Tags
Appalachia, Ellis Park, history, Logan Banner, Logan County, music, West Virginia, West Virginia Coon Hunters
Logan (WV) Banner, 24 August 1928
West Virginia Coon Hunters to Play Public Dance at Ellis Park (1928)
29 Friday May 2020
Tag Archives: Logan Banner
Chapmanville High School in Chapmanville, WV (1926)
29 Friday May 2020
Posted in Banco, Big Creek, Chapmanville, Kitchen, Queens Ridge
Tags
Banco, Big Creek, board of education, Browns Run School, Buck Fork School, Bulwark School, Chapmanville, Chapmanville High School, education, George Mullins, Godby Branch School, Harts High School, history, Hoover School, Kitchen, Kitchen School, Logan Banner, Logan County, Queens Ridge, Robert Sanders, Rocky School, Stone Branch School, Striker School, T.B. Ferrell, T.B. Stone, Thompson School, Trace School, Upper Trace School, West Virginia, White Oak School
From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes these items of history for Chapmanville High School, dated April 2 and April 16, 1926:
Chapmanville Plans to Vote on Bond Issue for High School Building
Total of $75,000 Proposed, $45,000 of Which to Establish New Structure; Balance to Remodel Others.
Four years of discussion is about to crystallize for the residents of Chapmanville in a High School that will provide for the instruction of both junior and senior high school students if the plans of the Board of Education of that district, which have already been launched, prevail among the voters.
At a recent meeting the tentative plans were prepared after the matter had been discussed with one hundred representative voters who had been invited by special letter to attend for the purpose of ascertaining their will in the matter. Of this number it was found that only four showed any disposition not in favor with the proposed bond issue to cover the completion of the project and these it is confidently expected will find their way over to those who are eager to establish a High School in the district.
Another meeting is scheduled to be held in the school house, at Chapmanville, April 10, at which time details of preparing the proposed $75,000 bond issue will be further discussed.
As proposed now, the bond issue will provide $45,000 to defray the cost of the new High School, and $30,000 to be devoted to converting one-room school buildings into structures of two or more rooms. In this latter, the members of the Board of Education feel that the item of continued maintenance for these old buildings will go a long way toward the cost of creating the new ____.
New buildings will be erected at various parts of the district where it is found they are needed.
Although there are at the present time 150 pupils ready to take up the courses offered in the High School, the structure tentatively planned will entirely care for the future, at least for many years to come.
The achievements of the Chapmanville district in the matter of progress in educational matters during the past six years has been very notable. In 1920, when the present Commissioners took charge, they had a $17,000 debt hanging over their heads.
That debt has dwindled down until now it represents only $2,700.
In 1920 the district boasted of 34 schools, part of them receiving scholars and part of them idle. Since then 13 elementary rooms have been added as well as a Junior High, with three teachers.
This year the school district will obtain $18,000 from the State for the fund devoted to elementary teaching. Also the State will allow the district a little over $1,600, about $350 of which will provide for the cost of the proposed bond issue election. The confidentially expected will find their ______, coal cost and other matters in connection with the upkeep of the schools.
The Board of Education consists of the following members: T.B. Ferrell, president, Big Creek; T.B. Stone, Secretary, Kitchen; Robert Sanders, Banco; and George Mullins, Queens Ridge.
***
Chapmanville Orders High School Plans
Architect Will Present Them At Special Meeting April 17; Points Named Where Improvements Will Be Made
At a meeting of the Board of Education of the Chapmanville district, last Saturday night, held for the purpose of further discussing plans in connection with the proposed bond issue of $75,000 for the erection of a High School and the improvement and construction of other school buildings in the district, the board authorized the architect present to draw tentative plans.
These will be presented at a special meeting to be held Saturday, April 17, at the Chapmanville school at 10 o’clock in the morning. At this meeting it is hoped that most of the details of the proposed bond issue will be decided upon and something definite reached regarding the election to take care of it.
It was reported at the meeting that sentiment has grown rapidly and opinion is practically unanimous in favor.
It was proposed that improvements be made in the elementary schools at Stone Branch, Kitchen, Godby Branch, Thompson, Rocky, Striker, White Oak, Browns Run, about the mouth of Smoke House. Also Trace and Buck Forks, Bulwark, Hoover and Upper Trace all repairs made on all buildings that cannot be combined with others.
In order that these matters may be discussed and known to the citizens of the district all are urged by the Board of Education to be present at the next meeting.
Note: Chapmanville High School was consolidated with Harts High School in 2006-2007.
J. Green McNeely: Logan County Preacher (1937)
19 Tuesday May 2020
Tags
Appalachia, Bethel McNeely, Billy Workman, Chapmanville, Cherry Tree, Crooked Creek, Delmas Seagraves, Dempsey Branch, Dyke Garrett, Elizabeth McDonald, Elliott McNeely, farming, ginseng, Hatfield Island, Henlawson, history, Howard Suiter, J. Green McNeely, Jimmie McNeely, John Morrison, Lee Whitman, Lewis McDonald, Little Buffalo Creek, Logan Banner, Logan County, logging, Luther McNeely, Mill Creek, Peach Creek, Pete Minotti, preacher, Stollings, Susan White, timbering, West Virginia
On May 26, 1937, the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, profiled one of the county’s more renowned preachers: J. Green McNeely.
Rev. J. Green McNeely: One of County’s Most Beloved Ministers Will Soon Round Out Half Century Of Service; Has Married Approximately 3,000 Couples; Conducted 3,500 Funerals, And Is Still “Going Strong”
One of the county’s most loved and best known ministers will soon round out a half century of service to the citizens of Logan county.
Born October 29, 1871, the Rev. J. Green McNeely, clerk of the county court, has already lived a full life of service, but is hale and hearty and plans to continue “preaching the gospel until the end.”
The Rev. McNeely has married approximately three thousand couples since he was ordained as a minister on March 28, 1891. He is proud to have been able to unite so many in the holy bonds of matrimony, he says, but he is prouder to know that the majority of the marriages “took,” he declares.
The first married he performed was on May 25, 1892. He married Lee Whitman and Elizabeth McDonald, both of Logan county. Mrs. Whitman is still living, but her husband preceded her in death several years ago. She lives on her farm in Henlawson.
The Rev. J. Green McNeely in addition to performing this amazing number of marriages, has conducted 3500 funeral services. His first service was for Billy Workman, 20, who was killed on Dempsey Branch by a falling tree. Workman’s death came in the fall of 1892.
The Rev. McNeely was born at the “Head of Dry Island” on a farm whose site is now occupied by the highway which runs down past Hatfield Island.
His parents were Elliott McNeely, farmer, Susan White McNeely. He had only a sister. She lives at Peach Creek at the present time. She is Mrs. Lewis McDonald.
The young man grew up on Mill Creek, his father having bought a farm there not long after where he attended rural schools and earned enough money chopping wood three months at $1.50 per month for the Mill Creek school to buy himself a suit of “store” clothes.
His first pair of “store” shoes were bought with a summer’s digging of the ‘seng.’ Young J. Green had dug a pound of the roots of the ginseng and dried them.
At nineteen the soon-to-be Rev. McNeely left home to do timbering work on Little Buffalo Creek at Henlawson. He had married by this time and “Uncle Dyke” Garrett, who was the Baptist evangelist who was responsible for the conversion of Rev. McNeely, performed the ceremony.
The Rev. McNeely’s conversion came a year after “Uncle Dyke” had married the couple in 1890.
He says: “I can remember that day yet. We had nearly completed a one-day revival meeting at the mouth of Crooked Creek in a grove where Pete Minotti’s house now stands, and I heard the call. ‘Uncle Dyke’ was a powerful preacher and he touched a responsive something in me that made me want to follow his example. So me and my wife were converted and were baptized by him.”
The Rev. McNeelys live in Cherry Tree. They are the parents of six children. The children are Mrs. John Morrison, Mrs. Howard Suiter, Mrs. Delmas Seagraves, Bethel, Luther, and Jimmie.
The Rev. J. Green McNeely, though “getting up in years” has not ceased active preaching. He delivers a Sunday message regularly to a church in Stollings once a month, Crooked Creek once a month, and in Chapmanville twice a month.
He says he has just closed the best revival meeting he has had in years. Thirty four persons were converted at the two-week’s meetings at Crooked Creek, and Rev. McNeely says: “It took us nearly half an hour to get the house cleared on the last night of the revival after the benediction. The people just couldn’t seem to get enough singing and praying.”
Chapmanville News 07.07.1922
09 Saturday May 2020
Posted in Chapmanville, Yantus
Tags
Appalachia, Bowling Green, Chapmanville, Columbus, Cove Creek, Devona Butcher, Donald Phipps, Edd Turner, Edith Robertson, Elma Phipps, Everett Fowler, Fourth of July, Garland Mounts, genealogy, George Justice, Gladys Bryant, Greenway Simms, Harry Conley, history, Ida Butcher, J.H. Vickers, Kentucky, Logan Banner, Logan County, Lorain Hill, Maud McCloud, Millard Brown, Minnie Butcher, Nona Collins, Ohio, Tollie Ferrell, typhoid fever, W.J. Bachtel, Ward Hotel, Wayne Browning, West Virginia, Yantus
Correspondents named “Somebody’s Baby” and “Katie” from Chapmanville in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following news, which the Logan Banner printed on July 7, 1922:
We are glad to report that we are having a nice Sunday school organized at the Holiness church.
Rev. Johnson delivered a very interesting sermon at the church Sunday.
Mrs. J.H. Vickers has returned from a pleasant visit with her parents at Columbus, Ohio.
Little Dan Cupid has been very busy in our town and to our surprise, he shot an arrow across Mr. Greenway Simms’ path and he fell a victim to the dart.
Mr. Everett Fowler and Miss Nona Collins were out kodaking Sunday.
We are sorry to say that Mrs. Garland Mounts is very sick at this writing and her many friends hope for her speedy recovery.
Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Bachtel were out walking Sunday.
A very nice wedding took place at Cove Creek Saturday when Miss Marie Asberry became the happy bride of Mr. James Bryant. They returned here to the groom’s home, Sunday night, and will make this place their future home.
We wonder why Millard Brown visits Mr. Perry so much? Ask Pearl, she knows.
Mrs. George Justice will leave on Thursday for Bowling Green, Ky., at which place she will be the guest of her daughter for several weeks.
Mr. Harry Conley was calling on Miss Ida Butcher Sunday. He says Ida is some S.L.T.
Miss Gladys Bryant is spending the week and with her grand parents at Yantus.
Miss Maud McCloud is very ill at this writing as she received a message that her husband is suffering from appendicitis in the C. & O. hospital.
Mr. Lorain Hill paid his daily visit to the Ward hotel Saturday night.
The boys all say they like to take their meals at the restaurant now as they have a pretty cook.
Miss Edith Robertson is the guest of her mother, Mrs. Bowling, at the present time.
Miss Devona Butcher will leave on Sunday to enter a summer normal.
Will call again if this escapes the waste basket.
***
We are having some rainy weather here these days.
Mr. Wayne Browning and Everett Fowler are off on a three weeks vacation during the Fourth.
The people of this town were much disappointed on the Fourth owing to the unpleasant weather.
Miss Tollie Ferrell called on Miss Elma Phipps Wednesday.
Bathing seems to be popular here nowadays.
Wonder why Misses Devona and Minnie Butcher stay at home so much now? Call more often, girls.
Mr. Donald Phipps has been confined to his bed with typhoid fever, but is improving slowly.
Edd Turner was out riding his jitney Sunday.
The Holiness people have an excellent choir now.
Well I don’t want to write all the serious news of our city. Leave it to you, Rebecca.
I will call again next week.
African-American Items from Logan, WV (1920s)
29 Sunday Mar 2020
Posted in African American History, Holden, Man, World War I
Tags
Accoville, African-Americans, Andrew Carnegie, Appalachia, Charleston, Cora, crime, Dearborn Independent, E.W. Ross, Eugene Carter, Guy W. Pennington, Harvey Bias, history, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Lord Bryce, Lucas Wade, M.C. Gentry, Man, Omar, Peach Creek, Prohibition, R.R. Batty, slavery, West Virginia, White Child, World War I
From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes these items relating to African-American life in Logan County during the 1920s:
“Jes’ Twelve O’Clock”
A hungry looking negro was observed sitting on a railroad track at Peach Creek yards when the noon whistle blew. He scratched his head and remarked, “Dar she blows. Dinner time for most folks, but jes’ twelve o’clock fo’ me.”
Logan (WV) Banner, 14 April 1922
***
War Story Uncovered
It was four shot years ago and the American doughboys were in the front line trenches facing Heinie. A company of colored troops were in the front trenches and among them were two colored boys from Logan whom we will call Sam and Rastus. They were backed up by 6,000 white troops and the order had been given to “go over the top” at a certain moment and the zero hour was fast approaching.
]Sam aquietly crept over to Rastus and said, “What do you ‘spose our folks would say about us if ‘de knowed where we was now?”
“Go away,” said Rastus. “If ‘de knowed where we wuz ‘de Logan Banner would be setting up headlines right now, saying, ‘Six thousan’ white boys done been trampled to death'”
Logan (WV) Banner, 27 October 1922
***
Negro Advancement
Though most northerners, including Negro leaders, often express disappointment with the progress the race is making, especially in the southern states, an impartial survey would doubtless inspire hope and pride rather than despair and humiliation.
In spite of deplorable lynchings and persistent unkindness toward him that must make the angel weep, the Negro is advancing. Future generations will be amazed at the rapidity with which he has overcome his handicaps. This view is set forth clearly, along with the facts that justify it, in the Dearborn Independent, which quotes a “Southern Planter” as follows:
Nearly nine million Negroes live south of Mason and Dixon’s line. With but few exceptions they are the progeny of grandparents who were born in slavery. The Negro emerged from the darkness of servitude without land, capital or credit. Within the sixty years that have followed emancipation he has come into possession of twenty-two million acres of land, an area greater than that of South Carolina. Negroes of the South are proprietors of business of every description. Approximately forty thousand enterprises, some of which are national in scope, are owned and operated by them. There are nearly seventy Negro banks, three Negro life insurance companies, real estate firms, hotels, factories, drug and department stores. Colored lawyers, doctors, dentists, undertakers and artisans of every degree of skill practice their profession and ply their trade in every part of the Negro’s native section. In sixty years the Southern Negro has acquired these for himself.
Negroes of the nation own one billion dollars’ worth of property and their holdings are increasing at the rate of fifty million dollars a year. Their most important investments and greatest enterprises are in the South, for that is the section they have known for generations, and the one in which, best authorities say, they will find their greatest success.
Were the Southerner not the friend of the Negro it would have been impossible for the Negro to have attained the degree of success with which he has been blessed. The late Andrew Carnegie and the late Lord Bryce agreed that the progress of the American Negro, after emancipation, was the most remarkable racial accomplishment in the history of the world. The Southerner claims his part of the glory for this achievement for he is the Negro’s teacher.
Logan (WV) Banner, 6 January 1928
***
Holden Wins Debate
Resolved “That the Negro has received more cruel treatment than the Indian in America,” was the interesting subject debated by Holden and Logan at Cora last Friday night, with a judges’ score of 5 to 6 points in favor of Holden. The Logan speakers were Rev. E.W. Ross, Rev. M.C. Gentry and Prof. Lucas Wade, while R.R. Batty, Eugene Carter and Guy W. Pennington represented Holden. A spicy program, arranged by the local P.T. Association at Cora, who sponsored the debate, was also a pleasing feature.
Logan (WV) Banner, 8 March 1929
***
Negro Prisoner Bears Odd Name
A colored man of very dark skin languishes in the county jail in default of bond for his appearance in federal court. Commissioner Hager bound him over to Charleston court April 16, after hearing evidence concerning a sale of whiskey. The arrest was made by Troopers Reed and Creasy of Man.
Now the interesting feature of this case is the prisoner’s name, which is none other than White Child. The surname as well as the first name must be the gift of the satirist, for this fellow, a resident of Accoville, has been under pretty close surveillance for a child.
The same troopers brought in Harvey Bias on a charge of possessing booze. He, too, was bound over to federal court and in default of bond went to jail.
Logan (WV) Banner, 12 April 1929
Big Creek News 04.28.1922
22 Sunday Mar 2020
Posted in Big Creek, Ferrellsburg, Hamlin, Huntington, Sand Creek, Stone Branch
Tags
Albert Messer, Appalachia, Big Creek, C&O Railroad, crime, Dr. Whitehall, Earl McComas, Ferrellsburg, Frank Stone, genealogy, H.B. McComas, Hamlin, history, Howard Fry, Huntington, Ike Dean, Indiana, Lewis Stowers, Logan Banner, Logan County, murder, Peter M. Toney, pneumonia, Sand Creek, South Bend, Stone Branch, West Virginia
A correspondent named “Phil” from Big Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following news, which the Logan Banner printed on April 28, 1922:
Earl McComas, son of Mr. and Mrs. H.B. McComas, died last week of pneumonia.
Dr. Whitehall who has been visiting friends and relatives in South Bend, Ind., for the past week or ten days has returned.
Mr. P.M. Toney has been attending business matters in Huntington for the past week.
Mr. Howard Fry of Sand Creek died last week of pneumonia and influenza.
Big Creek is coming to the front more every day. We note that the picture theatre is running three days a week instead of two.
Additional News:
Mrs. Lewis Stowers who has been in for some time died Monday night and was buried Tuesday evening.
Serious murder case at Ferrellsburg last Sunday evening; it is said that Albert Messer killed Ike Dean which was a very bloody and sad affair, which is said to be the result of an old grudge. Messer surrendered to authorities and was taken to Hamlin to jail Tuesday morning.
Mrs. Stone has been away visiting relatives in Huntington for the past week and taking a rest after a spell of sickness.
Frank Stone brakeman on the switch engine at Big Creek was hit by a switch lever, slightly injuring the left side of his face, and has been off from duty for the past ten days on that account. He returned to work on Tuesday.
There was a large freight wreck just below Stone Branch Monday at noon. 15 freight cars derailed and caused passenger trains to transfer Monday evening. The wreck was cleared after several hours work with the tool cars.
J.E. Peck for Circuit Court Judge (1928)
17 Tuesday Mar 2020
Posted in Logan
Tags
Appalachia, genealogy, history, J.E. Peck, judge, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, photos, politics, West Virginia
Logan (WV) Banner, 24 July 1928
Chapmanville News 05.05.1922
15 Sunday Mar 2020
Posted in Big Creek, Chapmanville, Coal, Huntington, Logan, Stone Branch
Tags
Alma Wagner, Anna Justice, Appalachia, Big Creek, Chapmanville, Cincinnati, Clee Conley, coal, Eustice Ward, genealogy, Hattie Clay, history, Hobert Spurlock, Huntington, Ida Butcher, Levy Hensley, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Lola Ferrell, Maud Garrett, Mazie Bates, Morgan Garrett, Nettie Pauley, Oscar Langdon, Queeney Conley, Roy Hager, Ruby Wagner, Stone Branch, Wanda Ferrell, West Virginia, Wilbert Langdon
A correspondent named “Uncle Joe” from Chapmanville in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following news, which the Logan Banner printed on May 5, 1922:
We are still having fair days and cool nights.
Miss Ruby Wagner has returned from the hospital at Huntington and is getting along nicely.
Mr. Oscar Langdon has left our town for Cincinnati.
Miss Alma Wagner looked lonesome Sunday. Where was L.T., Alma?
We wonder where they go when they take a ride here?
We saw two sweet gigglers out promenading all alone Sunday. Where were the boys?
Bug makes several trips to town during the day, but what does he care, for he gets his rides free.
Miss Eunice Ward and Mr. Hobert Spurlock were at the show Saturday night.
Miss Queeney Conley was shopping in town this week.
Some of the young folks were calling on Miss Clee Conley and thought they were on a merry go round.
Every person is always anxious to know who sends in the news. We wonder, who sent this?
Still more improvements and better wages at the mines here. You ought to make good money, boys.
When is Rev. Langdon going to preach for us again? It seems a long time between times.
Did we see Miss Maud Garrett and Mr. Wilbart Langdon out walking Sunday, or was it just imagination?
You’re not in style in our town unless you have a gray cap.
Mr. Roy Hager, of Big Creek, was calling on Miss Ida Butcher Sunday.
The handsomest man of Chapmanville has gone to work.
Mrs. Levy Hensley and daughter have returned to their home at Chapmanville after a short visit at Stone Branch.
Anna Justice, Hattie Clay and Mazie Bates were calling on Lola and Wanda Ferrell Sunday.
Mrs. Nettie Pauley was visiting relatives in this town Sunday.
Mr. Morgan Garrett has gone to work in Logan.
Ku Klux Klan in Logan, WV (1922)
13 Friday Mar 2020
Posted in Logan
Tags
Appalachia, Billy Sunday, Charleston, history, Island Creek, Ku Klux Klan, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Mud Fork, West Virginia
From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this bit of history about the Ku Klux Klan in Logan County in 1922:
Has Logan An Organization of the Ku Klux Klan in her Midst?
Mysterious Fire Surrounded by Many Figures in Long Flowing Robes Observed
JUNCTION OF MUD FORK AND ISLAND CREEK ASSEMBLY SPOT
Ceremony Lasted Until Midnight, When Fiery Red Cross Was Raised and the Crowd Left
Has Logan a Ku Klux Klan?
Wednesday night a bright fire was observed on the mountain at the junction of Mud Fork and Island Creek, around which the figures of many beings were assembled. Many people that observed the fire made a closer inspection and they witnessed a secret meeting around a large, brightly burning fire, in which 60 or more figures dressed in long, flowing white robes participated. In the circle formed by these people could be observed the figure of the Chief, and the ceremony, while it could not be heard, was beautifully executed as each member arose and in a majestic manner saluted the Chief, and hastened to do his bidding.
The ceremony lasted until the hour of twelve when the fiery red cross was raised and the blazing emblem cast a ghostly shadow throughout the valley beneath. When the names from the flaming symbol had died away the clan evidently dispersed for the fire around which they had been assembled was ____ out and no further signs of the figures could be observed.
The Ku Klux Klan does not signify what the clansmen stood for during the reconstruction period. The Ku Klux Klan in this day assists in maintaining law and order, yet they still stand for supremacy of the white race. Unlawful acts and violence have no place within their councils, yet in their silent way they have a means whereby they are enabled to right wrongs and assist the authorities in maintaining the peace and dignity of the commonwealth. This invisible society is not to be feared by any that are law abiding citizens but to those who are inclined to do those things which are morally wrong yet probably within the law may sometime play host or hostess to a visit from these weird strangers.
Inquiry was made in the city as to whether or not there was a local branch of the Ku Klux Klan here. They are known to exist in many parts of the state and nation for the revival conducted at Charleston by Billy Sunday, which has just closed, was visited by members of the Klan there, who appeared in their weird attire. Of course no one here would speak authoritatively, but one prominent party of the town vouched for the information that they were here and in larger numbers than the public would suspect.
Strange and mysterious lights have been observed high on the peaks of the mountains about our city for some weeks. These lights have a habit of mysteriously appearing and suddenly disappearing. They occur at all hours of the night and in various places. Whether or not these strange lights have any connection with the meeting of Wednesday night is, of course, a matter of conjecture. However, those who observed the meeting of the Ku Klux Klan are inclined to believe all the lights signify individual members of the council which held forth Wednesday night.
Their future meetings will be observed with interest–if they can be discovered.
Logan (WV) Banner, 14 April 1922
***
Ku Klux Klan Has Been Organized Here
Organization Which Has Sprung Up So Quietly Within Our Midst Gives Promise of Being Strongest of Any Other Body in the County if Information Gained is True
Perhaps the readers of the Banner were a little doubtful of the authenticity of the statement made in these columns a few weeks ago relative to the presence in Logan county of the Ku Klux Klan. If any doubt existed then it is well to rid your mind of further doubt, for the Ku Klux Klan is here and the organization is not holding “marshmallow roasts” as was thought by a contemporary newspaper.
According to information which we feel is authentic, the second meeting of the Klan was held in this city Wednesday evening at which time the organization was perfected but only those on the inside are aware of the place of the meeting and just what occurred that evening. It is understood leaders were elected and members were made acquainted with the purposes and objects of the organization.
The movement for the organization in this country, while made secretly, spread like wildfire and applications for membership swamped those behind the movement and the Klan now numbers about 500 members, of which it is thought approximately 200 are to be found in the city while the remainder is scattered throughout the county and is composed of the most prominent business and professional men of the Guyan Valley.
The first meeting of the Klan was held a few weeks ago. Since that time the movement has grown with rapidity and it is understood several hundred applications for membership are now on file. New members are being carefully and systematically chosen and the Logan Klan will evidently take first rank with the numerous other Klans found throughout the state.
The Ku Klux Klan movement has met with the endorsement and approval of the most prominent men of the nation. The Rev. Billy Sunday, during his recent revival in Charleston, proudly announced he was a member and many of the Klans throughout the state number among their members, officials, professional men, and others whose moral character and community standing is above reproach.
The greatest secrecy attends all movements of the order and the identity of the members and the place of meeting of the Klan are secrets carefully guarded. secrecy is necessary in view of the old false prejudice against the order in the north, yet since the objects have become nationally known the order is experiencing its greatest growth in northern states. Membership is limited to native born Americans and initiation is open only to those who receive special invitation to join.
The Ku Klux Klan is described as an institution of picked men standing for “Chivalry, Humanity, Justice and Patriotism”; embodying in its genius and principles all that is chivalric in conduct, noble in sentiment, generous in manhood and patriotic in purpose; its peculiar objects being:
First: To protect the weak, the innocent, and the defenseless from the indignities, wrongs and outrages of the lawless, the violent and the brutal; to relieve the injured and oppressed; to succor the suffering and unfortunate, especially worthy widows and orphans.
Second: To protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, and all laws passed in conformity thereto, and to protect the people thereof from all invasion of their rights thereunder from any source whatsoever.
Third: To aid and assist in the execution of all constitutional laws and to preserve the honor and dignity of the state by opposing tyranny, in any and every degree attempted from any and every source whatsoever, by a fearless and faithful administration of justice to promptly meet every behest of duty without fear and without reproach.
Logan (WV) Banner, 12 May 1922
Logan: A Poem (1923)
08 Sunday Mar 2020
Posted in Coal, Guyandotte River, Logan, Poetry
Tags
Appalachia, Don Chafin, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan Wildcats, Mine Wars, New York City, O. Benton, poems, poetry, West Virginia, writers, writing
This poem was written by O. Benton and dedicated to Don Chafin, “a true son of Logan.” The poem relates to the Mine Wars, or as it was called by the Logan Banner, the “armed march.”
There’s a land of “Love thy brother”
By the sky-blue Guyandotte
Where the folks love one another,
And I know God loves the spot.
For he built those mighty mountains
And he touched their tops with blue,
From their sides gush crystal fountains,
Just to quench the thirst of you.
Oaks and poplars, pines and hemlocks,
On the mountainsides they grew.
There’ll be no coal beneath the mountains
For a million years or two.
In this glorious land of blessings
Long before the railroad came
Lived the honest, fighting people
Who have brought the country fame.
Now there’s mines beneath those mountains
And there’s towns most everywhere,
But with all the wealth and greatness
Freedom reigns and all is fair.
Some may say, “You think there’s freedom,”
But I’m saying what I know.
I have crossed the rushing rivers,
I have tramped the mountain snow.
I have sweated ‘neath those mountains
Where the motors screech and hum.
I have worked upon the tipple
Worked with pick and shovel some.
And I swear by all above me
That a man may have his say.
He may tell of any grievance
Unmolested, go his way.
For there is no lack of freedom
When the Court-House clock looks down
On the men who love their neighbors
In the busy coal-gorged town.
When the men from New York City
Told us that they were not free,
It was something quite unheard of,
Something free men cannot see.
If our misinformed brothers
Wish to DO, and not to mock,
Let them stay within the cities
Where there’s Hell in every block.
Let them stay away from Logan,
Where a man can be a man.
Take your creeds and go to New York
Where their brothers understand.
For the famous “Logan Wildcats”
And the lads who fought the Hun,
They are tired of soap-box teachings
And have said there shall be none.
Source: Logan (WV) Banner, 29 June 1923
