Tag Archives: Appalachia

Strange Miners in Logan (1913)

13 Saturday Mar 2021

Posted by in Coal

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From the Logan Banner, of Logan, WV, comes this editorial about unionization, dated March 21, 1913:

STRANGE MINERS cannot get work at all in the principal Logan County mines, it is said, and even in the smaller mines an applicant has to run the gauntlet of a series of “family-history-cross-examination-questions” that would stagger a Philadelphia lawyer before one gets a job–and then like as not get turned down because he is not of Logan county. The precaution is fully warranted. The United Mine Workers hope to control the Guyan Valley field, if they ever DO–and THEY NEVER WILL–by first “organizing” the smaller, isolated mines by “smuggling in” an agitator or two now and then and finally with one “grand sweep” capture the big works. If the labor leaders actually KNEW certain conditions and “inside workings” now effective even in the small works half so well as they THINK they know them, they’d give up as a bad job their idea of “organizing” Logan county and go to honest work shoveling coal for a living themselves. During the past year, more than one “undesirable miner” has been shipped “bag and baggage” out of the valley because he let his agitation fever break out too strong, prematurely spoiling his little game. In another column will be found a news item of the shut-down of the Ramage works of the Spruce River Coal Co. We predict that some of Logan’s mines will turn off their power and “lock out” their employees before they will let the United Mine Workers conduct their business for them. So far as the corporation’s finances are concerned, the U.S. Coal & Oil Co. can shut down all of its Island Creek mines, burn its tipples, and dump its cash into Guyan river. And that’s what would best suit the competitive coal operators of other States! Likewise the miners’ union agitators and leaders! But there’s another side of the story–the miner and his family need the work in the coal-bank, the merchant needs some of the money he earns, Logan county needs its merchants and the outside world needs West Virginia coal–the BEST that “old mother earth” ever produced!

Memories of Devil Anse Hatfield (1998)

13 Saturday Mar 2021

Posted by in Hatfield-McCoy Feud

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From Pearl Browning Burgess, ninety-seven-year-old daughter of Allen and Emily Browning, dated September 1998:

“I remember Anse Hatfield as Devil Anse. He was a kind old man. We called him Mr. or Uncle Anse. He was so kind to everyone he met. We children of Allen Browning loved to go to his home to see two bears tied up in a log house. The year was 1916. Also, we loved his two pea fowls that spread their tail feathers to show their beauty. I was a young woman in my teens and did Mrs. Hatfield’s laundry when she was ill. They had a real nice family. Seemed everyone who met Mr. Anse loved him and can’t understand why anyone would call him Devil Anse. When he died, my father and I sang one song and Dyke Garrett preached. The men carried his body nearby to Hatfield Cemetery. There they placed him in a grave. At the close of the grave, two sons that had not spoke for many years reached across the grave and shook hands. When they got his monument, his shoes or boots were on backwards. I am 97 years of age and still love to think of the times my father and I visited Uncle Anse and I can remember three sons: Cap, Tennis, and Willis. I remember his girls, yet I can’t recall their names. All this time is now Sarah Ann in Logan.”

The Hopemont Blues: A Poem (1922)

11 Thursday Mar 2021

Posted by in Logan, Poetry, Women's History

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The following poem appeared in the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, on July 7, 1922. The author was Sally Godbey, who gave her address as the “State T.B. Sanitarium, Hopemont, Terra Alta, W.Va.”

THE HOPEMONT BLUES

When the golden sun is sinking

Behind the hills of old Hopemont,

When of home and friends I’m thinking

That “what-might-have-been” is not.

When the night birds’ soft notes falling,

Melodies sweet float on the air,

Then my thoughts go back to Logan,

And the friends that I left there.

When the sighing night-winds moaning,

Groaning through the old oak trees

and the strain of “Home Sweet Home”

Carry softly on the breeze,

Then is when my thoughts go roaming,

Filled with memories old and new

Days of gladness, days of sadness,

Nights so happy, nights so blue.

Though there’s many miles between us,

Little town I love you yet,

And I long to hurry back,

For I’m homesick and regret

That I ever left you Logan,

But I had to, so they say.

I’m lonesome for the old home town,

And I’m coming back some day,

They say that you are a dull little town,

They spell it with a capital D.

They wish that they could get away,

But you are all the world to me,

And though the world is a very big place

My home has always been with you.

And I find you quite a nice little town,

With friends both kind and true.

The Banner prefaced the poem with this: “The Logan Banner is the recipient of a constant chain of poems which would fill our columns if we even dared to publish them. People will never learn that poets are born, not made. However, we have just received one which is from a former Logan girl and now a patient at Hopemont. we are pleased to give this publicity and for genuine beauty of expression and sentiment it far excels many of those we see in the public print today. The author is Miss Sally Godbey and she calls the poem “The Hopemont Blues.” We will refrain from further comments but pass the beatufiul lines on to our readers with the request that they write Miss Godbey, care of State T.B. Sanitarium, at Hopemont, W.Va. and tell her what they think of her literary ability.”

Patton Thompson Survey (1853)

10 Wednesday Mar 2021

Posted by in Big Harts Creek

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Patton Thompson, Jr. Survey (30 acres), Surveyors Record Book B, Logan County Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV. Note: Patton Thompson is my great-great-great-grandfather. Note also: Dick Elkins Branch is now called Thompson Branch and it is located in present-day Lincoln County.

Anse Hatfield Letter to Perry Cline (1886)

06 Saturday Mar 2021

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Pikeville

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Logan County, W.Va.

December 26, 1886

Mr. P.A. Cline

Pikeville, Ky.

Dear Sir:

I had to answer your Letter in regard to the Late Trouble. We are all very sorry that the Trouble occurred but under Somewhat aggravated circumstances it hapened. but I know and solemnly affirm that if such could have been prevented by me I would have stoped the Trouble. but it has gone by & cannot be ___. Cap was away from Home and Jeff went there to his house in the presents of his wife lying on her sick bed and had been under Treatment of the Doctor for three or four weeks and in undertaking to arrest Wallace shot into the House and when Cap came home he went and arrested Jeff to hand him over to a peace officer. & he met with Tom Wallace, and Wallace went with him and at William S. Ferrell’s he Broke loose in the presents of Wallace, and swam the river and Wallace followed shooting at him. I hope that if their is any question Relative to this affair that it will be ___ by a fair statement of the case.

Your friend

Ans. Hatfield

William S. Ferrell statement

At the time Jeff started Cap was of conversing with me some 40 or 50 yds and I never seen Cap Hatfield fire a single shot. You can write to Wm S. Ferrell for now in conclusion I will say to all the relatives of Jeff McCoy that neither one of the Hatfields has any animosity against them and very sorry that such has occurred and sincerely Trust that there will be no more Trouble in regard to the matter. Perry the very Bottom of this crime is nothing more nor less than Mary Daniels and her girls. Now Bill is gone and says he won’t come back. No person is going to Trouble him let him come back.

Very Respectfully,

Anderson Hatfield

NOTE: Ron G. Blackburn owns the original letter. A copy can be seen in Thomas Dotson’s The Hatfield & McCoy Feud After Kevin Costner: Rescuing History (2013), p. 232-233. Coleman Hatfield said that Nancy E. Hatfield, wife of Cap, wrote the letter, while Tom Dotson feels that Preacher Anse Hatfield wrote the letter.

Johnson McCoy Property in Magnolia District (1866)

01 Monday Mar 2021

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The following land information is derived from Land Book 1866-1872 at the Logan County Clerk’s Office in Logan, WV:

Johnson McCoy (of Logan County)1

No property listed in 1865.

1866: Magnolia Township

150 acres Sandy River $10 per acre $50 building $1500 total

No property listed thereafter.

***

1Most likely, this is William Johnson McCoy (1836-1901), brother-in-law to Anderson Hatfield.

Absentee Landowners of Magnolia District (1870, 1876, 1886, 1889)

22 Monday Feb 2021

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley, Matewan

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What follows is a list of absentee landowners in Magnolia Township/District of Logan County, WV, for 1870, 1876, 1886, and 1889… There are three significant types of absentee landowners: 1) those who live outside of Logan County; 2) those who live in Logan County but outside of Magnolia District; and 3) those who own property, for example, at Mate Creek but reside, for example, at Grapevine Creek (both within the district). This list does not include the latter type.

1870

Alexander Mounts, Kentucky, 300 acres

John Counts, Minnesota, 230 acres

Charles Mounts Estate and Jackson Mounts, Kentucky, 150 acres

John Mullins, McDowell County, 150 acres

Christian M. Cline, McDowell County, 85 acres

1876

Jacob Cline’s Heirs, Kentucky, 5000 acres

Warren M. Alderson, Kentucky, 4518 acres

Julius Williamson, Kentucky, 1375 acres

William Collins, Kentucky, 1045 acres

John W. Deskins, McDowell County, 555 acres

Eli Trent, Jr., Wayne County, 524 acres

James M. Lawson, Kentucky, 417.25

William Prater, Kentucky, 240 acres

Asbury Hurly Heirs, Kentucky, 214 acres

Alexander Mounts, Kentucky, 75 acres

Edward Cline, McDowell County, 25 acres

John Mullins, McDowell County, 15 acres

1886

Warren Alderson, Morehead KY, 2999 acres

Jacob Smith, Mouth of Pond KY, 2050 acres

J.D. Sergeant, Philadelphia PA, 1581 acres

Julius C. Williamson, Kentucky, 1353 acres

T.W. Blankenship, Roane County, 1200 acres

Anthony Lawson estate, Wytheville VA, 816 acres

Oswald Schaaf, Cincinnati OH, 650 acres

A.J. Baker, unknown, 300 acres

James Laidley, Kanawha County, 141 acres

1889

J.D. Sergeant, Philadelphia PA, 8976 acres

James OKeeffe, Tazewell County VA, 3592 acres

Stuart Wood, Philadelphia PA, 1093 acres

Anthony Lawson heirs, Wytheville VA, 816 acres

Warren Alderson, Morehead KY*, 800 acres

J.C. Alderson and W.W. Adams et al., Wheeling and Charleston, 733 acres

Lewis Ferrell heirs, Pike County KY, 600 acres

F. Slutienburgh, Cincinnati OH, 350 acres

William P. Payne et al., McDowell County, 30 acres

*Note: Residence identified as Logan County in 1889 but as Morehead, Kentucky, for all other years.

Source: Land Book 1866-1872, Land Book 1873-1874, Land Book 1880-1886 and Land Book 1887-1892.

Cap Hatfield Property in Logan County, WV (1886-1894)

18 Thursday Feb 2021

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan

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The following land information is derived from Land Book 1880-1886, Land Book 1887-1892, and Land Book 1893-1899 at the Logan County Clerk’s Office in Logan, WV:

Anderson Hatfield, Jr.

No property listed in 1865-1885.

1886: Magnolia District

400 acres Grapevine Creek $1.25 per acre no building $[blank]

300 acres Grapevine Creek $1.25 per acre $30 building $315 total

[The 300-acre tract contained this additional note: “redeemed for 1884.”]

1887: Magnolia District

400 acres Grape Vine $1.25 per acre no building $500 total

300 acres Grape Vine $1.25 per acre no building $375 total

1888-1890: Magnolia District

No property listed for Cap.

[Note: On January 30, 1888, he transferred with others two tracts on Grapevine Creek, Sandy River worth $1.25 per acre with total value of $875 to J.D. Sergeant of Philadelphia, PA.]

1891: Logan District

Nancy E. Hatfield

75 acres Island Creek $2 per acre no building $150 total

[Note: This property was “transferred from Reece Browning.”]

1892-1893: Logan District

Nancy E. Hatfield

75 acres Island Creek $2.50 per acre no building $187.50 total

1894: Logan District

Nancy E. Hatfield

75 acres Island Creek, $2.50 per acre no building $188 total

Johnson Hatfield Property in Logan County, WV (1884-1892)

18 Thursday Feb 2021

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan

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The following land information is derived from Land Book 1880-1886 and Land Book 1887-1892, as well as deed books, at the Logan County Clerk’s Office in Logan, WV:

Johnson Hatfield

No property listed in land books for 1865-1881.

On January 28, 1882, Anderson and Vicy Hatfield deeded 200 acres at Lick Fork of Grapevine Creek to Johnson Hatfield (all of Logan County) for $250. Began at a large rock near the creek bank just above the garden field at the mouth of Lick Fork, thence running out to the center of the point above Lick Fork…to the head of Lick Fork and down the top of the ridge between Grapevine and Thacker Creek… Anderson and Vicy Hatfield signed the deed. Justice Valentine Hatfield witnessed the deed on January 28, 1882.

No property listed in land books for 1883.

1884-1885: Magnolia District

Johnson Hatfield, Jr.

200 acres Lick Branch, Grape Vine $1.25 per acre no building $250 total

Johnson Hatfield, Sr.

200 acres Lick Branch, Grape Vine $1.25 per acre no building $250 total

[Note: Two entries exist in the land book for a Johnson Hatfield (Sr. and Jr.) in 1884-1885; this is likely the same person and the same property.]

1886: Magnolia District

No entry for him.

1887: Magnolia District

Nancy Hatfield

300 acres Grapevine, Sandy River $1.25 per acre no building $375 total

[Note: This property was transferred from Johnson Hatfield. Presumably, “Nancy Hatfield” is Johnse’s wife, the former Nancy McCoy.]

1888: Magnolia District

No entry for Johnson or Nancy Hatfield.

[Note: On January 30, 1888, Johnson Hatfield, Jr. transferred 500 acres on Grapevine, Sandy River (two tracts) worth $1.25 and total value of $625 to J.D. Sergeant of Philadelphia, PA.]

1889: Magnolia District

No property listed.

1890: Magnolia District

Nancy Hatfield

147 acres H.R. Fk Mates Creek $1 per acre no building $147 total

[Note: This may be Johnse’s wife, Nancy.]

1891: Magnolia District

No property listed.

[In 1891, “Jo Hatfield & wife” transferred 258 acres on Left Hand Fork Ben Creek worth $1 per acre and with total value of $258 to H.R. Phillips, trustee. This may or may not be Johnse Hatfield.]

Elias Hatfield, Jailer of Logan County (1892)

18 Thursday Feb 2021

Posted by in Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Huntington, Logan, Wayne

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Elias Hatfield was the brother of Anderson Hatfield and father to Henry D. Hatfield. This item is unrelated to the Hatfield-McCoy Feud.

Ellison Hatfield Property in Logan County, WV (1880-1893)

16 Tuesday Feb 2021

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan

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The following land information is derived from Land Book 1880-1886, Land Book 1887-1892, and Land Book 1893-1899 at the Logan County Clerk’s Office in Logan, WV:

Ellison Hatfield

No property listed in 1865-1879.

1880: Magnolia District

50 acres Double Camp Fork, Ben Creek $0.25 per acre no building $12.50

300 acres Mates Creek $0.25 per acre no building $75 total

[Note: The 300-acre tract was transferred from Ephraim Hatfield.]

1881: Magnolia District

50 acres Double Camp Fork Mates Creek $0.25 per acre no building $12 total

276 acres Mates Creek $0.25 per acre no building $69 total

[Note: The reduction of the 300-acre tract is unexplained.]

1882: Magnolia District

The Hatfield page is missing.

1883: Magnolia District

No records are listed for this year.

1884: Magnolia District

50 acres Double Camp Br. Mates Creek $2.50 per acre $25 building $125 total

276 acres Double Camp Br. Mates Creek $1 per acre no building $276 total

20 acres Double Camp Mates Creek $1 per acre no building $20 total

[Note: The 50-acre and 276-acre tract is listed in the name of “Ellison Hatfield’s Heirs”. The 20-acre tract is listed in the name of Ellison Hatfield.]

1885: Magnolia District

50 acres Double Camp Branch, Mates Creek $2.50 per acre $25 building $125 total

276 acres Double Camp Branch, Mates Creek $1 per acre no building $276 total

50 acres Double Camp Branch, Mates Creek $2.50 per acre $30 building $125 total

1886: Magnolia District

50 acres Mates Creek $2.50 per acre no building $56 total

20 acres Mates Creek $1 per acre no building $130 total

1887-1889: Magnolia District

Ellison Hatfield

50 acres Mates Creek $2.50 per acre $30 building $125 total

20 acres Mates Creek $1 per acre no building $20 total

Ellison Hatfield’s Heirs

50 acres Double Camp, Mates Creek $2.50 per acre $25 building $125 total

276 acres Double Camp, Mates Creek $1 per acre no building $276 total

20 acres Double Camp, Mates Creek $1 per acre no building $20 total

[Note: In 1887, the latter three tracts are noted as “one yr back tax & interest.” In 1888, the latter three tracts are noted as “sold to Okeefe for tax.” In 1889, the latter three tracts are restored to Ellison Hatfield’s heirs.]

1890-1891: Magnolia District

Ellison Hatfield

50 acres Mates Creek $2.50 per acre $30 building $125 total

20 acres Mates Creek $1 per acre no building $20 total

Ellison Hatfield’s Heirs

50 acres Double Camp, Mates Creek $2.50 per acre $25 building $125 total

276 acres Double Camp, Mates Creek $1 per acre no building $276 total

28 acres Double Camp, Mates Creek $1 per acre no building $28 total

1892: Magnolia District

Ellison Hatfield

50 acres Mates Creek $2.50 per acre $25 building $125 total

20 acres Mates Creek $2 per acre $40 building $175 total

Ellison Hatfield’s Heirs

50 acres Double Camp, Mates Creek $3.50 per acre $30 building $175 total

276 acres Double Camp, Mates Creek $3.50 per acre no building $966 total

28 acres Double Camp, Mates Creek $3.50 per acre no building $98 total

1893: Magnolia District

Ellison Hatfield

50 acres Mates Creek $2.50 per acre $30 building $125 total

20 acres Mates Creek $2 per acre no building $40 total

[In 1893, Ellison Hatfield’s heirs by commissioner transferred 250 acres on Mates Creek worth $3.50 per acre and total value of $875 to H.R. Phillips, trustee.]