Duchess of Weaselskin

Bayfield, Colorado (CO) - From the top of the mountain we can view and bless the beauty below. Lady Sadie and NW Okie put on their hiking, climbing shoes, venturing to the top of the mountain behind their home here in Southwest Colorado Rockies, North of Bayfield. I can tell you that NW Okie got a bit nervous when Sadie would get close to the edge and peak at the scene below.

This week we dedicated our Okie Legacy Ezine to the Native Americans and European ancestors of the Appalachia region on the Eastern side of North America. The first Native Americans were the Shawnee, Choctaw, Creek and Cherokee (the dominate tribe). The European ancestors that settled in this region were the Germans, English, Wales and the Scots of Northern Ireland because of hard times overseas.

Here is an inquiry submitted to our OkieLegacy Archives concerning Hugh Farmer Hurst & Wealthy Missouri (Jones), Vol. 6, Iss. 14, 2004-04-03, Vickie J. Pittman Glover comments, "Hello, My name is Vickie J Pittman Glover. I am a direct descendent of John Mill Creek Hurst his son Thomas H Hurst is the parent of Sylvia F. Hurst born 1803, married to James P. Pittman. I am trying to get all the Hurst info on my web site. I am missing birth dates and Counties and State where they are born, Can you add Hugh F. Hurst and Wealthys' birth, death and marriage dates their childrens names etc? Do you have any pictures you could scan and e-mail me? Always, Cousin Vickie J."

There was a hilarious new word that popped up this last week when a certain news anchorman spoke of Donald Trump. That word is "Bloviating Ignoramous."

Bloviating - talking at length, in an inflated or empty way. We all know what an "ignoramus" is, don't we? The modern sense may derive from the name of a character in George Ruggle's Ignoramus (1615), a satirical comedy exposing lawyers' ignorance.

We leave you with this quote made by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "In our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, as 'right-to-work.' It provides no 'rights' and no 'works.' Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining . . . We demand this fraud be stopped."

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100 Years Ago Today - 4 June 1912

New York, NY - Remember the Gun Men In Battle On the Bowery? Who was "Chick Trigger?" Families were not the only ones who were feuding. It did not stop in the late 19th century with the Hatfields & McCoys, either.

According to The Evening World, New York, NY, Tuesday, 4 June 1912, Gangsters in 3 autos sent bullets flying on the crowded streets. "Chick Trigger" and pal, standing in a doorway, were made targets of a fusillade that created panic in the crowd. The attack was to fulfill the gang's death sentence. Doom of Trigger, pronounced earlier in the day, after two gun battles and dynamiting.

As reported one hundred years ago today (4 June 1912), 4 June 1912, Tuesday -- "An attempt to get Chick Trigger, the East Side gang leader, brazen and Wild West in its hazardous intent, was made late this afternoon, by a swarm of Bowery gangsters packed in three taxicabs, who wheeled slowly up the Bowery until they got in front of Christy Sullivan's saloon at No. 241 Bowery, and opened fire on Trigger and a friend, Mike Fagin, who stood on the street corner.

"Trigger and Fagin fled into the saloon and hid behind the bar. None of the shots took fatal ecect (sp), although it was reported later that Fagin had been shot in the foot. Before the police arrived Fagin disappeared.

"As the reserves came up the Bowery the taxicabs dashed away up the Bowery and fled into First street, firing a parting volley at the policemen as they left. "A barber shop at No. 243 Bowery was riddled with shot, several windows being broken. A crowd in the shop and the patrons in the chairs fled in a panic to the rear of the building.

"The shooting came on schedule time, for Trigger, as he left Magistrate Corrigan's Court today, was told he would be killed before night. He took his death notice smilingly and went uptown. During the day he remained under cover, but shortly before five o'clock he ventured forth with Fagin, who is not known to the police.

"Witnesses who saw the fusillade of the gangsters told the police Trigger and Fagin had been on the corner only a few minutes when the three taxicabs were seen slowly rounding a street corner several blocks down. They advanced steadily up the tracks of the Third avenue railroad, and as they came abreast of Trigger and Fagin a dozen pistols spoke the vengeance of Trigger's enemies. That either Fagin or Trigger escaped the delay volley is regarded as miraculous by bystanders, who fled pell-mell into retreats as the revolvers belched from the taxicabs.

"Reserves from the near stations were hurried to the corner, but no one could be found who was able or willing to reveal the identity of any of the taxicab bandits.

"In the code of gangsters, Trigger was due for such an attack as occurred today. It was merely the lawless reprisal of the rival gangsters for bringing their feuds into a courtroom. Trigger will be gotten, the gangsters say, but there will be no legal interference with the execution of the unwritten law of the gangsters.

"The pistol attack came after the four men arrested following the Chinatown shooting early yesterday were freed by Magistrate Kernochan for lack of evidence today. Their arrests preceded the shooting of Big Jack Zelig in the shadow of the Criminal Courts Building and the dynamiting of three gambling houses early today.

"None of the policemen who appeared against Trigger, James Martello, John Seidel and Harris Baker, the four members of the Trigger gang reeled, could swear he had seen any of the thugs fire a shot. Neither did any of them see the prisoners engage in a fist fight in front of the station-house desk, although all the policemen were present at the time.

The police could get no information from the prisoners, nor were they enlightened by enemies of the gangsters picked up after the Chinatown fight. The gangsters have their own way of settling their disputes, and the attempt on Trigger was made likely by gangsters who are out to revenge the attack on Zelig. It is the way they have of evening up their scores.

"Those who were in the Centre street court today when Magistrate Kernechan dismissed the charges against the four members of the rival Kid Twist and Sirocco gangs had seen three other members of the same warring organizations convoyed from Headquarters to the same court yesterday afternoon by no less than forty detectives, all armed. Inspector Hughes had feared these three, held for the shooting of Zelig, might be taken from the hands of the law by an assault in force on the part of the gangsters." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

NW Okie's Corner

Bayfield, Colorado (CO) - 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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Highland, Virginia - A Part Of Appalachians Valley & Ridge

Highland County, Virginia - We find that Highland county, Virginia was a part of the Appalachia Valley & Ridge. The Appalachia stretched diagonally, northeast to southwest across North America and into the southeast part of Canada.

The term is often used more restrictively to refer to regions in the central, southern Appalachian Mountains, usually including areas in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and North Carolina, as well as sometimes extending as far south as northern Georgia and western South Carolina, as far north as Pennsylvania and southern Ohio. The Ouachita mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma were originally part of the Appalachians, but became disconnected through geologic history.

The Appalachians - Part 1


The Appalachian was the first American frontier. The Appalachian people came from a variety of European traditions. They came seeking a freedom for land opportunity and religious freedom. There were good times and hard times. The Appalachians were described with a flood of unfair stereo-types. Appalachian is remembered through its stories and songs -- through it's music.

The Appalachian is reported to be 400 million years old. The first to settle the Appalachian region were the ancestors of Native American Indians (Shawnee, Choctaw and Creek with the Cherokee as the dominate). The Cherokee women had authority in the Cherokee tribe and the women lost that as they became cultured into the European society.

The Appalachian settlers came from Germany, England, Wales and Northern Ireland to escape hardtimes. See More about the history of The Appalachians - Part 2.


Appalachia - A History of Planned Poverty - YouTube:

"The chronic poverty of Appalachia is the outcome of economic domination and racism. In the 1930's, Southern politicians prevented farm workers and domestic servants from qualifying for Social Security because they knew that the small Social Security check would support families and would change the labor market in the South."

The rich and powerful corporations came into Appalachia and raped the land of its riches (mineral & timber) leaving the citizens in poverty. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (1 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Angelina Grimke - Abolitionist, Author & Suffragist

America - Angelina Grimke (1805-1879), U.S. abolitionist, suffragist, feminist, and author. Letters to Catherine E. Beecher, Letter No. 12 (1838). The following quote is from a letter dated 2 October 1837. Beecher, a prominent educator of women, was an anti-suffragist.

"...I believe it is woman's right to have a voice in all the laws and regulations by which she is to be governed; whether in Church or State; and that the present arrangements of society, on these points, are a violation of human rights, a rank usurpation of power, a violent seizure and confiscation of what is sacredly and inalienably hers ... and thus inflicting upon woman outrageous wrongs, working mischief incalculable in the social circle, and in its influence on the world producing only evil, and that continually." ~ Angelina Grimke

The Grimke Sisters

Sarah and Angelina Grimke eloquently fought the injustices of slavery, racism and sexism during the mid-19th century. As daughters of a prominent South Carolina judge and plantation owner, the Grimke sisters witnessed the suffering of slaves. They were determined to speak out, eventually forced to move to the North, where they continued to appeal to northerners and southerners to work toward abolition. They urged white northerners to end racial discrimination.

The Grimke sisters were pioneering women. Among the first female abolitionists, they were the first women to speak publicly against slavery, an important political topic. Faced with criticism from clergy and others that they were threatening "the female character," they continued their crusade.

In 1838, Angelina became the first woman to address a legislative body when she spoke to the Massachusetts State Legislature on women's rights and abolition. Active in the women's movement, they helped set the agenda later followed by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott and others, calling for equal educational opportunities and the vote.

One historian said of Sarah's writings: "[They were] a milestone on the road to the Woman's Rights Convention at Seneca Falls" and "central to the feminist writings in the decades that followed." Sarah was one of the first to compare the restrictions on women and slaves, writing that "woman has no political existence . . . . She is only counted like the slaves of the south, to swell the number of lawmakers."

After the Civil War, they continued to champion the causes of equality and women's rights. Through their examples and their words, the Grimke sisters proved that women could affect the course of political events and have a far-reaching influence on society. - The Grimke Sisters View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (1 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

The Hatfields & McCoys - A Documentary

Appalachians - The Hatfield-McCoy feud (1863-91) involved two families of the West Virginia-Kentucky area along the Tug Fork, off the Big Sandy River. The Hatfields of West Virginia were led by William Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield. The McCoys of Kentucky were under the leadership of Randolph "Ole Ran'l" McCoy. Those involved in the feud were descended from Ephraim Hatfield (born c. 1765) and William McCoy (born c. 1750). The feud entered the American folklore lexicon as a metaphor for any bitterly feuding rival parties. More than a century later, the story of the feud has become a modern metaphor for the perils of family honor, justice and vengeance. - Hatfield-Mccoy Feud



The Feud

Asa Harmon McCoy was murdered on 7 January 1865. Jim Vance, the uncle of "Devil Anse" Hatfield, despised Asa Harmon McCoy because he had joined the Union Army during the American Civil War. Asa was discharged from the army early because of a broken leg. He returned home to a warning from Vance that Asa could expect a visit from "Devil Anse's Wildcats (Logan's Wildcats)." Frightened by gunshots as he drew water from his well, Asa hid in a nearby cave, supplied with food and necessities each day by his slave, Pete. But "Logans Wildcats" followed Pete's tracks in the snow, discovered Asa and shot him fatally.

At first, "Devil Anse" Hatfield was the prime suspect. Later, after it was determined that the Wildcats' leader had been confined to his bed, suspicion of guilt focused squarely on Vance. But in an era when Asa McCoy's military service was widely considered by many of the region's inhabitants to be in and of itself an act of disloyalty, even Asa's own family believed that he had brought his murder upon himself. Eventually the case withered and no suspect was brought to trial.

Hatfield-McCoy Feud (1899)

In The Record-Union, dated 4 July 1899, in Sacramento, California, we find another mention of a Hatfield killing a McCoy sympathizer. This killing happened 3 July 1899, near Williamson, West Virginia, when John Hatfield, son of "Devil" Hatfield, shot and killed H. E. Ellis on a Norfolk and Western passenger train near Williamson. Ellis was a McCoy sympathizer in the Hatfield-McCoy feud. Hatfield escaped, but was being pursued. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (1 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

John Hatfield Pardoned, But Banished (1904)

Kentucky - In The Saint Paul Globe, dated 24 July 1904, in Minnesota, we find the headlines, Pardons Hatfield But Banishes Him. The leader of the famous Kentucky feudists was released, but must leave State. As the news story states, out of Frankfurt, Kentucky, July 23, 1904, - "Under promise never again to set foot in the state of Kentucky, Johnson Hatfield one of the survivors of the Hatfield-McCoy feud, has been pardoned from the Kentucky penitentiary, where he was serving a life sentence for murder."

It seems Johnson Hatfield had been in failing health since his commitment four years ago and it is feared he will die. The McCoys, who the Hatfields assert, tried to exterminate them, requested acting Gov. Thorne to pardon Hatfield, making an affidavit that the convicted man was not a member of the band that killed some of the McCoys in a famous midnight raid in August 1888. The declared he was ten miles away, ill in bed.

Gov. Beckham refused to pardon Hatfield but acting Gov. Thorne said that as the Hatfields and McCoys, after years of warfare desire peace and wish to cross out all old scores and to settle all differences, he thought law-abiding citizens should lend them a helping hand.

It was before the outbreak of the war of the rebellion that the Hatfield-Mccoy feud originated. The cause was the disputed ownership of two bristly mountain hogs. Over these Anse Hatfield and Randolph McCoy had a disagreement. They went to law and Hatfield was beaten.

This did not settle the dispute by any means. Al the relatives of both men took sides, and shortly after the trial "Bill" Stayton, nephew of Floyd Hatfield, son of one of the witnesses, was found dead by a bullet wound. Two of the McCoys were tried for the crime and acquitted. Soon afterward joyce Hatfield became enamored of Rosanna Mccoy and kidnaped her.

Occasional deaths occurred on both sides up to 1882, when there was a veritable reign of terror in Kentucky. "Cap" Hatfield, son of Anse, became the leader of his faction, and on election day in that year Ellison Hatfield was shot by one of the McCoys. SEveral of the latter were arrested, and the Hatfields ambushed the sheriff, took from him three of the McCoys and shot them dead.

Two years later, jeff McCoy was captured and shot dead in the presence of his sister. It was a war of extermination. Now and then one or more members of either family were shot, but in 1888 came quicker action. The Hatfields burned the McCoys house over their heads and shot one of the women as she tried to escape. In return a Hatfield was killed and then a McCoy.

Eventually, most of the leaders on either side were shot and killed until 1893, when the feud was thought to have been ended by the marriage of a Mccoy to a Hatfield. Other killings have occurred since, but the case of Johnson Hatfield was virtually the last and the ancient enmity may be said to have burned itself out. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (2 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Elias Hatfield Killed In a Tunnel By Train

Kentucky - In The Bee, 12 January 1905, we find that Elias Hatfield, Noted for his connection with the Hatfield-Mccoy feud, is dead. Elias Hatfield was killed in a tunnel near Earlington, Kentucky, on a sunday as he was walking through the tunnel when a train overtook him. His body was mangled. That it wasn't a rifle ball which killed him is surprising. None of the Hatfields probably ever expected to die in any other way.

Elias Hatfield was released from jail two years ago after serving part of his sentence for killing Sheriff H. E. Ellis, one of the McCoys. That was one of the last murders of the famous feud, and it was one of the few for which a Hatfield was ever convicted. Since getting out of prison Elias Hatfield has been living near the place at which he was killed.

Elias hatfield was one of the hatfield brothers. Their father was "Devil Anse" Hatfield, the leader of the clan. Among the other brothers were "Cap." Hatfield, famous for his break from jail some years ago and subsequent recapture. Then there was John, Troy and Ellison Hatfield. They were all wanted for the Ellis murder, which occurred in 1897, but they got away. Elias Hatfield was the youngest of the brothers, but he had as many murders to his credit as any. He was only 17 at the time of the Ellis murder. He was a good shot and had all the other characteristics of the family, even a hatred for the McCoys.

The Hatfield-Mccoy feud started long before the civil war. Local history has it that a dispute over ownership of some hogs engendered the strife. There have been many fights, but perhaps the most famous was on account of Elias. he was accused by one of the McCoys at a reunion of the two families of having stolen money, and his brother, Ellison, defended him. Ellison Hatfield and Talbot McCoy were in a duel when another McCoy shot Ellison. The came a bloody battle, which resulted in the Hatfields seizing three of the McCoys, taking them over the line into the McCoy's own state, Kentucky, tying them to trees and shooting them full of holes. It was in 1882 when the Hatfields thus wiped out the insult to their younger brother.

The father and the other brothers were still alive as of 12 January 1905. The only one of the brothers who was ever shot by the McCoys was Ellison, and that was the fight over Elias back in 1882. Reports have had this feud patched up numberless times, but in that region few deeds of violence ever occur which are not ascribed to the hatred of the two families, dating back two generations. -- Bluefield, W. Va., Cor New York Sun. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (1 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Thomas Hatfield Bound To Tree (1908)

Appalachians - It was reported Friday, 28 February 1908, in Mt. Vernon, Rockcastle county, Kentucky newspaper, Mount Vernon Signal, that Thomas Hatfield of Pike county, who was caught by feud enemies, in the mountains along Trigg river, in West Virginia two weeks ago, bound to a tree and left to die of exposure, died at a hospital there, having been found and brought to Louisa from West Virginia. Hatfield was a member of the Hatfield clan in the famous Hatfield-Mccoy feud.

James Hatfield Hoists Flag of Truce Forever (1909)

The Adair County News, dated 3 November 1909, reported that James H. Hatfield, of Cynthiana, Kentucky, one of the last survivors of notorious Hatfield-McCoy feud of the mountain district of Eastern Kentucky fleeing from bullets that have begun to whizz between factions again, is on his way to British Columbia, as it was reported that He stopped off at Minneapolis, Minnesota, long enough to give a bit of feud history in the mountains.

James H. Hatfield told reporters, wistfully back in 1909, "I sold out the little grocery store in Cyntiana, left enough money with the old woman and children to keep them, and I am going far away from Kentucky - to British columbia - to begin life all over again," Hatfield continued on, "The reason I am leaving my native State, never to return, is that feud which we thought all over year ago, when most of the Hatfields and most of the McCoys has been killed by each other, is that Jim Mccoy has just shot to death another Hatfield, a distant relative of mine My woman couldn't sleep nor eat for fear that I would be the next killed, or that I would kill some McCoy who tried to kill me, so at 67 years of age I am on my way to make a new home for my family.

"The McCoys won't kill women or children any more than Hatfields would kill Mccoy women and children but I don't think the life of either a McCoy or a Hatfield will be safe down there now for some time. Just a few weeks ago Jim Mccoy up and shot a Hatfield. Didn't give him a chance to defend himself; just shot him in the back and killed him.

The Hatfields and McCoys began oiling up their guns, and I left. There will a lot more blood shed down there in that feud, but none of it will be mine. It's going to be just like it was 20 years ago, when old 'Bad Anse' went to Court at the county seat, and carried a grip filled with six-shooters. I'll tell you, its hard on women folks, this killing." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (1 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Hatfield, Survivor of Feud, Willing To Take His Medicine

Appalachians - The Pensacola Journal, dated 6 November 1909, reported that J. W. Hatfield, survivor of feud, was willing to take his medicine. As the Los Angeles, Cal., and Associated Press reported, November 5, 1909 -- "With an eloquent plea that he had committed a crime and willing to take his medicine, but imploring the court to release him from prison before he became a gray-haired old man, J. W. Hatfield, one of the last survivors of the famous Hatfield-McCoy feud in Kentucky and a Rough Rider who fought at San Juan, told Judge Davis yesterday in the superior court that he had run away with 14-year--old Pearl Eastman, of Ventura county, because he wanted to marry her. He was sentenced to five years in San Quentin, the minimum under the law.

"Hatfield's brief and simple recital of the story of his life brought tears tot he eyes of his listeners. Hatfield said, 'If I have done wrong, I want to be sentenced, judge, and to serve a prison term; but I don't want to come out from prison a white-haired man. I want a chance to be a good citizen and to help my old mother when I come out. I want to marry this girl. She was willing, but her grand parents would not let us. I was a hired man on their place at Ventura. When her grandfather opposed our marriage, we ran away. Back in Kentucky that was no crime." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (1 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Devil Anse Hatfield Dead

West Virginia - Finally, that brings us to a news article concerning "Devil Anse" Hatfield that we found in The Mt. Sterling Advocate, 11 January 1921.

"Devil Anse" Hatfield noted leader of the Hatfield -McCoy feud of thirty years ago, is dead. Word of his death Thursday night in the Hatfield hoe at Island Creek, Logan county, W. Va., was received Friday. Pneumonia caused his death.

"Anderson ("Devil Anse") Hatfield was one of the leaders of the historic feud between the Hatfield and McCoy families in the mountains of Northern kentucky. shot at from ambush and in hand-to-hand combat scores of times with the McCoys, he had always predicted he would live to die a natural death.

"The celebrated feud of the Hatfield family with the McCoys was start over some hogs, one of the Hatfields winning a law suit that was brought to determine their ownership." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe