Volume 14 , Issue 23

NW Okie's Corner

With the mini-series of the Hatfields & McCoys Feuds this last week, we gathered from the Hatfields-McCoy feud, it was what seemed to this writer a consequence, aftereffects of a war between the North & South, where communities were divided, struggling for economic power as men returned to their homes never forgiving those that deserted the cause or fought on the Union side.

We find in the TV mini-series that Ole Ran'l McCoy saved Captain "Devil Anse" Hatfields life during the war, but "Devil Anse" repaid McCoy by deserting him and the Confederates so Capt. Hatfield could return home. It seems Ole Ran'l McCoy never really forgave Hatfield afterwards. McCoy was taken prisoner by the North, during the Civil War, as the only survivor in his combat group after Hatfield deserted. Asa Harmon McCoy death was by the hands of relatives of the Hatfields. Asa Harmon McCoy fought on the Union's side and was discharged early for a broken leg. This was another trigger of the infamous family feud.

The Hatfields and McCoy feud has become a modern metaphor for the perils of family honor, justice and vengeance. I would suppose that we could all look back and find our own little family feuds over minor things -- some significant; some not so significant -- concerning honor, justice and yes . . . vengeance. Are there any Hatfields or McCoys in your ancestry?

Just glancing through my ancestral tree I found a few Hatfields (mostly in-laws) running through my maternal CONOVER-PARIS-HURT lineage, but have not connected them to the infamous Hatfields. I also found a Jemima McCoy that married Alexander Burner HINER (my paternal lineage) in Virginia. BUT . . . are any of them related to the West Virginia Hatfields and the Kentucky McCoys of the Appalachians? We have not made any connections as of yet.

In the Arizona Weekly Journal-Miner, dated 1 April 1891, in Prescott, Arizona, we found this small headline, Hafield-McCoy Feud. This story was out of Wheeling, West Virginia, 25 March 1891, when Captain "Devil Anse" Hatfield, leader of the West Virginia faction, who was figured in so many bloody engagements during the 20 years of war between the two families and their branches, brought about the conferences which had resulted in a declaration of peace. Capt. Hatfield announced the conclusions of negotiation in the following card, which he had sent to the newspapers of the southern section of the state:

"A general amnesty has been declared in the famous Hatfield-McCoy feud, and I wish to say something of the old and new. I do not wish to keep the old feud alive and I suppose everyone, like myself, is tired of Hatfield-McCoy words that mean warfare in time of peace. The war spirit in me has abated and I sincerely rejoice at the prospects of peace I have devoted my life to the fearful loss of noble lives and valuable property in the struggle. We, being like Adam, are not the first transgressors. Now I propose to rest in the spirit of peace."

It was reported on that day, "This letter has caused a great feeling of relief among good the people of the southern section of the state."

Why cannot the GOP Congress abate their feuding agenda of "Obstructionism" and "War On Women" to declare a truce; work together with the other side and the Presdient? Where's the Jobs, Boehner?

Let's Move FORWARD with Solutions and Equality for ALL!"
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