Though feuds and range wars were rampant throughout the American West, the Lone Star State seems to have won the “prize” for having the most. Bitter wars were waged in virtually every county, often starting with a few family members before growing to include hundreds of men. From disputes arising out of Civil War sympathies to cattle thievery and old-fashioned arguments between neighbors, the Lone Star State was not only filled with violence stemming from numerous outlaw factions but also from locals killing each other.
Texas Feuds
Early-Hasley Feud (1865-1869) – A family feud in Bell County, Texas, grew much more bitter after the Civil War.
El Paso Salt War (1877) – A feud over the salt flats of the Guadalupe Mountains culminated in a bloody battle in the small town of San Elizario.
Horrell-Higgins Feud (1877) – This family feud grew out of accusations of cattle theft in Lampasas County, Texas.
Jaybird-Woodpecker War (1888-1890) – A political war in Fort Bend County, Texas, over county control.
Lee-Peacock Feud (1867-1871)—One of the best-known feuds in Texas, the Lee-Peacock Feud in northeast Texas following the Civil War was not simply a dispute between families; it was also a continuation of the Civil War. It lasted four bloody years after the rest of the nation had laid down their arms.
Mason County War, aka Hoodoo War (1874-1876) – A battle between rival German immigrants and native Texans that occurred when large numbers of cattle began to be killed or go missing.
Regulator-Moderator War, aka Shelby County Property War (1839-1844) – The first significant feud in Texas began during Texas’ days as a republic. For years, Spanish, Mexican, and Texas authorities ignored a strip of land in East Texas that bordered Louisiana and Mexico. By the time Texas became a republic, the swatch of land had developed into a lawless place where land frauds, cattle rustlers, and killings were common.
Sutton-Taylor Feud (1868-1873) – This family feud, born of the turmoil after the Civil War, occurred in DeWitt County, Texas, and was one of the state’s longest and bloodiest.
©Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated October 2026.
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