FAMILY
Pro Aris Et Focis
Avon Lake, OH
JUNE 2, 2012: This website is dedicated to one of the branches of our immigrant ancestor, Peter Cline (1756-1843) and his family of the Tug River Region of KY/WV/VA. For information on all of the Cline descendants of Peter Cline, including Perry Cline who was involved in the Hatfield McCoy Feud, please visit our other website:
www.clinefamilyassociation.com
Thank you.
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A prominent figure in the Hatfield McCoy Feud was Perry A. Cline, a 1st cousin of our William Cline Johnson. Perry A. Cline was born on January 5, 1845 in Logan County, Virginia to Jacob "Rich Jake" Cline and Nancy Fuller. "Rich Jake" Cline was a prosperous land owner in the Tug River Valley.
Perry Cline married Martha A. McCoy on September 19, 1868 in Pike County, Kentucky. [Note - Perry's sister, Martha Cline, married Asa Harmon McCoy. Asa McCoy was killed by the Logan Wildcats, a Confederate guerilla unit led by William Anderson "Devil Ance" Hatfield while on furlough from the federal army during the Civil War. It is unknown whether this incident was involved in the feud. However, Perry Cline's later involvement in the perpetuation of the feud is well documented].
The following is an excerpt from the book, Clines and Allied Families of the Tug River Region, by Cecil Cline and Harry Dale Cline (by permission from Author Cecil Cline):
Perry was a lawyer, deputy sheriff and deputy jailer in Pike County, Kentucky during the Hatfield McCoy Feud. [In 1858], he inherited a large tract of land in Logan County, Virginia (WV) from his father and was considered to be wealthy. In the early 1870's, he was accused of stealing timber from the property of Devil Ance Hatfield [leader of the Hatfield Clan]. The court decision of 1877 awarded Hatfield all of Perry's land in Logan County as damages. This was the beginning of Perry's hatred for the Hatfields in general and Devil Ance in particular. He relocated to Pikeville, Kentucky, established himself with the influential powers and developed a close relationship with "Ranel" McCoy [leader of the McCoy Clan] and the clan that he controlled. After Perry became deputy sheriff, he was instrumental in obtaining warrants to arrest the Hatfields and bring them back to Kentucky for trial. Perry is considered to be a prime force in keeping the feud alive.
Avon Lake, OH