Appalachias Deadliest Mountain Men
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- Appalachias Deadliest Mountain Men #Frencheversolefeud #Frencheversole #battleofhazard #badtomsmith #appalachianfeud #appalachia #appalachianhistory #appalachian
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Video from The Appalachian Storyteller
Story written by The Appalachian Storyteller
Photos from paid subscription to Newspapers.com
Note: This Video Represents History. The video has been uploaded for educational purposes and commentary and critique on the topic.
I’m from Hazard. 73 years old. My younger days growing up there were poverty, desperation, and sad. Left at 19 to Navy. But the place is home.
❤️ love
This story true? If so, who was your family related to?
Bless you and thank you for your service
My Dad was born and raised in Hazard. It was the same story for him. His father died and he had to decide... mines or military. Went into the Army in 1938. Sent his mother $50 every month.
I think that the Appalachian storyteller is one of the best historical podcasts ever produced
Thank you so much!
Now that story just proves that jealousy causes nothing but trouble. Jealousy and a lie started that deadly feud. Thanks for the story JD. Have a blessed day!
Thanks Willow! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods
Jealousy is the original sin
Not really. Economics and power were the real culprits.
Jealousy and lies can only start a feud between small minded people 💯
What a story, the old photos make the people come alive. Well done storyteller
🙋♂️🐈🐈
Thank you so much!
I heard a story. A revenuer (government agents who go looking for moonshine stills) went up into a hollar and never came back. A group of revenuers went looking for him. Some people who were questioned said, we never saw him and don't know what happened to him, but if something bad did happen to him, he probably got a good Christian burial.
A good Christian burial 😂
Down an old mine shaft.
@@ernestwilliams268yes Sir that's how my pappy told it 😉
I heard this same story in Wilkes County North Carolina.
I'd say people in every state has heard and said that back in the day 🤣🤣🤣
I am as old as dirt today, I grew up in Powell Country Kentucky, or property bordered the Daniel Boone National Forest, I remember our family car having bullet holes in it in several places. Today I live in rural Queensland Australia about as far away as I could get from that dammed place. Sounds kinda romantic when they tell the story, but try living there.
Wow! What brought you to Australia?
At least your safe in Australia!
@@krzysztofwozny3002 Yep, I live in rural Queensland, my neighbors and I share each others phone numbers even though they are far enough away I can just barely see their homes through the trees. Most of the vehicles on the property never get their keys removed and seldom to we lock the doors at night. At night the sky is a black blanket with a million holes in it, we can lay on the top of a water tank at night and count how many shooting stars pass by. Our dogs have many acres to run across, the people at the post office and the grocery store know our names. It is a very nice place to live. I am here by choice not by chance, I choose to live here. I can live anywhere, I choose to live here. As it turns out the government wants to build a railroad through my property, so I have to buy a different property and relocate I have no problem with this because my payout is just under 5m. I could move back to the USA but I choose not to, I love this place and there are more and better opportunities living right here. My son is a Class One Honors level graduate from University Queensland a prestigious school on the world rankings and is an Electrical Engineer currently employed working on the nations electrical grid and is earning at the end of his first year of employment just over $125k a year... and more to come.
My wife who has never been to the USA is scared of living in the USA... and I understand her concerns.
Life is damn good here. Once you get out and travel around to see how others live I realized that America has a lot of good things but wow some of the downside is awful. Want to talk about health care? No you don't.
some good people is Aus Ken > my best from South Aus
Good people in Kentucky.
Hate,greed,and jealousy,never produces anything but separation, destruction and death.
Thank you JD. I enjoy each of your stories.
Thanks so much, and thanks for commenting, it really helps!
Yep
That's why he makes them up.
I love these old mountain stories! Keep em coming Sir, new subscriber and about to be binge watching your collection. Much appreciation for your work.
Welcome my friend, glad to have you here
Religion and Politics have such a hold on people and it's proven time and again it only takes one misguided person to light the fuse. What a sad ending all around. I wonder if this animosity endures today. Gosh what a story! Thanks for all the time and research it took to tell it. A movie should be made about this. Stay safe and GOD bless
I’m for hire Hollywood!
Thanks! Just started listening to your stories I drive a lot and it is really interesting to hear history
Heck yeah brother! Thanks for much!
Been watching these today, good stories. 52 hrs. That was another story tied into this one. Very nice.
Thanks Scott!
Thanks!
Man, James, I can't tell how much I appreciate your support, really. Im humbled. Thank you brother.
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller you deserve it. My wife and I have Covid again, so I can’t go see Dad this weekend, but will see him as soon as I’m cleared and will let him listen to your stories.
I never knew my Dad loved a good story. It’s something we share together now. So thank you brother for bringing me closer to Dad.
Im happy to have been a small part of ya'lls time together. Regarding Covid, I saw on the front page of a news paper here in East TN yesterday that its back again with a new variant... so here we go again
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller 10-4 on it being back. Second time I’ve had it and third time for her.
This one is like a bad sinus infection, but since dad has congestive heart failure, I don’t want to risk him getting sick.
Being born and raised here in Appalachia I find these stories both fascinating and educational. I've always been intrigued by history. Kinda in this order from what I am least interested in (although still very much so) to what I find grabs my attention and interest me completely. World history, then would be US history and then the favorite of favorites would definitely be the history of my "homeland" the localized history of the Appalachian mountains and surrounding areas! So to say that I eagerly await the notification alerting me of a new lesson is a pitiful understatement! I'm captivated each and every episode you post for your subscribers viewing and learning pleasures! Thank you
- I'd like to add that I think a television series with your stories/ history lessons would be absolutely amazing!
I agree with you 💯
A television series, with his
wonderful voice for narration
would be award winning.
This ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Channel
should be broadcast on PBS.
Honestly, that would be a dream come true for me
Yes you could call it, The Trumps and the Biden’s!
@@kevdimo6459
Absolutely, you spoke the truth.
That’s what war is, both side kill people and destroy stuff until one side can no longer raise a defense.
Awesome story. I could listen to these all day everyday.
Thank you so much!
Bad ass all around. Music, pictures.
The story and so on. 🙌 Once again, you've done it again! Well done! 👏
Awesome, I’m happy you enjoyed it, and thanks as always for commenting, it really helps
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller
You're the best story teller. My husband and I listen to you on a loud speaker so we get this whole effect of the story. It's like watching a cowboy movie in your mind. You can literally imagine your story as if it's real. We appreciate all the time and effort that you put into your videos. Thank you so much. It gives my husband and I something to do together. So it's a win win! ♥️
Another top notch story! I'm curious as to how you keep these videos short. I feel there's information being set aside. I'm saying that cause I'm hoping for extended versions of these stories. Simply put,I can't get enough. Thanks JD
I could have made a 2 hour movie on all the details of this story. It is speculated 70 men died in the feud along with several judges, lawmen, and politicians. The state militia and governor were involved. The Eversole leadership changed hands several times as leaders were assassinated. Hazard became a town under seige. There were so many bodies littering the sides of the roads that were just skeletal remains with weeds growing thru them. There is lots to this war. Unfortunately, it takes me nearly 40 hours to produce a story like this- with zero budget and I work a full time job aside from this channel. Now- If I could do this full time and make a living from it, you better believe I would have put it all out there on this story.
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller that's incredible. Sounds like I need to join the channel, instead of just subscribing.
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller I can't wait for this story to be told i a Netflix series... :-)
Saturday mornings are reserved for storytelling and JD never disappoints! I enjoyed every minute friend, and I'll see ya next time, God Bless!
Thanks Scott! Have a good’n brother
@scottblack3381. Totally agree! Love these mountain stories from the past.
Not only is the story a great one, the graphics are fantastic!
Thank you for another wonderful story.
Thanks so much, I spent hours bringing those photos to life
I absolutely love this channel about people who I relate to ,the good and bad .our ancestors had struggles most city folks would never comprehend.
So glad to have you here Jeff, many more stories to come!
Amen
In the cities they were called the Mob.
I really enjoy your voice and storytelling style. So calming and interesting
Thanks for your video. I have had the pleasure to live in Texas, WV, the mountains of NC, and now a valley in VA. The Appalachian Culture is as distinct as the Cowboy Culture. Love them both. The mountains have my heart.
Thank you my friend
I appreciate the connection with the Bad Tom Smith story.
Stay tuned for part three with bad Toms brothers story
There is nothing in this world better than sitting on the front porch in Grainger Co. Tn sipping coffee, looking out at the Appalachian Mountains and listening to your channel on a Saturday
Ive considered buying land in Grainger, I absolutely love it there
@TheAppalachianStoryteller my shop is in Rutledge and I absolutely love it
Best maters in East TN!
@@katservices yup, I get some every time im there
@@katservices absolutely!!
Wow! That story makes the shootout in Tombstone seem more like a squabble in a Kindergarten class.
exactly
I’m from Breathitt county right next to Perry county. There was a feud there Turner v Fugate that lasted decades. It still simmers today.
This story was awesome i enjoy stories like this. I just wonder just how many freuds really happened in and around those mountains. Thank you for sharing sir. God bless you and your whole family...🙏❤🙏❤🙏
Have a blessed day, and thanks for commentating, it really helps!
A few channels I have notifications on for and this is one of the few. Great channel! I got my husband to start watching it, we love it. ❤️
Thanks so much my friend !
This should seriously be made into a movie!!! Amazing story!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Interesting/informative/entertaining. Excellent photography pictures enabling viewer's to better understand what/whom the orator was describing.
Thanks again for that feedback!
What a great story to start off my Saturday morning with. Thanks JD
And as always y'all stay safe out there 🙏
Preciate you Brother, hope all is well in your neck of the woods
I loved your story and your music loved it.❤
Thanks so much!
I live on the edge of Appalachian mountains the foot hills to be exact in Adams county Ohio we're proud of our mountain life and I am a direct decendant of the Cherokee and Sioux nations ilove these deep hollers and mountains
Another great piece of history for us to know! Thanks again, man!!
Thanks so much brother
Thank you for this story.
Regards,
Justin French
family descendant?
@@TheAppalachianStorytellerYes sir. My great grandfather x3 took part in this feud.
What an awesome storyteller you are! Keep up the good work!! Blessings always! ❤️✝️
Thank you so much Betty!
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller You are very welcome J.D.!!
Wow, what a story! Benjamin French was particularlly ruthless. His demise at the end of the story was fitting.
Well said Gary!
That story is sooooo crazy ! Thank you !
These boys didn’t play
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller they sure were not !!! :-)
LOOOORD what another mighty good'n JD! Can't wait to see more. God bless you my awesome mountain brother
Preciate you brother, ya'll be safe out there
A hearty Congratulations on 100K! 🎉 Well deserved. To think, all this over a woman!
Dang it Thelma! haha! Thanks for the congrats Emily, I really appreciate it my friend!
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller algorithm trys.. Louis and Clark. Patterns. Computers lose. Stand
Enjoyed, incredible story, Thanks for sharing J.D.
Thanks so much John, appreciate you watching and commenting, have a good'n
Thank you for your research and story telling. One of my favorites
Thank you sir, for watching and commenting, it really helps to support this channel
Wow 😮 that is one heck of a story. Loved it.
Thank you Melanie!
Awesome and Interesting Story.
I Appreciate You.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you ma’am
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller
You're Welcome Sir
Makes you feel like your right there in the time. He is the greatest story teller. Love pics incorporated into the story.
Thank you so much ❤️
Wow, what a powerful historical story. Thank u for sharing this..
Thank you Lisa, appreciate you commenting too, it really helps the channel!
Great channel, stories, storytelling. I really liked the intro/outro music. I wish I could play like that. Man, those were some deadly feuds back in the day.
Thanks so much! Glad to have you here!
Now that right there's a tale! Never heard anything about this feud. Thank you
a bit of almost lost history brought back to life
This amazing. Iam new to this podcast but I knowi watch with morning coffee. The stories are told with such truth and feelings.
I really appreciate that!
Love it. Im tired of all the channels talking about hood stories. New sub
Welcome to the channel my friend!
I was born in Hazard, raised for a bit in lil ole Happy, just outside of Hazard. Excited to hear some history from my birthplace! Love your videos 😊
Thanks so much my friend
Do you know Boss Hogg?
What a story! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for watching and commenting!
I’m glad I’ve found this channel… your filling in great detail about many my ancestors in these stories
Thank you!
WOW, another great story, and a fitting end.
Thanks so much
Love listening to you tell the stories 😊
Thanks so much for your support, really appreciate you commenting too, it really helps the channel
Another awesome story! Thank you Brother!
Preciate you my friend, thanks for your support, have a good'n
THOUSANDS of stories are in these mountains!
Fascinating stories!
True stories!
if you have one you'd like told on this channel, email me at theappalachianstoryteller@gmail.com if I make a video about your idea, ill send you a free Appalachian storyteller t-shirt
Good morning my favorite story teller luv your stories
Morning, hope all is well in your neck of the woods
Great storytelling! Thank you.
Thank you my friend, and I appreciate you commenting, it really helps the channel!
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller You earned it.
Great story as usual I enjoyed listening to this
Thank you!
30-some years later in nearby Lynch Kentucky, a girl named Juanita Morris was born. She ended up being the first woman director of the New York Stock Exchange and later, the first woman Secretary of Commerce and only the 4th woman named to any Presidential Cabinet post. She was my aunt. When my dad was young, the Morris family got the contract for fire watch atop Black Mountain, the highest elevation in Kentucky.
Musical soundtrack:
Chef's Kiss.
Sets the mood.
Hazard hasn't changed too much😂
Fabulous, as we have come to expect!
Absolutely love the simple effects added to the old still photos.
A nice addition to the star of the show: Unparalleled story telling.
Thanks so much Joel!
I live in West Virginia I love this it's like setting with my Grandpa back in the day on the front porch telling stores about the old days .❤️❤️
glad to have you here my friend
Wow you are amazing at telling the stories and my husband and I love your channel ❤
Thank you so much for your kind words and support my friend!
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller thank you my friend ♥
That was a good one👍. Unbelievable. I can’t believe I’d never heard of this event. I can’t believe the only person ever convicted of a crime was sentence of disturbing the peace and fined $75.00. Great treat on this dreary Saturday morning.
It’s a wild story- but true
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller there’s so much true history that’s no longer taught. Thanks again. Can’t wait for the next one
thank you! @@denisestrickland2976
Love your stories thanks again.
Thank you Melissa, appreciate you taking the time to comment, it really helps the channel
I love these stories. I live in the foothills of the Smokey Mountains.
thank you!
Disturbing the peace
Life was much different in the good old days !!!
I was born in the wrong era ,in those days if you crossed that thin line you paid the ultimate price
Thanks Donnie
Love your style ,
Greatest storyteller ever I love old history of our forefathers
I’ll tell Donnie you said so
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller
I’m sorry
I didn’t mean to call you Donnie !!!
I’m old and get mixed up with my names !
I do so much love your stories !
And again my apologies
@@garylam6233 Brother, I didn't mind at all. Donnie and I are subscribed to each others channels and are friends on here. If I had a dollar for every time someone has called me Donnie, I could buy a 8 piece box of chicken.
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller😆👍
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Sitting here on this rainy Saturday morning,(6am) having my coffee, and, listening to this story....I have to say,very entertaining and, Ive learned a thing or 2 about Appalachian history. 👍
Alright, mission accomplished
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller Absolutely.
I could listen to you all day love all your stories as I really enjoy history of the uk and america
Thank you so much my friend, glad to have you here
Good upload on a story i never heard well done JD
Thanks so much for watching and commenting, preciate you!
@TheAppalachianStoryteller I appreciate most of your work it's informative and well researched and you tell a good story, I hope you continue to grow as a channel.
Excellent story. I had never heard of that feud. Makes the Hatfields/McCoy and Underwood/Holbrook feud sound like child’s play. Ruthless to say the least. Excellent story JD.
Thank you for a well told story. I really enjoyed listening to it.
Thank you!
Quite a vengeful story. Great storytelling as usual, thank you
Thanks Janet, Appreciate you. Have a blessed day
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller I was talking to my brother earlier about your storytelling, he lives in Elizabethton TN. He told me there is a Story telling Festival in Jonesborro every year. Do you participate?
Good show. Well worth a thumbs up.😁
Thank you ❤️
Holy cow... what a crazy and sad story! Isn't jealousy one of the deadly sins🤔.
Riveting to the end! Thanks JD 😎👍👍
Thank you Kathy ❤️
ANOTHER CLASSIC JD JUST A CLASSIC WE LOVE YA JD
Thank you!
Another great video. Hazard is still a rough town.
Indeed, I hope folks that live there see this story
Amazing presentation! Thank you 🙏🏼
Thank you!
Nothing to do with the feud but during my time the law was very respected by everyone. That being said there were hollow’s that we constantly went into that lots of people would not go into. There’s been people go into these places and never come out again. They were never found either. Ways of getting rid of people were plentiful and we knew it. I know of people who I would be willing to bet were buried under a mountain. It’s impossible to locate a body that is hundreds of feet deep in the earth. To this very day you better know where you are going or know someone close by. You will end up talking with someone and they will want to know about you. Strange vehicles and people just aren’t welcome. After I retired and moved away I went back to check on some property that I owned. I ended up being stopped by someone who lets say just wanted to talk and after I told them who I was and why I was there I was invited to have supper with them. Mountain people have a way of taking care of their own. Actually they are some of the best people I have ever known but you had better never cross them. That being said mountain people will give you the shirt off of their backs. Really great hard working and honest people. Love my mountains and my friends.
That’s an accurate picture of the mountains that you just painted
I so love the ending...u never really get away from anything u do!! Great story JD....
Justice is always waiting @@stephanielloyd5792
Yea, found one of these towns down at the end of a very very long road in West Virginia. Stopped at the only store in that town which was a large storage building with a gas pump out front. Those where the strangest group of people I ever saw. They would not speak at all to me, even when I spoke to them, they just starred at me until I left. That was some spooky shit.
Sounds like a sundown town?
Awesome video great work 👍👍
Thank you !
I’m currently studying the sagas of Icelanders at the University of Iceland. As a native Kentuckian, I am continuously struck by the similarities in these feud cultures. I’m also fascinated by how oral storytelling, such as yours, preserved these histories before they were written. I keep trying to think about how I might take these connections and turn them into a larger research project. You’ve got my mind cooking! Takk fyrir as the folks here say.
Interesting!
I'm from nc and have hiked along the a.t. there's also lots of very very old structures out there they are extremely isolated as well. I can only imagine how hard they had it.
I've read several sagas. It definitely has a similar feel to this.
I knew young Anse Hatfield well when he was in his 50s. He was the little four year old boy in that famous Hatfield photo. He was also named after his papaw, "Devil" Anse Hatfield. The name Anse is pronounced with a short "a" as in the word "ant", not with the long "a" sound like in the word "ain't".
Where I came from Tuckasegee valley in the Smoky mountains North Carolina, (Jackson County) We had two feuding family's that mostly killed each off. It was the Watson and Hooper feud that lasted a long time with a lot of bloodshed. I was related to both sides. in fact, it was a Watson that killed my father in 1942.
Wow
Wow. I'm from Swain Co. My 2xGrGpa. Babe Burnette killed Revenuer Hol Rose in fall of 1920. Its in "Our Southern Highlanders" by Horace Kephart.
Swain county is just next door to Jackson County, so we probably have the same relatives. I remember an Ida Moss from Cullowhee. she owned a small store and owned a home close to Glenville. she might be related to you Remember we had an old saying in the mountains it went like this (if you have the same name, you have to be related for the good lord didn't think enough of you to make two sets). LOL just a little mountain humor.@@paulmoss7940
Another great story JD. ❤
Thanks Pinky, and thanks for commenting, that really helps!
You’re content is always top tier and your channels growth reflects it.
Thank you !
Tthis is the first video ive watched on this channel and it earned you a new subscriber friend.
Awesome, thank you! Glad to have you here
Thank you for this story. I wonder what happened between the engaged couple? Did they get married or did he dump her after he started that mess? We may never know.
Sadly, I can’t answer that, but he certainly made French pay the ultimate price
Great story! So sad all those people died as a result of hard-headed and hard -hearted men.
Thanks David!
This is next level storytelling 🏆 thank you so much ❤
Preciate that, I do my best to transport the listeners back in time to feel like they are right in the thick of the action and know all the characters
I've got some catching up to do listing to your stories. Ive been doing other things. Great story, I'm glad that was way before my time.
Glad to have you here
Power, greed and hate!
All started with a woman & ending with a fine of $75 dollars for disturbing the peace.
Whatever happened to the town of Hazard?
Thank you JD for your wonderful videos 😊
Be sure to watch part two of this story "Appalachias deadliest Outlaw"
Duke & Bo took over and ran Boss Hogg wild.
Oh wow what an awesome story!!
thanks so much Willie
For your info this story has now found its way to Sweden. Now this was a great story and I really enjoyed it!
The other day I found the stories about Popcorn Sutton and watched them wih great pleassure and a constant grin on my face.
Seems like Ive found a new interest in the Appalachia. Thanks for a splendid work!
Wow, you are the first ever person from Sweden to comment. Im honored! Id love to send you a free Appalachian Storyteller Sticker if you'd like. email your mailing address to theappalachianstoryteller@gmail.com Greetings from the mountains of East Tennessee USA
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller
Ok I sure will 🙂 And thank you!
Great story. Love from Australia. Stay safe. ❤❤
Thank you Gayle, ❤️ from the mountains of East Tennessee
thank you JD for all you do, we really enjoy your stories,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Preciate you brother, and thanks for all your comments, they really help the channel
Awesome choice of music -- really sets the atmosphere...
Thanks so much Nancy!
Of all the stories you tell, I must say, I love the feuding stories the most. That is the pinnacle of freedoms exercised by our forefathers: the right to handle one’s own business without interference from the every increasing tyranny cynical men call “government”. Tempted to focus on the violence and proclaim “what chaos was the lawlessness before the coming of our all powerful, law-providing benefactors in Washington” people do not see that those men were men of faith and conviction who loved their freedom and did not allow anyone who could beat them to take that freedom from them. They held themselves responsible for the exercise and protection of theirs and their families’ freedom as men are ought to do and what a pale comparison we “modern men” make to them.
I don’t think I have ever read it out better than that. Bravo
Handling it on your own is one thing, but these feuds often spill into the public square
great soundtrack
Thank you ❤️
In the early days of prohibition in Pendleton county, near a town called Smoke Hole. Two government agents on horseback, asked a young boy i they could leave their horses while they hiked up into North Mountain to look for illegal stills
The boy asked if he could keep their horses if they didnt return. At first, they laughed. But, on second thought, they returned to town. From "Smoke Hole Memories" a book by D. Bardon Shreeve. Who went on to become a well respected educator.
Pretty cool
Loved this story 😊
Thanks so much Beth!
Very nice pretty country one the last untouched places left on earth glad of it
amen