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Chafin, Don anc_PeggyLouiseAltizerMynes

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Peggy Louise Altizer Mynes originally shared this on 2 Oct 2022 Photo

Don Chafin was born at Marrowbone Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, on June 26, 1887 (now Mingo County). He was the son of Francis Marion and Esther Brewer Chafin.

You could say he inherited his political aptitude; it’s in the blood, so to speak. His father was high sheriff of Logan County for several terms beginning in 1888. His uncle, John Chafin, was once clerk of Mingo County; and, over the years, a number of family members held other political positions in both Logan and Mingo Counties.

Oddly, Don's life nearly ended before it got started, so to speak. When Don was a toddler, a family handyman, Al Rodgers, was doing some painting at his folk’s home. Rodgers just happened to walk around the house at the right time. He spotted a pair of small feet, with pink toes wiggling wildly, sticking out from the top of a wooden rain barrel.

Don, at two years of age, was trapped in an awful mess. While playing, he'd somehow fallen inside the barrel, which was half-full of rainwater. He was surely drowning.

Rodgers, the handyman, anxiously yanked lil' Don from the cask and worked on him, pushing in and out on the toddler's little stomach - like pumping in and out on an accordion - until Don finally squalled out loud and started swallowing big gulps of air.

In May 1890, portions of the incident were printed on the front pages of the local newspaper, The Logan County Banner. Any longer in that barrel and Don would have surely suffocated in stagnant water; but, thankfully he survived the ordeal.

As he grew, Don attended the Logan County school system. Later on, he enrolled in college and completed challenging courses in business at Marshall College, and Mountain State Business College. He returned home when he was 17 years-of-age, just following the death of his father in 1903. It was around this period that he became an active member of the local Democratic Party.

In 1908, Don ran for political office and was elected county assessor. He was 21 years old, mind you. Four years later, with a little experience under my belt, he announced his candidacy for Logan County Sheriff. It was 1912 and Don Chafin was 25. He was elected to his first term as Logan County Sheriff.

His political career was well underway.

- F. Keith Davis

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Don Carlyle Chafin

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