Check out seven facts about the legendary 19th-century feud between the Hatfield and McCoy families.
The Hatfield and McCoy family names are recognized for one thing: fighting for decades between them. But what were they so angry about and why so many years of feuding?
The recent History Channer mini-series, The Hatfields & McCoys, has sparked new interest in that long ago Kentucky-West Virginia feud. My intent here is not to tell that story, but to illustrate how some communities can capitalize on past events to fuel the history tourism business. The folks at the Pikeville/Pike County Kentucky Tourism Commision have done just that with the recent publication of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud Driving Tour. I think it is a brilliant idea, and may just bring a few dollars into an otherwise obscure part of Kentucky. Link to the driving tour http://www.tourpikecounty.com/uploads/images/brochures/HMDrivingTour.pdf A page from the Hatfield - McCoy Driving Tour Kevin Costner plays William Anderson Hatfield, (or "Devil Anse" Hatfield as he was known then) in the mini-series. I think Costner is physically a much bigger man, but I suspect his personality could never stand up to that of the original Devil Anse. You can read more about William Anderson Hatfield here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil_Anse_Hatfield William "Devil Anse" Hatfield in 1910 When I was a young company commander at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri back in the 80s, there was a retired Sgt Major there named Glen Dye. We became good friends. Glen was also a "gun guy," a sniper from the Korean War era (He used the M1-D and the 1903A4 rifles), and a great storyteller. Most importantly, he was the great-grandson of Devil Anse Hatfield. Glen really didn't know what to do with him self after retirement, so he often gravitated down to his old battalion so he could be near soldiers. Although retired, he was still a soldier through and through. Glenn could describe every fight that occurred between the Hatfields and McCoys in detail down to what gun each participant was carrying at the time and what bullets holes were created in each person. He said the Hatfield men were generally small fellows and all preferred S&W revolvers because of the smaller grips. The McCoys were Colt men. I wonder if the film picked up on that difference. Glenn gave me his sterling silver double star Combat Infantryman's Badge as a going away present. He earned if for participation in WWII, Korea and the Vietnam War. I still have Glen's CIB and will always remember the stories he told while sitting in my company orderly room. Double Star Combat Infantryman's Badge See an update to this blog entry at: http://erasgone.blogspot.com/2013/01/they-died-for-tourism-update.html
The famous feud between the Hatfield and the McCoy families lasted almost 30 years and nearly forces two states' militias to intervene.
The Hatfield and McCoy family names are recognized for one thing: fighting for decades between them. But what were they so angry about and why so many years of feuding?
My daughter is descended from a man named Valentine Hatfield. In 1888 a man named Valentine Hatfield was convicted in the Hatfield and McCoy feud. Was he her great-great-grandfather?
The Hatfield-McCoy feud involved two rural families from West Virginia and Kentucky along the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River from 1865-1891. The Hatfields, led by William Anderson ‘Devil Anse’ Hatfield lived on the West Virginia side of the river. The McCoys, led by Randolph McCoy, were from Kentucky.…
Here are some historical photos of the Hatfields and McCoys.
The Hatfield-McCoy feud involved two rural families from West Virginia and Kentucky along the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River from 1865-1891. The Hatfields, led by William Anderson ‘Devil Anse’ Hatfield lived on the West Virginia side of the river. The McCoys, led by Randolph McCoy, were from Kentucky.…
The Hatfield-McCoy feud began in the mountainous Tug River valley which separated the Hatfield and McCoy clans.
LOGAN COUNTY, W.Va.. — This image is of a teenage Coleman Alderson Hatfield (1889–1970), the son of Cap and Nan Hatfield and the grandson of William...
The feud between the Hatfields of West Virginia and the McCoys of Kentucky had its roots in the Civil War and continued through 1981.
Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud is one of the funniest family shows in the Smoky Mountains. It needs to be on your list for your next trip to the Smokies!
The Hatfield-McCoy feud involved two rural families from West Virginia and Kentucky along the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River from 1865-1891. The Hatfields, led by William Anderson ‘Devil Anse’ Hatfield lived on the West Virginia side of the river. The McCoys, led by Randolph McCoy, were from Kentucky.…
The story of Johnse Hatfield and Roseanna McCoy has been romanticized for years, and it is indeed a tragic love story akin to something Shakespeare might have devised. However, the story as it is …
