In 1924, the Klan, initiated in Centerville by George N. McDonald, was rapidly gaining in strength and added to its membership. In about mid-February, Ku Klux Klan literature began to reach the general public. Copies of the Iowa “Fiery Cross” were mailed to business men and officials. Reports of Klan activity at Albia were included.
On Feb. 18, 1924 the caucus was called for the Republican Party to elect delegates for the county convention. This was before many people on the inside were aware of how extensive the Klan movement had grown. They were in for a great surprise. No sooner had the caucus been called to order by the county chairman and the temporary organization named, than someone arose to substitute the proposals with one of his own, with a different chairman.
An effort was made to have regular procedure followed by which the permanent organization and the naming of delegates to the state convention were done by committees chosen by the precincts. The dissenters proclaimed that this was to be a people’s convention. A new chairman was elected. The effectiveness of this quiet work was seen when the vote was 151 for the Klan sponsored chairman and 57 against. The caucus had been stacked with Klan supporters. The new chairman later pulled a paper from his pocket and proceeded to read off the committee lists.
Following the caucus the Klan subsided and tempers cooled. People on both sides magnanimously began erasing the scars and tolerance was re-established in the churches. This sentiment prevailed throughout the county. However, after a time it was realized that outside promoters had come in to advance their own interests.
Regular meetings (called konklaves) were being held all over the county. The membership was informed of these meetings by special letters, including directions as to how to get there. They were often held in farmers’ fields and were found by following the red lanterns hung along the way. The meetings would include speeches and cross burnings to add to the fervor, with members in full robes and caps.
One early supporter of McDonald and the Klan, was the Rev. J. Roy Wright, who had been pastor of the Centerville Church of Christ since 1920. He was a dynamic minister, attracting record crowds. He stated, “The Klan is not made up of cowards, but of brave men who have tolerance in their hearts for others. The Klan is not an organization of hate. It is an organization of love and has no quarrel with any man because of his race, color, religion or politics.”
While this would seem to belie the truth, the Rev. Wright was named the Exalted Cyclops of the Appanoose Klan. The Rev. E Shook, the Methodist pastor, also supported the Klan.
Glenn Reed, publisher of the Cincinnati Review at Cincinnati was another ardent advocate of McDonald and the Klan. He had a combative temperament and gained a reputation for straightforward, hard-hitting reporting.
The trio of G.N. McDonald, Roy Wright and Glenn Reed became the backbone of the Klan movement. Reed was the propaganda agent. Meanwhile the Iowegian refused to support the Klan because of its creed of bigotry.
On the night of March 19, 1924 a fiery cross flamed in the rear of the high school in the Lane pasture. It was all a mystery as to how it got there and who fired it. Rumors were that it symbolized the organization of the Klan in Centerville.
Little did the public realize that there was being ushered into Appanoose County a new and divisive influence that was to stir the community to its very depths, set business man against business man, citizen against citizen, even members of the same family against each other, and bring on a political fight for ascendancy that was to be waged with vehemence and deep feeling.
By April 8, 1924 the Klan was reported to have headquarters in an upstairs room on the north side of the Square. Circulation of the “Fiery Cross,” delivered at night had covered most of the homes. On the front page was a story that several fiery crosses had burned over the county.
Centerville had a volunteer “Law and Order League” to assist the city and the county with law enforcement. In one of their meetings at the Methodist Church on April 27, 1924 a pastor from Cincinnati reported his 12 year old daughter had been attacked while coming home the night before, but had escaped. This served to fan the desire for law enforcement. Then on the next Sunday, they held a meeting at the Chapman Hall in south Centerville. Someone from the Klan announced that they had a body of several hundred men ready to assist the officers. The Klan eventually usurped the function of the Law and Order League and gained the prestige that went with it.
On May 9, 1924, a stranger came to the Iowegian office with a new $30 bill and posted it to be paid to the person who would return a bootlegger who had escaped while under sentence and $1,000 bond. Receipt was given him. He said he was G. Noble and represented the Appanoose County Klan. Then, on the night of May 15, five white-robed men appeared at midnight to present $50 to a family near Unionville, who had sustained a fire loss to their home.
On July 3, Reed’s paper in Cincinnati carried an article on the “stupendous” Klan rally of June 12 at the Henry Gault farm south of Centerville. It attracted about 3,000 white, native-born, gentile, Protestant Americans coming in 1,800 cars. A national speaker gave the address for fully two hours, and two large crosses were burned.
To be continued next week.
Correspondents
History of the Ku Klux Klan, Part 2
- Correspondents
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- History of ‘Taps’ and other fun facts
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Planning under way for July 4
I hope everyone is enjoying the nice weather we have been having lately. You can see as you travel around that the farmers are sure busy working in their fields, getting their crops in.
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Exline city-wide cleanup May 4-5
- History of telephone service in Appanoose County; Easter eggs still available to purchase
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Spring clean up days coming in May
I hope everyone survived the pranks that some people play on April Fool’s Day. Isn’t it something how earlier in the week we had more summer like weather, so early in the springtime?
The recipe for this week, I thought was appropriate for this time of the year. -
May fundraiser, dance has a change of date
April is here and the flowers are blooming. We are enjoying the nice weather. Friday, April 6 will be our Easter lunch with games.
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History of telephone service in Appanoose County; Easter eggs still available to purchase
The early springtime weather sure has been enjoyable. Some people say we may have a cold snap to interrupt this stretch of good weather. We just have to hope we do not get any late spring snow storms like we have experienced in the past.
- Easter Egg fundraiser to be March 25
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Still time to buy brick for bell pedestal
Has everyone gotten adjusted to Daylight Savings Time yet? It is kind of strange at first because it stays darker in the morning now and is lighter later into the evening. We will eventually get used to it. Hasn’t the weather been fantastic for the most part, with temperatures in the 70s? The spring flowers will be in bloom before you know it.
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Royal Neighbors to hold dinner
The weather continues to be different. One day it is snowing and another day it is sunny and mild. With this continued mild weather, the spring flowers plants and shrubs will soon be coming into flower, which will be earlier than usual. At least we are not experiencing those severe tornadoes like a lot of other places have been having.
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A history and childhood memories of the Moravia Methodist Church
When I was about six or seven, I was delegated to walk with my grandma, Christianna Kaster, to church on Sunday because grandma was a little lightheaded.
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Plans for summer trips under way
As we start another new month we look forward to spring with the trees budding and the flowers blooming.
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Some interesting facts about Leap Year
Are you aware that in less than three weeks, it will be the first day of spring? That will occur on Tuesday, March 20 at 1:14 a.m.
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President’s Day: Where it came from and how it has become what it is today
It continues to be an unbelievable winter with the unseasonable weather that we continue to have. I do not know how well that will be for the farmers because of the lack of moisture but from a shoveling standpoint, it is good news!
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Exline soup supper tomorrow; still time to buy bricks for bell
Well, I hope everyone had a nice Valentine’s Day and enjoyed having some decadent chocolate sweets. Did you know that in 1537, England's King Henry VII officially declared Feb. 14 the holiday of St. Valentine's Day. It is nice to have a day devoted to enjoying chocolate.
- More Correspondents Headlines
