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My Mother use to sing a song about 'The Hatfield's and The Coy's'. They use to play a song on the radio about 'The Martin's and The Coy's'. Sadly, I do not remember either song any more. But. One verse went something Like , "Grandma, poor Ole Grandma, she lies neath the clover, someone caught her bending over......pickin up a daisy! History was told in songs. Good bless,
@@claudiasteinwald8952 it was later rereleased as a disco anthem do the incest and who could forget how deep is an incest love the closer were kin the deeper in and hilltop classics remixed what's love got to do with doing it with ya sis and how could it be a record without nothing wrong with making sweet love with my mule after she plows the field all-day u got to plow her too , your not a true cowboy till u make sweet love to a cow no son cattle lol and other west virginia hilltop classics on 🦏 records
@@leejames1839 My first reaction to your remark was discust. But, the. I realized that, that must be the back ground that you originate from, so you, poor thing, assume that attitude is acceptable. You really should use more discretion . If your heritage was from the good people that are drawn to this thread, you would have been exposed to people of character, morals ethics and values. You have missed out on so much.
My great great grandfather was Augustus C. Fowler, the foreman of the jury that died that day. Thank you for helping preserve this part of our history for future generations 🙏🏻
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller I must have gotten distracted and didn't catch it on the video. I'll have to watch it again. What I remember seeing as a child was a fairly tall stone/monument.
If you don’t tell legendary stories like this gentleman,Don’t tell them at all! Absolutely brilliant! I’m obsessed,Best wishes from Sydney Australia. 👏🏻👏🏻🏆
This is my husband's family. He's the son of Malcom Allen from Middleton TN. He was a TN State Trooper for a few years. I was so shocked when I first heard the story because my father-in-law was the nicest kindest and most loving man you would ever meet. I always enjoy watching videos I haven't seen yet. So thanks for the video.
If you ever watched the Andy Griffith Show, the Darling family, Ernest T. Bass and some the other 'mountain folk' gave you a little taste of some of the people depicted in this video (although the Allens were not impoverished and were way more violent). Andy Griffith grew up in Mount Airy, NC, which is about 25 miles from the Sidna Allen House. While Mount Airy is in the foothills, the Allen House is 'up in the Mountains'. So when the Darlings or some of the others came 'down out of the hills', that was one of the areas that was based on.
I lived in Mt Airy close to the restaurant with Andy Griffin memorabilia back in summer of 1975. Helped my step dad with moving mobile homes up in those mtns in Virginia, it was quite tricky sometimes setting a home on the side of the hill....aw the memories...
I watch Andy Griffith 5 x a week. Love the characters and the family from the mountains. They were great musicians. Let's not forget about aunt bee and Barney and little opy. What a down to earth family. They loved the little things in life and were very happy with what they had. Living a good life one day at a time.......
My great granddaddy died in an insane asylum in Kentucky. The story goes that the local sheriff came to arrest him for a murder. My ggd told the sheriff he’d go with him but he needed his hat before he’d go. Back then some outlaws would carry a small pistol in their hats. He picked up his hat, grabbed the pistol from it and shot the sheriff in his chest and before the sheriff died he shot my ggd in one of his eyes and it lamed him so bad that he couldn’t even stand trial. He was committed to an asylum for the rest of his life. This happened in Webster County Kentucky.
@@alekl2278 grown men are men not little children daddy, mommy etc is not in the vocabulary. I mind my manners but i also mind my resonsibilities its my job to be a daddy to my kids not to be daddied as a grown man.
@@alekl2278 your grammar suggests you may not be worth discussing this point any further with sir, i suggest you make a tactical withdrawal as you do in the south before you catch a whupping young whelp.
Sir you have a way of telling stories that is very calming and a joy to listen to. I’m one of those people that see a movie in their head while listening to a told story. I could see the story unfold while knitting. Brilliantly done sir. ❤
All my family is from southern Appalachia dating back to the 1750s. Love these old stories. Miss sittin around listening to my dad, grandpa, and uncle’s telling stories that had been passed down to them through the generations
Thank you for keeping the dramatic flourishes to a minimum. Romanticizing antisocial and/or psychopathic mass murder is so 20th century. This was very well told.
Folks, if you like the story I must advise going to Galax VA. There is a clothing store on the highway called Harmons. Harmons is a couple of buildings next to each other. In the back of one is a door that has a sign above it that modestly just says, "museum". Inside is a giant private collection of artifacts from the Appalachian region, Carroll County history, and many items from the day at the courthouse and days following. It's incredibly interesting. My family has shopped there for years when we're in town visiting our people. I was born and raised in East Tennessee but Galax has always been home. As we pass on, we all end up "back home" out at Crooked Creek.
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller you did a bang up job! I couldn't send this to all my Carroll County folks in my contacts fast enough. Mama and her sister are bragging on you now. Got a feller texting me now that I sent it too and he's done spread it to all his Carroll County folks. We still have our family farm and home up there and travel there often.
@@JohnSmith-cd1cq thats awesome my friend, I appreciate you sharing this story, thats the type of stuff that is most important to keeping this channel going. Thanks again
Wow! Never heard this story before. Great job telling it. I felt like I was there. What a unique and perfect voice to frame these incidents and this time in history. Thank you! Definitely subscribed. Can’t wait for another.
Makes sense to have clans in Appalachia since so many Scottish and Irish settled there. Some parts of the South still haven't moved beyond this. Some places you just don't go, especially after dark. It's fascinating how different cultures developed throughout the US. It's like each State has its own culture.
@@phoradio1277 I was referring to the type of clan type communities. Not the violence. I don't think I'd be lying to say the Wild West was way more violent. In the West individuals were prospecting for gold, not a lot of families, they needed guns to guard their claims and their persons. It was just different because their communities were just built different. In the South, you'd draw the wrath of the entire clan, in the West just one or two are coming after you.
These are great stories of an America rarely talked about any more. Thank you "Appalachian Storyteller" hope you can keep your channel and the history you bring to us, growing strong. Thank you.
Thanks so much, that's what this channel is all about, bringing history that isn't taught in schools, talked about in media, and rarely found in modern books. Keeping the stories of our grandfathers alive.
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller Exactly correct, and you have taken on that task here, because Appalachia seems to be a part of American life and history always overlooked, and never given the attention it deserves. So, we thank you again.
I was in Hillsville three weeks ago for the first time and stopped by the front of the courthouse. I had heard about the shootout there but had no idea how horrible it was. Thank you for your great storytelling, that was shocking.
In Hot Springs, Arkansas there is a similar shoot out but it was in front of a bar between city cops and Sheriff officers, I think a couple people died or were wounded in the small shoot out between the two groups.
What an incredible tale! I've never heard it before, and the creators of this video did a masterful job of laying out this piece of seemingly forgotten history in an engaging and captivating manner. Liked and Subscribed, and eager to find what other gems you have in store! 👍
I had never heard of this story, either! And... I found that it was presented in a very interesting... and, I am sure... a very truthful manner. SO... now I am going to subscribe to this channel. Thank you very much, Mr. John Smith!
My family is from the area of Hagan/Rose Hill, VA (Lee County) and, yes, they were moonshiners. Growing up I heard many wild stories of people (i.e. revenuers) going missing up in those mountains. My great uncle, Apsy, who I met once when I was a child, was still making 'shine well into his 80s. When we got to his house, we parked at the foot of a long driveway, my dad told us to stay in the car while he went up first. I saw him make it about halfway up the driveway when his uncle came out with a shotgun pointed at him. But once my dad was able to explain that who he was, in no time at all, we were up in the porch eating watermelon and having fun. LOL
My family is from Lee county Virginia Rose Hill in that area I'm an old man now when I was real young we used to go down to visit them boy it was like watching an old fashioned movie they rolled us up in feather beds at night time
@@jessieeads4509, my Granny Bailey in the late 1950’s through my childhood always fluffed up her two feather beds when we went to stay overnight. Precious memories ❤
Two years ago I stopped at that house. I was fascinated by its history and the people that were fixing it up. Man oh man did they do a lot of work since then! Simply beautiful.
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller YRS! Just as the previous commenter said.... You DO tell a story SO very well that I could actually see.... in my mind... the events that you described.... in sequence. And... as I stated in an earlier comment... I had never even HEARD about this family!!! Now I feel as though I am " acquaintaned " with some of the members of the Allen family!!! You have a gift, sir. A REAL talent.
This is my family. My father was named after Sidna. I remember my parents had a postcard with his furniture that he'd built while in prison. So cool to find this channel. Sidna also wrote a book that I was lucky enough to inherit.
I've tried posting a picture of it since I first commented but I guess it's not possible. It's titled : Memoirs Of J Sidna Allen A true narrative of what really happened at Hillsville, Virginia.
Wowwwww weeee.. never heard of this story before. Amazing how many things happened back then that you never hear about today until someone like you share it. Thank you! Good thing they were punished. No one should ever think there good enough to fight the law system and get away with murder. 😮
I remember this story when I was little. But what I found to be the most alluring is you had to be persistent to get the ones that knew to talk about it. It was a curse to talk about it. Thanks, David
Had H. P. Hicks for a high school principal back in 1958, H.P. was from Hillsville, Va. Claude Allen was at the Courthouse but he was not a bad person, more of a homebody and not mean and violent. He was Executed and known as an innocent man. One woman died, she ran home from the courthouse and didn't realize she was shot. Another story H.P. told was about the Carrol County Accident that made a song.
@@sandrasue44 I wondered if the carrol county accident was named after that particular county,when I seen the county name,the song was sang by porter waggoner.
Speaking of Appalachia….. currently, in Southern Ohio, members of the Wagner family are on trial for the murders of 8 members of the Rhoden family. Maybe we’ll hear more about that one day on your channel! Nicely done, keep up the great work, buddy!!!
I live just 30 minutes from here. My people have lived in Floyd County Virginia for 250 plus years. Right next to Carrol County, Home of the Allen Clan. Mountain People, MY PEOPLE.
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller my dad is from Bridgeport, Ala. Basically N.E. Ala. Beautiful mountains up there. Found out about a story called the “Statesboro Boys” and decided to write a song about the ordeal. These videos have plenty of good gems/nuggets for lyrics writing
OH, MY GOODNESS!!! Do you have any articles... from the newspaper account of the shootout???? I mean... if your great great grandfather was mentioned in the newspaper. Did your great great grandfather get wounded... or killed? Do you know? Oh... I am sorry. You said that he wasn't harmed!!! That is SO interesting!
@@debraweaver6308 he was actually a juror. I talked to my mom about it after I saw this video. He wasn't harmed, I think. There is a book we had when I was a kid all about what happened. Not sure where it is now. And he was my great grandfather, not great, great. I got that wrong too lol. It's a great story to hear!
Hillsville is only a short drive from my hometown of Wytheville, Virginia, but back then it might have been in Georgia. It wasn't an easy trip through the mountains and valleys. I have heard this story all my 66 years especially from family who lived through that period. I have seldom heard it told so well.
The Allen's you are talking about are my First Wife's Kin. That Apple didn't fall far from the tree.... she is mean as a snake too. We actually went to the court house.... you can still see the bullet holes in the wooden steps. Part of the family fled to North Carolina after the Court House incident. My Mother-in-law's family moved back to Va and settled in Roanoke.... they followed the textile Mill work back up here. Some of them are still livingin the Roanoke area today.
I was born in Roanoke Virginia and my grandma in Floyd County south of there. The Bondurant brothers sold the moonshine 1 mile from my house in Franklin County. There was not any coal mining in that area just farming or moonshining. The textile mills were down in Martinsville. Some wild stories were told by my ma about the goings on and her :grandfather Esquire John Burnett. They called him Squire John and he rode a horse all over as a circuit judge.
that is true> My family included the Montgomery's Childress, Tates, Biizard's, and Rigney's. I think I saw in our genealogy books the Bondourants mentions, one of the first families of racing,
@@mechellturner3915 I remember back in the early 70s at the Ontario Moter Speedway in Southern California there was the "Bob Bondurant school of driving". They would have a parade in downtown Ontario for the 500 mile race back then and Bob Bondurant was in the parade with his car on a trailer. He ended up getting into slight fender bender and his tire was rubbing on something that bent into it. We were on bicycles and saw them on the side of the road and they asked if we could ride next to him and monitor the problem. We ended up going back to the speedway with them. They were very grateful and gave us a run on the road course with an instructor at a later date which was awesome. I believe it was in a Datsun 240z.
What a story! It is like in one of the old film noires...the gangster boss isn`t dieing, even if he got wounded! It is a story like one from the wild west! More like something written - but life always writes the best storys! Thank you for putting it all together and telling us this story with a lot of pictures of the involved people!
Indeed, what a wild story. I learned about it a few months ago from a tip from someone on TH-cam who suggested I investigate in when I was in Virginia. Im glad I did, what a heck of a story!
The "Wild west" started out in Appalachia. All the tropes you think of when you think "Wild west", free range livestock, cattle rustling, shootouts, etc. were common there & people took those practices with them when they headed west.
@@raydavison4288 Hello and thank you for more information! I myself already thought that it was possible so, that the now typical wild west stuff came from Appalachia and it's freedom loving people- that went west.
The Greene's and the Jones' war in east Tennessee was called the longest feud. My Mamaw JARNIGAN (Greene) told me about the feud. My Mamaw' ancestors were part of that feud. She was originally from Hancock County Tennessee. She always talked about the feud and the Peavine railroad. I was told it was the longest feud actually longer than the Hatfield and McCoy feud
It's amazing alright, how these ruthless killers were later pardoned by the governor.?? Kinda makes me wonder who really runs the show when it comes to law justice. Another brilliant episode of your great story telling. I love it!😅
I grew up in Appalachian "Tennessee" and my grandfather always told me that these people up here just want to be left alone...these are peaceful and loving people but you don't want to try them .hints the no trespassing signs and they believe in that...still to these day i feel safer there then in any city!
Great story, I had some friends who lived in Hillsville. I was fascinated by the story of Sidna Allen, saw all the sites these events took place and the small museum in Galax where you could buy a book on the Sidena Allen story. Very well done story Story teller
Idk how I found this channel, but I'm obsessed, no I'm not related to anyone here. I'm actually from NJ, eeek. I just love to learn about anything and everything so thank you. New sub!
Been to Hillsville, Fancy Gap and Cana quite a few times. Toured the old courthouse once as well. Thank you for the video, this story has fascinated me since I first heard about it. My family is from the mountains of NC outside of Bakersville, and there is some fascinating history in these old hills
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller thank you! I know quite a few stories from around the NE Tennessee, SW Virginia, and Western North Carolina areas if you ever need a brain to pick. I look forward to watching more!
The West Virginia Lilly family was no joke. This family literally has the biggest family reunion in the world every year for decades. Nobody messed with this family. My grandmother literally had 13 brothers and sisters. Her father rode a mule to the coal mines. My grandmother literally was married at fourteen by a 54 year old man I never had the chance to meet, he died from black lung. The crazy thing is that a past senator from West Virginia was a man named senator Byrd which was adopted by the family and eventually became the head of the kkk. Her name was Ruth Lilly and she was a special person.
So that would make you a relitive of mine i guess i have lilly blood meadows blood cole blood and bolen blood and some of the stories i hear oh wow my family is from sophia area and coal city or chambers county
Wayne Johnson..... What a completely intriguing story, Wayne!!! I have not heard of the Lilly family (.I hope that I spelled the last name correctly ). And you say that they have the biggest family reunion in the world 🌍. Just a question, Wayne. How do you know that the Lilly family's reunion was the largest in the WORLD???! I realize that you are related.... and could have easily looked for your family history that has been documented. I mean... I would never KNOW who the biggest family in the world was... or is! I DO BELIEVE, however... that your family WAS a really, REALLY large family. And, that they had a very famous reputation. This story fascinated me, Wayne! Thank you
Literally , literally , literally ...try not using literally and say write a sentence without it? It isn't adding anything to the sentence ..either your grandmother was married at 14 or she wasn't , not need to write literally like some kind of ****
As a 25 year old 2nd generation Ohioan whose family settled in Kentucky and Virginia in the 1730s stories like this kind of explain my emphasis on honor and a willingness to die rather than be ran through...it's my very nature I just happen to live in a time where it's more akin to a curse than a blessing.
No he did not.Made comment he erased.My Grandfather was in the courtyhouse when this occured.I live 7 miles from Hillsville Va.Some info is correct but most of this is embellished and a good bit of it is made up Bullshit
Good morning from new Zealand wow that's some savage history definitely a family who needed to be put in their place. It's crazy that after 10 years they were Still pardoned so pretty much a slap on the knuckles. Sounds like a family you didn't want to look at wrong or have on your bad side. On the other hand I respect their complete loyalty to the family even if it was in a brutal dangerous way. Sounds like this part of America has some of the most colorful history and other things to. Brilliantly told thanks I was so captivated I couldn't stop listening Have a blessed rest of your week
Every Labor Day weekend, from Thursday before Labor Day through Labor Day, Hillsville, VA has a great Gun and Knife Show and flea market. While not as good or as big as in the 1990's and early 2000's it's still a great place to spend the weekend browsing!
I have lived in eastern Kentucky for years, parts of my ancestors have been here over two hundred years, my gggg grandmother (Who came from southern Virginia born in 1777) supposedly gave birth to the first white child born in Wolfe County Kentucky. I have MANY friends in "Bloody" Breathitt County, Perry County which is where Hazard is I worked in Hazard for over ten years and got to know several people there and have friends in several of the surrounding counties like Letcher, Leslie, Knott, Floyd and Magoffin counties. There has been several feuds in this region like the Martin-Tolliver-Logan feud, the Howard-Turner feud, the French-Eversole feud, the Baker-White feud, in Breathitt County the Amis-Strong-Little feud and the Hargis-Marcum-Cockrell-Callahan feud and of course the Hatfield-McCoy feud and many other lesser known feuds. I actually know some of the descendants of a few of these feuds. It helps to know the history of this region and who you are talking to because believe it or not even to this day there are some that still harbor ill feelings because of something that happened over a hundred years ago. An example would be that if you were talking to Joe Smoot telling him what a great guy Fred Ziffell was, not realizing that the Smoots and Ziffells were involved in a bitter feud would not be good. Around here I have learned the prudent thing to do is probe and be selective in your vocabulary until you are sure of the views and stances of the person you are talking to. If you come to this region and act like somebody most people around here will bend over backwards to be hospitable to you, HOWEVER, if you come to this region looking for trouble I GUARANTEE you that you will find MORE than you want and you will find it in a big hurry. I believe it was a friend of mine from Breathitt County (Possibly the sheriff) who said it as well as I have ever heard it said, "The people around here are no better than anybody else and they are no worse than anybody else, they are just different". He hit the nail right on the head, because that is exactly the way it is.
The thing I do not understand, And it eludes me, is why do so many people stand in judgement of the Appalachian mountain folks, and lay their" claim to Fame " about being from our region? There are thousands of post on here, most of them stating how they're direct descendants of someone born in our region. We have no right to stand in judgement of anyone else. Most of the people on here have never been to the Appalachian region. I just don't understand this line of thinking.
You don't have to do much to find trouble. Just think differently. Be liberal. The majority of them aren't going to do shit without their boys with them. I've been jumped and gave more than I got and over the years I've had to make examples out of a few of them that underestimated me. I still get threats online, but none of them come out to play when I call them out to meet up or come to the holler where I grew up.
Doing genealogy research my family is from this area and shares many of the last names you’ve mentioned. My family were early settlers to Virginia starting in 1630s and slowly moved into the Appalachia’s in West Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. I’ve struggled with finding information about them due to the numerous fires at court houses and destruction of records during the civil war. My family from this area has the last name White, Turner, Vick, Etheridge
My great grandfather and a few other family members were murdered in Kentucky. Mostly over nothing. My grandparents emigrated to Ohio to get away from the violence. There’s an ill wind that blows through Appalachia.
One would not think of the mountain region as being violent and criminal. Or maybe it was just certain groups doing the violence. after all, it only takes a few to make a area seem bad.
@@yoyo762 They fought and killed over nothing that was worth it. A lot of alcohol drinking and selling makes for crazed minds. I don’t know if it could be confined to just certain groups. The violence seemed to impact everyone in some way. It was like a cultural thing.
@@jerryhablitzel3333 If it was a cultural thing we would have heard about much more violence. We don't. Not even remotely close to a urban city on weekends.
I'm from Virginia, and there are still places that if you're an " outsider ", or not from the " holler ", you better not go! If you do, you get looks, and a very uneasy feeling. You're almost guaranteed to get some sort of visit, too. Good, or bad.
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller my great grandfather was ran out of mouth of Wilson VA for making liquor by a temperance league after being discharged from the CSA Army. Found some land just across the state line in Ashe County NC and we've been there ever since. That's how the story goes anyways..
Yeah me to mate.Its a bygone era.Im an Aussie to but for everyone everywhere to know were you going in life you need to know were you come from.Just the name Appalachian makes me think Native Indians.How wrong could I be.Bit like Aust with the Smiths & the Jones the Kelly's & the Allen's.Small world.
There are still many families and places here in Appalachia you don't mess with or go into they are hard folks and are proud to live off the land and don't need anything from anyone especially the government 😉
I grew up playing baseball in hawkins county tn in the 70's and very early 80's with a Glen Allen kid. His dad was heavily involved in politics in the county. His baby brother Tony Allen has been a sheriffs deputy for a good 30 or so years in hawkins county.
You heard the legal side of this presentation.I’m sure they didn’t bully the majority of the countrymen or they would have been dealt with . The country people of Appalachia wouldn’t have put up with it for a second ! They just didn’t agree with the laws that were constantly eroding away all freedoms Of American citizens . Just as they are today ,it’s one law after another now you aren’t even allowed to disagree unless you are deemed a racist , Bigot,white supremisist. In these days that’s portrayed in this video ,different times ,different rules . People didn’t put up with a whole lot of spineless people that whined about a bully ,or cried because everybody didn’t get a trophy !
I live very near the Ozarak and Ouachita mountains. It's still similar to that today. I've lost count of the number of times I've heard gunshots in my neighborhood here. And just a few days ago the house next door burned. I heard the glass bottle break that was thrown to start the fire. Quick tempered for sure. And add lack of fear of consiquences. Armed or unarmed, they are determined to act with violence here.
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller Yep. Two of the cars in the parking lot, including mine, still have bullet holes. There are bullet holes in our building, too. And the bars that I put on my windows stopped someone from breaking in. They tore out my screen and my blinds but didn't get past my bars. The police reaction each time I've spoken to them was that these things happen here.
Another great video. Mate you have a great story telling voice and delivery. I can imagine sitting around a camp fire and listening to your stories. Can you tell me the name of the music at the very end please.
@@daniello9155 Hi Daniel, the song isn't for sale but I created a video for it a couple years ago, its on private and not available to the public. If you email me your email address, I can send you an invitation to see the video and listen to the song, you'll have to be signed into your google account. My email is theappalachianstoryteller@gmail.com
Such a beautiful picturesque area. Yet those who dwelt within the Mountains lived by their own rules. Judgement it seems was dealt out swiftly and without mercy for many. How many people simply disappeared without a trace? Great video on this long ago event in American history. 💪🏼🙏🏻✨
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller this was the first time I viewed one of your video's. I have subscribed to your channel. Looking forward to seeing more of your video's. 💪🏼🙏🏻✨
This is really exciting to see. My grandfather used to tell me stories about this when I was a kid. Of course stories his father told him. These were relatives of ours.
Good stuff man!! I am a newcomer to your channel and now i,m binge watching!!!...you ever up here in carter county tn. look me up man,take care and keep,em coming man.
You should look into the Hooper- Watson feud in Jackson County NC. My paternal grandfather was a Watson and my paternal grandmother was a Hooper. There are a couple books written about the feud. My grandfather had a storied life as a shine runner, fugitive, and saw mill owner. The feud goes back to thr Civil War Era. The actual the cause of the feud is disputed, but the the most likely possibilities were a dispute over shared ownership of a nitrate mine during the Civil War or a dispute over the killing of a turkey owned by one of the other families. The feud escalated into a massacre of one of the Watson families in their cabin by some Hoopers. Some Watsons were beheaded and their heads were put on stakes outside of one of the Hooper cabins.
My mother was born and raised in the Woodlawn area between Hillsville and Galax, Virginia. Mom was born in 1923. My maternal great grandfather, Charles Troy (CT) Higgins was onetime elected Sheriff of Grayson County and the first paid Police Chief of Galax. He was later a Balwin-Felts Agent and was one of the 7 agents shot and killed in the Matewan Massacre in Matewan, Mingo County, West Virginia during the 1920's WV Mine Wars. I can still remember talking with my great grandmother Celia Higgins (the late CT's wife) as a child at my Uncle Edgar and Aunt Guida Mitchell's home outside Galax.
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller thanks, indeed. It's amazing that my parents ever got together, since dad was born the Weyanoke Coal and Coke Camp in Mercer County, WV and his father and grandfather were above ground mine forman's. So with my paternal family miners and Coal Co supporters and my maternal side Law Enforcement and Coal company owner supporters...me and my 6 older siblings always wondered how they were together 62 years, lol.
@@byrdsdoityourselfgarage7330 its beautiful area indeed. A lot of good simple living people. I've got family all over Southern West Virginia, southwestern Virginia and Central western North Carolina.
Never heard of this and this is all so sad ! It sucks how big corruption can get . It doesn’t get noticed enough. I can only imagine how it is now behind the scenes
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My Mother use to sing a song about 'The Hatfield's and The Coy's'. They use to play a song on the radio about 'The Martin's and The Coy's'. Sadly, I do not remember either song any more. But. One verse went something Like , "Grandma, poor Ole Grandma, she lies neath the clover, someone caught her bending over......pickin up a daisy! History was told in songs. Good bless,
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@@claudiasteinwald8952 it was later rereleased as a disco anthem do the incest and who could forget how deep is an incest love the closer were kin the deeper in and hilltop classics remixed what's love got to do with doing it with ya sis and how could it be a record without nothing wrong with making sweet love with my mule after she plows the field all-day u got to plow her too , your not a true cowboy till u make sweet love to a cow no son cattle lol and other west virginia hilltop classics on 🦏 records
@@leejames1839 My first reaction to your remark was discust. But, the. I realized that, that must be the back ground that you originate from, so you, poor thing, assume that attitude is acceptable. You really should use more discretion . If your heritage was from the good people that are drawn to this thread, you would have been exposed to people of character, morals ethics and values. You have missed out on so much.
My great great grandfather was Augustus C. Fowler, the foreman of the jury that died that day. Thank you for helping preserve this part of our history for future generations 🙏🏻
Wow! How bout that!
If I remember correctly stories I heard in my childhood, he was an uncle to my grandmother. I remember going and visiting his grave when I was little.
@@traceyedwards6772 Wow! That's so neat! I know that he came from a very large family. Well, it's nice to meet you cousin!
was his original stone there? the one pictured at the end of the video? @@traceyedwards6772
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller I must have gotten distracted and didn't catch it on the video. I'll have to watch it again. What I remember seeing as a child was a fairly tall stone/monument.
It's rare to find amazing comments AND an amazing story! Much appreciated!!
Thank you Brandi!
Fascinating!
If you don’t tell legendary stories like this gentleman,Don’t tell them at all! Absolutely brilliant! I’m obsessed,Best wishes from Sydney Australia. 👏🏻👏🏻🏆
Thank you my friend! Greetings from East Tennessee 🇺🇸
This is my husband's family. He's the son of Malcom Allen from Middleton TN. He was a TN State Trooper for a few years. I was so shocked when I first heard the story because my father-in-law was the nicest kindest and most loving man you would ever meet. I always enjoy watching videos I haven't seen yet. So thanks for the video.
Thanks my friend 🙏 💜
What an evil family...!! Evil...! Never heard of such evil nonsense...! My goodness....!
No way? I’m from the Allen’s on my grandmother side. They moved from Hillsville to bath county.
Amazing what people are PROUD of, huh!
@@jacquelinehalsey4769 says the person who probably doesn't know her father is.
If you ever watched the Andy Griffith Show, the Darling family, Ernest T. Bass and some the other 'mountain folk' gave you a little taste of some of the people depicted in this video (although the Allens were not impoverished and were way more violent). Andy Griffith grew up in Mount Airy, NC, which is about 25 miles from the Sidna Allen House. While Mount Airy is in the foothills, the Allen House is 'up in the Mountains'. So when the Darlings or some of the others came 'down out of the hills', that was one of the areas that was based on.
thanks for sharing
I lived in Mt Airy close to the restaurant with Andy Griffin memorabilia back in summer of 1975. Helped my step dad with moving mobile homes up in those mtns in Virginia, it was quite tricky sometimes setting a home on the side of the hill....aw the memories...
Wow, what great history, thanks for that brief knowledge.
I watch Andy Griffith 5 x a week. Love the characters and the family from the mountains. They were great musicians. Let's not forget about aunt bee and Barney and little opy. What a down to earth family. They loved the little things in life and were very happy with what they had. Living a good life one day at a time.......
@@IvyLeagu indeed
My great granddaddy died in an insane asylum in Kentucky. The story goes that the local sheriff came to arrest him for a murder. My ggd told the sheriff he’d go with him but he needed his hat before he’d go. Back then some outlaws would carry a small pistol in their hats. He picked up his hat, grabbed the pistol from it and shot the sheriff in his chest and before the sheriff died he shot my ggd in one of his eyes and it lamed him so bad that he couldn’t even stand trial. He was committed to an asylum for the rest of his life. This happened in Webster County Kentucky.
😯
A grown man saying daddy granddaddy etc is not right
@@sanderson9338 grown man can speak as he like. Ought to mind your manners.
@@alekl2278 grown men are men not little children daddy, mommy etc is not in the vocabulary. I mind my manners but i also mind my resonsibilities its my job to be a daddy to my kids not to be daddied as a grown man.
@@alekl2278 your grammar suggests you may not be worth discussing this point any further with sir, i suggest you make a tactical withdrawal as you do in the south before you catch a whupping young whelp.
Sir you have a way of telling stories that is very calming and a joy to listen to. I’m one of those people that see a movie in their head while listening to a told story. I could see the story unfold while knitting. Brilliantly done sir. ❤
Thank you my friend!
All my family is from southern Appalachia dating back to the 1750s. Love these old stories. Miss sittin around listening to my dad, grandpa, and uncle’s telling stories that had been passed down to them through the generations
I miss that too
Women and cued feuds
Me to
Mine was a big part in the settlement of that area and many others.
I miss listening to my dads stories, some probably embellished over the years but never dull 😊
Thank you for keeping the dramatic flourishes to a minimum. Romanticizing antisocial and/or psychopathic mass murder is so 20th century. This was very well told.
glad you enjoyed it
This is one of your best videos ever. Great story and very educational. Thank you for all you do to contribute to preserving history.
Thank you sir, I appreciate your support. Have a great day
The narrator sounds like Gary Busey.Is it?
Just outta curiosity Steve, whereabouts are you and your family from..?
If ya don't mind terribly my asking..?
@@michaelterry3885 Bulls Gap. The original Terry Branch (1800's) was from SC.
@@steveterry7981 S.C. that's where I hear my branch of the family came from in the early 1800's sometime... Arrived in Lawrence Co. AL.
Folks, if you like the story I must advise going to Galax VA. There is a clothing store on the highway called Harmons. Harmons is a couple of buildings next to each other. In the back of one is a door that has a sign above it that modestly just says, "museum". Inside is a giant private collection of artifacts from the Appalachian region, Carroll County history, and many items from the day at the courthouse and days following. It's incredibly interesting. My family has shopped there for years when we're in town visiting our people. I was born and raised in East Tennessee but Galax has always been home. As we pass on, we all end up "back home" out at Crooked Creek.
Indeed, it is a great place- I visited it in person while filming and researching this video
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller you did a bang up job! I couldn't send this to all my Carroll County folks in my contacts fast enough. Mama and her sister are bragging on you now. Got a feller texting me now that I sent it too and he's done spread it to all his Carroll County folks. We still have our family farm and home up there and travel there often.
@@JohnSmith-cd1cq thats awesome my friend, I appreciate you sharing this story, thats the type of stuff that is most important to keeping this channel going. Thanks again
Make sure to see the two headed calf!
@@tugboatphil22 yep, easy to tell you been there!
Wow! Never heard this story before. Great job telling it. I felt like I was there. What a unique and perfect voice to frame these incidents and this time in history. Thank you! Definitely subscribed. Can’t wait for another.
Thank you 💜 ♥️ ❤️
Is your husband an "unreconstructed Democrat"?
Makes sense to have clans in Appalachia since so many Scottish and Irish settled there. Some parts of the South still haven't moved beyond this. Some places you just don't go, especially after dark. It's fascinating how different cultures developed throughout the US. It's like each State has its own culture.
Indeed, and the Allen Clan ruled southwest Virginia during this time in history
Yes, my family are of Irish and English descent although I live in West Virginia about 3 hours away from Hillsville.
😂😂👈 Places you don't go, especially after dark😂 In those places in the South it's not the Irish or Scottish you should be scared of. Food for thought
@@phoradio1277 I was referring to the type of clan type communities. Not the violence. I don't think I'd be lying to say the Wild West was way more violent. In the West individuals were prospecting for gold, not a lot of families, they needed guns to guard their claims and their persons. It was just different because their communities were just built different. In the South, you'd draw the wrath of the entire clan, in the West just one or two are coming after you.
These were the black gangster's prototypes... look up Sowell's treatise.
The bravest one from the shootout was the Judge, he knew he would probably die,.but he still wanted justice served.
Amen
Too bad we don't have honorable judges like that nowadays.
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller
That dog gone Judge Should've had himself a Pistol or Two! Awesome JD !!!!! THANK YOU!!
No, he was bought and paid for. Politically motivated and got what he had coming.
These are great stories of an America rarely talked about any more. Thank you "Appalachian Storyteller" hope you can keep your channel and the history you bring to us, growing strong. Thank you.
Thanks so much, that's what this channel is all about, bringing history that isn't taught in schools, talked about in media, and rarely found in modern books. Keeping the stories of our grandfathers alive.
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller Exactly correct, and you have taken on that task here, because Appalachia seems to be a part of American life and history always overlooked, and never given the attention it deserves. So, we thank you again.
I always find it curious that some criminals are made into folk heroes, while others are demonized.
indeed
I was in Hillsville three weeks ago for the first time and stopped by the front of the courthouse. I had heard about the shootout there but had no idea how horrible it was. Thank you for your great storytelling, that was shocking.
Thank you my friend !
In Hot Springs, Arkansas there is a similar shoot out but it was in front of a bar between city cops and Sheriff officers, I think a couple people died or were wounded in the small shoot out between the two groups.
What an incredible tale! I've never heard it before, and the creators of this video did a masterful job of laying out this piece of seemingly forgotten history in an engaging and captivating manner. Liked and Subscribed, and eager to find what other gems you have in store! 👍
Thank you so much! Appreciate you my friend
I heard about this story about 20 years ago so I’m familiar with it. But I agree the AP Storyteller did a very nice job with this video.
I had never heard of this story, either! And... I found that it was presented in a very interesting... and, I am sure... a very truthful manner. SO... now I am going to subscribe to this channel. Thank you very much, Mr. John Smith!
My family is from the area of Hagan/Rose Hill, VA (Lee County) and, yes, they were moonshiners. Growing up I heard many wild stories of people (i.e. revenuers) going missing up in those mountains. My great uncle, Apsy, who I met once when I was a child, was still making 'shine well into his 80s. When we got to his house, we parked at the foot of a long driveway, my dad told us to stay in the car while he went up first. I saw him make it about halfway up the driveway when his uncle came out with a shotgun pointed at him. But once my dad was able to explain that who he was, in no time at all, we were up in the porch eating watermelon and having fun. LOL
❤️
I know a number of moonshiners today… moonshine making will never die because people like me will never release our grasp to our roots…
My family is from Lee county Virginia Rose Hill in that area I'm an old man now when I was real young we used to go down to visit them boy it was like watching an old fashioned movie they rolled us up in feather beds at night time
@@jessieeads4509 Funny you mention that, the only time I ever slept in the feather bed was at their house. :)
@@jessieeads4509, my Granny Bailey in the late 1950’s through my childhood always fluffed up her two feather beds when we went to stay overnight. Precious memories ❤
Holy cow! That's one crazy story about some crazy folks... Thanks JD 🤗❤️❤️
Indeed- a heck of a story!
Thank you for posting this. That was an extraordinarily story.
Thank you sir
Two years ago I stopped at that house. I was fascinated by its history and the people that were fixing it up. Man oh man did they do a lot of work since then! Simply beautiful.
the house is absolutely astonishing. I have a future video on the house itself
True, the picture doesn't do it justice..
is it also remodeled inside?
Outstanding job on telling this story!!! You have the perfect voice for telling these stories!!
Thank you my friend, God Bless
Well done! Sir your an amazing storyteller and I could imagine the events unfolding in my mind while I listened.
Thank you !
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller YRS! Just as the previous commenter said.... You DO tell a story SO very well that I could actually see.... in my mind... the events that you described.... in sequence. And... as I stated in an earlier comment... I had never even HEARD about this family!!! Now I feel as though I am " acquaintaned " with some of the members of the Allen family!!! You have a gift, sir. A REAL talent.
This is my family. My father was named after Sidna. I remember my parents had a postcard with his furniture that he'd built while in prison. So cool to find this channel.
Sidna also wrote a book that I was lucky enough to inherit.
wow, id love to read that book
I would love to know the name of THAT book!
I've tried posting a picture of it since I first commented but I guess it's not possible.
It's titled :
Memoirs Of J Sidna Allen
A true narrative of what really happened at Hillsville, Virginia.
My great grandmother was Sidnas cousin. She was an Allen
@@wraymcclamma4707 pp
So glad I found your channel!!
Welcome to the family my friend, pull up a chair and make yourself at home
you are an amazing storyteller; I don't believe I will ever get tired of listening to you. Thank you for these videos.
Thank you Samantha ❤️
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller You are more than welcome sir :)
I want to thank you for your story telling.. I enjoy them very much.
Thank you so much 😊
I remember my Dad showing me this house and telling me the story when I was just a kid. God how I miss those days.
yeah, me too my friend. RIP dad 1996
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller my Dad passed May 31st 2001 at 3:50 pm
Mom passed May 31st 2006 at 4:50..
@@martymcpeak4748 😢 Nothing like losing your parents. Sorry for your loss.
This story made me subscribe. You have a gift of storytelling.
Thank you! And welcome!
That's the problem with being a bully, eventually you run into people who are tougher
💯
Or quicker on the draw
i live in Maine but my dad was from Barboursville Ky. i love your content... keep up the good work.. we are the Stinking Creek Binghams
thank you friend, God Bless
@@TheAppalachianStorytellerJesus Christ Lord of Lords bless you right back
@@phillipbingham487 Amen Brother
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller i love you bro in Christ!
Wowwwww weeee.. never heard of this story before. Amazing how many things happened back then that you never hear about today until someone like you share it. Thank you! Good thing they were punished. No one should ever think there good enough to fight the law system and get away with murder. 😮
Yup this channel is dedicated to telling the history that isn’t written in todays history books
I remember this story when I was little. But what I found to be the most alluring is you had to be persistent to get the ones that knew to talk about it. It was a curse to talk about it. Thanks, David
Exactly- it’s one of those things folks would say “we don’t talk about that no more”.
Had H. P. Hicks for a high school principal back in 1958, H.P. was from Hillsville, Va.
Claude Allen was at the Courthouse but he was not a bad person, more of a homebody and not mean and violent. He was Executed and known as an innocent man.
One woman died, she ran home from the courthouse and didn't realize she was shot.
Another story H.P. told was about the Carrol County Accident that made a song.
many people today still won't talk about it. if they do, they won't take a side. my entire family is from Carroll County.
@@JohnSmith-cd1cq indeed, everyone is still distant kin to the people in this story. "We dont talk about that no more"... is a phase commonly heard.
@@sandrasue44 I wondered if the carrol county accident was named after that particular county,when I seen the county name,the song was sang by porter waggoner.
Speaking of Appalachia….. currently, in Southern Ohio, members of the Wagner family are on trial for the murders of 8 members of the Rhoden family. Maybe we’ll hear more about that one day on your channel! Nicely done, keep up the great work, buddy!!!
Can you send me info or a link on that story to theappalachianstoryteller@gmail.com
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller I just typed in "Wagner family ohio murders" and got all kinds of results.
@@willythewave thanks
That is such a wild story also
I believe i heard a podcast about it.
That is frightening ‼️ I appreciate you sharing these stories ‼️ love Julie south Africa 💚💙♥️
Thank you Julie!
I live just 30 minutes from here. My people have lived in Floyd County Virginia for 250 plus years. Right next to Carrol County, Home of the Allen Clan. Mountain People, MY PEOPLE.
Hero’s in my opinion
As an Appalachian I know about many bloody events and conflicts in my area of Appalachia
I’d love to hear about them
Me to. I am Appalachian also in Western NC
Good story
Could you do a story on the Legend of Nance Dude?It's a true story from the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina.
How about Matewan?
My new favorite channel. These dudes make most cowboy stories look like they came from the Disney channel.
Yes sir
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller my dad is from Bridgeport, Ala. Basically N.E. Ala. Beautiful mountains up there. Found out about a story called the “Statesboro Boys” and decided to write a song about the ordeal. These videos have plenty of good gems/nuggets for lyrics writing
My great, great grandpa was in the courtroom that day. Fortunately he wasn't harmed. Great story telling!!
😯
OH, MY GOODNESS!!! Do you have any articles... from the newspaper account of the shootout???? I mean... if your great great grandfather was mentioned in the newspaper. Did your great great grandfather get wounded... or killed? Do you know? Oh... I am sorry. You said that he wasn't harmed!!! That is SO interesting!
@@debraweaver6308 he was actually a juror. I talked to my mom about it after I saw this video. He wasn't harmed, I think. There is a book we had when I was a kid all about what happened. Not sure where it is now. And he was my great grandfather, not great, great. I got that wrong too lol. It's a great story to hear!
@@melissabrooks1926 Thank you, Melissa!
@@melissabrooks1926 Thank you very much, Melissa
Hillsville is only a short drive from my hometown of Wytheville, Virginia, but back then it might have been in Georgia. It wasn't an easy trip through the mountains and valleys. I have heard this story all my 66 years especially from family who lived through that period. I have seldom heard it told so well.
Thank you my friend
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller You're most welcome. I was happy to be able to say it.
@@kirkmorrison6131 💜
👍👍👍
Hi th÷re I'm in. Franklin County VA. Hope you are well
The Allen's you are talking about are my First Wife's Kin. That Apple didn't fall far from the tree.... she is mean as a snake too. We actually went to the court house.... you can still see the bullet holes in the wooden steps. Part of the family fled to North Carolina after the Court House incident. My Mother-in-law's family moved back to Va and settled in Roanoke.... they followed the textile Mill work back up here. Some of them are still livingin the Roanoke area today.
wow, thanks for sharing your story my friend
😂thanks God you’re still alive …❤ your story
I was born in Roanoke Virginia and my grandma in Floyd County south of there.
The Bondurant brothers sold the moonshine 1 mile from my house in Franklin County.
There was not any coal mining in that area just farming or moonshining.
The textile mills were down in Martinsville.
Some wild stories were told by my ma about the goings on and her :grandfather Esquire John Burnett. They called him Squire John and he rode a horse all over as a circuit judge.
That’s awesome, thanks for sharing
that is true> My family included the Montgomery's Childress, Tates, Biizard's, and Rigney's. I think I saw in our genealogy books the Bondourants mentions, one of the first families of racing,
@@mechellturner3915 The youngest of the 3 brothers loved to race.
He quit running shine and went legit in racing.
There was a movie about the Bondurant family.
@@mechellturner3915 I remember back in the early 70s at the Ontario Moter Speedway in Southern California there was the "Bob Bondurant school of driving". They would have a parade in downtown Ontario for the 500 mile race back then and Bob Bondurant was in the parade with his car on a trailer. He ended up getting into slight fender bender and his tire was rubbing on something that bent into it. We were on bicycles and saw them on the side of the road and they asked if we could ride next to him and monitor the problem. We ended up going back to the speedway with them. They were very grateful and gave us a run on the road course with an instructor at a later date which was awesome. I believe it was in a Datsun 240z.
This earned a subscription from me! Absolutely fascinating and well done. Cheers from your neighbor in the great white north 🇨🇦.
Thank you my friend!
What a story! It is like in one of the old film noires...the gangster boss isn`t dieing, even if he got wounded! It is a story like one from the wild west! More like something written - but life always writes the best storys! Thank you for putting it all together and telling us this story with a lot of pictures of the involved people!
Indeed, what a wild story. I learned about it a few months ago from a tip from someone on TH-cam who suggested I investigate in when I was in Virginia. Im glad I did, what a heck of a story!
The "Wild west" started out in Appalachia. All the tropes you think of when you think "Wild west", free range livestock, cattle rustling, shootouts, etc. were common there & people took those practices with them when they headed west.
@@raydavison4288 100
@@raydavison4288 Hello and thank you for more information! I myself already thought that it was possible so, that the now typical wild west stuff came from Appalachia and it's freedom loving people- that went west.
In the west the sheriff and his deputies likely would have loaded their rifles and quietly picked the leaders off.
Wow, what an amazing story. Thanks for sharing it. I really enjoyed it.
Glad you enjoyed it! thanks my friend
You sir are an excellent story teller. A perfect voice.
Thank you ma’am
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller simply the truth sir.
Who was the governor that pardoned them? Another great video!! I really enjoy them and encourage others to subscribe!
Governor Elbert trinkle pardon two of them and governor harry byrd pardoned the rest
Gotta laugh lucky u didnt ryans
The Greene's and the Jones' war in east Tennessee was called the longest feud. My Mamaw JARNIGAN (Greene) told me about the feud. My Mamaw' ancestors were part of that feud. She was originally from Hancock County Tennessee. She always talked about the feud and the Peavine railroad. I was told it was the longest feud actually longer than the Hatfield and McCoy feud
Really, I’ve never heard of it- I’ll look into it. If you have any documentation please email to theappalachianstoryteller@gmail.com
I don't have any documentation but you can look it up on the internet. Every story I have heard has been word of mouth when I was young.
My son reminded me that the Rogersville newspaper wrote about the Greene and Jones feud.
@@johnniejennings3325 thanks, ill see what I can dig up
@@johnniejennings3325 you sure your son told you that?
It's amazing alright, how these ruthless killers were later pardoned by the governor.?? Kinda makes me wonder who really runs the show when it comes to law justice. Another brilliant episode of your great story telling. I love it!😅
Thank you 😊
Exactly my question!!
Thank you for sharing, great story.
Thank you, God bless
I grew up in Appalachian "Tennessee" and my grandfather always told me that these people up here just want to be left alone...these are peaceful and loving people but you don't want to try them .hints the no trespassing signs and they believe in that...still to these day i feel safer there then in any city!
Well said
I totally agree. Arizona, Montana and Texas have the same minded people.
I am from the area and you couldn't be more right.
I stumbled onto this channel with this video by accident. I must say that I will be subscribing to this badass channel now.
Welcome my friend, pull up a chair and make yourself at home
Outstanding presentation of a fascinating story...... Great job
Thank you 🙏
Great story, I had some friends who lived in Hillsville. I was fascinated by the story of Sidna Allen, saw all the sites these events took place and the small museum in Galax where you could buy a book on the Sidena Allen story. Very well done story Story teller
Thank you my friend
Idk how I found this channel, but I'm obsessed, no I'm not related to anyone here. I'm actually from NJ, eeek. I just love to learn about anything and everything so thank you. New sub!
Welcome my friend, glad to have you here
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller thank you very much!
This was a great story I could watch all day long nice job
Thanks for watching my friend. Please share this video to help support the channel. Thanks!
Been to Hillsville, Fancy Gap and Cana quite a few times. Toured the old courthouse once as well. Thank you for the video, this story has fascinated me since I first heard about it. My family is from the mountains of NC outside of Bakersville, and there is some fascinating history in these old hills
Thank you Sam!
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller thank you! I know quite a few stories from around the NE Tennessee, SW Virginia, and Western North Carolina areas if you ever need a brain to pick. I look forward to watching more!
The West Virginia Lilly family was no joke. This family literally has the biggest family reunion in the world every year for decades. Nobody messed with this family. My grandmother literally had 13 brothers and sisters. Her father rode a mule to the coal mines. My grandmother literally was married at fourteen by a 54 year old man I never had the chance to meet, he died from black lung. The crazy thing is that a past senator from West Virginia was a man named senator Byrd which was adopted by the family and eventually became the head of the kkk. Her name was Ruth Lilly and she was a special person.
wow, thats quite a family and a story! Thanks for sharing it
So that would make you a relitive of mine i guess i have lilly blood meadows blood cole blood and bolen blood and some of the stories i hear oh wow my family is from sophia area and coal city or chambers county
Wayne Johnson..... What a completely intriguing story, Wayne!!! I have not heard of the Lilly family (.I hope that I spelled the last name correctly ). And you say that they have the biggest family reunion in the world 🌍. Just a question, Wayne. How do you know that the Lilly family's reunion was the largest in the WORLD???! I realize that you are related.... and could have easily looked for your family history that has been documented. I mean... I would never KNOW who the biggest family in the world was... or is! I DO BELIEVE, however... that your family WAS a really, REALLY large family. And, that they had a very famous reputation. This story fascinated me, Wayne! Thank you
Literally , literally , literally ...try not using literally and say write a sentence without it? It isn't adding anything to the sentence ..either your grandmother was married at 14 or she wasn't , not need to write literally like some kind of ****
I came from the Smoky Mountains NC we called those small mountains out that way as mole hills. BTW we were not hillybillies we were Mountain Folks.
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As a 25 year old 2nd generation Ohioan whose family settled in Kentucky and Virginia in the 1730s stories like this kind of explain my emphasis on honor and a willingness to die rather than be ran through...it's my very nature I just happen to live in a time where it's more akin to a curse than a blessing.
Amen
Life will push and try it's hardest but please do not let it change you.
Having integrity ,no matter the side. Is never a curse sir.
Love this channel being from east tn myself great stories
Thank you my friend
You did a fine job and an accurate account of this historical event
Thank you
Thank you my friend!
No he did not.Made comment he erased.My Grandfather was in the courtyhouse when this occured.I live 7 miles from Hillsville Va.Some info is correct but most of this is embellished and a good bit of it is made up Bullshit
Good morning from new Zealand wow that's some savage history definitely a family who needed to be put in their place.
It's crazy that after 10 years they were Still pardoned so pretty much a slap on the knuckles.
Sounds like a family you didn't want to look at wrong or have on your bad side.
On the other hand I respect their complete loyalty to the family even if it was in a brutal dangerous way.
Sounds like this part of America has some of the most colorful history and other things to.
Brilliantly told thanks I was so captivated I couldn't stop listening
Have a blessed rest of your week
Thank you my friend! Good morning from East Tennessee
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller +My pleasure 🙏 have a blessed weekend🙂
@@UrbanKiwiana thank you 💜
@TheAppalachianStoryteller +have an amazing Christmas new years my friend
@@UrbanKiwiana Merry Christmas
Every Labor Day weekend, from Thursday before Labor Day through Labor Day, Hillsville, VA has a great Gun and Knife Show and flea market. While not as good or as big as in the 1990's and early 2000's it's still a great place to spend the weekend browsing!
Awesome
I have lived in eastern Kentucky for years, parts of my ancestors have been here over two hundred years, my gggg grandmother (Who came from southern Virginia born in 1777) supposedly gave birth to the first white child born in Wolfe County Kentucky. I have MANY friends in "Bloody" Breathitt County, Perry County which is where Hazard is I worked in Hazard for over ten years and got to know several people there and have friends in several of the surrounding counties like Letcher, Leslie, Knott, Floyd and Magoffin counties. There has been several feuds in this region like the Martin-Tolliver-Logan feud, the Howard-Turner feud, the French-Eversole feud, the Baker-White feud, in Breathitt County the Amis-Strong-Little feud and the Hargis-Marcum-Cockrell-Callahan feud and of course the Hatfield-McCoy feud and many other lesser known feuds. I actually know some of the descendants of a few of these feuds. It helps to know the history of this region and who you are talking to because believe it or not even to this day there are some that still harbor ill feelings because of something that happened over a hundred years ago. An example would be that if you were talking to Joe Smoot telling him what a great guy Fred Ziffell was, not realizing that the Smoots and Ziffells were involved in a bitter feud would not be good. Around here I have learned the prudent thing to do is probe and be selective in your vocabulary until you are sure of the views and stances of the person you are talking to. If you come to this region and act like somebody most people around here will bend over backwards to be hospitable to you, HOWEVER, if you come to this region looking for trouble I GUARANTEE you that you will find MORE than you want and you will find it in a big hurry. I believe it was a friend of mine from Breathitt County (Possibly the sheriff) who said it as well as I have ever heard it said, "The people around here are no better than anybody else and they are no worse than anybody else, they are just different". He hit the nail right on the head, because that is exactly the way it is.
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Well said. Thank you for explaining our region so well.
The thing I do not understand, And it eludes me, is why do so many people stand in judgement of the Appalachian mountain folks, and lay their" claim to Fame " about being from our region? There are thousands of post on here, most of them stating how they're direct descendants of someone born in our region. We have no right to stand in judgement of anyone else. Most of the people on here have never been to the Appalachian region. I just don't understand this line of thinking.
You don't have to do much to find trouble. Just think differently. Be liberal. The majority of them aren't going to do shit without their boys with them. I've been jumped and gave more than I got and over the years I've had to make examples out of a few of them that underestimated me. I still get threats online, but none of them come out to play when I call them out to meet up or come to the holler where I grew up.
Doing genealogy research my family is from this area and shares many of the last names you’ve mentioned.
My family were early settlers to Virginia starting in 1630s and slowly moved into the Appalachia’s in West Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. I’ve struggled with finding information about them due to the numerous fires at court houses and destruction of records during the civil war.
My family from this area has the last name White, Turner, Vick, Etheridge
My great grandfather and a few other family members were murdered in Kentucky. Mostly over nothing. My grandparents emigrated to Ohio to get away from the violence. There’s an ill wind that blows through Appalachia.
I think it did back then
One would not think of the mountain region as being violent and criminal. Or maybe it was just certain groups doing the violence. after all, it only takes a few to make a area seem bad.
@@yoyo762 indeed
@@yoyo762 They fought and killed over nothing that was worth it. A lot of alcohol drinking and selling makes for crazed minds. I don’t know if it could be confined to just certain groups. The violence seemed to impact everyone in some way. It was like a cultural thing.
@@jerryhablitzel3333 If it was a cultural thing we would have heard about much more violence.
We don't.
Not even remotely close to a urban city on weekends.
I'm from Virginia, and there are still places that if you're an
" outsider ", or not from the " holler ", you better not go! If you do, you get looks, and a very uneasy feeling. You're almost guaranteed to get some sort of visit, too. Good, or bad.
💯 💯
We have the same last name and my grandfathers family is from the Virginia (Richmond) area.
@@Ep0nz awesome
My father in law would go with his daddy and bail out a family member for killing a man, They live by their own rules in Tennessee back then.
Amen my friend
We still do
My great grandfather was a postman who delivered mail by horse 🐎 in Roan Mountain Tennessee. These stories fascinate me of the history of Appalachia
Thats awesome ! Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching!
This is an awesome video. Really enjoyed it. Thank you.
Thank you friend
5th generation Appalachian here from nw NC. My family still lives on the same land since the 1870s. I take some pride in that.
awesome heritage
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller my great grandfather was ran out of mouth of Wilson VA for making liquor by a temperance league after being discharged from the CSA Army. Found some land just across the state line in Ashe County NC and we've been there ever since.
That's how the story goes anyways..
Fascinating I'm from Australia so I never heard of Appalachian people who live there thanks for your video it's truly educational
Thank you from across the big pond my friend
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller truly appreciate and welcome please have you got any more videos.
@@glengrieve544 many of them here TH-cam.com/theappalachianstoryteller
Yeah me to mate.Its a bygone era.Im an Aussie to but for everyone everywhere to know were you going in life you need to know were you come from.Just the name Appalachian makes me think Native Indians.How wrong could I be.Bit like Aust with the Smiths & the Jones the Kelly's & the Allen's.Small world.
There are still many families and places here in Appalachia you don't mess with or go into they are hard folks and are proud to live off the land and don't need anything from anyone especially the government 😉
I like these kinds of stories. Great job..might have to watch some more of your channel 😁
Please do!
Went ahead and subscribed..just so I know you're there. Don't want to miss it!
A channel so good I let the Ads run!
real héros dont wear capes. Thank you Sir!
Oh my sweet baby Jesus ! I was held captivated from the first word spoken. Amazing 👏 Standing Ovation 🍁
🌻🍁🌻🍁🌻🍁🌻🍁🌻🍁
I shared with my Louisiana momma and Mississippi Aunt. Told them yall gotta watch this channel !
Thank you ma'am, I appreciate your kind words, God Bless
@@lynnettelandry6977 Thank you!
I could listen to these stories all day. Love love these ❤❤
Thank you so much, we're glad you are here!
I grew up playing baseball in hawkins county tn in the 70's and very early 80's with a Glen Allen kid. His dad was heavily involved in politics in the county. His baby brother Tony Allen has been a sheriffs deputy for a good 30 or so years in hawkins county.
Awesome
They got what they deserved, although a little late. You can’t let a bunch of bullies take control of the county court system!
It was the super bowl of Appalachian vs US justice
They sure did. Nothing but bullies.
You heard the legal side of this presentation.I’m sure they didn’t bully the majority of the countrymen or they would have been dealt with .
The country people of Appalachia wouldn’t have put up with it for a second !
They just didn’t agree with the laws that were constantly eroding away all freedoms
Of American citizens .
Just as they are today ,it’s one law after another now you aren’t even allowed to disagree unless you are deemed a racist ,
Bigot,white supremisist.
In these days that’s portrayed in this video ,different times ,different rules .
People didn’t put up with a whole lot of spineless people that whined about a bully ,or cried because everybody didn’t get a trophy !
I was thinking the same thing.
I take it you are not voting democrat then.
Good morning! Looks like the algorithm sent me over here! Well, it nailed it! New subbie!😍 When I'm not watching Yellowstone.💝
Thank you ma’am, and welcome!
I live very near the Ozarak and Ouachita mountains. It's still similar to that today. I've lost count of the number of times I've heard gunshots in my neighborhood here. And just a few days ago the house next door burned. I heard the glass bottle break that was thrown to start the fire. Quick tempered for sure. And add lack of fear of consiquences. Armed or unarmed, they are determined to act with violence here.
Wow!
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller Yep. Two of the cars in the parking lot, including mine, still have bullet holes. There are bullet holes in our building, too. And the bars that I put on my windows stopped someone from breaking in. They tore out my screen and my blinds but didn't get past my bars. The police reaction each time I've spoken to them was that these things happen here.
And now we know why firearms are not allowed into courtrooms anymore.
Bingo!
Another great video. Mate you have a great story telling voice and delivery. I can imagine sitting around a camp fire and listening to your stories. Can you tell me the name of the music at the very end please.
Thanks so much for that! The song at the very end of the video is a song I wrote and performed called "From the Inside"
Sorry to bug you but can you please post a link where I can find this song, incredible music. Thanks.
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller Hi JD, I have been trying to find the above song but cant. Do you have your music for sale.
@@daniello9155 Hi Daniel, the song isn't for sale but I created a video for it a couple years ago, its on private and not available to the public. If you email me your email address, I can send you an invitation to see the video and listen to the song, you'll have to be signed into your google account. My email is theappalachianstoryteller@gmail.com
Such a beautiful picturesque area. Yet those who dwelt within the Mountains lived by their own rules. Judgement it seems was dealt out swiftly and without mercy for many. How many people simply disappeared without a trace? Great video on this long ago event in American history. 💪🏼🙏🏻✨
Thank you my friend
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller this was the first time I viewed one of your video's. I have subscribed to your channel. Looking forward to seeing more of your video's. 💪🏼🙏🏻✨
They don't call it Fancy Gap for nothing..Beautiful Country..
This is really exciting to see. My grandfather used to tell me stories about this when I was a kid. Of course stories his father told him. These were relatives of ours.
How bout that
just found your channel thanks for a great story . learned alot
Thank you my friend and welcome!
My retirement plan is Appalachia....the world is crazy and this seems like a safe place
😂
This is a story that all those “brilliant” folks advocating anarchy to solve the problems of the present should hear.
Thanks for watching
Good stuff man!! I am a newcomer to your channel and now i,m binge watching!!!...you ever up here in carter county tn. look me up man,take care and keep,em coming man.
Preciate you Chris
Man you do a great job at telling these old stories! They're really interesting
Thanks Jerry!
You should look into the Hooper- Watson feud in Jackson County NC. My paternal grandfather was a Watson and my paternal grandmother was a Hooper. There are a couple books written about the feud. My grandfather had a storied life as a shine runner, fugitive, and saw mill owner. The feud goes back to thr Civil War Era. The actual the cause of the feud is disputed, but the the most likely possibilities were a dispute over shared ownership of a nitrate mine during the Civil War or a dispute over the killing of a turkey owned by one of the other families. The feud escalated into a massacre of one of the Watson families in their cabin by some Hoopers. Some Watsons were beheaded and their heads were put on stakes outside of one of the Hooper cabins.
If you have info on this , email me at theappalachianstoryteller@gmail.com
I grew up next to an Allen descendant who told me this story.
That’s cool
New sub, your voice is perfect for storytelling. Excellent job.
thank you my friend ❤
My mother was born and raised in the Woodlawn area between Hillsville and Galax, Virginia. Mom was born in 1923.
My maternal great grandfather, Charles Troy (CT) Higgins was onetime elected Sheriff of Grayson County and the first paid Police Chief of Galax. He was later a Balwin-Felts Agent and was one of the 7 agents shot and killed in the Matewan Massacre in Matewan, Mingo County, West Virginia during the 1920's WV Mine Wars.
I can still remember talking with my great grandmother Celia Higgins (the late CT's wife) as a child at my Uncle Edgar and Aunt Guida Mitchell's home outside Galax.
Thank for sharing that, I enjoyed reading
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller thanks, indeed.
It's amazing that my parents ever got together, since dad was born the Weyanoke Coal and Coke Camp in Mercer County, WV and his father and grandfather were above ground mine forman's. So with my paternal family miners and Coal Co supporters and my maternal side Law Enforcement and Coal company owner supporters...me and my 6 older siblings always wondered how they were together 62 years, lol.
My grand mothers family is from there. The Baldwin family. They owned and lived in the old farmers bank in elk creek.
Matewan made a good movie.
@@byrdsdoityourselfgarage7330 its beautiful area indeed. A lot of good simple living people. I've got family all over Southern West Virginia, southwestern Virginia and Central western North Carolina.
I'll take any of these men as my neighbors before anyone currently in our corrupt government. 🙏🙏
💯
Love the music throughout the whole video excellent job buddy ❤️🤟🏻
Thank you friend !
Hillsville is less than 3 hours away from me. ❤️ from West Virginia
Gods country, take care my friend
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller yes, West 'By God' Virginia ♥️
Never heard of this and this is all so sad ! It sucks how big corruption can get . It doesn’t get noticed enough. I can only imagine how it is now behind the scenes
exactly, we are all too distracted by our cheap Chinese phones to pay attention anymore.
I heard this story not long ago on another channel. I love looking back into history and hearing these stories. I can see it taken place.
It’s a heck of a story