5. Election Day of 1880 led to another chapter in the expanding feud
Election Day was a time of gathering to socialize as well as to vote on local issues and national, and in 1880 to consume the liquid products made by both families in the hills. Johnson Hatfield was Devil Anse’s son, known as Johnse, and during 1880 socializing he was smitten by Roseanna McCoy, a daughter of Randolph McCoy. The couple vanished into the woods at some point during the gathering, remaining alone for some time, and when Roseanna feared returning to her father and other members of the McCoy clan, Johnse took her home with him. She remained at the Hatfield home of Devil Anse for some time, despite the protests of Randolph McCoy.
Johnse later abandoned her in favor of her cousin. She eventually returned to her family home in Kentucky. Johnse then reconsidered and went to see her at the McCoy home, where Randolph had him arrested on charges of manufacturing and selling illegal moonshine. Roseanna rode to West Virginia to summon Devil Anse, and the Hatfields raced to Kentucky, rescued Johnse from the custody of the McCoys at gunpoint, and returned him to West Virginia, where the Kentucky warrants had no legal authority or standing. In gratitude, Johnse abandoned the pregnant Roseanna and married her cousin, Nancy McCoy, in 1881. The story of Roseanna McCoy ended with her being heartbroken for the rest of her life in the romantic mountain legends of the feud.