Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-01-12
Devil Anse Hatfield.
Ironton Register.

Ironton Register.
The very solitude of this vast Wild
erness, the lack Of schools and
churches, the absence of the proper adj
ministration Of law and the uncer-
tainty of the punishment for a crime
made 1t necessary for every man to be
prepared to defend his property and
even his life at almost any minute.
This condition gave rise to the murder
Gus feuds that have existed and made
it necessary for every man to go armed
and prepared for battle, and his re-
peating rifle was as much in fashion
as an article of defense as a cane is in
more enlightened society.
AT a business house in one of the
towns, we were introduced to "a Mr..
Hatfield, very friendly and sociable
gentleman, who explained to us that
he was also called Devil Anse," and
while hundred things flashed into
our mind at the mention of the name,
somehow not one of them could be
made to fit uhis fine specimen of the
old Virginia gentleman, and so we
were not 10th TO carry on a conversa-
ton that gave us light on many dark
question.
His parents came from Old Virginia
in the latter part OF the century; he Is
slxty-three years Old, was married
very young, has nine sons and four
daughters all living, sound and well,
while the wife of his youth remains
with him in splendid health, and
plump as partridge His hair, a
rich brown, is not yet touched with
gray, and long flowing beard makes a
very fine impression, while a pleasant
smile dwells on his face and his talk
is in lew tones ana unusually gram
marlcal for that neighborhood.
He said he had one son at Mounds
ville w. Va, prison, and another at
Lexington, Ky, and that he had just
attended the trial of another for the
killing OF DR.. Scott about a year ago.
The case had been nollled and the
young man and his wife were on the
train on their way home, and seemed
TO be the center of very friendly cir
Gle, who were all rejoicing at the turn
of affairs that gave to the son his lib
erty. The sons wife is a fine looking
lady, and has peculiarly thoughtful
face; she could not be carried away
with ribbons or dress, not be a leader
in society, but for practical good COM
mon sense and utility she will stick
10 her own friends till sunrise on the
last day in the morning.
Anderson Hatfield Devil Anse) said
that he was always for peace, and was
glad that the Mccoy feud was now at
an end, and he hoped would give no
further trouble. 1t began about a
gang Of hogs" long time back, and
the court of that day had decided that
they we're the property Of the Hat
fields; however, the suit left both sides
at enmity, and for generations they
have had no choice except to be ready
to defend themselves.
The Hatields were once wealthy in
landed estate, and several tracts of the
best land in Tug River Valley were
pointed out as having been sold and
the proceeds used up in lawsuits. The
place where Delorme station on the
N. G. w. now stands was once the
home of Devil Anse," and the large
apple trees there were planted by him
long ago.
He lives now on Island Creek where
he still owns large bodies of coal and
tlmbered lands, and his word and his
note are both counted the very best
security.
We were happily surprised, after
reading for a score of years of the end
less contests and bloody vengeance of
these feudists, to find one of its lead
eqs such jovlal, kind-herated gentle
man.
The resemblance of his nose and
eyes to the Mephistopheles of art un-
doubtedly have given him his present
nickname, but his neighbors and the
poor about him are unanimous in their
praise of his kindness.
He said he would like to go through
Ohio and tell the story of his life in a
lecture, and that many of those who
condemn him would justify him if they
were in his place. PILGRIM