Family Feud and God
On September 9, 1839, a little boy was born into the Hatfield clan of West Virginia. His given name was William Anderson Hatfield. But while still quite young he got a nickname from his own mother that perfectly described his sinister disposition and aggressive nature. She called him Devil Anse . The name stuck fast. Around the same time, his little cousin, also called Anderson Hatfield, who was mild-mannered and kind, earned the sobriquet of Preacher Anse . So Devil Anse and Preacher Anse both grew into their names. Devil Anse was the leader of the Hatfield clan throughout the bitter decades of the infamous Hatfield-Mccoy feud. And although over a dozen people lost their lives and several more were imprisoned, Devil Anse survived the feud and avoided jail time. The infamous New Year’s Night massacre of 1888 was plotted at his instigation. That was the night eight Hatfields, at Devil Anse’s behest, surrounded the Mccoy cabin and opened fire, killing two young girls. Seven Hatfields w