16 Tuesday Feb 2021
Posted in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud
Tags
Appalachia, Big Sandy River, Elias Hatfield, feuds, fiddle, Floyd Hatfield, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Johnse Hatfield, Kentucky, Randolph McCoy, Roseanna McCoy, Tolbert McCoy, Tug Fork, West Virginia
23 Tuesday Jul 2019
Posted in Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan
Tags
Albert Simpkins, Ambrose Guzlin, Anderson Ferrell School, Blackberry Creek, Bob Williams, Charles Carpenter, Coon Branch School, Delorme School, Devil Anse Hatfield, Dials Branch School, Dick Bachtel, education, Elias Hatfield, Elias Hatfield School, Ella Hatfield McCoy, feud, feuds, Hatfield School, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Head of Blackberry School, Henry D. Hatfield, history, Homer Claude McCoy, Jackson County, Johnnie Rutherford, Kate Ray, Kentucky, Lee Rutherford, Logan County, Mate Creek, Mate Creek School, Matewan, Mike Clingenpeel, Mingo County, Mud Fork, Pharmer McCoy, Pike County, Ransom, Sam Jackson, Scott Justice, teacher, Tolbert McCoy, Tug River, Upper Mate Creek School, W.A. McCoy, West Virginia, Will Bachtel
From “The Rise of Education and the Decline of Feudal Tendencies in the Tug River Valley of West Virginia and Kentucky in Relation to the Hatfield and McCoy Feud” by Homer Claude McCoy (1950):
The following list of school houses are given to determine the location of schools at the time of the feud. Most of the information obtained in regard to the existence of schools and their teachers have been received from interviews. These people were actual students at the schools or had brothers or sisters who went to school there. This information has been verified when possible from different interviews.
Mate Creek School: Mate Creek School was located about a mile up Mate Creek from Matewan which is located at its mouth. It was a log structure and had only one room. The schoolhouse was used during the feud as a prison to retain the three McCoy boys in. David Ross was the teacher of the school during the time of the feud, 1882, just a few days after the boys were held there, and there is a possibility that there was school there before the incident and that David Ross was the teacher.
Upper Mate Creek School: It is believed that there was a school at the head of Mate Creek, but the information is not strong enough to be substantiated.
Coon Branch School: Coon Branch School was located in Kentucky across from the site of Matewan. The teacher of the Coon Branch School was Ambrose Guzlin, and was attending in 1887.
Anderson Ferrell School: This school was located on Anderson Ferrell’s farm a mile below Matewan and came into use when the Mate Creek School was closed about 1883. The teacher of this school was Johnnie Rutherford.
Hatfield School: This school was located on the farm of Elias Hatfield in a hollow behind his home. It was a log structure and came into use when the railroad made it necessary to eliminate the Anderson Ferrell School.
Delorme School: The Delorme school was located near the home of Devil Anse, it was believed, for Charles Carpenter mentioned as a schoolteacher taught in that neighborhood. It is doubtful that there was a school there, for no definite record has been found. Charles Carpenter was said to be a teacher in that locality.
The Dial’s Branch School: This school is not substantiated by any strong evidence as being in operation during the early days of the feud, but was known to exist in the latter days of the feud.
Head of Blackberry School: This was at what is known today as Ransom. This school was some distance (about 15 miles from the mouth of Blackberry). Bob Williams taught school there. Dr. H.D. Hatfield attended school at this school.
Kate Ray who was a teacher at the Elias Hatfield School in 1893, says that she went to school there and when she graduated from the fifth grade she took an examination and taught the next year. She says the examination was not hard, and all the teachers gathered at Williamson. Other teachers that taught there were Albert Simpkins, Dr. Rutherford, Lee Rutherford. Scott Justice taught school at Mud Fork. Mike Clingenpeel was another teacher at Mud Fork.
Mrs. Ray stated:
I went to my first school on Mud Fork in 1888. I was only four years old. They didn’t mind for I didn’t give them any trouble. I learned a little at that age. Lee Curry was the teacher that year. He made improvements in the log school. His first improvement was to put backs on the seats. We did not have any desks or any blackboards. Dick and Will Bachtel also taught school at Mud Fork. They came from Jackson County. They stayed at Sam Jackson’s. They paid about $8.00 a month for board. Scott Justice, now a resident of Huntington, West Virginia, taught school on Mud Fork. So did Mack Clingenpeel. Every one liked Mack. He could explain the lessons so well.
When I was in the fifth grade I went to the Hatfield School below Matewan. When I graduated, I took the teachers examination and taught the next year there at the school on Elias Hatfield’s farm about the year 1895.
Sources:
Derived from these interviews by Mr. McCoy:
Ella Hatfield McCoy interview (she “lived on Blackberry Creek during the time of the feud”) (c.1949)
W.A. McCoy interview (c.1949)
Kate Ray interview (c.1949)
20 Saturday Apr 2019
Posted in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan
Tags
Alex Messer, Anse Ferrell, Appalachia, Bill Tom Hatfield, Bud McCoy, Cap Hatfield, Charles Carpenter, crime, Dan Whitt, Devil Anse Hatfield, Doc Mayhorn, Elijah Mounts, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Jeff Whitt, Joe Murphy, Johnson Hatfield, Kentucky, Mate Creek, Moses Christian, Pharmer McCoy, Pike County, Plyant Mahorn, Preacher Anse Hatfield, Sally McCoy, Sam Mayhorn, Tolbert McCoy, Tom Mitchell, Tug Fork, Valentine Wall Hatfield
The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Dan Whitt’s deposition regarding the affair:
The Commonwealth then introduced as a witness Dan Whitt who proves that [he] knows the Defts Doc & Plyant Mayhorn. Knew the three McCoy Boys. Saw them on head Blackberry. Ance, Cap, & Jonse Hatfield, C. Carpenter, Alex Messer were there with me. I saw Defts at Rev. Anderson Hatfield’s was there when we came down the creek to that place, do not remember whether they had any arms or not. All the balance of us had arms. Defts. was somewhere above there when we formed line do not remember whether they got in line or not. Do not remember how Defendants crossed the river. Saw them on the West Virginia side. Had no trial at the mouth of Blackberry. Defendants went to the school house on Mate Creek where the McCoy boys were taken. Do not remember that the Defendants had guns or was armed. There was arms there and they was handled through each other. When Aunt Sally come Ance objected to her seeing the boys but consented afterwards. Wall told Aunt Sally that if they were bothered they would shoot the boys as full of holes as a sifter bottom. Myself, Ance Hatfield, Cap, & Jonce Hatfield, Alex Messer, Jo Murphy, Tom Mitchel C. Carpenter Doc & Sam Mayhon Moses Christian and Jeff Whitt crossed over river into Ky with the McCoy boys we crossed in a flat boat we took them up the bank and up the river a piece to a flat place and there surrounded them and set down and some one said something about a shooting match and I told them if that was what they was for I would leave and me and Sam Mayhorn, Jeff Whitt, & Moses Christian run and got 15 or 20 steps away and the guns fired. The boys was tied together. After the shooting the balance all come to where we was on the bank of the river and we all crossed back together in the boat and when we got to the mouth or Just up in the mouth of Mate we found Wall Hatfield, Elias Hatfield, Plyant Mahon, & Elijah Mounts. They was near the sign board. Wall Hatfield there. Saw the crowd that had been near the river to protect each other and never tell anything that had happened that night. I was indicted for this offense and my father in law got a letter from McKenner saying that if I would come in and give up and tell all I knew about the case he would dismiss the indictments against me and I should not be prosecuted. The prosecution has been dismissed against me. I did not take the oath. We left Ance Ferrells in West Va, that is me, Ance, Jonce, & Cap Hatfield, Alex Messer, C. Carpenter, Jo Murphy, Tom Mitchel, Bill Tom Hatfield, & Jeff Whitt with the agreement to go and Hang the McCoy boys. We staid all night at Farmans store at the mouth of Blackberry in Pike Co Ky. We had no agreement with the Mayhon boys to hang the McCoy boys and they knew nothing of the agreement made at Ance Ferrells. I said at the Jail that I would give same amount to know which one of the Mayhon boys was across the river…[cropped]
14 Sunday Apr 2019
Posted in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud
Tags
Alex Messer, Andy Varney, Appalachia, Blackberry Creek, Cap Hatfield, Charles Carpenter, crime, Devil Anse Hatfield, Elias Hatfield, genealogy, Harrison Steele, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Johnson Hatfield, Kentucky, Mate Creek, Mingo County, Pharmer McCoy, Pike County, Plyant Mahorn, Preacher Anse Hatfield, Tolbert McCoy, Tug Fork, Valentine Wall Hatfield, West Virginia
The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Andy Varney’s deposition regarding the affair:
The Commonwealth then introduced as a witness Andy Varney who proves that he knows Defts Wall, Ance, Cap, & Jonce Hatfield, C. Carpenter, Alex Messer. Knows the McCoy boys. I first saw them over on Blackberry just a little above Rev. Anderson Hatfield. Saw Ance, Cap, Jonce, Wall, and Defts. Do not remember seeing defendants with any arms. I next saw them at the river. Was at the school house on Mate creek Tuesday evening to the best of my knowledge the defts had arms there. Guns, I think. The crowd come to Elias Hatfields about 11 oclock. Wall, Elias, Jonce, Ance, Cap, Alex Messer, and the defts they were all armed. They were all there next morning. I was Lying on the porch when the parties came to Elias Hatfield. I saw these two Mayhorn boys there. I staid there all night. I had a gun. I was guarding the prisoners while at school house on Mate. Some one told me he had a summons for a sufficient guard. I have been staying at old man McCoy’s. I was indicted with defendant but the case has been filed away. I was behind all the way down Blackberry Creek with Harrison Steele.
04 Thursday Apr 2019
Posted in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud
Tags
Appalachia, Bud McCoy, crime, Doc Mayhorn, Don Whitt, feud, feuds, Floyd Mounts, genealogy, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Jeff Whitt, Logan County, Mingo County, Pharmer McCoy, Plyant Mahorn, Tolbert McCoy, Tug Fork, Valentine Wall Hatfield, West Virginia
The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Floyd Mounts’ deposition regarding the affair:
Floyd Mounts
I know Don and Jeff Whitt. Jeff said at the Jail Door Just after the __ of Wall Hatfield that if he swore Wall, Plyant and Dock Mahorn went across the river where the boys were killed he was mistaken, and that he was served and didn’t know what he was doing and that they were not there.
04 Monday Mar 2019
Posted in Big Sandy Valley, Culture of Honor, Hatfield-McCoy Feud
Tags
Alex Messer, Appalachia, Bud McCoy, Cap Hatfield, Charley Carpenter, crime, Dan Whitt, Devil Anse Hatfield, Doc Mayhorn, Ellison Mounts, feuds, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Jeff Whitt, Johnson Hatfield, Mose Christian, Pharmer McCoy, Pike County, Plyant Mayhorn, Sam Mayhorn, Tolbert McCoy, Tug Fork, Valentine Wall Hatfield, West Virginia
The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Ellison Mounts’ deposition regarding the affair:
Ellison Mounts
I was present at the time the 3 McCoys were killed. They were killed on the Ky side of the river opposite a little drain, or maybe a little above it. Neither Plyant Mayhorn nor Dock Mayhorn were present at the time or place where the McCoy boys were killed.
X Ex
Ance, Cap, & Johnce Hatfield, Charley Carpenter, Dan Whitt, Mose Christian and Sam Mayhorn, Jeff Whitt, Alex Messer and myself were present when the killing was done. Jeff Whitt, Dan Whitt, Mose Christian and myself were not ___ present when the Guns were fired. we were 15 or so steps away. After we got across the river Ance called on Wall to Swear them to keep secret what had occurred that nights and Wall did so.
Re Ex
[I cropped the bottom of the page in my photo]
27 Wednesday Feb 2019
Posted in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud
Tags
Bud McCoy, crime, Doc Mayhorn, Elijah Mounts, genealogy, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Joseph Davis, Kentucky, Logan County, Mate Creek, Mingo County, murder, Pharmer McCoy, Tolbert McCoy, West Virginia
The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Elijah Mounts’ deposition regarding the affair:
Elijah Mounts
Who was introduced by the [page torn] Commonwealth and state [page torn] Between the time we left [page torn] Jo Davis and before [page torn] met the Parties near the mouth of Mate [page torn] I have [page torn] Hatfield whoots who are [page torn]
X Ex
This whooting was after all [page torn] shooting was done we ___ [page torn] along down below the the [page torn] mo. of Sulphur before I ___ [page torn] the whoots. I first Saw Dock [page torn] Mayhorn, about 50 yards [page torn] up from the Mouth of Mate [page torn] __ came _____ [page torn] ___ the river and Said [page torn] to me you have got back [page torn] with my horse. I then got [page torn] down off the horse. And I then heard the noise of others coming.
23 Wednesday Jan 2019
Posted in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud
Tags
Appalachia, Bud McCoy, Charley Carpenter, Doc Mayhorn, Doc Rutherford, Ellison Hatfield, feuds, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Logan County, Mate Creek, Mingo County, Pharmer McCoy, Sam Simpkins, Sarah McCoy, Tolbert McCoy, West Virginia
The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Sarah McCoy’s deposition regarding the affair:
The Commonwealth then introduced Sarah McCoy who proves that she is the mother of Tolbert, Pharmur and Randolp (sic) McCoy, that she and Tolbert’s wife went to where her boys was in a school house on Mate Creek in West Va. On the night they (sic) boys were taken there it was after dark when she got there she found the boys all tied together and on the floor in the school house. Saw Defendants there. They had guns. It was raining. And after she had been there some time she was begging praying and crying for her boys and Charley Carpenter told her to hush up, was not going to have any more of it and to get out. They made her Leave. It was dark and she went to Doc Rutherford’s in the dark and through the water. It was about 10 or 11 o’clock when she got there she came back to the school house next morning and staid around there until two or three o’clock. When I left them at school house there was a great many persons there at the time. Can’t tell the names of all. Was greatly excited. Saw the defendants with guns and Pistols. Saw Doc Mayhorn ask Tolbert for some tobacco and he give it to him. Cannot say whether Deft. was around at the time I left or not. Next time I saw my boys they were dead, hauled home on a sled. Randal’s head top was shot off. Tolbert’s arm was up before his head was shot _____ it and through the head. The other boy was bad shot. Was at the school house when the news came that Ellison Hatfield was dead. Heard nothing said about what would be done with my boys if Ellison died. They were making a coffin for Ellison Hatfield at Sam Simpkins as I came by. The defendants objected to and moved to exclude all the evidence of witness to acts done in the state of West Va. The Court overruled the objections and motion. Defts. al the time excepted.
16 Wednesday Jan 2019
Posted in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Pikeville
Tags
Alex Messer, Anderson Hatfield, Appalachia, Blackberry Creek, Bud McCoy, Cap Hatfield, Charley Carpenter, Chuck Murphy, constable, crime, Devil Anse Hatfield, Doc Mayhon, Elias Hatfield, Floyd Hatfield, Floyd McCoy, genealogy, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Jerry Hatfield, John Hatfield, Johnson Hatfield, Kentucky, Pharmer McCoy, Pike County, Pikeville, Plyant Mayhon, Tolbert McCoy, Tug River, Valentine Wall Hatfield, West Virginia
The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Randolph McCoy’s deposition regarding the affair:
The Court of Ky
Vs.
Anderson Hatfield & other Defts.
Pltffs Bill of Exceptions
Be it remembered that on the trial of Doc Mayhorn and Plyant Mahon under the above styled prosecution the following proceedings was had.
The Commonwealth introduced and has worn as a witness Randolp McCoy, who proves that he is 63 years old that he is the father of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Randolp McCoy, they are now dead, was on Blackberry Creek in Pike County Ky at the August Election 1882 says that the boys in custody about 2 oclock on that day staid on the Election grounds about two hours they then went up to Floyd McCoys and staid until nearly night and then went to John Hatfields house and staid all night. They were in custody of Tolbert Hatfield a Justice of the Peace and Floyd Hatfield special Constable. Defents Doc and Plyant Mayhon are sons in law of Wall Hatfield. My boys was next morning started toward Pikeville in Pike County under a guard of six or seven men and was taken by Wall and Elias Hatfield and then turned back down [page torn] stopped at the mouth of Dial [page torn] his boys was then placed in a large corn sled while there. Anse Hatfield and his squad come up. Defendants was with them when they come up. they had with them country Rifle guns. Dials branch is from a ¼ to ½ miles from where Wall Hatfield came to them. Defendants were there all the time from the time they come to the corn sled. the crowd stopped at old Jerry Hatfield and Charley Carpenter got a rope and tied my three boys together. then went down the creek to Rev. Anderson Hatfields and defendants and all stopped there and got dinner. Knows Ance, Cap & Johnson Hatfield. they was there. Alex Messer was there. After Dinner Devil Ance stepped out and said “all of Hatfields frirends form a line” Ance Cap Jonce two Defts. Alex Messer Chuck Murphy was all in the line. Defts had arms (Guns I think). this was Aug 8 1882. My boys was then by this squad marched down the creek toward the river. This is the last time I ever saw them alive. I was on the road from Pikeville home they day my boys was buried. There was quite a crowd at the corn sled. There were a great many persons who were not interested several had guns. If I am not mistaken the first time I saw defendants was at the mouth of Dials branch. I may be mistaken but do not think I am. I saw no one catching horses in pasture at Rev. Anderson Hatfield’s. If I did I do not know who they were. The defts. were present when my boys were tied at Jerry Hatfield’s above Rev. Anderson Hatfield’s. When Devil Ance at the Rev. Anderson Hatfield’s called for the Hatfield friends to fall into the line the defts. went into the line and they were I think both armed with rifles and guns. The boys were then taken down the creek toward Tug river still tied together. I never saw them alive again.
06 Thursday Dec 2018
Posted in Hatfield-McCoy Feud
Tags
Appalachia, Blackberry Creek, Bud McCoy, Cap Hatfield, Devil Anse Hatfield, Doc Mayhorn, feuds, G.W. Pinson, genealogy, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, James M. McCoy, Kentucky, Logan County, Pharmer McCoy, Pike County, Preacher Anse Hatfield, Randolph McCoy Jr., Tolbert McCoy, Valentine Wall Hatfield, West Virginia
The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is James M. McCoy’s deposition regarding the affair:
COMMONWEALTH VS DOC MAYHORN &C
Bill of Exceptions
FILED Sept. 1889
G.W. Pinson, Clk
The Commonwealth then introduced as a witness James M. McCoy an uncle to the boys killed say the boys in the corn sled on Blackberry Creek. They were not tied do not know who all was ____ did not see the Mayhorn Boys there, they come shortly afterwards with Ance Hatfield and his crowd. Defendants was armed with Rifle guns. The next time saw defts was when line was formed at Rev. Anderson Hatfields. Defts. fell into line saw them cross the river with the McCoy boys. The Mayhons was along and was armed. Never saw the McCoy boys alive anymore. Saw them after they were killed. There is a road running down the river from where the boys were killed it is about 100 yards from where the boys was killed to the road. I then lived just below the mouth of Peter. A great many people was on Blackberry on Tuesday. Most all the neighborhood both in Ky and West Va was there. They came with Ance Cap & Jonce Hatfield Carpenter Messer & others. first saw Defts at the sled at the old house. The dets. went into the line that was formed at Rev. Anderson Hatfields. The three McCoy boys crowd in a skiff with Wall Carpenter Johnce Ance & Murphy.
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