Descendants of

George Washington Underwood

He was said to be "more than six feet in height, raw-boned, square-shouldered, deep-chested, with keen, clear, sometimes fierce blue eyes."

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From Laverne Galeener-Moore 9/5/99 on WINN-L

Jim was asking about George Washington UNDERWOOD. The one who was in a heap

of trouble in and near Carter Co., KY was b. ca 1814, probably in either

Nicholas Co., VA (now WV) or in Greenbrier Co., VA (now WV). He was the son

of James UNDERWOOD and Sarah "Sally" THOMPSON.

Laverne Galeener-Moore (Brieuc@aol.com)

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from pg. 188 of CD "Underwood Biographical Dictionary" Volume 1 Revised by Laverne Galeener-Moore

George Washington UNDERWOOD of "Fort Underwood" on Dry Branch Road, near Olive Hill, Carter Co., KY (son of James J83), b. ca 1814 (although an LDS IGI item lists his birth as 1809?) in either Nicholas Co., VA (now WV) to Margaret WALKER (dau. of Elverton S. "Elva" WALKER; she d. probably bet. 1845-1848, probably on Dry Branch Road, near Olive Hill, Carter Co., KY, may be bur. in small family cemetery across the road from her home?); had at least the following children (it is believed) from this 1st marriage: Elverton Walker (E385), George Lewis (G96), Alfred A. (A135), David Crocket (D80), Jesse M. (J413), William C. M. (W263); 2nd m. 30 Apr 1849 in Carter Co., KY to Rebecca Jane "Maggie" PARISH (b. ca 1833 in KY; she d. bet. 1863 and the 1870 Federal census. Probably on Dry Branch Road, near Olive Hill, Carter Co., KY, may be bur. in small family cemetery across the road from her home?); had at least the following children from this 2nd marriage: Harmon (Harman) N (H41), Sennet (Sinnette, Sinnet) Jasper (S333), Margaret Ann or Annabelle(?) (M139), John Clark or John B.(?) (J672), Melissa Jane who may have taken the name of Rebecca Jane after the death of her mother(?)(M645), Ulysses Grant (U1); 3rd m. probably in Rowan Co., KY, to _____ RICHARDS (dau. of John William RICHARDS of Fleming Co., KY grandau. of Jeremiah Powers RICHARDS; she d. before her husband was murdered, may be bur. in the small family cemetery on Dry Brand Road); the source for his marrying 3 times was that he was quoted as saying that he has buried all 3 of his wives and some of the sontes in the little family cemetery are now too deep to be readable; there were probably no children born to his 3rd marriage(?); he d. 16 Oct 1879, murdered in his bed in "Fort Underwood" by a gang of "Regulators"; the following story is a reprint from "GALEENER, GOLEANOR, GOLENOR, UNDERWOOD and Those They Knew":

"The story of George Washington UNDERWOOD, his sons, other relatives and friends is a subject large enough for a separate book. The following condensed version is based on court documents found by this compiler and from information in "Stories of Kentucky Feuds" by Harold Wilson Coates, "Eastern Kentucky References" by Everlyn Scypers Jackson and William Talley, "History of Lewis County, Kentucky" by Rev. O. G. Ragan, a story by Dr. Charles J. Pelfrey, present owner of "Fort Underwood", in the "Carter County History, 1838-1976", various editions of the "Vanceburg Courier" and a full-page story by George Wolfford in the 14 Oct 1979 edition of the Ashland Daily Independent."

"George W. UNDERWOOD's move to Carter Co., KY, probably from Nicholas Co., VA (now WV), occurred almost ten years earlier than is mentioned in the above histories, just about the time that Carter County was formed from Greenup County. George's older brother, Willis, had been in Greenup County since at least 1823 and may have encouraged other family members to make the move from VA. George's other two known brothers would be making the area their home at about the same time as George."

"About 1842 George built what was in that time considered to be a rather impressive home, later called "Fort Underwood" by the local residents and still standing today. One of the top logs, visible in the rear of the home, is a 12-inch thick, one piece 49-foot long poplar. This would seem to indicate that, at the time the home was built, the area may have been covered by a dense forest of very large, sturdy trees. Today, the old home is nearly invisible from Dry Branch Road, hiding in a thick grove of paw-paws, other trees and vegetation. The logs were roughly squared and heavily chinked with local shale rocks and mud. At a much later date, sometime before the present owner, Dr. Charles J. Pelfrey's parents purchased it, the outside was covered with horizontal clapboard, which is presently falling off, exposing the old logs and chinking underneath. Originally the building was designed to provide one fairly large room on each side of a central "dog trot", with a fireplace on each end of the building and an additional central fireplace, quite an impressive structure for its time period and place."

"A description of "Old George", as he came to be called, is provided by Harold Wilson Coates, who says he was 'more than 6 feet in height, raw boned, square shouldered, deep-chested, with keen, clear and sometimes fierce blue eyes, a ready tongue and simple but polite address, he was a man who had many friends though he was inclined to be a bully and indulge in skull fights when election times rolled around Coates claims that in the early days "Fort Underwood" was a welcome stop-over and resting place for weary travelers, including many prominent men of the time, who were offered Old Virginia hospitality by its gregarious owner."

"It is difficult, from this distance in time, to say when the troubles, which later escalated into what became known as 'The Underwood War', began. Coates and Dr. Pelfrey seem inclined to blame the Civil War for Old George's transformation from a peace-loving, back-slapping, happy host sort of fellow into a wild outlaw who inspired fear in folks within a wide area of eastern Kentucky, where citizens, on more than one occasion, had to call on the Governor for help with the 'Underwood Gang'."

"This compiler believes, based upon what she has found in the county records, that while the Civil War may have exacerbated the Underwood problems, they began before that historic event. Dr. Pelfrey states that, "Before the Civil War, George Underwood and his family lived at peace in their neighborhood." Yet Carter Co., KY Circuit Court records contain a Nov 1846 item, 'Commonwealth vs George and Elbertson (they hadn't yet learned to to spell Elverton's name correctly) Underwood.' Said item was 'A True Bill For Force Riot.' In Nov 1847 there was an indictment against George and James Underwood and some of their friends and relatives. In May 1848 Old George must have convinced a Carter County jury that whatever he did, he didn't do. Among other charges during this time period (all pre-Civil War) was one in May 1850 against 'good old peaceful' George for a stabbing, but because no one appeared against him, he went ambling out of the courthouse, probably with a smile on his lips and perhaps sharpening his knife for the next encounter."

"The Underwood women proved just as 'peaceful' during this time period as their male family members. One of George's sisters, Lucretia, had to cool her heels in jail back in Nicholas Co., VA (now WV) for running amok in church, a charge she would later beat with a more friendly jury in an appeal trial. George's brother, Stephen, out on bail from a case pending in the same Virginia county, seems to have rather quickly decided to make Kentucky his new home. Furthermore, there was another Nicholas County indictment, this one against Alamander Underwood for apparently trying to liven up a church assembly a little more than the law considered necessary (which seemed to be a favorite family pastime), a charge which prompted yet another Underwood to hastily depart Virginia for Carter Co., Kentucky."

"By about 1851 some of the Underwoods had taken up legal killing, by aiming mostly at wild cats, which undertaking paid a bounty of $1 per cat. Unfortunately, in May 1854 Stephen had to post bail for using his knife on something other than a wild cat, but a sympathetic jury, which seems to have included some distant kin, brought in a 'not gilty' verdict and Stephen subsequently sheathed his knife, apparently for good, and shortly afterward began a very long career of suing folks. By 1859, with the Underwoods still pot-shotting at a few stray wild cats, there were also more indictments for other, non-social behavior, including a trial by jury for Old George, two of his sons, Alfred and David, his first-cousin Gideon Underwood and one of the HAM kinfolk, in which the jury, this time not so friendly, found them 'gilty'."

"At about this time the Civil War intervened in the 'family pranks.' Coates said that Old George, who 'had been a staunch Whig all his life, boldly announced himself as a Union man, as did his sons. There is one puzzling item connected with this contention. At one point, in an attempt to have one of the numerous horse-stealing charges against him dismissed, George Lewis Underwood said he was a Confederate soldier at the time, just doing his duty. One wonders if young George was trying to impress a judge who may have been a known Southern sympathizer?"

"Old George and his sons, who did appear on Carter County's militia lists, seem to have formed their own little guerrilla band with two main purposes in mind, which were picking off Confederates and supplying the Union Army with horses. Coates says they became so successful in their enterprise that the Confederates on a number of occasions sent hand-picked forces of rebels (including Morgan's Raiders), with orders to slaughter the Underwoods, but most of these raids failed and the southerners almost always suffered substantial losses in their many futile attempts. Finally, 'Eastern Kentucky References' quotes a story in "The Vanceburg Courier" of 16 Jan 1878, which said that in the fall of 1962 Morgan either burned or confiscated all the Underwood property and holdings and drove the family across the Ohio River to Portsmouth. A local Carter County doctor who, this compiler feels was sympathetic to the Underwoods as can be seen on a later occasion, said Old George, because of this persecution of his family, swore vengeance and, from that date on, proceeded to carry out his threats."

"Alfred A. Underwood, who, in the opinion of this compiler, was probably the 'brains of the outfit', once led a band of 20 men on a raid against Maysville, Kentucky, causing more than a little damage to that tow and to its Rebel sympathizers. Coates mentions, as do other historians, that the Underwoods, Alfred in particular, were suspected of having connections with the notorious Jesse and Frank James, but that the family later denied this accusation. This compiler questions the denial, which might have been a clever cover up, because of a story told her by Ottie (Underwood) Perry, which would certainly seem to establish a connection. Ottie said her father, Robert Daniel Underwood, told of a visit by the James brothers to his family's farm in Carter Co., Kentucky. Frank and Jesse were obviously trying to 'lay low' at the time and actually asked to be given work as hired men, which they performed well. One day young Robert noticed that when one of the brothers bent over a large pistol fell out of his clothes. When the 'hired man' went to return the gun to its hiding place, Robert saw that he was wearing other, very fancy clothing underneath his work clothes, for reasons the boy couldn't understand. When the time came for Jess and Frank to leave, they tried to pay a large sum of money to Ottie's grandfather, which sum he refused, saying their stay was at his pleasure. This compiler believes the early Underwood family may have known or been connected in some way to the James brothers' earlier family back in Virginia."

"It is impossible to list the names of all the persons who fell before the Underwood guns over roughly a 20-year period (1860-1880), but a few victims have surfaced who were victims earlier than the UNDERWOOD-STAMPER feud. James Carey, a Mexican War veteran, was knifed by Jesse Underwood, according to Coates, but Carey recovered, wouldn't press charges and blamed the whole fight on drunkenness. George Trumbo was not so lucky. Probably about 1867 or 1868, there had been a circus in Wyoming, Bath Co., KY, which had drawn a boisterous crowd from all over the area. After the entertainment, many of the men deported themselves to a local saloon, where an argument soon broke out, though no one afterward remembered over what subject. Jesse, knowing of one sure way to settle the ruckus, drew his gun, taking aim at a person who disagreed with him. George Trumbo, meanwhile was over in a corner tippling, that was true, but minding his own business and not taking part in the fracas. Jesse pulled the trigger but his target ducked and George Trumbo fell dead on the barroom floor. Coates said Jesse quickly decided to depart for Iowa because Trumbo's friends said if they caught him, he'd 'stretch hemp.' Another victim was brought to the attention of this compiler by Fred Brown and Bruce E. Logan, Jr., collaborators on a book about the MARTIN-TOLLIVER feud, who said that on 17 Mar 1869 Old George and his son, Alfred, shot James Fleming Logan in Greenup Co., KY. Logan later died of his wounds."

"The Underwoods didn't go through the 1865-1875 period unscathed either. George Wolfford mentioned that Old George had apparently 'been wounded in Olive Hill by a member of the Tyree family.' One wonders if this could have been Zachariah Tyree, Coroner, who was arrested about this time for refusing to serve warrants on George and Alfred Underwood? In the late 1870s a number of law enforcement officers chose their own arrest rather than come in official contact with any of the wanted Underwoods."

"Sometime after Aug 1871 Alfred may have joined his brother, Jesse, wherever Jesse was at that time. George Wolfford found an article in the 'Big Sandy Herald' in 1874, which said, 'Alfred and Jesse (Underwood), two notorious outlaws who have probably stolen more in Kentucky than any other ten thieves, have stolen horses in Kansas and gone in the direction of the Indian Territory.' Once, when the two were on a horse-stealing mission, probably in either eastern Kentucky or in West Virginia, Jesse was shot through the back, captured and jailed. 'Eastern Kentucky References', which quoted 'The Vanceburg Courier' of 16 Jan 1878, said that Alfred, with a forged warrant, went to the particular jail where Jesse was incarcerated, told the officer in charge that he was the Sheriff of Bath County, come to take Jesse to stand trial in said county and, by this rash act, staged a successful jail-break without firing a shot. On another occasion, word spread that Jesse had died. A proper funeral was held by the 'grieving' family (who were undoubtedly hoping that law enforcement agencies would now stop looking for Jesse), but Jesse fouled up this inventive act himself, by showing up later and being recognized, after all his family's trouble. One can't help but wonder whose corpse was in the coffin? This compiler believes this trick was tried again, with more success on the second occasion (see later)."

"The UNDERWOOD-STAMPER feud seems to have started about the spring of 1877. All sources discovered to date blame John Richard Tabor, nephew of the third wife of Old George, for causing the feud. All the accounts of Tabor are rather uncomplimentary toward that gentleman. He was called a compulsive gambler who had difficulty eluding his creditors, but he finally managed to land a job as Rowan County clerk. In this capacity he became actively involved in a scandal regarding mutilated circuit court records and, as a result, he lost his job. About this time Tabor decided to take a shot at James Carey for reasons unknown (one wonders if this could have been the same James Carey previously knifed by Jesse Underwood?), and had to leave town in a hurry."

"Next Tabor apparently decided to try his hand at horse-stealing, so teamed up with an acquitted murderer, John Martin, who had just successfully dispatched his brother-in-law. Tabor and Martin proved inept at horse-stealing and were arrested as they tried to take the 'hot' Rowan County steeds down the Ohio River. Somehow the two scalawags made bail and headed with their families for Tabor's uncle-in-law, Old George, to ask for his protection, claiming they intended to 'go straight' (although why anyone intending to go straight would take up with George Washington Underwood during this time period is a matter for serious question). Old George, recognizing the obligation toward kin, helped get the two families settled nearby, much to the consternation of George Stamper, Squire Holbrook and other neighbors. But it appears the bail-jumpers didn't take to farming because before long one of the Stampers discovered one of his best horses had vanished. Tabor, Martin and Alexander Pendland (Pendlum) were immediately suspected of the theft and open warfare commenced, according to 'Eastern Kentucky References', which quotes 'The Vanceburg Courier' of 20 Jun 1877, with conflicting locations given for the first major fight, either Laurel, a branch of the Kinniconick, or the first fork of the Tygart, on 'Wednesday or Thursday of last week.' Estimates of the number of combatants involved differ, ranging from 25 to 70 on each side. The newspaper reported that, among others who were shot, were Martin Pendland and Old George Underwood, the latter in the head (which didn't seem to faze him for long)."

"After this battle, the Stamper-Holbrook faction seems to have decided that it might be safer to take up the fine art of 'bushwhacking', picking off Underwoods and their allies by ambushing them. At this juncture the man who, all sources said, started the whole bloody fracas, John Richard Tabor, lit out for other parts. By 11 Jul 1877, it was reported that six men had been killed and nine wounded and a company sent by the Governor was expected to help stop the 'disturbance.' Soon the Covington Light Guards arrived and somehow managed to arrest Old George, young George, Ulysses Grant Underwood, John Underwood, three Underwood daughters and a daughter-in-law, a Negro woman and boy, and General Harlan Williams. One report said William Underwood escaped by exiting out a window, but another version claimed he wasn't a part of the action at all. If the above persons were arrested, they must have almost immediately posted bail or escaped because it was soon noted that only Old George, John and a Negro were still in jail while 'the entire gang of outlaws' was again on the rampage, burning and killing. The valuable horse, whose disappearance had started the whole problem, now showed up under the saddle of John Martin, sending the Stampers into a further frenzy and forcing the prompt return of the horse, which action cooled the situation temporarily."

"The Alexander Pendland (Pendlum) was shot from ambush and died shortly afterward and the Stampers announced that no one had better go near the house of mourning. Old George retaliated by saying that, 'no man or set of men would keep him from calling on a dead neighbor', according to Coates, and, with that, he started out for the Pendland (Pendlum) house. Old George, then about 63 years old, took eight bullets that trip in an ambush, one of them taking out an eye, but he managed to turn his horse toward the safety of 'Fort Underwood', where he took to his bed."

"The bushwhackers headed for the home of George Lewis Underwood, where they ambushed him, seriously wounding young George in the Stomach. About this time, some of the Underwoods, Elverton in particular, got a little riled and Stamper's son-in-law and a friend named Glover were killed. Coates says these two had been bragging about being the killers of Pendlum or Pendland. The harried townsfolk once again sent an appeal to Governor McCreary for help and that gentleman dispatched forty armed troops."

"Before the state forces arrived, Jesse Underwood, the wandering fugitive, returned to eastern Kentucky, married a Miss McClure on 1 Jan 1878 in Rowan Co., KY and decided to try patching up the feud involving his family. With a lot of effort on his part, he and his brother, William, were surprisingly able to get both sides to come to a temporary truce. Thinking he'd accomplished what he'd set out to do, Jesse then decided to move his own family west, probably hoping to settle in Iowa (he may have had a first marriage in that state, because Coates mentions that he had children, and another source says his wife was an Iowa girl). With a party made up of his new bride, his sister-in-law, a man named McClure (who was probably a relative of his wife?) and one named Vest, Jesse arrived on 7 Jan 1878 in Lewis County, Kentucky. What Jesse didn't know was that Sheriff Hiram T. Warder, Deputies James Cooper, John Ruggles and Al O. Watkins and a posse were hot on his trail. The caught up with the unsuspecting travelers near Concord and started firing. Jesse returned their fire, killing Ruggles. The posse emptied its guns, wounding Jesse and McClure, though Jesse then escaped on foot and hid in a schoolhouse. The Sheriff took the two remaining men and the two women to a nearby farmhouse. Jesse, wearing the dead deputy's hat because he couldn't find his own and in some pain due to his wounds went to the Lewis (Louis) Ruggles house (this Ruggles being kin to the just-killed deputy) and told them he wished to surrender."

"Even though Jesse was subsequently freed of charges in Lewis County, before he could be released a warrant arrived from Bath County, KY for his arrest on a charge of murder (the much earlier saloon shooting of George Trumbo). Bath County was understandably nervous (and with good reason, a it turned out) about trying to keep Jesse in its jail and officers there kept requesting more and more guards to see that he stayed in jail. But all to no avail as once again Jesse successfully avoided trial, with some help from his friends, in the form of a jail-break."

"The uneasy truce established earlier by Jesse and William Underwood was still being recognized by the Underwoods and Jesse rejected more than one what he called 'easy' opportunity to kill Squire Holbrook and his son. But the Stamper-Holbrooks had other plans and proceeded to break the truce by ambushing Elverton Walker Underwood while he and his young daughters were out in their fields, plowing and planing corn."

"Coates says that it was at this time that the previously wounded son, George Lewis Underwood, succumbed from his wounds, and it is true that his passing was noted on the 1880 Mortality Schedule for Carter Co., KY with the further notation that Dr. Steele was in attendance. This compiler believes that, with the contrivance and blessing of the said Dr. Steele, George Lewis somehow made good an escape, leaving behind an official, but phony death record. The family had at least once previously staged a fake, though unsuccessful, funeral for Jesse, but this time it appears that they may have succeeded with their scheme. Because if George Lewis died of his wounds in Aug or Sep of 1879 (2 different dates were given), then who is the very much alive George listed with his "widow" and children in Wyoming, Bath Co., KY on the 1880 Federal census?"

"But it was at this point that the feud entered its final and most deadly stage. Mandy men on the Stamper-Holbrook side were killed during a siege on 'Fort Underwood.' George Wolfford quotes Claib Jones, a killer in his own right, who then claimed to be fighting on the side of the Underwoods, as saying that at one point in the siege they were running dangerously low on firing power, but Old George's sister, who Claib said had as much courage a the men, came to their rescue by running in guns and ammunition to the beleaguered defenders. This female gun-runner had to be Phebe Underwood Young, who was then probably older than old George. Anyway, when it appeared that the Underwoods would be able to go right on "killing crows", as they referred to it, the other side gave up their hiding places behind the trees for the time being and went home."

"The feud continued. Squire Holbrook was the next victim, falling dead in his yard, most sources felt at the hands of Jesse. William Underwood, who many said had not even taken part in the feud, except to try to stop it, stopped a bullet instead while seated with his family at supper in his home in Rowan County. On 9 Oct 1879, when Old George stepped out of his secure 'fort' for firewood, he was once again wounded by concealed bushwhackers. Jesse managed to get to the house safely shortly after that and was appalled by the condition of his father, who was being cared for by two daughters, Jesse's wife and Elverton's widow (Coates also includes George Lewis' 'widow' among the nurses and she could have still been there at this time, in order to strengthen the story of young George's 'death'?). Bushwhackers now surrounded 'Fort Underwood'. Jesse made one successful sortie outside through the dog-trot to the other room of the house, but while trying a second attempt on 16 Oct 1879 he was felled by a shower of bullets. The women dragged the dying man indoors and tried what they could to save him, to no avail. The women started trying to dress the body for burial, while Old George, confined to his bed recovering from wounds, sadly looked on. The hidden 'Regulators', suddenly becoming very brave, now that there were only women and severely wounded men to deal with, swaggered up to the door, their faces blackened in an attempt to disguise their identities, and demanded entry, saying that they wanted to make sure that Jesse was dead. Old George, unarmed, trying to rise from his bed, called out the names of Holbrook and Stamper, saying that their disguises didn't fool him and that they were going to pay for what they'd done. Coates said Annabelle Underwood (this may have been Margaret Ann?) tried to stop them from killing her father in his bed, but is was no use and the cowardly deed was done."

"These cowards, who called themselves the 'Regulators', now forced the grieving Underwood women to cook a meal for them, which the murderers proceeded to eat in full view of the bodies of their victims. Then they posted an ultimatum, warning the Underwood women that they had less than two weeks to leave the area and threatened anyone who helped them bury their dead or in any other way offered them support. Certain friendly neighbors ignored the dire warnings and came to the assistance of the women, helping them bury their loved ones. Elverton's widow and two of Old George's daughters defied the murderers and remained in the county."

"If ever a house had good reason to become haunted, that house is 'Fort Underwood' and that rumor was soon circulating. It persists to the present time. The bullet holes and the blood were still visible years after the final shootout, until they were covered with clapboard outside and wallpaper inside. The locals wouldn't go near the place after dark and many, including the father of the present owner, had occasion to meet up with the 'ghost' of Old George as he walked, patrolling his property. This compiler was very grateful to Dr. Pelfrey, the present owner, for allowing her to take a tour of the old family home and she will not publicly scoff at the tales of the haunting for she experienced two unusual happenings connected with the place, herself."

"It was a very hot October afternoon, almost 104 years to the day after Old George's murder, when this compiler visited 'Fort Underwood.' Inside the house was very cold, although that could be explained by its being locked up almost continuously, due to not being inhabited, or so it appeared. This compiler experienced no threatening or negative feelings in or near the house, and jokingly claimed it was probably because of being kin. Then, while we were in the room which used to be the living quarters, I suddenly felt something strange on the inside of my left arm and, looking down, was startled to see that it was blood! A long scratch had appeared, freely bleeding, yet I'd had no conscious knowledge of what had caused it, and don't to this day. Had I somehow come in contact with a sharp paw-paw branch outside and not even been aware of it? Or had I joined the ranks of other family members whose blood was lost in that place?"

"The other hard-to-explain item was not evident until we returned home to California and developed the pictures we had taken on that occasion. In one particular outside shot of the old home, everyone there that day had either been in the snapshot or taking, and the position of each was well established. There are shadows on the old house, all the same darkness, but one, and that one appears to be a lighter, grayer shadow of a man, wearing an old-fashioned hat. None of us was standing where we could have made that shadow and no one was wearing a hat of any kind. Did Old George go along with us that day? I hope so."

Underwood CD #: G133

Marriage: Mar/06/1833, Nicholas Co., VA (WV)

Endnotes