Hatfield & Mccoy
Hatfield—McCoy Feud
“The Hatfields and the McCoys” is a book written by Otis K. Rice about a long-lasting feud between two families that occurred between 1863 and 1891. The writings of the book were based on numerous court records and public documents, rather than just rumors that a lot of people had heard and passed down through generations. Today, the story of this feud represents a symbol of the potential dangers of justice, family honor, and vengeance. The majority of the Hatfield family lived in the West Virginia area, while the members of the McCoy family lived mostly on the Kentucky side of Tug Fork, which was a tributary of the Big Sandy River. Both families were among the first settlers of the Tug Valley. The leader of the Hatfield family was William Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield. The McCoy family fell under the leadership of Randolph “Ole Ran’l” McCoy.
The first real violence that occurred in the feud between the two families happened upon the homeland return of Union soldier, Asa Harmon McCoy. The majority of the Hatfield family had fought for the Confederacy in the American Civil War, as did most of the McCoys. Asa McCoy was the exception and he was murdered by a group of ex-Confederates who called themselves the “Logan Wildcats.” Although Devil Anse Hatfield was the first suspect in the murder, it was proven that he was bedridden sick at his home at the time the murder was committed. It was later believed that his uncle, Jim Vance, committed the murder. Most historians, along with Otis K. Rice, believe that the origin of the feud between the two families goes back to 1860, when a member of the Hatfield family supposedly stole hogs from members of the McCoy family.
Before all of the disputes and acts of violence began, the families often got along with each other and occasionally had romantic relations. One example of this was the romance between Johnse Hatfield and Rose Anna McCoy. Though the relationship lasted for , the couple never
“The Hatfields and the McCoys” is a book written by Otis K. Rice about a long-lasting feud between two families that occurred between 1863 and 1891. The writings of the book were based on numerous court records and public documents, rather than just rumors that a lot of people had heard and passed down through generations. Today, the story of this feud represents a symbol of the potential dangers of justice, family honor, and vengeance. The majority of the Hatfield family lived in the West Virginia area, while the members of the McCoy family lived mostly on the Kentucky side of Tug Fork, which was a tributary of the Big Sandy River. Both families were among the first settlers of the Tug Valley. The leader of the Hatfield family was William Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield. The McCoy family fell under the leadership of Randolph “Ole Ran’l” McCoy.
The first real violence that occurred in the feud between the two families happened upon the homeland return of Union soldier, Asa Harmon McCoy. The majority of the Hatfield family had fought for the Confederacy in the American Civil War, as did most of the McCoys. Asa McCoy was the exception and he was murdered by a group of ex-Confederates who called themselves the “Logan Wildcats.” Although Devil Anse Hatfield was the first suspect in the murder, it was proven that he was bedridden sick at his home at the time the murder was committed. It was later believed that his uncle, Jim Vance, committed the murder. Most historians, along with Otis K. Rice, believe that the origin of the feud between the two families goes back to 1860, when a member of the Hatfield family supposedly stole hogs from members of the McCoy family.
Before all of the disputes and acts of violence began, the families often got along with each other and occasionally had romantic relations. One example of this was the romance between Johnse Hatfield and Rose Anna McCoy. Though the relationship lasted for , the couple never