Re: Mingo WV Baisden Outlaws
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In reply to:
Mingo WV Baisden Outlaws
T Blankenship 2/27/02
Lee Smith in the book, "Oral History," writes:"There were three brothers," he said, "John Henry, Harrison, and Bill, and they were among the meanest sons-of-bitches that ever walked these hills.They came from over around Pigeon Creek, and they would fight at the drop of a hat.When the Baisden boys came to town...decent people went inside and locked their doors.They killed five men at least, and maybe more.But nothing could be hung on them, nothing could be proved.Harrison had an ivory toothpick, I remember, on a gold chain, and shoulder-length black hair.And I remember when they were building the courthouse tower, the Baisdens rode into town and shot out the brand new clock, and no sooner did they get it replaced, about five months later-they had to send to Cincinnati for a new clock-then the Baisdens came back and shot that one out too.they care nothing, nothing, for human life.What happend to them? I asked.Bill eventually made the mistake of arguing with Bob Irons, a man as dangerous as he was.Bob hit him over the head with a revolver.Then John Henry and Harison went to the hotel where Bob was staying, and shot him through the window as he was eating lunch.They shot him between the eyes and he fell forward into the chicken and dumplings....That time the law succeeded in rounding up Bill and John Henry, but it was an uneasy time, I'll tell you, with them over here in jail.Everybody was just sitting around waiting for Harriosn to come and try to get them out.One time some horses got loose across the river, where the high school is now, and a rumor got out that it was Harrison Baisden coming to free his brother, and everybody in town hid.The sheriff and his deputies locked themselves up in the valut...Finally the two brothers were taken to jail, but on the way back here for the trial Harrison ambushed the sheriff and his party and freed them single-handed.They took all the horses, tying up the sheriff and his men.So Harrison rode off on the sheriff's horse, or so it was said, along with his brothers, and nobody in these parts ever saw hide nor hair of the Baisden boys again...This could be a fact of history, or it could be a county myth, a folk tale...
Solomon Baisden (1800-1868) and Mary Chafin Baisden (1814-1870) had sons who match the description of the mean Baisden brothers.Could this be the ones?
William Baisden b. 1832 Logan Co. died 1870 Logan Co. WV married Margaret Workman.
John Baisden born 1840 Logan Co. VA
Harrison b. Feb. 1844 in Logan Co. VA and died 1916 Logan Co. WV maried Sarah Smith Ferrell
Stanley "Bug" born July 1834 Logan Co. VA and died 16 April 1910.
Joseph born 1846 and died 1912 married Elizabeth Lafferty
Sarah Ann born 1837 Logan Co. VA and died before 1864 and married Phrrhus Evans