Bloody Breathitt Kentucky: In the Deep Dark Hills of Eastern Kentucky

Bloody Breathitt Kentucky is home to one of Appalachia's deadliest towns because of its violent feuding past. In this Exploring Appalachia episode, I take you there to Breathitt County, Kentucky and the town of Jackson.
Kentucky is often associated with bluegrass, bourbon, and horse races, but beneath the surface lies a darker history of political blood feuds that eclipses even the infamous Hatfields and McCoys. One such feud, the Hargis-Cockrell saga, turned Jackson, the county seat, into a battleground in the early 1900s.
At the center of the violence was James Hargis, a local judge who, alongside his ally Sheriff Ed Callahan, used politics as a weapon. When Republican lawyer James B. Marcum challenged their control, tensions boiled over, sparking a wave of bloodshed. The feud escalated when Ben Hargis was killed in a barroom shootout with Tom Cockrell, setting off a string of retaliatory murders. By 1903, Marcum himself was gunned down on the courthouse steps, but Hargis always seemed to escape justice-until his own son killed him in 1908.
This violent chapter in Breathitt County’s history left more than 100 dead, shaping the county’s legacy. Today, Jackson still feels the weight of its past, now facing new struggles like poverty and economic decline. Though the old feuds have ended, the fight for survival continues.
I'm Josh, and this has been Mountain Roots. Thanks for joining me on this journey through Appalachia’s untold history.
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[@MountainRoots]

Love hearing from y'all in the comments! What'd you think of Bloody Breathitt County?

[@ADHski]

It appears your channel went viral on the last video, well deserved after years of effort. Thanks for explaining REAL American history that so few are aware of. Cheers!

[@MountainRoots]

@ADHski thanks, really appreciate it! I'll keep moving forward 🫡

[@jefferywright4204]

Great job, Josh. You make the past come alive with your excellent narration and the fact laden script that supports it. Keep up your good work, please!

[@MountainRoots]

I appreciate that!

[@michaelcassady3862]

I am a Cassady whose roots in Inez, Ky/Martin County, run back to the late 1700s, during the time of settlement. My Scots-Irish paternal ancestors had names like "Ulysses Simpson Cassady" and were clearly pro-Union. I know that Scots-Irish blood and passion runs hot, and the spread of my clan across Martin County and the Tug River in West Virginia shows the history of the Civil War, and their struggles to survive. I respect those ancestors. Thanks for the video.

[@Wetrockstah2116]

This is where my Mom and family is from. I lived there as a kid, and moved to Florida for a few years, then moved back to Winchester, KY when I was a teenager. Breathitt county is a beautiful place, and them country boys down there are a different breed for sure.

[@MountainRoots]

It really does have a lot to offer in the way of natural beauty. Thanks for watching!

[@jamesbowen8960]

It sure is a beautiful place, and some of the best people you will ever meet. I hope it prospers once again.

[@moorek1967]

We might be related.

[@FatGuyTries]

This episode was riveting brother!

[@MountainRoots]

@@FatGuyTries thanks for the feedback, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@karenbrewer5864]

I had never heard of this place in Kentucky or this story. I love to listen to your videos. Just so informative. Thank you!

[@johnward9146]

I lived in Jackson in the late 70s. A long-haired youngster from Pike County, fresh out of high-school. Attended the Breathitt County Vo-Tech school taking a HVAC course through the EKCEP program. Walked those elevated sidewalks and got plenty of attention from the town police and the county deputies. Drove to Perry County for booze on the weekends. Met some interesting and good hearted locals. I heard a lot about the fueds and bloodletting of Breathitt from those locals. I think the national attention given the Tug River war is the reason for that fame. There's been many fueds, political and personal, but most are not talked about as much.

[@dalegooch4616]

Josh another fascinating episode. I learn so much watching this. Your treatment of JD Vance very fair. I read his book a few years ago thought it was interesting and real. Love this channel.

[@rebeccahoward8927]

Born and raised there,left when I was 18, miss that town so much, people don't take no crap, normally don't start trouble but will end it if you cross the line.Go Breathitt County one and only! Xo

[@gregdelaney119]

Josh, you continue to excel in efforts to research, document, and present some of the most fascinating and fertile stories for learning. You are doing work that edifies and educates. History, at least to the extent that I have studied it over the years, is simply not a simple and "clean" science. Human beings are too complex and unpredictable to present in a mere textbook narrative. I especially appreciate the final minute or so of this video's narrative - the reminder that each day MAKES history and that this is an ongoing process. That may sound trite, but it is not. Congratulations on your successful evolution as a documentary film maker. It is a joy to watch.

[@MountainRoots]

@gregdelaney119 that really means a lot coming from you! I know you've stuck in there and observed my evolution. It really humbles me you're still around watching and taking time to leave such thoughtful comments like this one!

[@moorek1967]

My grandmother was from Breathitt. In fact, my grandmother's family has been there since the Revolution. My grandmother told me that when she was young,, there was gangs of men with rifles and shotguns who just walked through people's yards and took whatever they wanted and threatened to shoot anyone who protested. She was born in 1926 so in her memories, it was in the early 1930s.

[@truckinpoppop6777]

Keep up the great work Josh!!

[@MountainRoots]

Thanks! Will do!

[@drummersagainstitk]

Your production is fantastic. The editing is always getting better. And!!! your accented commentary is classic. Thank you. love this sht. Cont success.

[@MountainRoots]

Thank you so much!!

[@junebryant5159]

Thank you for sharing your videos and the raw truth of areas of Appalachia! It may be difficult for some people, but always tell the truth about the area!!

[@MountainRoots]

You're welcome! It is my desire to share the stories and history as well as show the present state of these towns and places. It is not my intention to denigrate or poke fun, or solely focus on the "warts" (every place has those). Really appreciate you watching!

[@junebryant5159]

@@MountainRoots I found your videos a few years ago, not having but internet TV, most miss seeing you on your new projects!! Praying for you and your family(team members as well), June Bug 🐞, Lewisburg, West Virginia!!

[@SpaceDwarf55]

That was a really interesting video, it's strange that sometimes the most visually beautiful places on earth, are also among the hardest to survive in.

[@nickcrooks8467]

Such a beautiful area. I've been to Jackson many times.

[@michaelhager2846]

Good to see you more on you tube, i dont watch PBS,thank you,love these videos and your style of presentation 😊😊

[@MountainRoots]

Glad you enjoy!

[@SteveS-fm4yh]

Great videos man. Really like your work!

[@MountainRoots]

Appreciate the feedback, and I'm so glad you enjoy them!

[@gina5827]

Interesting story and excellent work.

[@stevenrogers1087]

Another amazing story!

[@MountainRoots]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@AnnaBrown-h4e]

The coal dried up?? How about the liberal Dem's closed it down?? 😮😢😮 Nothing can take down " memories"! We all have different memories of the same thing!!

[@MountainRoots]

It's an expression, not a literal statement about how the economy dried up. It is my studied opinion that politicians on "both sides" of the spectrum have been living like leeches off the backs of the common man for time immortal...

[@marcoluoma3770]

I live in coal country and feel your pain, but coal just can’t compete in the market with gas based on $/btu. Put away your tinfoil hat.

[@tangle70]

From the son of a southern West Virginian'r I can guarani-dang-tee you that the feuds have not been forgotten.

[@moorek1967]

And they are not over with.

[@Biker65]

Good narration

[@MountainRoots]

Thank you!

[@RuthieBowling]

I am from Breathitt county.🤘❤️🤘🖤

[@bennmullins3064]

My dad is from there. Yeah whenever I hear people from the larger cities up north or south talk about the gang violence and some even try to imitate. They find out quickly, here in KY, when it comes to a feud, it doesn't ever stop, it's just the evolution to the next feud. The hills are alive with guerillas and gunmen.

[@mikeymullins1446]

I'm from here it would have been cool seeing you here telling about our history in this small town

[@MountainRoots]

@mikeymullins1446 there were only a few people out and about while I was there. I spoke with several of them. Very nice folks!

[@mikeymullins1446]

@MountainRoots thanks for a really good video It was really cool of you to let everyone know about jackson, you did a great job

[@MountainRoots]

@mikeymullins1446 thank you, I'm glad to hear a local say that!

[@bdpage2023]

The Sheriff of Letcher County, KY just shot & killed a local judge. Ironic.

[@tessachabot2146]

I'm from Jackson

[@dereklewis9451]

I was hooked for the story but it felt like you just skimmed through the cliff notes. With that many bodies there has to be more important details than that. The last 3 minutes felt like an unrelated JD Vance book commercial. Politics aside I'd love to learn more about the story.

[@testy518]

I don't know if it still is, but Breathitt County used to be the poorest county in Kentucky.

[@moorek1967]

Booneville in Owsley is.

[@PacifierMusic]

Seems like you changed your format from showing how awesome WV is, to explaining all the history of the crime and corruption. I liked the old format. Views aren’t what’s most important. WV needs to represent the brighter side. I’ll unsubscribe and check back periodically to see if anything changes.

[@MountainRoots]

What are you referring to? One single episode that discusses some of the darker parts of history? You do realize it's history, right? If we don't discuss these things how are we to learn from those who've gone before us? By now, you should know from my work of more than 100 videos, documentaries and a television show that I'm not trying to denigrate or focus on the negative. I'm trying to do my part to tell the stories and show the places that make up the tapestry of Appalachia specifically and the United States broadly. Hopefully you'll reconsider, but everyone has the liberty to do as they please. Thanks for watching.

[@tangle70]

My dad is from WV, I still have close relatives there. I lived in WV for a while and would move back if my wife said we could. The reality is WV is the wild west in a lot of areas.

[@bags4930]

See Ya. Grow up and then come back. He is free to put whatever he wants onto his channel.

[@chalesgolding5314]

Set your clocks back 10 decades if you plan on moving to Kentucky 😮…

[@alvankarpas6245]

Uhh... I think you missed the fact that the Cherokee and Shawnee languages shared one common word. Cain-truck, which meant bloody ground...

[@MountainRoots]

Did I? 😉

[@marktweet7395]

Poor education causes this

[@MountainRoots]

Is that all? Could it not be more complex than that?

[@marktweet7395]

@@MountainRoots of course

[@BlackSheep883-d7n]

Trump/Vance 2024....

[@joshuabrown9413]

Sounds like Athens Tennessee.

[@David-up7rv]

DO YOU REALY WANT HOLLYWOOD THERE! NO 👎

[@MountainRoots]

Huh?

[@Ginger2020]

Ugh, this Ohioan would like to give back Vance to y’all!

[@MountainRoots]

Y'all?

[@Ginger2020]

@@MountainRoots yep…there’s not much difference between SE Ohio and Eastern KY. I have family up and down Route 23.

[@MountainRoots]

@Ginger2020 still curious by what you mean give him back 🤔

[@Ginger2020]

My car can go on auto-pilot from Portsmouth to Kingsport! 😉

[@Ginger2020]

@@MountainRoots that’s my way of saying Jackson can claim him, if they’d like to. I’m not a fan.

[@burkey548]

WHAT A BRILLIANT VIDEO SUPERB SIR

[@MountainRoots]

Thank you!