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The Ku Klux Klan in Henry County.
Mysterious in its conception and
'operation the KuKluk Klan certainly
was, though born of necessity. Like
wise, until very recently, it has re
mained completely shrouded in mys
tery and even yet it is impossible to
obtain a perfect knowledge of ‘its
wciki.gs in detail.
One of the numbers of the Henry
county branch of the order has writ
ten interestingly cf its operations in
this county, and his communication
accompanies this article. While, in
one sense this writer is correct i.i say
ing that there was no general organi
zation; yet, in another sense it was a
general organization. In its origin it
was general and had a general pres
cript. ritual and cath. No doubt these
were merely fanciful with many b d
ies of the order, though provided for
all.
“The Southern states was regarded
as a singla body—as an Empire in the
language of the Prescript. The Grand
Wizard was the supreme officer of the
Empire." A state war a realm, whose
supremo officer was a Grand Dragon.
It is believed that General Gordon was
the Grand Dragon f Georgia. Each
state was divided It to Dominions, cor
responding usually to the Congression
al Districts. The supreme officer of a
Dominion was a Grand Titan. The
next subdivision was a county and its
chirf officer was a Grand Giant. The
county was divided into dens, almost
identical in extent with the militia
districts. A den commander was call
ed the Grand Cyclops, and his two
Night Hawks were his first and sec
ond lieutenants. These in the ranks
were known as ghouls, and tli-v al
ways belonged to some particular den.
Of course, all these details of or
ganization were rot as closely observ
ed in every county and every section.
Probably in some counties, where It
was unnecessary, there was no Ku
Klux Klan at all, and in some other
the body existed and operated without
the use of Rescript or Ritual, but pOb
sessing the name aid purpose and the
main characteristics of the general or
ganization.
The costume used by the Ku Kiux
was always some kind of disguise, and
this Is tiie only respect in which it
was uniform. In Henry county it was
often a large coat, like the old linen
dusters so popular at a later date,
mad a of calico, with little regard for
color and no uniformity of design. By
stage representations aud written des
criptions, we of the present generation
have been led to believe that, when
anything like a general costume was
used, it was white. Authorities differ
as to this. In his very enlightening ac
count. now running in Uncle Remus’
Magazine, John C. Reed, who was the
Grand Giant of Oglethorpe county,
says that he “never heard until lately
Ithat the Ku Klux jk ad white uni
forms.’’ He says further:
"All that I ever saw or beard of
were of such dark color that at night
they looked black. Chief Justice Fish,
of the Georgia Supreme Court, the
other day reminded me that the uni
forms of the Ku Klux, which were of
ten worn by the comic characters in
the traveling circuses some fifteen or
twenty years ago, were always black.
This is strong testimony to the pre
valency in this region of the black uni
form. The gown now preserved by
the Daughters of the Confederacy at
Washington, Ga., is dark brown. ’
It is probable that both were used,
white in some sections, black m oth
ers. A gentleman who was a member
in one of the Middle Georgia counties
informed me that in his county the
difficulty of concealing it safely when
not in use prevented tneir having any
peculiar uniform, but that the manner
of disguise was left to individual taste
and ingenuity. Some woulu merely
turn their ordinary appar:l wrong-side
out, and tie a handkerchief aeros..
their faces, leaving the eyes alone.un
covered and pulling their hats down
low over their foreheads. In this coun
ty the latter seems to have been the
only kind of mask worn over the face
The purpose of the organization Is
well set forth in the article written by
one of its members. When the mil
itary authorities set up their court in
the shape of the Freedman's Bureau,
it was soon seen to be what its name
indicated, and its purpose was to ac
complish, in some semblance of the
forms of law, every desire of the new
ly freed negroes, no matter how dia
bolical. All cases between negroes
and whites —and no others were ever
brought to the bureau —were pre
judged by the prejudiced and subsi
dized Bureau agent, and invariably in
the negro's favor.
This, of course, encouraged tne ne
groes to carry out their desires of
heaping every imaginable indignity
and insult upon their former masters,
and such an organization as the Ku
Klux Klan became a necessity.
In Henry county their operati n 3
seem to have been confined practical'y
to the eastern half of the county,where
the negroes gave the most trouble.
The negro killed, as mentioned in
the article below', was named Dave
Fargason, and w'as killed at the resi
d nee of Robert B. Russell, about six
or seven miles east of McDonough.
Those who were charged with the
killing were; Major Ephraim Farga
son, Messrs. W. H. Bryans, Willie
Tomlinson, Frank and Dick Hilde
brand, Robert Tomlinson and Bill
Crabbe, all of Henry county, and
Messrs. Frank Hester and Jim Mor
gan, of Newton county. The killing
occurred on Saturday night, and the
following Wednesday the military
came from Atlanta. They made the
school building, which occupied the
site of the present school building,
their headquarters, and placed at the
entrance of every street into the town
two negro soldiers, armed with Win
chesters, with orders to shoot every
thing they saw moving between dark
and daylight. Captain Lord, with Lieu
tenants Graffum and Campbell, com
manded these soldiers.
The soldiers soon succeeded in ar
resting all the men charged with kill
ing Dave Fargason, except Mr. Rob
ert Tomlinson and the two Newton
county men. Mr. Bill Crabbe was
dragged from his bed, where ne was
burning with fever, and brought along
with the others. These men were
brought and kept as prisoners in the
school building, fed on prisoner's fare,
except when some of the good women
of the town were allowed to send
t>em various delicacies they were con
stantly preparing for the prisoners;
but even when the authorities allowed
these things to be brought, an escort
had to go along to see. that the pris
oners received them, or else the sol
diers would take them for themselves.
These prisoners were finally carried
to Atlanta, then to Augusta, ar.d at
last to Fort Pulaski, near Savannah.
At the last place they were fed on or
dinary prison fare and forced to work
as hard as if they had already been
sentenced to the penitentiary and were
beginning their sentence. They were
made to ditch, clean up the tort, rub
the guns, and do all kinds of the se
verest and most menial labor.
Being advised by their counsel,
Messrs. Q. It. and Georgs M. Nolan,
to do so, they made application to Gen
eral Meade to be turned over by the
military authority to the civil author
ities here. Mr. George M. Nolan went
to Augusta and saw General Meade in
their behalf. Mr. Nolan proposed
that the occupant at that time of the
office* of Bureau Agent in Henry conn
ty, Jim Philipps by name, resign, and
that Mr. Nolan be appointed to the
place. He agreed that, if this was
done, and if the prisoners should be
surrendered to the civil authorities of
Henry county, he would guarantee that
there would be no mere Ku Klux and
no more violence in Henry county.
The interesting account by one of
the Ku Kluxes follows:
What Ku Kluxism Was.
To get a true idea of what Ku Klux
ism was, you must relieve your mind
of the idea that has prevailed, to-wit:
that the members weie a lawless, cut
throat, and unscrupulous set of men,
dreaded by all law'-abiding citizens.
This is untrue . These same Ku Khix
es were a s true,law-abiding men as we
ever had; they have since filled vari
ous responsible offices in the county,
such as those of sheriff, tax receivers
and co’leetcrs, and justices of the
peace, with due credit, and have filled
your pulpits, and have generally made
as good a set of citizens as tne coun
ty afforded.
The Time and Cause.
The time during which Ku Kluxism
prevailed was between the time of
the surrender of the Confederacy anc
the establishment of state control, or.
in other words, during the time or re
construction, which lasted about one
year. During this time we were under
l martial or military law.
The negroes were set
free and turned loose among us. The
Southern white man, having been ac
customed to controlling the negro,
could not submit* to the negro rule,
which was attempted to be put upon
! him by military law in the follow
' ing manner:
In every county there was a mili
tary post, known as the Freeaman's
Bureau. It was established by the
appointment, by the military author
ities, of an agent, who was judge and
jury in all cases of trouble arising
between what they termed citizens,
. trouble arising between a wtnte man
and a regro. (This is what wa3 term
ed carpetbag rale.) If a wmte man
slapped down cr flogged a negro—
what he believed to be his rignts—the
negro would go and report him to ihe
bureau. The Bureau, being garrison
ed by a strong guard of regular sol
diers, would send 'he soldiers and
have them arrest the white man and
bring him before the Bureau lor tria'.
a mock trial, as the negro’s evidence
was in all cases sufficient to convict,
a d there was no appeal in such cases.
The man convicted would be neavily
fined. Now remember, if tne white
man reported the negro, he could nev
er produce evidence sufficient to con
vict the negro.
Now, this being true, the white man
began to devise some means of self
protection, and the old patrei law,
which was in force before the negr:e:
were set free, naturally exerted itse f
in the minds of the people. And from
it General Forrest, out in Mississippi,
conceived the plan and put it into op
eration out there. It spread rapidly
throughout the South. There was no
general organization, hut each was lo
cal and governed by its own rules.
How it Was Organized in Our County.
it was organized by a body oi our
oldest and best citizens, who would
counsel and plan the work. Now to
execute this work was very dangerous,
too dangerous for a man of family to
risk. Therefore, they called tor vol
unteers of such young men as were
willing to take the risk involving suel
dangers.
Thus the Ku Klux of Henry county
was organized.
The Plan of Action.
If a regro in any settlement of the
county got obstreperous, a few of the
council body would get togetner and
decide his case. If they decided that
he needed correction, they, knowing
who the executors were, would notify
them ta attend to him, and then the
executors would get together and at
tend to him.
The Mode of Execution.
Thero were several plans which
were practiced. One was to buck him
down and apply the strap; another,
to play upon the superstition or the
negro; another would be to prepare
him to bo shot; and so on.
The first plan was used wnen the
negro was of a very obnoxious charac
ter, the council deciding that he need
ed the strap. Ha would be sure to get
it, about all he could stand.
The second would be used with some
old mammy negro of influence. This
wan’d be done by a disguise as a gnast
and would play upon her as a gnost
of some dead soldier whom she nad
known and loved. This ghost in one
instance had prepared under ms dis
guise a vessel that would hold several
gallons cl' water, and he woulu call on
her for water. When she brougnt him
a gourd of water, he would unnk !t
and call for a bucketful, mayue two
buck tsful, drinking them by emptying
the water by a devise in the vesse:
concealed under his disguise, claiming
that it was the first water he naa had
since he was killed. On tawing his
leave, he advised her to advise the
you; ger one, 3 of her color to be obe
dient.
In the third procedure they would
take a negro not so obnoxious, but
somewhat suspicious, carry him cut to
a private place, bind him hand and
foot, tie him to a tree, and line up
in front of him, telling him to pray
for they were going to shoot him; and,
while they were preparing to snoot,
there wculd be some man who would
come upon them, and beg ara per
suade them that they had the wroirg
man, and pledge his honor that the
negro was a good negro and wouia
hereafter conduct himself all rignt.
But never, except in one instance,
was there one killed. This one was
killed because he made fight, and tney
had to kill him or take chances ot be
i::g known. The negro was not kill
ed by the. Henry county boys, but oy
others from another county, as will Dt
stated later.
Duration of the Ku Klux.
The Ku Klux in Henry county was
organized some time in the spring of
1866 and lasted till about the nrst of
October of the same year, a duration
of about three or four months. This
one negro was killed about tne last
and, as I have stated, was not kiiiea
bv our boys, but by others. Sometimes
it would become necessary for usvj oe
called on to go into another county, to
attend to some special case, ana it
would become necessary sometimes for
us to call them to our county for some
special case, and this was an instance
of such.
Disbanding.
By this time, September, 1566. tne
government authorities heard or what
was going on. and at the same time
the Bureau agent had spottea several
ef us as suspects. Sending a wnoie
legimeot of soldiers to our town for
the purpose cf stopping it, they arrest
ed and carried six men away ana neld
them as prisoners at Fort Pulaski, un
til the civil courts were organized,
which was done about this time. To
thn the.\ were returned and tried at
the spiing term cf court, l&C<, which
the docket will show.
The arresting of these men aid net
stop the thing, for there were plenty
of others ;o carry it on. But, as I
have stated, the civil laws and courts
were then in force and, it not being
necessary to carry it further, Kll Klux
ism was disbanded.
Now, this is a true statement :? the
cause, workings, and effect of Ku
Kluxism in Henry county, and, as 1
have stated, it was not done bv cut
throats and robbers, as some se’f
uesigring, unworthy men, who were
very small children and in whose pro
4
tection it was used, would have you be
lieve them to be. But, on the othei
hand, they have to a man made good,
lawabiding, substantial citizens, and
nave filled the various offices ana pro
fessions of the county with honor,
some filling pulpits and dearly beloved
ns miii'sters.
Now this has been a long time agj;
in fact, the boys I speak of then (a
great many of them dead) are old men
of today, who remember and will vouch
for the truthfulness of this statement.
P. S. —For the purpose of preparing
a full and complete history of the or
ganization and operation of the Ku
Klux Klan in Henry county, any in
foirnatien, either on the general sub
ject of the Ku Klux Klan cr with ref
eretice to this county and its towns
especially the personal recollections
of participants, will be valued and ap
preciated if sent to Frank Reagan,
McDonough, Ga.
FOR STATE TREASURER.
To the Democratic Voters of Georgia:
lam a candidate for State Treasurer
subject to the action of the Democratic
Primary on June 4th. My candidacy is
based upon my former service to the peo
ple in this office covering a periou of more
than twenty years—a record that I believe
will bear public scrutiny and which has
never been impugned. If elected I pro
mise t) e same faithful attention to the
duties of the office that marked my previ
ous administration.
Yours truly,
Wm. J. SPEER,
FOR CONGRESS
To the people of the Sixth Congressional
District
1 am a candidate for Congress subject
to Democratic nomination.
Before the election—the date of which
has not yet been fixed—l would be glml to
grasp the hand and speak face to face
with each voter in the district, but this
will hardly be possible. Hence I shall en
deavor to reach the voters and make
known my platform—my views on pub
lic questions—through the medium of let
ters, the newspapers and public addresses.
Wherever I speak I will be glad to have
my distinguished opponent meet me in
joint debate; and shall invite him to do
so.
Believing in a clean election an honest
ballot, I am opposed to the use of money
whiskey, or other thing for the purpose of
purchasing votes; and believe the execu
tive committee should refuse to declare
as the nominee anypne who secures a ma
jority by such practices.
I shall keep an itemized statement of
my campaign expenses subject at all
times to public inspection.
Not counting the Republican regime
just after the war, and when there was a
Republican Congressman whose home
was in Macon, Bibb county has had—with
the exception of two years —a congress
man continuously for over a third of a
century, Hon. J. H. Blount was in con
gress twenty years and Judge Bartlett, at
the expiration of his present term of of
fice, will have served fourteen years,
making a grand total of thirty-four years
for only two men —and both from Bibb
county.
Is it not about time for Bibb to divide
honors with the other counties of the Dis
trict? Very respectfully,
O. H. B. Bloodworth
FOR REPRESENTATIVE.
To the White Voiers of Henry Courty:
1 am a candidate for Representative
from Henry county to the Lower House of
the Gensral Assembly, subject to the Dem
ocratic primary to be ordered by the Dem
ocratic Executive Committee of said coun
ty. If elected, 1 propose to discharge the
duties of the office, according to the wish
es of the people and to,the best of my abil
ity. Your support will be appreciatad by
me. Yours truly.
ROBT. O. JACKSON.
Citation.
GEORGIA, Henry County:
To whom it may concern :
S. S. Price having made application to
me in due form to be appointed permanent
administrator upon the Estate of J.
B. Price, late of said County. Notice
is hereby given that said application will
be heard at the regular term of the court
of Ordinary to be held on the first Mon
day in May 1908. Witness my hand
and official signature. April 6th, 1908.
G G. Weems. Ordinary.
For Administration.
GEORGIA. Henry County:
To whom it may concern: A. W. Mays
and W. C Milam having made application
to me in due form to be appointed perma
nent administrator upon estate of R. B,
Shettleworth. late of said county notice is
hereby given that said application will be
heard at the regular term of the court of
Ordinary for said county to lie held on the
first Monday in May 1908. April. 6, 1908.
Witness my hand and official signature.
G. G. Weems. Ordinary.
ANNOU N'CE ft' ENTS.
FOR REP.IE 'EFMTIVc.
To the White Voters of Henry Coin ty:
T 1 ereby announe • ’bat. I»n a < andi
< ate to.- Representative in the Lower
Hotue of tlie General Assembly, suhjtct
to Democrat c Primary to tie h• d June
ou th, next, ii elected * will s rvi the
I eoale to the I*st o. my ability. I as
mrs you I will apptechi e your support.
Thanking you in advance for same, I re
main, Yours truly,
R. C. BLOWN.
FOR ORDINARY.
To the Voters of Henry County.
1 hereby announce my candidacy for the
office of Ordinary of said county, subject
to the Democratic Primary, to be held
June 4th. 1908. Thanking the jt ople for
their support in the past. I will highly
appreciate their support at the forthcom
ing primary. March I‘2. 11.08.
G. G. WEEMS.
FOR SHERIFF.
To the White Voters of Henry County.
I hereby announce for re-election for
Sheriff of Henry county, subject to the
Democratic Primary June 4th, 1908. In
making this announcement I want to ex
press to the people my hearty apprecia
tion of their support in the past, and if rv
elected promise a continuance of my full
duty to the people. Very respectfully,
A. C. SOWELL.
FOR CLERK.
In announcing my candidiicy as Clerk
of the Superior Court, subject to the ap
proaching Democratic primary on the 4th
of June, I can but express my deep gen
unine appreciation to the people of Hen
ry county for past favors, and if again
chosen, pledge my very best efforts for
continued faithful performance of duty.
Truly,
J. A. FOUCHE.
FOR TAX COLLECTOR.
I hereby announce myself a candidate
for Tax Collectors for Henry county, sub
ject to the Democratic Primary, June 4,
1908. I ask the support of the peeple of
Henry county, feeling when I do so, I can
fill the office creditably to myself and the
people of the county shoild they entrust
to me this duty. The support of the peo
ple of the county will be greatly appreci
ated. as for years 1 have been unable to do
much physical work on account of an ac
cident which deprived me of my left hand
and arm.
Thanking all for past favors and solicit
ing the support and influence of the vot
ers of Henry county, I am,
Very truly.
JOHNS. GILBERT.
FOR STATE SENATOR.
I hereby announce myself a candidate
for Senator of the 84th Senatorial District
subject to the democratic primary. If
elected I will endeavor to represent the
people of said district and of Georgia to
the best of my ability. I announce as my
platform the measures of reform so ably
advocated by our present Governor
throughout the state. Thanking you in
advance for your support, I beg to remain
Yours truly,
R. F. SMITH.
FOR TAX RECEIVER.
I hereby announce myself a candidate
For Tax Receiver of Henry county, sub
ject to the Democratic Primary June 4th,
Owing to the long continued affliction of
my family, I offer myself before the peo
ple for the office and I will greatly appre
ciate your vote and influence. If elected
I wiil give my best efforts to the work of
the office and all the duties encumbent
upon it. Very Respectfully.
J. T. Hendon.
To the Voters of Henry County.
lam a candidate for Tax Receiver for
Henry county, subject to the coming
Primary. Will be grateful for your sup
port. Yours truly,
TOM JONES. i
I announce mysel as a candidate for the
office of Tax Receiver of Henry county
subject to the action of the democratic
primary, June 4th. 1908. If elected, will
try to make an efficient officer and will
appreciate any support given me.
Respectfully,
J. J. SANDIFER.
FOR CORONER.
I hereby announce my candidacy for re
election to the office of Coroner of Henry
county, subject to the Democratic Prima
ry, and solid your vote and influence.
Respectfully,
E. FOSTER.
FOR STATE SENATOR.
To the Voters of the 34th Senatorial
District.
lam a candidate for the Thirty-fourth
(34) Senatorial District of Georgia, sub
ject to the Democratic Primary and will
appreciate your support.
S. C McWilliams,
Stoekbridge, Ga.
U S. Marshal's Sale.
GEORGIA, Henry County:—
Will be sold on the first Tuesday in
May, next, at public outcry, at the court
house, Henry county, within the legal
hours of sale to the highest bidder for
cash, the following property to-wit: The
undivided one-third interest in one hun
dred and eighty acres, more or less, of
land lot No. 143, in the Bth district of Hen
ry county, Georgia, the same being the
east half of said land lot, bounded on the
north by lands of I. K. Norman and H.
M. Tolleson; on the east by lands of J. W.
Jackson and E. L. Wright": on the south
by lands of Risy Taylor, E. L. Wright,
and Mrs. W. P. Norman; on the west by
lands of C. J. Turner and the estate of
E. E. Burgess, deceased, as appears ot rec
ord in Book 3, page 247, and Book 6, page
32, record of deeds Henry county, Geor
gia; said property levied on as the prop
erty of James G. Bryans, to satisfy an ex
ecution issued from the United States
Circuit Court for the northern district of
Georgia, in favor o f the United States
against Thomas J. Crowell and James G.
Bryans, said property being in possession
of James G. Bryans, one of the defendants
In fi fa. This 14th day of February, 1908.
W. H. Johnson. U. S. Marshal.
By M. W. Scott, Deputy.
