The majority of violence, which occurred in this sectional feud, occurred between the years 1877 and 1879. The participants were primarily the progenitors of the George Underwood, Squire Holbrook and Stamper families and their offspring. The fighting was not limited by family lines however, and grew to include friends and hired gunmen. Like most of the feuds of the latter half of the nineteenth century which broke out after the Civil War, the common threads were fierce independence and continuing animosity resulting from the political differences which caused the Civil War. The resultant continuation of the differences, which brought about the War, altered the behavior of many of the soldiers until the passage of time soothed the wounds or the participants until they died.

I don't think many of these people believed that what they did was wrong. Similar actions, which had taken place in time of War, were after the War, deemed to be illegal. I think that morally, protecting a relative, who had been accused of horse theft, was acceptable to their conscious. During the War it was common behavior for troops to raid the farms of known opposition sympathizers, and steal their horses. The goal of which was to procure mounts for the cavalry of one own army. Some less than savory characters took horses and turned them into profit regardless of the purchaser. Following the close of the Civil War, a favorite cash crop for some Eastern Kentucky men, was stolen horses. Two such individuals were John Richards Tabor, who was commonly known as Jake, and his comrade John P. Martin.

Jake Tabor was the nephew of the third wife of George Underwood. John Martin was the son of Ben Martin and Melvina Hagens Martin, who moved to Rowan County, Kentucky from Letcher County in 1869. John Martin was the first cousin of my great-grandfather Floyd Hall, the son of Alexander and Clarinda Martin Hall. Alexander and Clarinda had also moved from Letcher to Rowan County, but sometime near 1872. I think that both men had moved their families north to escape the continued post-war violence, which occurred in the mountains of Southeastern, Kentucky and to provide better opportunities for themselves and their children. Ben and Melvina, or Vina, as she was called by come, found the area inhospitable to them for reasons attributed mainly to their son John Martin. Alex, or Elick, as my family called him, were more fortunate. This story will be unfolded later in the episode of The Martin-Tolliver Feud of Rowan County. To completely comprehend those events, the Underwood War must be considered.

The short version of the story follows. A longer version is to be included in the book on which I am working, as the story of my family history.

George Underwood settled with his family at the Western limit of Carter County, sometimes around the founding date of the county, 1838. He had children by his two first wives, but his third wife's nephew was to be the primary cause of his problems. His oldest son Alfred, had commanded a group of guerrilla soldier who nominally supported the Union cause in the Civil War. He had led his band of men on raids, including one through Maysville, in Mason County. The town had been looted by Confederate forces, and following their withdrawal, Underwood and his troops looted and pillaged the southern sympathizers' houses and stable, relieving them of many horses. His brother Jesse Underwood assisted in some similar raids. Jesse continued this behavior in his brother's footsteps, well after the war closed. Horse stealing was not his only vice.

In 1867, Jesse got into a fight with Mexican War veteran, James Carey, who was a well-respected man of Rowan County. While drunk, Jesse pulled a knife and slashed Carey across the face. Carey later reported that he held no grudge, as he felt that Jesse had done this as a result of his drunken state. Other residents of the area did not share this feeling and this event gave Jesse Underwood a reputation as a drinker and ill-tempered drunk.

Some time later, Jesse was involved in a fracas in a barroom in Bath County Kentucky. Jesse pulled his gun and the intended victim escaped his shot. Unfortunately, an innocent victim, one named Trumbo, was mortally wounded. Trumbo had been a well-liked man in Bath County and Jesse Underwood fled for his life. Trumbo's friends claimed that they would not rest until they placed Jesse Underwood at the end of a hangman's rope. Jesse returned to the hills of Carter County and later to his father's birthplace in Virginia, where he had distant relatives. Finally, Jesse moved with his family to Iowa, to join his brothers. Jesse occasionally returned for brief periods to visit in Carter County.

 Accordingly to Harold Wilson Coates, George Lewis Underwood, who was known as Lewis, and his two sisters lived at the home of their father during the ensuing years. Elvis Underwood married the daughter of a neighboring farmer and settled nearby. William moved to Rowan County, where he married and lived a law-abiding existence, while attempting to raise a family.

Jake Tabor had at one time been a merchant in Hillsboro in Fleming County. Coates stated that Tabor had a passion for cards and gambling which eventually "left him financially stranded." Tabor later decided to try his luck against the professional gamblers in Cincinnati, "firm convinced he could rout the professional cards sharks, but when they left him he was plucked clean." Tabor apparently returned to Morehead, a poorer and unwiser man. For a time he worked as a store clerk and was later appointed Rowan County Clerk.

Thomas F. Hargis, in 1874, was running for the position of Circuit Court Judge. A disagreement ensued over his qualification for the position. The opposition claimed that he was not old enough and could not prove his entry into the practice of law. He claimed that his papers had been stolen. During this period, Hargis "borrowed the minute book and common law docket from County Clerk Tabor." This was reported by Coates in his report. He further claimed that four days later, Tabor reported to the court that the books had been mutilated. Hargis reported Tabor was the mischief. This resulted in the dismissal of Tabor as Clerk. Other reports state that John Martin was involved in this trouble as a sworn enemy of Hargis. Martin was later indicted for the theft of legal documents, which belonged to Hargis. It is likely that both Martin and Tabor had been paid by proponents of Hargis' opposition in order to swing the election.

Tabor reportedly "sank lower and lower in social level until in the early part of 1877, he shot at James Carey and then fled Morehead to avoid retribution and prosecution. Not long afterward Tabor was found aboard an Ohio River steamboat in the possession of several horses that had been stolen in Rowan County. With him, as his partner, was John Martin, a thorough going scoundrel who had just been acquitted of the murder of his brother-in-law (Preston Blair). The pair were arrested and gave bail and evidently had a change of heart, for soon afterward they appeared at the home of Old George Underwood."

They asked for his help in settling down. They requested a piece of land from George, on which they might raise a crop to help pay for their defense, and to help with the expense of raising their families. George replied that he had no land for them, but he would arrange for a nearby farm to be used at their disposal. The two horse-thieves and their families settled in Carter County at the head of Upper Tygart's Creek. This was about five miles down the East Fork of Triplett from the residence of John Martin's father, who was later described in the annals of the Louisville Courier-Journal as a "well-respected, wealthy farmer." Lucy Trumbo Martin, the wife of John, with that move, less than two miles from the home of here parents, who lived near Soldier, Kentucky near what is now called Trumbo Hill.

This imposition on George Underwood raises many questions in my mind as to the true motives of Tabor and Martin. Either Ben Martin had refused to accept John Martin back onto his homestead, or, Martin had an ulterior motive for the move to Carter County. The possibility exists that the move across the county line would have made his prosecution more difficult. There is no evidence that Martin was ever convicted of this crime, as "he always had prearranged witnesses to testify to his whereabouts," which would give him an alibi. Maybe it was just good horse country!

There lived nearby, what was described by Coates as, "vengeful spirits who never bend," in the form of the Squire Holbrook family and the Stamper clan. These two families had supported the Democratic Party and the Confederacy in the Civil War, and reportedly they were ungracious losers. Squire Holbrook, who had earned his title through his election as county judge some years previously, was a native of Kentucky who had settled on the headwaters of the East Fork of Triplett Creek. His family probably had originally settled in Floyd County, Kentucky, and as with many of my ancestors, moved northerly in search of more fertile farming land. The Stamper family provided many descendants to this area of Kentucky, some of who were kept busy, "dodging the sheriff most of the time," reported Coates.

 The feud, which came the be known as the Underwood War or the Underwood-Holbrook Feud, broke out in full furry in 1877, just after a prized young horse, which belonged to the Stamper family, was discovered missing. Blame for its disappearance was placed on Alex Pendlum, a friend of both Martin and Tabor. Pendlum, who reportedly a well connected man in Rowan County, a fact which Coates felt "explains his interest in Tabor, who knew his relatives and had been intimate with them in the old days." It seems more likely that the "connected" people were Howard and Henry Logan of Rowan County, who were later named as unconvicted horse thieves, who plied their trade for more than 30 years. Howard and Henry both also had day jobs. Howard was a well-to-do merchant in Morehead and Henry was a physician who had served as my great-grandfather Paschal Haney's personal physician. Both Logans were deeply involved in the Martin-Tolliver Feud in Rowan County (1884-1887).

The outcome of the indictment of these men in the horse theft was that Martin, Tabor and Pendlum all received anonymous notice to leave to county or die. Martin wife was also reportedly threatened, which was a somewhat uncharacteristic threat on the part of the feudists. Women were rarely subject to violence in the typical mountain vendetta.

Lewis Underwood, the son of George Underwood rode to the Martin house and offered Martin and his family shelter. George meanwhile offered Tabor the protection of Fort Underwood. While making the move to Fort Underwood, Lucy Martin who had been ill grew worse. John Martin went to Olive Hill to obtain a doctor for his wife and while enroute, happened to spend the night with his cousin, James Claiborne Jones, who had settled temporarily in Carter County after the death of his mother. Jones, who was known as "Old Claibe," was what I have come to believe the quintessential feudist. This man claims to have been involved in more guerrilla action and feud activity than any three men who lived in Kentucky. Much of his activity is well documented. Most of his murderous activity, we must take his word for, because he was never convicted of any killing. Martin told Old Claibe of his difficulty and Claibe willingly pitched in to help. He waited for his opportunity. Claibe didn't wait for opportunity to knock twice on his door.

Within a few days, the Holbrooks and Stampers dispatched Pendlum to his reward, by shooting him from ambush. Notice was given to all concerned that anyone who assisted Pendlum from his demise, by calling for a doctor, or later attending his burial, would meet a similar fate. George Underwood refuse to be intimidated by the threats. (This nearly irrational independent defiance which was possessed by nearly every mountain feudist in Kentucky, combined with an old testament "eye for an eye" philosophy, to ensure the blood feud continuation and to provide easy targets for the marksmen).

George Underwood attempted to obtain a doctor for Pendlum and was shot from ambush, while riding through the woods, according to Claibe Jones. Coates reported that Underwood was ambushed a received eight different wounds while riding through the woods enroute to pay a call "on a dead neighbor." An eye was also reportedly shot out. Floyd Hall, who at the time was courting one of the daughters of George Underwood, reported that the wounding in the eye occurred at a later time. George's horse carried him home.

Meanwhile, the assassins head for the home of Lewis Underwood. One of the men called to Lewis to come out of the house. When Lewis appeared at his door, he was met with a volley of gunfire. He sank on his threshold, wounded in the abdomen by buckshot. This occurred sometime in 1877, for Lewis Underwood survived for two more years, bedridden.

George Underwood eventually recover from his eight wounds, well enough to actively participate in the ongoing violence. At the zenith of the feud, roughly 40 Underwood supporters and 50 Holbrooks, pitched battle at Fort Underwood. The battle was actually a siege of the fort. Near this time, Jake Tabor left the battle. John Martin remained to fight.

Elvis Underwood had come to Fort Underwood to assist in his family's defenses. He, John Martin and others, reportedly, "took to the bush," after declaring their resolve to revenge the attacks one the Underwoods. Shortly thereafter a man named Glover, who had admitted openly, his part in the killing of Pendlum, was killed from ambush, as was a son-in-law of the Stamper family. Elvis Underwood made no denial of his participation in these two murders.

 At the junction, a request was sent to then Governor McCreary, to assist in maintenance of law and order in Carter County. Captain J. N. Stewart and a company of forty armed soldiers arrived in Grayson, the county seat. "It was first determined to disarm all of the participants in the feud. During this activity, Jesse Underwood, who had at one time been wounded by one of the Squire Holbrook's sons, returned from Kansas to assist in the retribution on the Holbrooks and in the defense of Fort Underwood He and his wife had just settled into the Fort when the governor's troops arrived.

The troops reportedly witnessed no violence and left after a few days. They capture no one and confiscated no arms, other than a few worn out derringers. Coates reported that Jesse and his brother Bill then reached a cease fire agreement with the Holbrooks and Stampers. Both sides apparently agreed to this and Jesse packed his family into his wagons and headed back toward Kansas. While riding through Lewis County, his wagons were attacked by a sheriff's posse. Jesse was shot at and when he returned fire, a man named Ruggles was shot and killed. Jesse then surrendered to Sheriff Worder and the posse.

The group returned to Carter County and Jesse Underwood was charged with the murder of the sheriff's deputy. Weeks passed and Jesse's wound healed. He was presented for trial and "it was shown that he had been fired upon first, that the sheriff had no warrant for his arrest, so his acquittal was a mere matter of form." A bench warrant was then issued for the killing of Mr. Trumbo, which had occurred ten years previously. Jesse awaited trial in jail in Carter County. No bond was set, but Jesse was allowed to escape from jail. For several months thereafter, he lived in the woods, occasionally venturing back to Fort Underwood for brief visits. He was sent on roadways and trails many times, but apparently no attempts were made to arrest him.

Elvis Underwood had "long since parted company" with John Martin. Elvis had returned to his farm and had respected the agreement to cease hostilities. One day while plowing in his field, he was shot from ambush and killed.

This, I believe is the point at which Old Claibe Jones actively assisted the defense of Fort Underwood. Lewis Underwood, still bed-ridden from his wounds, was brought to Fort Underwood. Jones reported that "Miss Vina Martin" came and took John Martin's wife home with her, but John Martin stayed at Fort Underwood. Dr. John Steel came to the Fort to attend the wounded man, and the doctor himself went to Claibe Jones and hired him to wait on the wounded man, because of the experience Jones had in the Civil War, caring for the wounded.

Jones stated that the Stampers and Holbrooks sent word to him that if he assisted the Underwoods, that his house would be burned, and his children killed. They did not mention a threat to his wife, Chrissie Holbrook. Jones replied that, "I sent them back word that if they had no houses, they could talk about burning mine." Jones reported that following his encampment in Fort Underwood, the Stampers waylaid the fort and fired on it several times. George Underwood's sister re-enforced the Fort with ammunition and brought the favorite gun of Claibe Jones, which he called "Old Shampee, my old trusty bear gun that I had carried through the Civil War. The Stampers were independent, they thought they had us in a jug, but they were mistaken. We kept two men out all the time."

During one week of relative calm, Squire Holbrook's body was discovered in his yard. Holbrook had fallen victim to a single well-aimed shot, from ambush. Claibe Jones reported that during his stay at Fort Underwood, his snipers had killed at least seven of the enemy. Jones, because he was still alive at the time of his writing, refused to identify his victims, or the names of his comrades who had also killed men from ambush. Coates suggested that Jesse Underwood had been the assailant.

Coates reports further that Bill Underwood was then shot and killed while seated with his family and having supper. Two gun muzzles broke the windows of his dining room, and Bill was shot, while he was seated at the table. Later testimony suggests that Bill Underwood had been shot while working outside. Some of the events in the Coates book seem to have been embellished with a great deal of literary license. Bill was laid to rest sometime in September, 1879.

Claibe Jones described events that occurred at nearly the same time as follows.

 "Then the Stamper parties called on the Sheriff of Carter County to help them, but the sheriff refused to do so, and then they went to Grayson and got the police force to take us, but we were ready for them also. They sent us word that they would take the fort and kill every one of us. The attack was made on the fort every day. I was down stairs attending the wounded men when they opened fire on us. Gorge Underwood asked me what that meant and I told him he would find out later on. I could see the bulk of men. Underwood told me to wait until I could see the sight of my gun and then give it to them. They continued to pour the lead into the fort and several bullets came through the doors and windows before we got the weak places barred. The women turned up bedsteads and tables against the doors and put feather beds and carpets against them and that stopped the balls from coming in. We had been expecting trouble and had called in all our men to the fort. The fight continued until about ten o'clock in the day, then they stopped firing and sent Elvis Underwood's wife to us to ask us to surrender. We told them no, we wanted to fight a while longer anyway. The police called in his men and left, badly whipped. Seven of the police force were wounded and two killed outright, two more dying of their wounds. We still stayed at the fort."

"The doctor gave Lewis Underwood up to die and he professed religion and wanted to be baptized. The women made a dam across the branch and we all took him out and baptized him in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost."

"Then the soldiers were called out and sent against us. They came and arrested all but John Martin and myself. We fled to Floyd County."

Martin and Jones were detained briefly at Salt Lick when some of the Coburns tried to arrest Jones to obtain a $700 reward which had been offered for his capture. Jones reported that "I had the same gun on me I had at Fort Underwood and I made them stand at a distance."

After the death of his son Bill, George Underwood asked Floyd Hall to talk to his "body guards" and ask them to return. Floyd went to the men, who were unnamed by my grandfather, and told them of George's request. The reply was that, "the last time we were there, we had to crawl out on our hands and knees." The men, who included Claibe Jones, refused to return to Fort Underwood. Floyd returned to the Samp's Bear Hill and informed George Underwood of the response of the guards. "Well, I'm a dead man then." Floyd, who had never carried a gun, except to hunt game, returned to his home in Rowan County. He never saw George Underwood alive again.

Bill Underwood was buried near Morehead in late September, 1879. At the burial, friends re-enforced the meaning of the death of Bill and the Holbrook threats. George and Jesse Underwood would not leave Carter County.

On October 9, 1877, George Underwood went outside his home to gather some wood for a fire. Shot ran out from the underbrush. One shot struck Underwood in the shoulder. Another volley wounded him in the leg. He returned to the relative safety of his cabin before another shot hit its mark. His daughters and the widows of his sons attended to his wounds. A signal was sent out and Jesse Underwood returned to his father's house. On the following Thursday, while walking between buildings at the homestead, Jesse was the target of a shooter in the woods. He escaped into the house.

On the following day, the house was virtually surrounded by members of the Holcomb and Stamper clans, a fact, which was unknown to the Underwoods. While venturing out again, Jesse was shot by hidden marksmen. Some of the women went out and dragged his mortally wounded body back into the house. Jesse died that evening.

On October 13, 1879, Captain J. N. Stewart, commander of the Carter County Guard, sent the following message to Governor Luke P. Blackburn, who had been a Confederate sympathizer. "The Underwood War has broken out afresh and one of the Underwoods was killed at his home Friday, and the old man is surrounded at his house and wounded. No one will bury the dead man. Old man Underwood is afraid of his life and his life is threatened. The civil officers are powerless and no one will obey them. Can't the military company here be ordered out to protect the citizens and preserve order?"

 The governor requested that the sheriff do his duty in the matter. The sheriff responded that he would see to it that Jesse Underwood received a proper burial, but he never fulfilled his promise. The house continued under siege until near dusk on Sunday, at which time five of the attackers approached the building. They declared their intent to invade the house. They told George Underwood that they wanted to be sure that Jesse was dead. The invaders told Underwood to send out all of their weapons, and he would not be harmed. After complying with the orders, the Underwoods allowed the five men to enter. The corpse was viewed and after more words between George Underwood, the men placed a shotgun on him and pulled the trigger. Coates claims the shot was directed to the chest. Floyd Hall reported to my ancestors that the men shot both of Underwood's eyes out.

The remaining widows and two daughters of George Underwood, buried their relatives. The widows returned to raise their fatherless children. The two daughters remained on the homestead. The Holbrooks and Stampers returned to their homes and continued to live in Carter County. Claibe Jones, who had "escaped" or deserted, continued to wage guerrilla warfare in his own home county. He was a major figure in The Knott County War. John Martin subsequently returned to Carter County, and a 1884 was the instigator of the Martin-Tolliver Feud in Rowan County, in which a total of 23 people died.