Sid Hatfield - Matewan Massacre to Grave - Old Jail - Mayor Testerman- Ed Chambers grave

We follow Sid Hatfield on his journey from the massacre to the grave. We also visit his best friend Mayor Testermans grave as well as Ed Chambers who died with Sid.
Local legend William Sidney “Sid” Hatfield was Police Chief of Matewan and one of the most popular figures of the West Virginia Mine Wars, a decades-long conflict between miners and coal operators. Hatfield was a leader for the miners during the Battle of Matewan, a shootout that followed a series of evictions carried out by detectives from the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency.
He received his nickname, “Smilin’ Sid”, because of the gold caps on several of his upper teeth. He was a staunch supporter of the United Mine Workers of America and was instrumental in leading the mining community’s resistance to the Baldwin-Felts operatives.
The Battle of Matewan took place on May 19, 1920 between Baldwin-Felts Detective Agents against Hatfield and his deputies. After the battle, ten men lay dead on Mate Street: seven Baldwin-Felts Detective Agents, two union-armed miners, and Matewan’s very own Mayor Testerman. To miners, he was a legend and hero. The bullets from the shootout are still lodged in the building on Mate Street.

[@terrybarnhill6144]

Leo I love your videos I'm an old man 74 can't really move around too much anymore that you guys are taking me on vacation. Keep your videos coming they're great you guys tell the history as you go man can't say enough about you videos are great and your wife she's excellent to take care and watch out for those damn snakes they're everywhere in those heels this is Terry from Wichita Kansas take care😊

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thanks Terry!

[@raypursley3639]

My sister now lives in iager West Virginia about 45 minutes from welch. I have visited welch, but I would love to come to maetwon to do a tour with y'all. Love your videos on Hatfield's and McCoys.

[@John-uv7zp]

Me and my wife was there in April it was a great beautiful area lots of history good job y’all bringing our history into mainstream media

[@marlenasimpkins8265]

I LOVE your channel! My husbands family was Hatfield and McCoy. He knows nothing of his grandfather kin simpkins who was a descendant. All the history is so interesting! It’s so sad a lot of this history has been forgotten. Thank you for bringing it back to life!

[@thehillbillyfiles]

That is awesome! Thanks

[@ronaldmercer9616]

I moved to West Virginia after the military 27 years ago, I work with guys born and raised here and don't know these things, which is a shame

[@erinikeuchi6447]

Another fascinating video. You both do a great job making us feel like we’re actually there. Such a beautiful town.

[@kskollections2142]

Fascinating story! The murals were absolutely beautiful! Albeit a tad creepy, they tell the history with pictures. Great job!

[@donaldoldaker5067]

I worked in that part of WV for meny a year I liked the people and the country.

[@wendyhatfield4821]

Love seeing and learning about the history of my family!! Devil Anse is my 5th great grandfather ❤

[@arthurbrumagem3844]

Was just there in May for my wife’s family reunion. She has kin on birth sides of that feud but mostly McCoys

[@Jeffbambam]

As a southerner from Alabama who loves history, most of our historical sites where burned to the ground by the northern invasion and stolen by carpet baggers with only stories left behind, I dearly love seeing actual buildings from our American past ,thank you for sharing, you folks are awesome!

[@markperrault5678]

Well know this those same carpetbaggers won't get away with that again. That's gospel

[@UAPReportingCenter]

Ok General Lee 🤣

[@gregorybrown6719]

As well it should have been. West Virginia exist because it REFUSED to secede from the union. Unlike slavery based economy in the piedmont of Virginia or Alabama.. There were not many slaves in that Region. But many, like the Hatfields, still fought as Rebels to maintain the property rights of the rich that held them in contempt. I suppose it's a testament to the stupidity that comes when 1st cousins forincate.

[@andrebredell3293]

That's what happen when you start something you can't finish!! The US military cannot be defeated on the battlefield. Gen. Sherman's spirit lives with those who love Justice and Freedom for All.

[@jbrown1384]

Hey Jeff. I feel your pain, man. Much property in Kentucky was also destroyed, but not nearly as much as other places.

[@natertater84]

Thanks for taking the time to make this video. Its on my list of places to visit next time I'm in Matewan. Love the history, keep it up!

[@michaelbedinger4121]

Interesting video. The first building, with the sign that said " use other door, " I can go one better, Do not enter building, period! Nice little town, cemetery is in pretty good condition. Thank you, Leo and Heather, for another fine video.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thank you 🙂

[@michaelbedinger4121]

@@thehillbillyfiles You are welcome, have a great weekend!

[@ruththompson9369]

Love the history of West Virginia my son and family lives off Charleston and I go up and see them and do trails in West Virginia I am from Kentucky and still live here and love hearing the history of our states..

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thanks Ruth

[@terryrose6208]

Great video and good details.

[@rongrady4501]

Great video, my wife and I were in Matewan a few years ago, wish we had known about you guys. We’re from the Mason County WV area.

[@WhispersFromTheDark]

Do you have a video about the massacre? I couldn't find one when checking your channel. You've peaked my interest now....for us folks that aren't from that area, we'd be interested in the background details, since some of us have never heard of it. Thanks.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

There is a movie called the matewan massacre, heres the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqevqIKcgb90mLs

[@cindyb8775]

my mother's best friend was from Red Jacket. She knew the Hatfields, Chafin's, was a Harmon, etc etc. Anyways, Sid was an honorable young man for that day and time. If he got upset he would smile, a steely smile and it unnerved people, because the angrier he became, the calmer he became. It is so sad. When he was shot on the courthouse steps, he whirled around and smiled in the direction of the shooter. As if too say, You got me. You finally got me.

[@jeffryheintz5738]

I really enjoy your videos, I have people down thatway. My Grandmother was born up near Branchland. Her people were Merritts and Clays.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thanks 🙏

[@dianebutler1936]

i enjoyed this very much. thank you.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thank you so much ❤️

[@stevemccoy8138]

If I ever make a road trip back to that country I'll look you up.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Sounds good 👍

[@jeanlawson9133]

I have relatives that are Hatley and relatives who are Stanfield on my Mother's side ,,, I call the family reunion the Hatfield reunion..... Ain't it just ain't it 😎 lols,,, I myself am Scotty Lawson from Raven Virginia...

[@chrisb.2741]

Pennsylvania Yankee here but love ya'll as good neighbors with good bits to offer. Three weeks back I visited the West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville, excellent informative 2 hr. tour by the way. Beautiful in WV and great presentation on you guys part. I was curious as to why Sid' burial sites soil has been disturbed or so it looked from the video? Had he been moved or was there some sort of investigation ongoing? Simply curious. Very interesting and will look into why it is you say he basically kicked off the proliferation of the middle class. That really perked an interest about this man. I would have suspected Henry Ford, Andrew Carnegie, Cornelius Vanderbilt, George Westinghouse or the Master of monopoly John D. Rockefeller. I know their greed or at least many of their greed would likely have inhibited this but at the same time provided work that paid far more than most, only with grueling working conditions and hours leading to unions and awful business wars among one another and their companies' union workers of them. Being from Pittsburgh, Carnegie' workers facing off with the Pinkertons in a massacre at the Homestead steel plant in the late 19th centry is quite the locally known example and is legendary in the annuls of American history. But Thomas Edison is recognized as the father of our electrical grid but in reality, and as a studied electrician myself, without a doubt Nicoli Tesla ought to have that title and slowly that is becoming recognized. Edison was a failing desperate maniac. My point is, history often gets it wrong, it's all on who had the money to write their interpretation, and if this is the man you say he is the nation as a whole ought to know that and to give him his just deservers! The next generations must know truth instead of fairy tales we were taught on so many, many accounts! Thank You for this perambulation with you both!

[@timidater4803]

Why do you say Edison was a maniac?? I live in the town of his birthplace Milan Ohio have have never heard this!! Im sure he was slipping in his older years but that doesent make him crazy!! look at the list of his inventions

[@timidater4803]

Tesla still has a place in this but did he invent a lightbulb??

[@chrisb.2741]

@@timidater4803 Tesla invented the production means of A/C electricity. He tried to get Edison to mainstream A/C as opposed to D/C. Edison looked down his nose at Tesla who worked for Edison at the time. Seeing Edison would not listen, Tesla quit his work for Edison. He promoted A/C himself and won the contracts to power the nation and eventually the world. Edison campaigned against Tesla's A/C electrocuting several animals including a dog and an elephant at different events to the disgust of the crowds and speaking ill of Tesla's A/C. Many lost respect for Edison because of these actions. That put him in a dark downward mindset that it is said he never fully recovered from and was said he was in a type of madness brought about by depression.

[@timidater4803]

@@chrisb.2741 And you know this from......?

[@chrisb.2741]

@@timidater4803 Reading history books and articles and studying electricity to become an electrician.

[@YouSUBSCRIBE739]

11:10.....I agree with ya....I luuuuuv those merles....those are sooo cool😍 Ur video content is similar to another channel I'm sub to...they also do w.v. n ky.

[@johnfugate3432]

Good video and history lesson things need to be remembered thanks

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thanks!

[@claudiadesoto2378]

Awesome videos

[@YouSUBSCRIBE739]

Also....I agree luv those painted murals of c.minors😍😍😍😍

[@bruinsfan8278]

This is a Great channel ! Awesome content, Thanks, a New subscriber !! Keep the Awesome Videos coming !!! :-)

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thank you!

[@WilliamRedmond-gs9bu]

Mayor Testerman was my gr grandfather's half brother. It is interesting to note that after Sid was killed Jesse's 3rd marriage was to one of the Felts strike breakers.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Very interesting! We are considering doing a video on her , appreciate the info

[@davidedwards5474]

My wife has watched most of your videos. I’ve started watching them too. We’ve been to Matewan many times and plan more visits with our UTVs. Since you know so much about the area I have a question for you. Just a little north of Delbarton on 52 I think there’s a driveway on your left that looks like a swinging bridge for cars. Thought you might know the story behind it. It’s just before a sheet metal shop. Would like to see a car drive across it but wouldn’t want to be the driver. Maybe you can put it in your next video

[@thehillbillyfiles]

I know what bridge you mean, I'll look into it, thanks for watching, both of you!

[@donhinchey9148]

Awesome countryside , neat history, really enjoying you’re channel

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thanks 🙏

[@ROCK.ON.]

My first forest fire job with forest fires back in 1990 was in virginia mountains we walked up and down the mountain day and night with just a light on our hardhats to see we had to create firebreak trails so fire could not spread beyond that point basicaly we each had a tool and had to clear everything in our path down to just dirt area about big enough cant remember the width exact size now but yea hard hott work for sure and man was ut cold in middle of night up on at mountain we had thise aluminum fire tents in our backpacks wanted to open mine to get warm but we could not open em unless life and death emergency to keep from getting burned up by mountain fire we flew in on a 1950s airplane with no parachutes on board in nightime in a thunderstorm from north carolina pisgah forest area true story luv yungs 😊❤.

[@cindyb8775]

I am bitter about the death of Sid, honestly. I think his wife jessie-- but I think they called her Mamie-- had a hand in it. Sid was a friend to the Miners and sympathetic to their cause.

[@lisasmith7854]

I'm wondering if you're ever in this area again if at your time on this video 9:13 the picture of the man in the window could you possibly find out who that is my ancestors come from around this area and that looks like it could be my grandfather I could be very way off wrong but caught my attention immediately that would be wonderful to find out who that is a picture of thank you

[@thehillbillyfiles]

When I get back home on Monday I will look and don't out

[@thehillbillyfiles]

the guy in the window is Bad frank phillips on the right in black and the closer face is Randall McCoy

[@markclark6824]

Looks like there a USGS or a Army Corp of Engineers. Survey monument in the brick wall. At the beginning of video .

[@gailweikelcorrea]

I'm going through your old posts and viewing them all you know me Miss History...😉

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Cool thanks

[@kristina08141]

This was my great great and so on uncle

[@sixoaksfarm1556]

Why is Sid's grave freshly dug?

[@thehillbillyfiles]

There was a big poke plant there, killed out the grass, it just looks that way

[@cynthialou1770]

Some background info regarding the historical events would be helpful.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Sorry wasn't enough info geez lol. We gave a ton

[@blatterberry3034]

Did you ever fine any Atterberry's that was related to either side of the family's.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

I don't recall that name. Going forward I will keep a eye out.

[@blatterberry3034]

@@thehillbillyfiles Few years ago my brother received a let about being related to the I think on Hatfield side. If you do find I would like to know thank you.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

@@blatterberry3034 I certainly will

[@thehillbillyfiles]

@@blatterberry3034 doing just a quick search of the name with Hatfield's name, there seems to be several connections. Id have to do a ancestry search to know exact. You can do a free 2 week trial and try and figure it out. I connected Leo to McCoy's and Hatfield's in less than a week.

[@markperrault5678]

What the those firearms back then real low velocity today's rifles just deer rifles would smoke right through that brick wall makes Yaz think what'll happen when time comes

[@gregorygibson5455]

Hello Leo n Heather

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Hello!

[@Mycorabel]

ANY HISTORY ON MATT JUSTICE

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Not right off hand.

[@Mycorabel]

@The Hillbilly Files - Legends and Locations Matt was a ruff man killed a few men died in Moundsville pen HIS son pulled time with His Dad then Matt's Grandson killed the Sheriff of Mc Dowell County I think in 1976 Sheriff manard if memory serves me right

[@Tonykulis]

Has anyone ever tried to remove those bullets? Just wondering

[@thehillbillyfiles]

No

[@MustangMach1696.0]

Those were some bad boys 👦 back in Those days.😂

[@melindaschluter1669]

Heather you are beautiful honey, don't be shy! ❤

[@JeffreyGlover65]

Was Sid a grandson of Devil Anse?

[@thehillbillyfiles]

No he was a cousin

[@JeffreyGlover65]

@@thehillbillyfiles thanks so much. I've been planning on going to Matewan and Pikeville soon. My mom was born and grew up in Hardy. My cool Uncle was born in the old Williamson hospital. Good people come from down there 😎. How's your hillbilly tent treatin' ya?

[@ROCK.ON.]

Short funny story iz in da family dollar store while back they had a box said drawing where you could win stuff from family dollar lady o girl and daughter in line at checkout in front of me the daughter says mama lets enter the drawing and mama says naw honey we dont know how to draw that good and im thinking o no she didnt just think or say that but fact is she really did l.o.l. 😊❤ luv yungs 😊❤

[@ROCK.ON.]

Lots a people sept mi ole lady says i sound like a hippie gomer pyle i dont think sew do

[@ROCK.ON.]

Listen to that gomer pyle hippie thing not thats my old lady picking on me because i do a good imattation of old gomer from andy griffith show but she and i know i dont hardly go around talking like gomer pyle not unless its intensional for laughs shes laughing at me right now yea shes real funny yaw but i love her anyhow lol love yaw guys thanks for your videos

[@carolblair2844]

Sid Hatfield was very handsome. Just saying.