Willis Russell facts for kids

Willis Russell (born 1844 – died July 1, 1875) was a brave Deputy United States Marshal. He fought against a dangerous group called the Ku Klux Klan, led by William Smoot, in Kentucky. Smoot and his followers caused a lot of fear and violence in Franklin, Owen, and Henry Counties. Russell worked hard to stop them, even though it eventually cost him his life.

Willis Russell's Early Life

Willis Russell was born in 1844 in Monterey, Owen County, Kentucky. He grew up in that area. During the American Civil War, he was a soldier who rode horses in a famous group led by John Hunt Morgan.

Fighting the Ku Klux Klan

William "Bill" Smoot was a well-known person among local politicians. He and his father, John Smoot, and brother, John C. Smoot, would travel in disguises. They were good at getting new members to join their Ku Klux Klan group.

Willis Russell once said in 1874 that "More than 100 men have been killed, wounded, or driven away from that part of Owen and Henry Counties lying on the Kentucky River by the Kuklux in the last three years."

Bill Smoot's Ku Klux Klan had support from local police, newspapers, and even the courts. Some important officials, like the County Attorney, Commonwealth's Attorney, and judges, were either Klan members or agreed with their actions. Secret documents even showed that the Sheriff of Owen County was a Klansman. Some people also believed that Kentucky Governors John White Stevenson and Preston Hopkins Leslie were on Bill Smoot's side.

Russell also reported that most of the victims were Black people, but some white men were also targeted. He listed families who were killed, hurt, or forced to leave their homes. He mentioned that four Black people were killed in Henry County and several white men were driven away.

Bill Smoot Kills John B. Roberts

A man named Roberts was killed by Salyers. Roberts' father, John B. Roberts, was so upset that he shot Salyers dead. Later, William "Bill" Smoot shot and killed John B. Roberts in the village of Gratz in Owen County.

Willis Russell described Bill Smoot as "the leader of the Kuklux Klan." He said Smoot was "a terror to the community" and that after killing John B. Roberts, Smoot saw himself as a hero. This made him a powerful figure in the Klan, whose name caused fear across the state.

Undercover in 1870

After many conflicts caused by the Klan in Monterey and Guestville in 1870, the US Marshal service asked Russell to investigate secretly. Russell pretended to be a cashier at a store in Owen County. Four men approached him and asked him to join the "Kuklux." They wanted to drive Black people and anyone who supported them out of Kentucky. Russell refused.

Later, these men bought sheets from Russell's store to make their Klan outfits. They then went to reclaim homes and property from Black people in Scott County who had not left as warned. During their attack, the Klansmen shot and killed one elderly Black man and wounded several others. One of the Black men shot back, killing a Klansman named Foree, who was a school teacher.

Russell believed that Foree deserved no sympathy. He felt that if the Black people had killed the entire group, it would have been right because they were attacked without reason and had the right to defend themselves.

After this, John White Stevenson, who was Kentucky's Governor and had supported the Confederacy, allowed Russell to form his own group to fight the Klansmen. However, the governor later changed his mind.

Events in 1872

In the spring of 1872, Russell moved to Gratz, a town in Owen County.

Russell observed that the local Ku Klux Klan was mostly made up of "ignorant, depraved men and thoughtless youths." He believed these young men were persuaded to join by the leaders. Many of these youths came from good families, which led to strong efforts to protect them from punishment.

In the winter of 1872, Smoot's Klan rode to Russell's home in Gratz late one night. They were armed and disguised. They demanded Russell come out. Russell recognized John Onan's voice and stayed inside. When Russell didn't appear, the Klansmen left. They fired shots at citizens who came out to see what was happening, but no one was hit.

Soon after, Bill Smoot's Klan attacked Jordan Mosby and his son at their cabin in Henry County. Mosby's son was shot and became paralyzed for life. Even though Mosby recognized the Klansmen, no one was ever arrested.

Challenges in 1873

Early in 1873, Smoot's men attacked 70-year-old Richard E. Williams in Guestville. Williams was wounded in the arm but fought them off. He even managed to wound Bill Smoot, though not fatally.

When Williams recovered, he went to Frankfort and asked Governor Preston Leslie for help. Leslie, who also sympathized with the Confederacy, offered a reward for the capture of those who attacked Williams. Harvie Grubbs was one of the people involved. Russell immediately went to arrest Grubbs. Bill Smoot was there and told Grubbs not to go with Russell. Russell stood between them, pulled his pistol, and forced Grubbs to come along.

That night, Bill Smoot gathered 20 armed men and followed Russell to Newcastle. They planned to murder Russell and his two young guards. On the way, one of Russell's horses became lame. Russell borrowed a horse from Lewis Wilson, a local Black citizen. This act of kindness later led to Wilson's death. Russell reached Newcastle, put Grubbs in jail, and left before Smoot could catch him. Russell then went to Eminence to catch a train to Frankfort. Smoot arrived moments after Russell. The town marshal told Russell to stay in his hotel. After dark, Russell and his guards slipped out, got their horses, and rode to Frankfort that night.

Russell told Governor Leslie about his experience, but Leslie said he couldn't do anything because the "Legislature had virtually tied his hands." Leslie told Russell he wouldn't be bothered for arresting Harvie Grubbs, but this turned out to be untrue. Russell left Frankfort. On his way home to Monterey, Smoot and his Klan group waited on the road to ambush Russell. After their ambush failed, Smoot said he intended to murder Russell and his two guards for arresting Grubbs. Soon after, Grubbs was released from jail and was never charged for shooting Richard E. Williams.

In July 1873, the Ku Klux Klan murdered Lewis Wilson, a Black man who lived in Owen County. Seventeen Klansmen went to Wilson's house in the middle of the night, broke down his door, and shot him dead. After killing him, they burned his house. As Wilson was dying, he told his neighbor the names of several people he recognized from the group.

Russell believed that Wilson was killed "simply because he had offered to lend me a horse to assist me in taking Grubbs to Newcastle."

In August 1873, a newspaper reported that the Klan had carried out at least 88 attacks in less than a year. A reporter sent to Owen County told Russell that Governor Leslie offered a $500 reward for each of the 17 men involved in Wilson's murder. An 18-year-old who was part of Smoot's group confessed to Russell and gave him 17 names. Russell arrested one of these men, who also confessed and gave the same names. Judge Roberts, the County Judge, signed papers to have 13 of the 17 men arrested.

The next day, Russell arrested three of them and put them in the Owenton jail. When other Klansmen heard about the arrests, they ran and hid in the woods. Bill Smoot took three of them to Indiana. Governor Preston gave Russell permission to cross state lines to pursue them.

Willis Russell found Bill Smoot's group and arrested John Onan while Smoot was present. Russell took Onan to Judge Roberts, where Onan confessed to being part of the group that murdered Lewis Wilson. He also named three more men who rode with Bill Smoot.

The next day, Russell arrested Henry Triplett, who also confessed and confirmed the names Onan had given.

Onan was tried for murder in November 1873. He had confessed, two former gang members testified against him, and two other witnesses said Onan had confessed. John Onan didn't even present any evidence to defend himself. However, because of the County Judge and County Attorney, Onan was found not guilty.

Russell's 18-year-old informant warned Russell about another planned Klan attack on Black residents in Twin Creek. When the Klan saw Russell's men organized in Twin Creek, they quickly left and never attacked the town. The informant also said the Klan planned to kill William Plasters and Willis Russell next, then go to Brown's Bottom to kill all the Black people there. Plasters was able to leave his home, but the Klan destroyed everything inside his house. The citizens of Gratz were ready for the Klan, so Smoot didn't go there. Instead, he went to Owenton and told one of the Walkers that if Russell didn't stop arresting Klansmen, Russell would be hanged. Russell sent word back that he planned to arrest every single outlaw.

Willis Russell Becomes a US Marshal in 1874

Early in 1874, a large group of Smoot's Klan formed near Gratz. Russell contacted General Eli H. Murray in Louisville. General Murray then officially made Willis Russell a Deputy United States Marshal. After Russell became a US Marshal, Bill Smoot publicly promised he would not stop until he drove Russell and the Walkers out of Owen County. Local authorities did nothing to stop Smoot and his group.

Russell felt he had enough witnesses to testify against the Klan in Henry and Owen Counties. He asked for soldiers, and both the state and federal governments sent them. Then, Russell began arresting the Klansmen. In February 1874, Russell arrested Jim Oskins, John Onan, Billy Walston, William Razor, Fielding Douthitt, Reuben Clements, Joseph Hoskins, and William Smoot. Russell put these eight men on a boat to take them to the Louisville jail, as some had escaped the Owenton jail before. On the way to Louisville, William Smoot managed to escape. The other prisoners were released after they promised to appear at the United States District Court in Louisville in October.

Bluford Woods, a man who had testified against John Onan, went missing. Russell believed he had been murdered, as no one heard from him.

Bill and John C. Smoot Kill James M. Walker

Believing that peace had returned to Owen County, the federal troops left on May 3, 1874. The very next day, May 4, Bill Smoot and his brother John C. Smoot shot James M. Walker in the back. This happened on the main street in Owenton, Kentucky, on a rainy Monday afternoon. James was walking to his brother William's hotel when he was shot from two rifles in the upper windows of another hotel. James died instantly.

After murdering James M. Walker, about 40 Klan members started yelling throughout the town. The Klansmen then shot his dead body many times with their rifles and pistols. Some of them boldly shot James's body from the courthouse lawn. Even though the Sheriff and three deputies were in town, the Smoots and their men reloaded their weapons and calmly walked out of Owenton. The Town Marshal tried to arrest Smoot, but they threatened his life, so he backed down.

James, who was 31, had three children and a wife, Alice Grover Walker. It was Alice and James's 8th wedding anniversary. Alice buried her husband on her father's farm. James and William's brother, F. R. ("Dock") Walker, was badly wounded in the arm. The federal troops returned, but they couldn't find Smoot or his men, who were likely hiding in the mountains of Owen County.

On July 1, the federal troops left Owen County again. Smoot's Ku Klux Klan became bolder. They raided an old man named Hayden. Two months later, at a community event, Green Barr, a Klan member, tried to shoot Charles Walker, one of James's brothers, in the back. He failed because Thomas Walker quickly stepped in. William H. Walker's life was threatened, so he sold his hotel and prepared to move away. On election day, Green Barr came to Monterey. While hiding, he shot at Henry Triplett, who had testified against the Klan for Russell. Green Barr later accused Russell of threatening to murder him and got a warrant for Russell and Henry Triplett. Russell showed up for court, but none of the people accusing him came. The court date was moved to August 22.

On Saturday, August 22, the day set for the trial of Barr and Triplett, Barr sent Russell a message that he was coming to town with a hundred men.

Russell heard gunshots around Monterey that morning and believed the Klan was coming. Around 1 PM, five or six armed men, all known Klansmen, rode into town. They were led by County Attorney Perry, who also carried two pistols and was said to be one of their leaders. Russell went to see Tom and Charles Walker at Tucker's Hotel. The three men then walked towards Russell's house, where most of his guards were. As they passed Hardin's store, they saw George T. Mefford with his hand on his pistol. When Russell and the Walkers reached the corner of the store, Mefford pulled his pistol, and both Walker brothers fired. Mefford ran, and as Russell chased him, William Hall, another gang member, shot at Russell. After the shootout, Mefford rode away from Monterey, heading towards the Klan's main group.

Perry, the County Attorney, accused one of Russell's men of shooting at him. Russell got statements from several citizens proving Perry's claims were false. When Perry returned to Owenton, he got warrants for Russell, the two Walker boys, and others. George T. Mefford also got a warrant against Willis Russell, Thomas M. Walker, William Graves, Charles Walker, and John Wilson for trying to kill Mefford. Perry also issued a warrant for Willis Russell, Thomas M. Walker, Charles Walker, James Russell, Thomas Wilson, John Wilson, William Graves, and Henry Triplett for a shooting that happened on August 10, 1874. In that incident, John Smoot, Bill's father, was shot, and John C. Smoot, Bill's brother, was killed. John Smoot claimed he saw "the two Walkers, Willis Russell and a man named Wilson all fire upon me."

County Attorney Perry managed to get a Grand Jury to charge all those accused. The Police Judge of Owenton who issued these warrants was himself a Klansman. Before the Sheriff came to arrest Russell and his group, Bill Smoot told Perry to ask Governor Preston Leslie for the state's militia to handle a "state of riot and rebellion." At the same time, Russell asked the federal marshal to send troops to ensure he received a fair trial.

Avert a Mini-Civil War

The Sheriff of Owen County confronted Russell, saying he had a warrant for his arrest. Russell showed him his credentials as a United States Marshal, but the Sheriff refused to accept them. Russell refused to surrender. The next day, the Sheriff came with over thirty men, most of whom had no real authority. At least twenty-five of the Sheriff's men were known Klan members. There were groups led by Mose Webster, William and Jim Hoskins, Bill Smoot, and Dick New. Many of these men had not been in Owen County for over a year.

The state's troops arrived at about the same time as the Sheriff's group (mostly Klan members). While the state's troops said they would arrest everyone involved, they did not arrest Smoot or Hoskins or their men. Over a hundred men were chasing Russell until General Eli H. Murray's federal troops arrived just in time.

Russell wrote to Murray, saying, "Had you not opportunely arrived with your forces they would doubtless have murdered us all."

October 1874 Events

In October 1874, a federal grand jury charged several Klansmen. However, all charges were dropped when every witness for the prosecution disappeared. They were likely murdered by the Klan.

Klan attacks started again immediately. Towards the end of October, a mob attacked eastern Shelby County. They whipped three Black men and threatened their employer, Thomas Ford, if he continued to hire Black workers. That same month, Klansmen murdered a teenage Black girl and whipped several farm workers.

Historian George C. Wright noted that a mob went to the home of a Black farmer named Barringer. "Tragically, Barringer's sixteen-year-old daughter responded to the knock on the door and was shot. She was killed instantly." This event was widely reported, but "The murderer of the Barringer girl was never arrested, prosecuted, or jailed."

1875 and Russell's Assassination

Klansmen burned a Black church in Todd County on February 16, 1875.

In June 1875, the State of Kentucky spent thousands of dollars on a court case against Russell. Money was paid to lawyers prosecuting the case, to witnesses against Russell, and to newspaper reporters.

Willis Russell's Assassination

On July 1, 1875, Deputy U.S. Marshal Willis Russell was murdered late at night. An assassin fired a load of buckshot through his window as Russell sat in his home.

Aftermath of the Murder

A Klan member named John W. Brothers was arrested. He agreed to testify against others involved in Klan activities. Warrants were issued for a dozen Klan members, but only four—Bill Smoot, John Onan, Meffert, and A. W. Hall—were caught.

The four Klansmen finally went to trial in November 1875. They were found guilty of working against the government by scaring United States Marshal Willis Russell. However, they were not found guilty of his murder. When sentencing the men, Judge Emmons seemed sorry, saying he believed they were honest, law-abiding citizens, even though a jury had found them guilty. On November 13, 1875, Judge Emmons sentenced Bill Smoot to five years in the prison in Frankfort. Onan received three years. Meffert avoided prison time because he claimed he was injured while chasing the marshal. A. W. Hall was found not guilty. Klan attacks continued in Kentucky through December 1875.

Tom Walker, who testified against Smoot, moved out west after the trial. He became wealthy and lived to be an old man.

On March 3, 1877, President Ulysses S. Grant pardoned W.F. Smoot, Simon Margolyes, and Davis Cox. Smoot served less than a year and a half of his five-year prison sentence.