Article on Norman Twigg, 1976 w/supporting documents - Tazewell Co. VA


TAZEWELL COUNTY, VA., NORMAN TWIGG

“Bluefield Daily Telegraph” Sunday, January 4, 1976 

In Jan., 1976 (20 years after his death) Norman Twigg was listed by, 
Jack Dishman, as the toughest man Pocohantas, Tazewell Co., VA., had 
seen. The article goes on to describe the rough Pocahontas Saloon Days. 
Jack Dishman was a retired band director at Pocohantas High School in 
Pocohantas, Tazewell Co., VA. and had befriended Norman Twigg.
Norman lost two fingers when a jail door was slammed on his hand, on one 
of his many visits to this “same” fine home away from home.
Pocahontas was indeed a tought town. And Norman Twigg may well have been 
its toughest man.
Norman told Jack Dishamn of times he would cut a circle out of the 
ground with a stick and dare anybody to come inside it and fight him. 
And many times when he would have too much to drink, the law would call 
Jack Dishman because they knew he was the only one who could handle him.
Many men in the Pocahontas taverns had heard of his exploits and often 
tried to challenge him into brawls. Twigg, who didn’t back down to 
anybody , was quick to oblige and lawmen had to hotfoot it down to the 
saloon Dodge City-days quick. Occasionally, he and some coal operator 
friends would ride their horses into a saloon much to the hilarity of 
the citizens and frustrations of authorities.
Norman Twigg died of Pneumonia. He didn’t want to leave the house, in 
Mudfork, Tazewell Co., VA., because his wife had just returned home from 
an operation. Jack Dishamn stated that he almost made him get in the 
car. By the time they got to the hospital Norman was dead.
Norman could’t read or write and it was Jack Dishman who filled out his 
papers for his social security and miner’s pension. Jack Dishman 
periodically checked Norman’s bankbooks to see if he was being cheated.
Norman Twigg’s daughter, Mrs. Ray Myers, who lived in Abbs Valley, 
Tazewell Co., VA., at the time the article was written, said, “Yes, Pa 
was mean and hot-tempered but you could get along with him if you tried. 
He was a very good provider to all of us at home.”

She said her Dad’s parents died early in life and he never got the 
opportunity to attend school regularly because he had to work.
“I don’t think people realize what a rough place Pocahontas was in the 
saloon days”, she continues, “A person had to be hard-nosed just to stay 
alive. And Pa was as hard-nosed, and perhaps a little more so, than the 
rest of them”.

1920 TAZEWELL CO VA CENSUS 
# 124 Falls Mills of Clearfork Dist 
NORMAN TWIGG 48, farmer, he and his parents b. MD 
.....Nannie L. 35,wife, she and her parents b. VA (Nannie Lou Tabor, 
d/o Hugh Edward Tabor & Margaret Sebecca Sluss) 
....Alice G. 7, stepdaughter, b. VA., father b. US., mother b. VA 
.....Myrtle S. 3 3/12 b. VA ., father b. MD., mother b. VA 
.....Fannie 1 3/12 b. VA


Submitted by arizonaeagle@uswest.net

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