Early-Hasley feud

The Early-Hasley Feud (1865 - 1869) was a family feud that took place immediately following the American Civil War, in Bell County, Texas.

The Early and Hasley families of Bell County, Texas, seemingly had no problems prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. However, while most of the Hasley men were off at war fighting in the Confederate Army, John Early served in what was referred to as the Texas Home Guard, formed to protect the homefront while younger men were away fighting. By most accounts, Early abused this power, often using his authority to take advantage of people. One of those he abused was an old man named Drew Hasley, while Hasley's son Samual was away in the army.

When Samual Hasley returned home after the wars end, he became enraged over the abuse his father had suffered. To make matters worse, John Early had began supporting the Union Army by that time, which by then was occupying the overwhelmingly Confederate population of Texas. When Samual Hasley made it known he was looking for John Early, the latter began allying himself with Union troops, and remained in hiding or in the company of soldiers he'd befriended.

By the standards of feuds, this one was relatively low in violence, mostly resulting in opposing parties stealing from one another rather than killing. The Early and Hasley factions were involved in several shootouts, but with only two deaths resulting. The first was outlaw Jim McRae, a Hasley supporter, killed in mid-1869. The other was Early supporter Dr. Calvin Clark, who was pursued into Arkansas and killed by Samual Hasley that same year. Following the killing of Dr. Clark, the feud simply fizzled out.

Samual Hasley continued living in the area, and became involved in numerous outlaw acts in defiance of the occupying Union forces. In the Fall of 1889, while in Belton, Texas, town Deputy Marshal William "Cap" Light confronted Hasley due to a disturbance Hasley was causing while drunk. Hasley mounted a horse, and rode it up on the sidewalk despite Light ordering him to go home and sober up. Light attempted to arrest him, during which Hasley pulled his pistol. Light responded by pulling his own, shooting Hasley and killing him.

External links

* [http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/FF/jgf1.html Early-Hasley Feud, Texas Online]
* [http://www.legendsofamerica.com/tx-feuds.html#Early-Hasley%20Feud Old West Feuds]