Election Riot of 1874

The Election Riot of 1874 or Coup of 1874 took place on election day, November 3, 1874 near Comer, Alabama. On that day, the White League (comprising white Alabamian Democrats), formed an armed mob and invaded Eufaula, killing at least seven black Republicans, injuring at least 70 more, and driving off over 1,000 defenseless Republicans from the polls.[1] The mob then moved on to Spring Hill, where members stormed the polling place, killing a white Republican judge's son.[2] The White League subsequently perfected its coup d'état by refusing to count any Republican votes cast (Republican voters outnumbered Democratic voters by a margin greater than two to one), declaring themselves (the Democrats) victorious, forcing Republican politicians out of office, and seizing every county office in Barbour County.[3] The Democrats followed up by auctioning off as slaves (for a maximum cost of $2 per month) or otherwise silencing all Republican witnesses to the coup so that they could not testify in federal court about it.[4]

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Location of historical marker

Located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 82 and Barbour County Road 49 near Comer, Alabama. Marker Dedication or Erection Date: July 19, 1979

Text

Near here is Old Spring Hill, the site of one of the polling places for the November 3, 1874 local, state and national elections. Elias M. Keils, scalawag and Judge of the City Court of Eufaula was United States supervisor at the Spring Hill ballot box. William, his 16 year-old son, was with him. After the polls closed, a mob broke into the building, extinguished the lights, destroyed the poll box and began shooting. During the riot, Willie Keils was mortally wounded. The resulting Congressional investigation received national attention. This bloody episode marked the end of the Republican domination in Barbour County.

Erected by the Historic Chattahoochee Commission, 1979.

References

  1. ^ Mary Ellen Curtin, Black Prisoners and Their World, Alabama, 1865-1900, at 55 (The University Press of Virginia 2000).
  2. ^ Id. at 55-56.
  3. ^ See id. at 56.
  4. ^ Id.

External links