Everett C West

Harlan Everett C West

My story of Harlan is based on a true, life story of a man and his town. There was a time when trouble makers from every walk of life walked the streets of Harlan. Gunfight and killings were an everyday event and Harlan's fame as a hell hole grew, spreading like wild fire; tempting all who heard about it to come to Harlan. They came from everywhere, even as far south as Florida and as far west as Texas. They came by wagon, on horseback, and motorcars which by now had almost replaced the horse and buggy. Harlan was to gain a reputation as the roughest town in Kentucky and the Eastern United States. However, there was a man destined to tame Harlan. There had been many before him, but none gained the reputation that he held. There were many gunfights and he barely escaped death many times. He married a beautiful woman but could never settle down. During a lifetime of adultery and unfaithful years, he once revealed that he'd known over a hundred different lovers. His name was Kelvin Kooch, born of John and Elsie Kooch in the year of 1886, in the hills of Laurel County, Kentucky.