Information Concerning John W. Avery - Mississippi, 1872

A while back Christine posted about our ancestor John Warren Avery and the threats he received from the local Ku Klux Klan, whose members included his brothers and cousins. He received death threats after he testified before a grand jury in Oxford, Mississippi, in 1871 and removed himself and his family from Winston County as a result.

To follow up that story, here's a 1872 newspaper clipping showing how John was regarded by his neighbors in light of his actions, using epithets such as "a simon pure unadulterated scallawag of the meanest type, the double distilled quintessence of all villainy."

[9 May 1872, Page 1 - The Clarion-Ledger at Newspapers.com]

The author of this piece of invective alluded to a statement allegedly made by John's mother Mary (Thornton) Avery who,.having died on December 31, 1871, would not have been available to affirm or deny it.

Even John Warren Avery's military service as a private in the 35th Mississippi Infantry Regiment Volunteers was disparaged and his courage impugned.*



*You can read about his military record here.



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