🥇 BANNER Deputy Sheriff T.S. Hatfield badge

[badcop25601]

My first time posting in a long time. I decided to try doing a little searching on a hillside behind my house. After about 15 minutes, found this badge about 4" deep. T.S. Hatfield (Tennyson or Tennis) was son of Anse Hatfield. Served as a deputy during the 20's and was sheriff in this county. My best find yet!

 

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[BIGSCOTT]

Man if that's for real, i vote banner, waiting for some confermation from one of the experts
we have on here, then i'll vote banner all day long, i'll even vote twice.

 

[badcop25601]

This house was built in the mid 40's. Moved in about 35 years ago. It is close to the old courthouse site. The odd part of this badge is that the pin is upside down. By reading all I could find on the politics of that time, there was a lot of corruption. During the battle of Blair Mountain, Sheriff Don Chafin, organized an army of 2000 to fight off the miners. T.S. Hatfield served as deputy under Chafin before running for Sheriff. He lost, but due to an investigation (where it was found that Chafin had used intimidation on voters), he was made Sheriff.

 

[devldog]

Very cool find of the deputy sheriff badge and also knowing the History that goes along with this piece. A True piece of American History and folklore. I'll vote Banner Find too. Well Done and Continued Success to you.

 

[ToddsPoint]

It's probably easier to put on your shirt or jacket if you're wearing it with the pin like that. Gary

 

[Tpmetal]

Awesome, that thing probably belongs in a museum.

 

[badcop25601]

Just did a measurement on the badge....it is 2 1/4 top to bottom and 1 3/4 side to side.

 

[glass half fool]

One of a kind !! Anything I can find that can be connected to a specific person is just a little bit more special to me

 

[JimJ]

Great historic find. That was an interesting area with a lot of conflict between the mine owners and union members. Seemed like before every contract negotiation between the 'company' and the Union that the movie Matewan was required viewing back in the late 1980's and early 1990's. If confirmed authentic, and i believe it is, I vote banner also!

 

[vpnavy]

I searched Google and found HATFIELD, Levisa (Chafin) Obituary that mentioned Sheriff Hatfield...

"...Shortly after the death of her husband in 1921, Mrs. Hatfield was persuaded to leave the old homeplace on Island Creek and make her home with her son, Tennis, but she was not satisfied away from the scenes of her earlier life and a year ago the sons started remodeling the old family home, making modern improvements and fixing it so that their aged mother could return and rest in peace and quiet without great tax on her failing health. Ten children survived, one of whom William Anderson Hatfield, a Deputy Sheriff in Logan County, was an active figure in the long-standing feud that spattered the West Virginia and Kentucky border counties with blood. Another son, T. S. Hatfield, is Sheriff of Logan County. Three of the 13 children born to the noted feudist and his wife are dead. “Devil Anse” died in 1921 and a life size statute of him, erected by his friends, stands near his home. Henry D. Hatfield, United States Senator from West Virginia is a nephew of “Devil Anse”. The number of killings that marked the warfare between the Hatfield and McCoy clans in the many years it continued is not known. Efforts of peace officers and courts to end the feud failed repeatedly and it was not until the two families moved to widely separated sections that the strife stopped. Big Sandy News-Recorder, Mar 22, 1929..."

 

[BIGSCOTT]

The pin being upside down like it is, is probably how he lost it,
cant believe this hasnt made banner.

 

[badcop25601]

Thanks very much. I have sent pics to an expert in hopes of dating the badge to the correct period. I think you are spot on about how the badge was lost. There was no latch made for the pin.

 

[hucklburry]

google images has some pics of him, but I didn't see one of him wearing a badge, but this would have been before he became sheriff? It would be cool to find a pic of him wearing one....

 

[jeff of pa]

.
The daily telegram. (Clarksburg, W. Va.), 22 Feb. 1916.


https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...eld+&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1

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[jeff of pa]

Re: "Devil Anse" Hatfield's Son Elias

Shepherdstown register. (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]), 06 July 1899.






https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...ext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1

 

[jeff of pa]

60 results containing “Deputy sheriff Hatfield ” in W.v. Papers,
But there were Many different Deputy / Sheriff Hatfields

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...ateFilterType=yearRange&page=2&sort=relevance

 

[jeff of pa]

“Deputy sheriff Hatfield Tennis ”

Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 18 Aug. 1927.

View attachment 1597044
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https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...ext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1


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Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 20 Sept. 1924.

View attachment 1597048

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...ext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1

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Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 11 Jan. 1924.

View attachment 1597049

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...ext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1

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Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 08 Oct. 1924.
View attachment 1597050
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https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...ext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1

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22 results containing “ Hatfield Tennis ”

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...tance=5&rows=50&searchType=advanced&sort=date

 

[jeff of pa]

1 results containing “Tennyson hatfield”


New-York tribune. (New York [N.Y.]), 25 Sept. 1921.



https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...ld&proxdistance=5&rows=20&searchType=advanced

 

[badcop25601]

I have been reading a lot also on Logan County history during that time period also, Jeff. Seems the Hatfields ran a lot more in the state than just this county. Wish I had this much interest in history when I was in school lol

http://www.williamsondailynews.com/...cle_0e9a535d-b834-5422-b2ef-cf2573770461.html

 

[Hawks88]

That is one fantastic find. Congratulations.