A Blue Family: The Blue Fugates of Troublesome Creek
The Hatfields and McCoys had a rival in hillbilly fame, although these rivals were much more quiet and self-isolated. French immigrant Martin Fugate settled near Troublesome Creek in Kentucky in 1820. He fell in love with Elizabeth Smith, married and had seven children who grew up in the rolling Kentucky hills. Sounds like “happily ever after,” but there was something different about the Fugates. Fugate had an unusual blue tint to his skin, purple lips, and dark, chocolate-brown blood. As did four of his children. This was a medical issue, but not a deadly one; the Fugates lived well into their 80s and 90s. Despite their physical health, living with blue skin was difficult. They were subjected to taunting and discrimination. The Fugates isolated themselves. Their geographic and self-isolation meant that the Fugates tended to marry within the Troublesome Creek community, resulting in more people with blue-tinged skin tones.