Why Feud? Trivia Quiz

Answer: William Anderson Hatfield and Randolph McCoy

"Devil Anse" Hatfield and "Old Ranel" McCoy were the leaders of the two clans. After the conclusion of the Civil War, William ran a successful timber business, and was head of a family that contained thirteen children. Both men fought for the Confederacy. Randolph farmed and kept livestock, and was the leader of a family that contained sixteen children.

Johnson was the son of Devil Anse, Floyd was a cousin, and Ellison was his brother. Asa was the brother of Old Ranel, while Pharmer and Tolbert were sons.

Answer: Yes

Some sources even say that both William and Randolph fought together in the same Confederate unit, and that William received the nickname "Devil Anse" from Randolph to describe how he fought. The History Channel movie shows the first hint of hard feelings when William abruptly deserted the regiment to resume his old life; he became one of the members of "Logan's Wildcats," a local militia group that was pro South. Randolph stayed to fight, ultimately being taken and serving time as a prisoner of war for two years. Upon his return from the war, Randolph appears to have had a change of personality.

He seemed to have become more religious, and seemed to hold a grudge against Hatfield.

Answer: West Virginia and Kentucky

The area in which the families lived was, like many areas in the United States, divided in loyalty during the Civil War. The Hatfields actually originally lived in Logan, Virginia, which became Logan, West Virginia, in 1863 due to pro Union sentiments.

The McCoys lived in border state Kentucky. Separated geographically by the Tug Fork branch of the Big Sandy River, the families became separated in other ways as well. It was extremely difficult for law enforcement officials in the both states to work together and carry out justice; that may be one of the reasons the feud continued for as long as it did.

Answer: Asa fought for the Union.

Randolph McCoy believed that Devil Anse was somehow involved in this hit, and it was certainly carried out by Logan's Wildcats, the local pro South militia. It is likely, however, that the order was carried out by Hatfield's uncle, Jim Vance, without Devil Anse knowing anything about it.

Some historians say this murder was really just an isolated incident. Both families had members who fought on the Union side of the war, and there were several people in his own family who viewed Asa as a traitor.

Answer: Hog

The trial over this matter must have been a sight to behold. It took place in McCoy territory, but was presided over by a Hatfield judge. Floyd Hatfield, one of Devil Anse's cousins, was accused of stealing one of Randolph's hogs. McCoy claimed the hog had McCoy notches on his ear.

The main witness in the trial was Bill Staton. He was a McCoy relative who was married to a Hatfield, who testified on Floyd's behalf, and McCoy lost the case. While this appears to be a very small matter, farms animals were extremely valuable to these people. One adult hog could probably feed a family as large as McCoy's for at least a month.

Answer: Roseanna

Reportedly, Johnse and Roseanna met and fell in love in 1880 at an election day gathering. Johnse brought her home, and they lived together for about a year. It is unclear why he did not marry her, but it is a fact that she left the Hatfield home when she heard that her family was coming to "bring her home." McCoy would not allow Roseanna to live in his house; she was sent to live with her Aunt Betty McCoy, and Johnse visited her there. Roseanna did save Johnse from the law.

He was arrested for outstanding warrants for bootlegging in Kentucky and was being held by her father until the law came.

She rode to Devil Anse, who rescued his son. Sources agree that Roseanna did eventually give birth to Johnse's daughter, who lived about eight months before dying from the measles.

It appears that Roseanna died shortly after - of a broken heart?

Answer: All of these answers are correct.

Is it ironic that Nancy was Asa's daughter? And Roseanna's first cousin? Johnse was eventually sentenced to life in prison for his part in killing McCoys, although he only served four years. Nancy divorced him and married Frank Phillips while Johnse was in prison.

Answer: Money owed for a fiddle

Evidently the scuffle began in an argument about payment for the fiddle. Ellison was holding down one of Randolph's sons, Tolbert, and reaching for a rock, when two more of the McCoy brothers stepped in. Ellison was repeatedly stabbed and shot, and later died from the wounds.

His death led to the famous "Paw Paw Tree Incident", where the Hatfields tied the three brothers to paw paw trees and killed them firing squad style, using at least 50 shots.

Answer: New Year's Day

This was an horrific attack, carried out by Hatfield's uncle, Jim Vance, and his son, Cap. In apparent retaliation for the death of Hatfield's brother, Ellison, Vance and Cap set the McCoy house on fire, resulting in the deaths of two of McCoy's children.

The Hatfields also severely beat Randolph's wife. A few days later, Vance was killed by a bounty hunter, and several Hatfields were rounded up to stand trial. The result was that eight Hatfields and their supporters, including Cap, served prison sentences, and one, Cottontop Mounts, was sentenced to death by hanging.

Answer: Yes

After justice was handed out for the News Year's Night Massacre, it appears that the feud died down. William agreed to ending the fighting in 1891, and it appears that a truce was formed. The vendetta lasted more than a dozen years, and took more than a dozen lives. Sources say that disagreements between the families arose again in the 1920's when the United Miners' Union came into the area.