior to the Battle of Blair Mountain is based on Record of Bonds E in the Logan County Clerk’s Office in Logan, WV:

Name, Date of Appointment, Surety, Surety Amount, Page

Lawrence Adkins…25 January 1921…Albert Gore…$5000…144

Red Akers…23 August 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…279

J.T. Ashworth…1 February 1921…J.H. Ford…$5000…155

B.F. Baker…28 February 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…172

Sherwood Baldwin…2 August 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…269

N.L. Barger…1 February 1921…J.H. Ford…$5000…153

Lee Belcher…1 February 1921…Charles Stollings, Anderson Dempsey, M. Elkins…$5000…149

C.W. Bias…5 April 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…210

R.F. Booton…31 January 1921…Cassa Booton and Simpson Booton…$5000…148

George M. Browning…8 February 1921…C.E. Browning…$5000…158

Charles Bryant…18 June 1921…A.A. Vance, G.F. Gore…$5000…244

G.L. Burgess…4 April 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…207

E.M. Burke…10 June 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…240

Albert Butcher…24 January 1921…W.F. Butcher…$5000…143

Lee Callaway…13 May 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$______…226

Wayne Chafin…12 February 1921…Milton Stowers…$5000…164

Earl Cook…15 July 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…260

Jess Cook…15 July 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…259

Bruce Davidson…20 May 1921…G.F. Gore…$5000…230

Elbert Dempsey…26 February 1921…Milton Stowers…$5000…171

George Dimitrijevich…17 February 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…167

G.F. Downey, Jr….3 August 1921…J.B. Ellis, Evert Dingess…$5000…272

Charles Duty…11 April 1921…George Chafin…$5000…212

R.W. Estep…8 March 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…183

H.H. Farley…24 March 1921…L.E. Steele…$5000…198

Lewis Farley…15 July 1921…G.F. Gore…$5000…258

J.H. Ford…27 May 1921…P.J. Riley…$5000…235

Jesse Gartin…31 January 1921…J.O. Hill…$5000…147

John L. Gearhart…5 March 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…173

J.J. Gilmore…17 March 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…193

E.D. Gore…14 June 1921…William Gore, Guy F. Gore…$5000…243

B.M. Hager…5 April 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…209

F.H. Hall…1 February 1921…J.H. Ford…$5000…154

C.W. Hamilton…21 April 1921…W.E. White…$5000…218

E.S. Harmon…12 August 1921…E.S. Harman and George Chafin…$5000…277

J.C.L. Harris…23 May 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…233

W.D. Henshaw…23 March 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…197

W.C. Holbrook…23 March 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…196

C.H. Huffman…5 August 1921…C.H. Huffman and P.M. Toney…$5000…273

Allie Johnson…8 February 1921…J.C. Gore…$5000…157

J.F. May…19 July 1921…W.F. Farley…$5000…262

Frank Maynard…25 January 1921…G.F. Gore and Charles Stollings…$5000…145

Lucian Mitchell…1 July 1921…Fult Mitchell…$3500…270

Allen Mounts…1 April 1921…T.C. Chafin, K.F. Mounts…$5000…204

Ed Mullins…12 February 1921…F.C. Mullins…$5000…163

F.C. Mullins…25 January 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…146

John Mullins…28 March 1921…J.E. Mullins…$5000…211

George H. Munch…23 August 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…278

Patrick L. Murphy…22 February 1921…W.E. White and Allen Mounts…$5000…169

W.M. Patrick…13 July 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…256

Bilton Perry…27 April 1921…Buren Browning…$5000…219

C.H. Perry…5 February 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…151

Erastus Perry…1 August 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…267

E.H. Scaggs…10 March 1921…Ed Cook…$5000…184

John E. Sewell…10 June 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company…$3500…239

L.E. Steele…24 March 1921…H.H. Farley…$5000…199

N.E. Steele…18 July 1921…George C. Steele…$5000…261

Ren Stollings…9 February 1921…Charles Stollings and Milton Stowers…$5000…160

J.T. Walsh…12 March 1921…Milton Stowers…$5000…188

Ed White…21 January 1921…Joe Blair…$5000…142

W.C. Whited…8 February 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…159

B.B. Young…4 April 1921…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$3500…208

This list will be updated soon to include more names.

State v. Edgar Combs (1923): Statement of W.H. Moss, No. 28

15 Tuesday Dec 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Battle of Blair Mountain, Coal

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Appalachia, Battle of Blair Mountain, Bevill Hardware Company, crime, genealogy, history, Logan, Logan County, Lola Herald, United Mine Workers of America, W.H. Moss, West Virginia

State v. Edgar Combs (1923): Statement of B.C. Harris, No. 24

09 Wednesday Dec 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Battle of Blair Mountain, Coal, Logan

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B.C. Harris, Battle of Blair Mountain, Edgar Combs, history, Logan, Logan County, Lola Herold, merchant, United Mine Workers of America, West Virginia

Federal Troops at Blair Mountain

07 Monday Dec 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Battle of Blair Mountain, Coal

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Appalachia, Battle of Blair Mountain, coal, history, Logan County, West Virginia

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State v. Edgar Combs (1923): Statement of Ed Cook and Others, No. 22

02 Wednesday Dec 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Battle of Blair Mountain, Coal, Logan

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A.M. Dial, Appalachia, Battle of Blair Mountain, Charles L. Estep, Claude Gore, coal, Coal River, crime, Ed Cook, Edgar Combs, Elmer Gore, Everett Wellman, George Chafin, H.E. Keadle, history, Isaac Brewer, Joe Blair, John Browning, John C. Gore, John Cafelgo, Lawrence Adkins, Lee Belcher, Logan County, Simp Thompson, United Mine Workers of America, W.F. Butcher, West Virginia

Logan Chamber of Commerce Offers Cool Reception to UMWA Officials (1925)

18 Wednesday Nov 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Battle of Blair Mountain, Boone County, Logan

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Aracoma Hotel, Boone County, C.A. Brubeck, Chamber of Commerce, Herrin, history, Illinois, Kanawha County, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Mingo County, Ohio, Pomeroy, United Mine Workers of America, West Virginia

From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this bit of history about a visit to Logan by United Mine Workers of America officials in 1925. The story is dated August 28, 1925.

Local Citizens Resent Visit of Union Officials

Chamber of Commerce Adopts Resolutions At Special Meeting, and Informs Visitors That They Are Unwelcome Guests

Just how thoroughly the citizens generally of this community are opposed to the activities and methods of the United Mine Workers of America was amply demonstrated this week when officials of the organization were frankly and almost bluntly told by committees waiting on them that their presence here was not desired and they were invited to make themselves conspicuous by their absence.

Two weeks ago eight officials prominent in the affairs of the organization paid a visit to this city and cloaked their activities with a secrecy which tended to excite suspicion. After a stay of a little over a day they departed for an unknown destination, leaving behind the information that they would return shortly. Tuesday four of them again made their appearance and immediately matters began to move with startling rapidity.

A special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was hurriedly called. Before the visitors had been in the city a half hour members of the Chamber were being summoned by telephone and by messenger to assemble in special session. The response to the call was quite general for the business men of the community realized what the future promised where United Mine Workers methods prevailed. Pomeroy, Ohio and Herrin, Illinois, did not appeal to them as a possible future for Logan, so all other affairs were dropped and the meeting was promptly in session.

The subject of the visit was thoroughly discussed and it was unanimously decided that the best interests of the community demanded that unquestioned action should be taken. The experiences of other cities and communities where United Mine Workers methods prevailed were gone into thoroughly and in detail and the members went on record by unanimously adopting the following resolutions:

WHEREAS, it has come to the attention of the Chamber of Commerce of the City of Logan that certain officials of the United Mine Workers of America have made a recent visit to our city and are now back again, and

WHEREAS, we believe it is their desire and intention to stir up industrial strife in attempting to form an organization of the miners in this field, and,

WHEREAS, we have a peaceful, quiet community of good law-abiding citizens, and the miners in our section are now doing well and everything is peaceful and pleasant and that the relations between the coal operators and the miners is pleasant and agreeable, which is conducive to the peace and prosperity of our county; and

WHEREAS, the results and experiences in sections where efforts towards organization on the part of the United Mine Workers of America have been so destructive and disastrous to the industrial success of such communities such as Pomeroy, Ohio, Herrin, Ill., Northern West Virginia and Kanawha, Boone and Mingo Counties, which communities are still suffering from the effects of such attempted organization, and believing that the usual tactics would be pursued in this field if such organization is attempted.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that this body in meeting assembled, unanimously deplores the fact of any such attempted organization and go on record as being unqualifiedly opposed to say activities towards such attempted organization on the part of the United Mine Workers of America, or any of their agents, servants or employees.

AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be spread on the minutes of this meeting and also delivered to the press.

This resolution unanimously adopted this the twenty-fifth day of August, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty Five.

Logan Chamber of Commerce.

H.A. DAVID, chairman

C.A. BRUBECK, secretary

***

It was decided that a committee be appointed to wait on the visitors and in plain language inform them that their presence here was not desired and inviting them to transfer their activities to some other territory remote from Logan.

Shortly after the meeting adjourned, a committee of some twenty-five or thirty members paid a visit to the Aracoma hotel, where the officials were making their headquarters, and conveyed to them the feelings and decisions of the business men of the community. When the officials entered the parlor, where the committee had gathered, the spokesman conveyed to the visitors the reason for their interview in substantially the following words:

Men: Those assembled represent the business interests of the community members of the Chamber of Commerce. We know that you are not here for any good purpose, either for the good of the business interests or the good of the citizens of Logan county or its interests. We know your history in the past. We know what you did to Boone county and we…

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State v. Edgar Combs (1923): Statement of Simp Thompson, No. 21

17 Tuesday Nov 2020

Tags

Appalachia, Battle of Blair Mountain, Blair Mountain, Charles L. Estep, Chauncey, Edgar Combs, history, Litz-Smith Coal Company, Logan County, Simp Thompson, United Mine Workers of America, West Virginia

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk | Filed under Battle of Blair Mountain

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Armed March: Federation of Labor Seeks Pardon for Killer (1925)

13 Friday Nov 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Battle of Blair Mountain

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Appalachia, Battle of Blair Mountain, Blair Mountain, Charleston, crime, deputy sheriff, Edgar Combs, Ephraim Morgan, genealogy, governor, Harold Houston, history, Howard Gore, Huntington, J.E. Wilburn, John Gore, John Wilburn, labor, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Moundsville, prosecuting attorney, United Mine Workers of America, West Virginia, West Virginia Federation of Labor, Wheeling Metal and Manufacturing Company

From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, in a story dated August 14, 1925, comes this bit of history relating to the “armed march” on Logan and Mingo counties in 1921:

FEDERATION ASKS PARDON FOR MAN WHO KILLED GORE

The West Virginia Federation of Labor has been holding its annual convention in Huntington during the past week.

On Tuesday morning the convention unanimously passed a resolution calling upon Governor Howard M. Gore to pardon or parole Edgar Combs who is serving a sentence imposed in connection with the murder of John Gore who was killed on Blair mountain when the “Red Necks” made their famous “armed march” in an attempt to invade Logan and unionize this field.

The resolution was presented Monday by Attorney Harold Houston, of Charleston, counsel for the United Mine Workers in District 17.

The resolution was as follows:

“Whereas Edgar Combs is now confined in the state penitentiary at Moundsville serving a life sentence imposed by the circuit court of Logan county for the alleged murder of John Gore, killed on Blair mountain during a clash between members of the ‘armed march’ of 1921 and a posse of Logan county; and

“Whereas he is now the only person serving in the penitentiary for an offence connected with said uprising, the Rev. J.E. Wilburn and John Wilburn, his son, having turned so-called ‘state’s evidence’ and been pardoned by Governor Ephraim H. Morgan, the said pardon to take effect early in the year 1926; and

“Whereas all of the many hundreds of prosecutions growing out of said trouble have been dismissed and abandoned by the prosecuting attorney of Logan county; and

“Whereas Edgar Combs has a wife and five infant children dependent upon him for maintenance and support, his wife at the present time working for the Wheeling Metal and Manufacturing company in an effort to keep her family together.

“Therefore, be it resolved by the eighteenth annual convention of the West Virginia Federation of Labor assembled at the city of Huntington W.Va. that we earnestly petition the Honorable Howard M. Gore, Governor of West Virginia, to grant and extend executive clemency to Edgar Combs, and either pardon or parole him for said alleged offense.

“And be it further resolved, that a copy of this resolution be immediately forwarded to Governor Gore for its consideration.”

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Appalachia Ashland Big Creek Big Ugly Creek Blood in West Virginia Brandon Kirk Cabell County cemeteries Chapmanville Charleston civil war coal Confederate Army crime culture Ed Haley Ella Haley Ferrellsburg feud fiddler fiddling genealogy Green McCoy Guyandotte River Harts Harts Creek Hatfield-McCoy Feud history Huntington John Hartford Kentucky Lawrence Haley life Lincoln County Lincoln County Feud Logan Logan Banner Logan County Milt Haley Mingo County music Ohio photos timbering U.S. South Virginia Wayne County West Virginia Whirlwind writing

Blogs I Follow

  • OtterTales
  • Our Appalachia: A Blog Created by Students of Southern West Virginia CTC
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OtterTales

Writings from my travels and experiences. High and fine literature is wine, and mine is only water; but everybody likes water. Mark Twain

Our Appalachia: A Blog Created by Students of Southern West Virginia CTC

This site is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and promotion of history and culture in Appalachia.

Piedmont Trails

Genealogy and History in North Carolina and Beyond

Truman Capote

A site about one of the most beautiful, interesting, tallented, outrageous and colorful personalities of the 20th Century

Appalachian Diaspora

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