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Matilda Wade (1929)

09 Thursday Sep 2021

Posted by in African American History, Huntington, Women's History

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In April of 1929, the Logan Banner profiled numerous prominent African-American residents of Logan County, West Virginia.

Matilda Wade

Teacher, Cora School

Miss Wade is a graduate of Douglas High School, Huntington, and West Virginia State College; she has done summer work at the same institution. This is Miss Wade’s first term as a teacher, but her adeptness and aggressive methods have the knack and precision of those of longer experience. Miss Wade has a pleasing manner in her school work which brings willing and immediate reaction from her pupils. Her ideals in education are high. With her disposition to apply herself, and the active and energetic methods she employs, she is bound to reach a high place in her profession. Miss Wade is a member of the West Virginia Teachers’ Association. She possesses another splendid quality in her ability to make friends among the patrons of her community.

Whirlwind News 04.12.1927

09 Thursday Sep 2021

Posted by in Big Harts Creek, Whirlwind

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An unnamed correspondent from Whirlwind on Big Harts Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on April 12, 1927:

Sunday school is progressing nicely at Trace.

A large crowd attended the last days of Howard Adams’ school Friday. All reported a fine time.

James Carter of Monaville was visiting home folks of Hoover Sunday.

Wonder if Daniel McCloud got all the news Sunday evening.

Howard Adams went up Hoover whistling “Hard Times.” His mustache caught on fire.

Wonder what Burl Mullins was interested in Saturday evening that he forgot to shave.

There are several sick children in our town with whooping cough at present.

Jackson McCloud is making his home at Daniel McCloud’s.

We are all listening for the wedding bells to ring on Hoover. Look out Burl, you will be sure to hear them.

Shade Smith of Whirlwind was calling on friends at Daniel McCloud’s Sunday.

Burnie Adams is very ill with whooping cough at this writing.

Wonder why Will Adams was stepping so high Saturday? He must have been afraid of getting his sox muddy.

Wonder why Lucy McCloud looks so down hearted these days? Cheer up Lucy, you have made a bad mistake.

The funniest thing we heard last week was Mrs. Dixie Adams making Howard change beds.

Daily happenings: Daniel losing his cane; Earl and his potatoes; Lucy lost her ___; May got disappointed; Alice and her job; Uncle Jack chewing his tobacco; Tilda going to see __; Charlie and his black eye; Clyde going to the store.

A History of Methodism in Logan (1927)

26 Saturday Jun 2021

Posted by in Huntington, Logan

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From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this bit of history about Methodists in Logan County, WV. The story is dated April 26, 1927:

PLANS FOR SUNDAY’S DEDICATION OF FIRST M.E. CHURCH PROMPT REVIEW OF 100 YEARS OF METHODISM HERE

Methodists from all parts of Logan county and even more distant points are expected to attend the dedication next Sunday of the new First M.E. Church in this city. As previously announced, an impressive program for the day has been arranged. Dr. Daniel Westfall, of Pittsburgh, Rev. J.E. Bird, of Huntington, and Rev. J.S. Thornburg, of Kenova, will be here to assist the pastor, Rev. Ben F. Donley.

It is more than a century ago that Methodism took root in Logan county. There are authentic records telling of the activities of the followers of the Wesleys as far back as 1825, the year the county was carved out of Tazewell, Giles, Cabell and Kanawha. Students of local church history are convinced that Methodist ministers labored in this field prior to that date. Their first goings and comings antedate the West Virginia Conference, which was established by the General Conference while assembled in Pittsburgh in 1848.

For the following review of the history of Methodism in Logan, the Banner is indebted to an adherent of the church who has just been delving into the subject:

First Church Prepares for Dedication

Methodism had its beginning in what is now Logan county in the year 1825 of which we have record, but we feel sure that even before that there were Methodist preachers in the confines of the county.

The History of Methodism in Logan county beings even before we have a West Virginia Conference. It was established by the General Conference while assembled in Pittsburgh in 1848.

Methodism, like all other denominations in Logan county and elsewhere, has been intermittent, not always able to have ministers enough to supply all its work; but wherever possible having local men to exhort the people, and some of these men became great ministers of the church.

Logan County’s Methodism has fared somewhat like that. It has been intermittent in its work. They have had many ministers and many times they have been without a minister. Because of this a large portion of the history has been lost, so far as records are concerned, but in the heart and mind of Methodist people there remains the story of Methodism in Logan county which has been given to them by their ancestors.

At Guyandotte in 1804

We know from the general church history that Bishop Asbury preached in this section of the country before the year 1825 and the minister who was preaching in Guyandotte at the mouth of our river came into the county and preached as early as 1804.

The local church has within the jurisdiction property that was deeded to the church as early as the year 1844 and at this time is defending in the Circuit Court of Mingo county title to property that was deeded to the church in 1882.

The First Methodist Church has been using the old church building or 21 years. It was started by the Reverend J.W. Bedford, who is now living at Parsons, W.Va., and who is still active in serving a church. He began traveling this field in 1872. His circuit included these places as some of the appointments: Claypoool Chapel, Logan, Orville, Starr Chapel, and others that made a circuit of over a hundred miles in length. He walked most of the time and won for himself the name “Walking Joe,” which holds to this day.

The Rev. J.S. Thornburg, a brother of the Rev. Thornburg of this city, was the first preacher in the new church built in 1904. This building has served its people well, but now the needs of the present congregation are so great that they cannot be served in the old building.

In 1924 the Rev. Ben F. Donley was appointed pastor of the local congregation. Upon arrival he found a very much discouraged people, but that willingness that has characterized the Christian people from the beginning–a willingness to arise and work.

Without much ado, or even any shouting from the housetops as to what they were going to do, they set themselves to the task of doing what seemed the impossible.

Planning for Future

The church board made a survey of the community and of the church to find out its needs and to see if it were possible for them to supply them. The first one that arose was the need of a new church building, Sketches were drawn of a building that would care for the church for a number of years, but upon consideration it was decided that the coat was prohibitive. It was then decided to build a part now and complete the plans in the near future. This included departmental rooms and a modern parsonage.

Contract was let to the firm of Crump and Reardin, of Huntington, and ground was broken on November 23, 1926. The corner stone was laid January 13, this year by W.T. Workman, the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the A.F. & A.M., of West Virginia.

The new edifice to be presented for dedication on Sunday, May 1, is of English architecture, a very beautiful structure.

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

26 Saturday Jun 2021

Posted by in Battle of Blair Mountain, Matewan, Williamson

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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.

New Year’s Raid (1888): Randolph McCoy’s Testimony

11 Friday Jun 2021

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

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Randolph McCoy’s testimony in the Johnse Hatfield murder trial provides one version of the Hatfield raid upon McCoy’s home on January 1, 1888:

Q. “How old are you?”

A. “I was born in 1825.”

Q. “Begin in your own way, and tell all about the case that you know.”

A. “The first thing I knew about it the dogs woke me up. My boy came to the bed and said, ‘Pa, they are coming. Get up.’ And by that time I was up on the floor, and they had surrounded the house and 1 heard one of them say, ‘God damn ye, come out and surrender yourselves, prisoners of war.’ We never spoke. By that time, they had come past the upper house as we called it. We got behind that door that broke. They fired a volley each way in the house and I moved for I saw that I could not stay there. Next, I went to the fireplace. Calvin went to the back of the house. They shot cross shots from each side of the door, through the doors. I stayed there a good while. They kept shooting and, finally, I went into the loft. The firing kept up a long time. I thought it a long time. Finally, they fired the house, the room that I was in, me and my wife, Calvin, and Melvin was in the same room. I took a cup and when the blaze would come through the house I would throw water on it and it out. Finally, the water gave out. The boy had gone up in the loft and I went up where he was. We stayed in the house until three of the joists had burned and the end of the joists had fell down before we had attempted to leave the house. The boy then came to me and said, ‘Pa, ye stay here, I can out-run you and I will go to the barn and try to attract their attention in that direction and maybe I can save you.’ He started and got past the corner of the house when they began firing again. He never got to the barn. The little boy hung onto me but I shoved him loose at the door and went out among them. I stepped out of the house and saw Johnson Hatfield standing eight or ten steps from the rest of them, and just as I stepped out of the house and looked up his gun fired in the direction of Calvin. I discovered that his gun had caught fowl and he was humped down working on it. I fired into the crowd then turned and fired at Johnson. I aimed to shoot him in the neck, but I aimed too low and shot him in the shoulder. The burning house made it as light as day and I know that it was Johnson.”

Q. “What did you do when you shot Johnson, the defendant?”

A. “I ran down the creek.”

Q. “Where did you go then?”

A. “I crawled into the shuck pen.”

Q. “Did you have on your night clothes?”

A. “Yes sir.”

Q. “Where was Alafair McCoy?”

A. “She was in the upper part of the house. They did not fire that until the shots were fired at the other—the room we were in.”

Q. “What did you hear at that time?”

A. “I heard Alafair say, ‘Cap Hatfield and Hence Chambers, you would not shoot a poor innocent woman, would you?’ Then they said, ‘Shoot her, God damit, shoot her down. Spare neither men nor woman,’ and they shot her in the left breast. I heard her fall and struggle near the door. This was all before I came out of the house.”

Q. “Where did you stay that night?”

A. “In the shuck pen, I went back at daylight.”

Q. “What did you find?”

A. “I found my son lying there dead. My daughter dead with her hair froze in her blood to her heart.”

Q. “Was the house there?”

A. “No sir, it was burned up. The little girl had dragged her sister off from the house.”

Q. “How far from the house?”

A. “About thirty yards.”

Q. “How many shots did they fire?”

A. “No man could count them. They came in volleys and platoons.”

Q. “Did you have a gun too?”

A. “Yes sir.”

Q. “Was your wife in her night clothes?”

A. “Yes sir, they thought they had killed her, no doubt, or I think they would have done so.”

Source: Bill of exceptions at the office of the Clerk of the Court of Appeals in Kentucky, Frankfort, KY.

Nancy E. Hatfield Memories, Part 3 (1974)

11 Friday Jun 2021

Posted by in Civil War, Hatfield-McCoy Feud

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Howard B. Lee, former Attorney General of West Virginia, provided this account of Nancy Hatfield (widow of Cap) in the early 1970s:

“Mrs. Hatfield, your husband and his father bore the same given names: ‘William Anderson’. How did they get the nicknames of ‘Cap’ and ‘Devil Anse’?”

“It is very simple,” she replied. “Early in life Devil Anse’s name was shortened to ‘Anse.’ During and after the Civil War he was called ‘Captain Anse’. The son, because he had the same name as his father, was called ‘Little Cap’. As the boy grew larger, the word ‘Little’ was dropped. Also, because of their fierceness in feud combats, the McCoys called the father ‘Devil Anse’ and the son ‘Bad Cap’. The newspapers took up the names and they stuck. Devil Anse liked and cultivated the title; but eventually the word ‘Bad’ was dropped from Cap’s nickname.

“Was I afraid? For years, day and night, I lived in fear. Afraid for my own safety, and for the safety of my loved ones. Constant fear is a terrible emotion. It takes a heavy toll, mentally and physically.

“I now think that my most anxious moments, as well as my greatest thrill, came years after the feud was over. In 1922, Tennis Hatfield and another deputy sheriff went over to Pikeville, Kentucky, to return a prisoner wanted in Logan County. While there, Tennis visited the aged Randolph McCoy1, surviving leader of his clan during the feud. (Tennis was born long after the feud was over.) The old man was delighted to see Devil Anse’s youngest son’, and Tennis spent the night with him.

“The next morning, Randolph told Tennis that he was going home with him. ‘I want to see Cap,’ he said, ‘and tell him how glad I am that I didn’t kill him. I am sorry Devil Anse is gone. I would like to see him, too.’ Tennis was worried. He didn’t know how Cap would receive his old enemy. So he left Randolph in Logan while he acme up to our place to consult Cap.

“Cap listened to Tennis’ story, and said: ‘Does he come in peace?’ ‘Yes,’ said Tennis. ‘He comes in peace.’ ‘Does he come unarmed?’ ‘Yes, he comes unarmed.’ ‘Then I shall be happy to greet him in the same way. Bring him up for supper and he shall spend the night with us.

“My anxious moments were just before these two strong-willed men met. I knew how they had hated each other, that each had tried to kill the other, more than once, that each had killed relatives and friends of the other, and I was afraid of what they might do when they stood face to face.

“My thrill came when I saw them clasp hands, and heard each one tell the other how happy he was to see him. They talked far into the night, and bother were up early the next morning, eager to continue their talks. Tennis came about one o’clock to drive Randolph back to his Kentucky home. Cap watched them until they passed out of sight up the creek, and then remarked, ‘You know, I always did like that cantankerous old cuss.’

“Cap and Randolph never saw each other again.”

1Should be Jim McCoy, son of Randolph.

Source: West Virginia Women (Richwood, WV: Jim Comstock, 1974), p. 152-153

Albert G. McCoy Property in Magnolia District (1880-1887)

12 Wednesday May 2021

Posted by in Matewan

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

Albert G. McCoy (of Logan County)1

[On April 15, 1880, Asa and Nellie McCoy deeded 75 acres to A.G. McCoy for $200. References the first hollow below the forks of Sulphur Creek. A.W. Ferrell was a justice of the peace. Deed Book __, page 189-190.]

[On April 15, 1880, Asa and Nellie McCoy deeded 50 acres to Albert G. McCoy for $50. References the first hollow on the right hand side of Sulphur. Deed Book __, page __.]

1881: Magnolia District

75 acres Sulphur Creek Sandy River $1.75 per acre no building $131.25 total

[transferred from Asa McCoy]

1882: Magnolia District

Pages missing.

1883: Magnolia District

Pages are mostly blank

1884-1885 Magnolia District

75 acres Sulphur Creek Sandy River $2 per acre no building $150 total

50 acres Sulphur Creek Sandy River $2 per acre $20 building $100 total

1886-1887: Magnolia District

125 acres Sulphur Creek Sandy River $2 per acre $20 building $250 total

***

1Son of Asa McCoy, brother of Selkirk McCoy.

Sarah Ann McCoy Property in Magnolia District (1873-1887)

12 Wednesday May 2021

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley

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The following land information is derived from Land Book 1873-1874 and Land Book 1880-1886 at the Logan County Clerk’s Office in Logan, WV:

Sally McCoy (of Logan County)

No property listed in 1865-1872.

[Note: Her name is given as Sally McCoy in 1873-1874, then as Sarah Ann McCoy in 1875-1876.]

1873-1874: Magnolia District

200 acres John Ferrell Farm and Vance &c $2.50 per acre no building $500 total

[Transferred from E. Rutherford.]

1875-1876: Magnolia District

200 acres Sandy River $2.50 per acre $25 building $500 total

1877: Magnolia District

No records for this year for Magnolia District

1878: Magnolia District

200 acres Sandy River $2.50 per acre $25 building $500 total

[Note: Her name is listed as Sary Ann McCoy of Logan County.]

1879: Magnolia District

No records for this year for Magnolia District

1880: Magnolia District

200 acres Sandy River $2.50 per acre $25 building $500 total

1881: Magnolia District

200 acres Sandy River $3 per acre $30 building $350 total

1882: Magnolia District

Missing pages.

1883: Magnolia District

Pages are mostly blank.

1884: Magnolia District

200 acres Sandy River $3.50 per acre $30 building $790 total

1885: Magnolia District

200 acres Sandy River $3.50 per acre $30 building $700 total

1886-1887: Magnolia District

200 acres Sandy River $3.50 per acre no building $700 total

William McCoy Property in Magnolia District (1878-1887)

12 Wednesday May 2021

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley, Matewan

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The following land information is derived from Land Book 1873-1874, Land Book 1880-1886, and Land Book 1887-1892 at the Logan County Clerk’s Office in Logan, WV:

William McCoy (of Logan County)

No property listed in 1865-1877.

1878: Magnolia District

[On February 11, 1878, Asa and Nellie McCoy deeded 150 acres to William McCoy for $500. References the mouth of Mate Creek and the land occupied by William McCoy. Ephraim Hatfield was justice of the peace. Deed Book __, page 484-485.]

150 acres Sandy River $1.75 per acre no building $262.50 total

[Transferred from Asa McCoy.]

1879: Magnolia District

No records for this year for Magnolia District

1880: Magnolia District

150 acres Sandy River $1.75 per acre no building $262

1881: Magnolia District

150 acres Sandy River $2.50 per acre $25 building $500 total

[100 acres to S. Simpkins and M.B. Lawson]

1882: Magnolia District

Pages missing.

1883: Magnolia District

Pages are mostly blank

1884-1885: Magnolia District

50 acres Sandy River $4 per acre $25 building $200 total

1886-1887: Magnolia District

50 acres Sandy River $4 per acre no building $200 total

L.D. McCoy Property in Magnolia District (1875-1878)

12 Wednesday May 2021

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley

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The following land information is derived from Land Book 1873-1874 and Land Book 1880-1886 at the Logan County Clerk’s Office in Logan, WV:

L.D. McCoy (of Logan County)1

No property listed in 1865-1875.

[In 1875, Moses Mounts deeded 200 acres on Tug Fork to L.D. McCoy. Deed Book F, page 252.]

1876: Magnolia District

200 acres Steep? Gut Sandy River $2 per acre no building $400 total

[Transferred from Peter Mounts and others.]

1877: Magnolia District

No records for this year for Magnolia District

1878: Magnolia District

200 acres Steep Gut Branch $1 per acre no building $200 total

1879: Magnolia District

No records for this year for Magnolia District

No property listed for 1880.

No property listed in 1881.

***

1Most likely, Lorenzo Dow McCoy, son of Selkirk. Perhaps son of John and Nancy McCoy.

Asa McCoy Property in Magnolia District (1859, 1866-1886)

12 Wednesday May 2021

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley, Matewan

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The following land information is derived from Land Book 1866-1872, Land Book 1873-1874, Land Book 1880-1886, and Land Book 1887-1892 at the Logan County Clerk’s Office in Logan, WV:

Asa McCoy (of Logan County)1

[On June 4, 1859, Asa McCoy deeded __ acres on Pigeon Creek to John Ferrell for $__. Deed Book __, page 54. Only part of this deed is recorded. Ephraim Hatfield2 and William Tiller were justices of the peace.]

No property listed in 1865.

1866: Magnolia Township

290 acres South Side Pigeon and Thacker Fork $0.50 per acre no building $145 total

820 acres North Side Pigeon $0.50 per acre no building $410 total

No property listed for 1867-1870.

[On February 29, 1869, John and Jane Ferrell deeded 500 acres on Tug Fork of Sandy River and Sulphur Creek to Asa McCoy for $900. References the store house on the bank of the river, near the mouth of Mates Creek. William Tiller was justice of the peace. Deed Book __, page 208-209.]

1871-1874: Magnolia District

500 acres Sulphur and Sandy River $2 per acre no building $1000 total

1875-1876: Magnolia District

500 acres Sandy River and Sulphur $1.75 per acre $100 building $875 total

[On August 19, 1876, Asa and Nelly McCoy deeded 100 acres between Sulphur Creek and Tug River to Alafair Davis3 (wife of H.S. Davis) for $200. Deed Book __, page __.]

1877: Magnolia District

No records for this year for Magnolia District

1878: Magnolia District

[On February 11, 1878, Asa and Nellie McCoy deeded 150 acres to William McCoy for $500. References the mouth of Mate Creek and the land occupied by William McCoy. Ephraim Hatfield7 was justice of the peace. Deed Book __, page 484-485.]

350 acres Sandy River and Sulphur $1.75 per acre $100 building $612.50 total

1879: Magnolia District

No records for this year for Magnolia District

[On April 15, 1880, Asa and Nellie McCoy deeded 75 acres to A.G. McCoy for $200. References the first hollow below the forks of Sulphur Creek. A.W. Ferrell was a justice of the peace. Deed Book __, page 189-190.]

[On April 15, 1880, Asa and Nellie McCoy deeded 50 acres to Albert G. McCoy for $50. References the first hollow on the right hand side of Sulphur. Deed Book __, page __.]

1880: Magnolia District

350 acres Sandy River and Sulphur $1.75 per acre $100 building $612.50 total

1881: Magnolia District

225 acres Sandy River $1.75 per acre no building $262.50 total

1882: Magnolia District

Pages missing.

1883: Magnolia District

125 acres Sulphur Branch Sandy River $2 per acre [rest blank]

1884-1885: Magnolia District

125 acres Sulpher Branch and Sandy River $2 per acre $75 building $250 total

1886: Magnolia District

125 acres Sulphur of Sandy $2 per acre $75 building $75 total

1887: Magnolia District

125 acres Sulphurr of Sandy River $2 per acre $75 building $250 total

***

1Brother to Sallie (McCoy) McCoy.

2Most likely, this is the father to Devil Anse Hatfield.

3Daughter of Asa and Nelly McCoy