The Family

The Family. Hatfield Cemetery. , Descended from English settlers, the Hatfield clan made its way to western Virginia by the 1770s. The first Hatfield to arrive at Tug Fork Valley was Ephraim, nicknamed "Eph-of-All", from Russell County, Virginia. He and his second wife, Anna Musick Bundy, settled on Blackberry Creek in Pike County, Kentucky, during the 1830s. Eph-of-All's son from his first marriage, Valentine, traveled across Tug Fork to the portion of Virginia that would later become West Virginia. Valentine, with his wife Martha Weddington, raised their thirteen children on Horse Pen Creek in Mingo County, which was originally part of Logan County. Their son Ephraim, nicknamed "Big Eph" married Nancy Vance and made their home on Mate Creek. There they raised eleven children, one of whom was William Anderson Hatfield., Despite the shadow cast by the feud, the historic Hatfields and their descendants persevered, some of whom made names for themselves in their respective fields. Some notable Hatfields include Anderson's nephew, Dr. Henry Drury Hatfield, who first served as a surgeon and then was elected as the 14th Governor of West Virginia; Elliott Rutherford Hatfield, Anderson's son, became a medical doctor; and William Sidney "Smilin' Sid" Hatfield, Matewan sheriff and miners' union activist who fought in the Battle of Matewan in 1920., [Sidebar] , Tug Fork Community , Situated on the bonder between Kentucky and West Virginia, the terrain of the Tug Fork valley proved challenging but not possible for the settling families. Folks of the Tug River Valley had a semi-subsistent way of life, one based on farming, foraging hunting and trading locally., Communities were closely knit, socializing often and working together just as much. Prior to the Civil War, disputes were largely settled civilly and mediated by a justice of the peace or judge. Elections for local county offices were held annually; male residents would publicly cast their votes, bringing their familles along to connect with other residents., [Captions] , Below: Portrait of Governor Henry Drury Hatfield. , West Virginia and Regional History Center, WVU Libraries, Below: William Sidney "Smilin' Sid" Hatfield. , West Virginia and Regional History Center, WVU Libraries, Right: Dr. Elliott Rutherford Hatfield , West Virginia and Regional State History Center, WVU Libraries, Above: Portrait of Anderson and Levicy Hatfield , West Virginia and Regional History Center, WVU Libraries, Above: Photograph capturing Anderson Hatfield's Homeplace , West Virginia and Regional History Center, WVU Libraries, Above: Photograph of Hatfield family in winter, with Anderson seated at the center , West Virginia and Regional History Center, WVU Libraries