Hatfield McCoy Feud Timeline
The Hatfield-McCoy feud ran off and on for nearly 30 years.
Here, against the backdrop of other events in American history, is a chronology
of the feud's main events.
1863
Devil Anse Hatfield forms guerrilla band. Raids and thefts follow between McCoy's
and Hatfields.
West Virginia statehood.
President Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation (Jan 1).
1864
General Sherman marches through Georgia, taking Atlanta (Sept 1) and Savannah
(Dec 22).
1865
First death in feud -- Asa Harmon McCoy. No prosecution.
Civil War ends in May.
President Lincoln shot by John Wilkes Booth (Apr 4). Thirteenth
Amendment, abolishing slavery takes effect (Dec 18).
1866
World Record in mile run is 4:29.
1867
Alaska is bought by U.S. from Russia for $7.2 million.
1868
Ulysses Simpson Grant is nominated for president.
1869
Women's suffrage law is passed in Territory of Wyoming (Dec 10).
1870
U.S. population reaches 38.5 million
1871
Great fire destroys Chicago (Oct 8-11).
1872
Amnesty Act restores civil rights to citizens of the South (May 22), except
for 500 Confederate leaders.
1873
First U.S. postal card is issued (May 1).
1874
Herbert Clark Hoover, 31st president-to-be, was born (Aug 10).
1875
The Kentucky Derby is held at Churchill Downs Louisville Ky., for the first
time (May 17).
1876
"Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain is published.
1877
Ulysses Simpson Grant is elected president.
1878
Randolph McCoy accuses Floyd Hatfield of stealing his pig. Bill Staton's
testimony in court later wins for Floyd Hatfield.
The first commercial telephone exchange opens in New Haven, Conn.,
(Jan 28).
1879
F.W. Woolworth opens his first five-and-ten store (Feb 22).
1880
Bill Staton murdered by Paris and Sam McCoy in June. Sam McCoy tried
in September for Staton death; acquitted. Roseanna McCoy and Johnse Hatfield
meet. She leaves to live with him at Hatfield cabin.
1881
Roseanna returns home, then moves to aunt's cabin where Johnse is captured
by McCoy boys. Roseanna's ride to Devil Anse's saves Johnse's life. Pregnant
Roseanna returns to Ole Ran'l's home, catches measles, miscarries baby,
then moves to Pikeville. Johnse marries Nancy McCoy on May 14.
1882
Ellison Hatfield fatally wounded by Bud, Tolbert and Pharmer McCoy on
August 9. After Hatfield dies, the trio is tied to bushes and executed.
Jeff McCoy killed on banks of the Tug.
1883
The Brooklyn Bridge opens (May 24).
1884
Harry S. Truman 33rd president-to-be, was born (May 8).
1885
Grover Cleveland elected president.
1886
Geronimo, Apache Indian, finally surrenders (Sept 4).
1887
Kentucky governor appoints Frank Phillips to capture McCoy boys' murderers.
1888
New Year's Day raid on Ole Ran'l McCoy's cabin leaves Alifair and Calvin
dead, home burned to ground. Roseanna McCoy, less than 30 years old, dies
in Pikeville
Great blizzard in eastern U.S. 400 deaths (Mar 11-14).
1889
Trial of Hatfield clan in McCoy murders begins.
T.C. Crawford publishes "An American Vendetta."
Johnstown, Pa., flood 2,200 lives lost (May 31).
1890
Ellison Mounts executed for Alifair McCoy's murder. (Feb 18).
Ellis Island opens (Dec 31).
1891
Feud ends.
(1895: Mingo County W.Va. formed from Logan Co.; Matewan also
founded.)
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