Outrageous Proceedings (From the Winston Banner - May 2, 1872)

This undoubtedly biased account of an incident at the Winston County Courthouse preceded the vicious newspaper piece attacking John Warren Avery. Note how the author described Winston County as "one of the most law abiding communities in this or any other State" without going into detail of all the ways "the majority of white voters...have preserved their honor and vindicated their intelligence and patriotism..."

[2 May 1872, Page 2 - The Clarion-Ledger at Newspapers.com]

© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

The Clarion Ledger's First Response to Queries About John W. Avery

Who?

[18 Apr 1872, Page 2 - The Clarion-Ledger at Newspapers.com]

Perhaps they were confused because Mr. Avery was described as a carpetbagger (a Northerner) not a scalawag (a Southern man). But as we saw in one of my recent posts, the Clarion knew all about him just a few weeks later, none of it to his credit.

I've found a few more accounts of John Avery's heinous actions which I'll share in the future.



© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

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.



© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

My 3rd Great Grandfather John Warren Avery (1835-1900) Was Probably Run Out of Winston County, Mississippi by the Ku Klux Klan

After some research I have come to the conclusion that this Rev John Avery, testifying about his experience with the Klan, is my ancestor.  "Affairs in Mississippi: To the Editor of the Chronicle," Macon Beacon (Macon, Mississippi), 12 August 1871, page 2, col 4; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83016943/1871-08-12/ed-1/seq-2/ : accessed 7 December 2016).

John Warren Avery (1835-1900) was born in Winston County, Mississippi, and although he had moved around a little he had appeared in records in Winston as late as the 1870 Census as a farmer (no mention his being a reverend).  By January 11, 1873 he was a resident of Lafayette County, Mississippi (as evidenced by his court appearance and signature in claiming his small part of an uncle's inheritance).  We were not clear until now just why he had moved, except that maybe there were better opportunities elsewhere.  Thanks to the digitized newspapers at LOC's Chronicling America, I now realize that he was run out of the area by the Ku Klux Klan for running a free school (taxpayer funded).  Apparently the Klan did not want free schools for either black or white children and were brutal in enforcing this, and were clearly not above threatening family members.

From the same story, and includes statements made by Rev. Murff, who was Alexander W. Murff (1821-1880), a Methodist Episcopal elder, former guardian ad litem for John Avery in 1853, and also John Avery's brother-in-law (he married John's sister Nancy Caroline Avery).

From statements by Cornelius McBride, another victim of the Klan, made to the Senate concerning the Klan activities.  In the index of this publication John Avery is referred to as John W. Avery.  "Index to the Reports of the Committees of The Senate of the United States, for the Second Session of the Forty-Second Congress. 1871-'72."  Government Printing Office (Washington, DC). 1872; digital images, Google Books (https://books.google.com/books?id=EwtYAAAAcAAJ: accessed 7 December 2016).

I was dismayed, although not surprised, that I have these relations in the Klan, but I was also impressed that John Warren Avery had tried to make a difference in his community.  It also helped me figure out what his religious denomination was, something I wasn't quite sure about.

John must have had a hell of a time for many years, considering his Civil War experience on the losing side, and then the loss of camaraderie and support of many of his remaining relatives to the Klan.



© 2016 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.