Here Lies James H. McCoy / Here Lies Floyd McCoy

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Historical marker #2547 commemorates the final resting places of James H. and Floyd McCoy in the Catlettsburg Cemetery.

These sons of Randall and Sarah McCoy appeared at pivotal moments of both the Hatfield-McCoy fued and the final peace between the families. James H. McCoy tried, unsuccessfully, to act as a peacemaker during the feud years, attempting to dissuade Frank Phillips from killing Jim Vance and Bill Dempsey.  James had more success toward the end of his life when he met with Tennis Hatfield in Pikeville to formally end the feud via a celebrated truce in 1928. James passed away the following year.

Floyd McCoy played a peripherial role in the events culminating in the 1882 "pawpaw tree incident." After the election day fight and shooting that ended with Ellison Hatfield near death and Tolbert, Pharmer and Randolph McCoy Jr. in jail, Floyd visited his brothers and shared dinner. The following day, Floyd was a witness as Wall Hatfield captured the other McCoy brothers in order to take them across the Tug River to West Virginia. Hatfield vowed to Floyd that if Ellison died, the McCoy boys would be killed. Ellison passed away from his wounds and the McCoys suffered the promised retribution.

The size of the crowd that turned out to see the marker dedicated speaks to the continued fascination with the Hatfield-McCoy feud, even into the twenty-first century. Those in attendance were treated to a program of speakers and musical numbers. Speakers included Steve Towler, Boyd County Judge Executive, Rob McNurlin, Lay Minster at the Freewill Baptist Church, Mike Wurts of Amvets 95, Phoebe McCoy, President of the Catlettsburg Cemetery Association, Mike Neal, community acitivist in Catlettsburg, and William Keith Hatfield. Music included the "National Anthem" performed by Lane Heffner-Roark, "My Old Kentucky Home" performed by Rob McNurlin and "Blue Moon of Kentucky," also performed by Rob McNurlin. The marker was unveiled and officially dedicated by William Keith Hatfield and Clifford Gene New, Hatfield and McCoy descendants assisted by Judge Towler, Phoebe McCoy, Nike Neal and Carl Tolliver.

The marker was dedicated on April 13, 2018.

It reads: 

HERE LIES JAMES H. MCCOY
Oldest son of Randall and Sarah.
Last living McCoy feudist before
passing away in 1929. He was a
peacemaker in the feud and tried
to talk Frank Phillips out of
killing Jim Vance & Bill Dempsey.
In 1928, James & Tennis Hatfield
youngest son of Devil Anse, met
in Pikeville, KY and called a
formal truce between families.
Presented by Ashland/Boyd Co. Tourism

HERE LIES FLOYD MCCOY
Son of Randall and Sarah. Had
dinner with his brothers Tolbert,
Pharmer & Randolph Jr. after
their arrest for stabbing &
shooting Ellison Hatfield in
1882. The next day, Floyd
witnessed his brothers being
captured by Wall Hatfield & taken
to WV. Wall said if Ellison died,
McCoy’s brothers would be killed.
Special thanks to Clifford New & Ed McCoy