Devil Anse Hatfield
| William Anderson Hatfield | |
|---|---|
 Hatfield, seated second from left, with his family. | |
| Born |
William Anderson Hatfield September 9, 1839 Logan, Virginia |
| Died |
January 6, 1921 (aged 81) Stirrat, Logan County, West Virginia |
William Anderson Hatfield (September 9, 1839 – January 6, 1921) — known as Devil Anse Hatfield — was the patriarch of the Hatfield clan during the infamous Hatfield–McCoy feud which has since formed a part of American folklore. Devil Anse himself survived the feud and agreed to end it in 1891.
Biography
Hatfield was born in Logan, Virginia (now Logan, West Virginia), the son of Ephraim Hatfield, of English descent,[1] and Nancy Vance.
His nickname "Devil Anse" has a variety of supposed origins: it was given to him by his mother; by Randolph McCoy; earned from his bravery during battle in the American Civil War; or as contrast to his good-tempered cousin, Anderson "Preacher Anse" Hatfield.[2]
A Southern sympathizer, Hatfield formed a Confederate guerrilla fighting unit during the Civil War that he named "The Logan Wildcats."[3] In 1865, he was suspected of having been involved in the murder of his rival Asa Harmon McCoy, who had fought for the Union Army and was waylaid by The Wildcats on his return home. Hatfield had been home ill at the time of the killing, which was probably committed at the instigation of his uncle, Jim Vance. This may have sparked the beginning of the notorious feud between the two families that claimed many lives on both sides.
Hatfield was baptized on September 23, 1911 in Island Creek by William Dyke Uncle Dyke Garrett and converted to Christianity (he had maintained a largely agnostic or anti-institutional view of religion prior to this conversion). He went on to found a Church of Christ congregation in West Virginia.[2] He was an uncle of the eventual Governor of West Virginia, and United States Senator, Henry D. Hatfield.
Marriage and children
William Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield married Levisa "Levicy" Chafin (December 20, 1842 – March 15, 1929), the daughter of Nathaniel Chafin and Matilda Varney, on April 18, 1861 in Logan County, West Virginia (then Virginia). Their 13 children were:
- Johnson "Johnse" Hatfield (1862–1922)
- William Anderson "Cap" Hatfield (1864–1930)
- Robert E. Lee Hatfield (1866–1931)
- Nancy Hatfield (1869–1937)
- Elliott Rutherford Hatfield (1872–1932)
- Mary Hatfield Hensley Simpkins Howes (1874–1963)
- Elizabeth "Betty" Hatfield Caldwell (1876–1962)
- Elias M. Hatfield (1878–1911)
- Detroit W. "Troy" Hatfield (1881–1911)
- Joseph Davis Hatfield (1883–1963)
- Rose Lee "Rosie" Hatfield Browning (1885–1965)
- Emmanuel Wilson "Willis" Hatfield (1888–1978)
- Tennyson Samuel "Tennis" Hatfield (1890–1953)
Death
Hatfield died on Thursday, January 6, 1921 in Stirrat, Logan County, West Virginia at the age of 81 of pneumonia at his home along Island Creek. He is buried in the Hatfield Family Cemetery along West Virginia Route 44 in southern Logan County. His grave is topped by a life-sized statue of himself made of Italian marble. Levicy outlived her husband by eight years.[4] Her great nephew was the infamous anti coal Miners Union/Political boss Sherriff Don Chafin.
In Popular Culture
Hatfield was portrayed by actor Kevin Costner in the miniseries Hatfields & McCoys. For his role, Costner won both the Emmy and Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Drama.[5]
References
- ↑ http://www.genfan.com/getperson.php?personID=I20327&tree=MASTER
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Alther, Lisa (2012). Blood Feud: The Hatfields and the McCoys: The Epic Story of Murder and Vengeance. Globe Pequot. ISBN 0762785349.
- ↑ Hatfield - McCoys at www.libby-genealogy.com
- ↑ McKim, Sean. "Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield". Find A Grave, Inc. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- ↑ http://www.emmys.com/shows/hatfields-mccoys
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