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The Civil War Era  The county of Christian was organized by an act of legislature on the 8th day of March, 1859. When the Civil War broke out, the people of the county were divided on whether or not Missouri should succeed from the Union. At an election held in February, 1860, 108 votes were in favor of secession, and 800 votes were against. During the greater part of the war, the county was held by Federal troops, though the secessionists, for several months, had almost complete control. General Curtis and Heron were in Christian County during this time, and the area became a theater for many assaults while forces--large and small--marched and countermarched over her territory. Citizens' properties were taken by both armies, and in many cases, lands were seized by men without authority.At the close of the war, in 1865, the county was almost depopulated; however, a large number of citizens who had left, soon returned to their homes. Consequently, efforts were conducted to repair the terrible damage of war, while other improvements were also made. According to statistics, in 1870, out of nearly 360,000 acres of land in the county, 32,738 acres of land were improved. The unimproved lands were partially covered with timber, while at that time, a generous amount of the county was prairie 'd (known to grow as tall as a man). In the open expanses of the county, elk, sal deer and buffalo could be seen for quite a distance. The Bald Knob Era --Setting the Stage In January 1885, the inception of the Bald Knobs organization in Taney County would, for two years, drastically affect the socio-political and legal infrastructure of Southwest Missouri. Eventually spreading to Christian and Douglas counties, they became a disputed topic of conversation among residents, but also attracted the attention of many metropolitan newspapers throughout the United States. Christian and surrounding counties were sharply divided by Civil War sentiment, and most of the able bodied men went away to the cause of their choice for a period of four long years. While they were away, bushwhackers and other lawless men terrorized the hills, robbing, stealing, burning, and many times, killing defenseless people in cold blood. When the war concluded and men in faded and tattered blue or gray returned to their hills, they found a desolated land with county governments influenced and controlled, in many instances, by lawless elements. Chaos prevailed, and crimes went unpunished in many communities. On September 23, 1883, a cold blood murder was committed in Forsyth, Mo. The murderer was tried and released, but the night after the murderers discharge, thirteen citizens met in the back of a Forsyth store and organized under the name of "League of Law and Order." These men, all considered reputable in their community, took an oath to "assist in the enforcement of the law, to report all lawbreakers; to assist one another." They agreed to congregate for their second meeting on a certain "bald knob" in Taney Co. where eavesdroppers could not approach without being seen. Hence, the nick-name, "Bald Knobs" defined their exciting and controversial organization until the final curtain was drawn by Zach Johnson, Sheriff of Christian County, Missouri, on May 10, 1889. --The Beginning  The Bald Knobs grew rapidly and soon spread to Christian Co. Meetings were held for initiation of new members, and to form a court for alleged law violators. Groups of men were divided into companies, each with a captain, and they road horseback through the night. Known law-breakers, especially thieves, were taken from their homes at night and punished, usually by flogging with a whip or hickory branch. Wife beaters, lazy men who would not support their families, couples living together without the benefit of the clergy, and others of doubtful character, were "warned out". The usual procedure was to ride to the cabin of someone designated for a night visitation, fire a few shots in the air, and yell him out. A "Knobber," with a solemn bass voice gave him instructions. Sometimes it was to correct his personal habits, or a more serious pronouncement that he was to leave the county within a certain number of days. Occasionally a note would be fastened to the door if an unusually literate member happened to be in the visiting group. Should the condemned be unable to read, the warning might be a bundle of hickory switches left on his doorstep. --A Turning Point As time went on, the organization continued to grow, and with growth came the involvement of those with questionable ethics, themselves. Admission rites had undergone considerable change. A candidate to the organization took his position before a captain or the chief. A hangman's rope was placed about his neck. The loose end was thrown over the limb of a tree and held by a member as if the candidate was to be hung. The candidate placed his left hand over his heart and a revolver was presented to his left breast. The right hand was raised, the sacred oath was administered, and the candidate responded "I do". Each member supplied his own mask with details of individual taste. Most wore black, white or red cloth with holes for the eyes, nose and mouth. The holes were usually bound with red yarn. Two long horns graced the top of the head, and the tip of each was adorned with a tassel of red. The mask was to be worn at all meetings and when administering punishment. The member was also required to wear his coat wrong side out so as to make identification more difficult. In 1886 The Taney County group was disband. Many turbulent and ungovernable men filtered into the organization for the sole purpose of satisfying some personal vengeance. Rash and unjust actions took place, and responsibility for such actions were attributed to the Bald Knobs. The original members gradually dropped from attendance and participation in any of the proceedings. Dave Walker, the Chieftain, was known to be a good and honorable man, but he broke down one evening and confessed to a friend that the group had gotten out of control . . . including his own 16 sixteen year old son, William, who was Assistant Chieftain. --The Beginning of the End On March 11, 1887, William overheard someone offhandedly criticize his father, Dave Walker, and quickly went and told him. But Dave Walker recommended they overlook the insult, and called a meeting with the intent of disbanding the group. Unknown to him, Walker's son, William, would take the matter into his own hands. William called upon the help of a neighbor and brother "Knobber", Wily Mathews. They decided that as a last act of the Bald Knobs they would whip the man who had insulted Dave Walker, regardless of Walker's desire. The meeting began at 8:30 PM, and after discussing several issues, the group disbanded. Of the 26 men attending the meeting, only seven actually went home. --The Last Fateful Night They raided the home of the supposed "criminal", but he was not at home, so they went to his father's residence where they eventually found him and his family in a 16 x 18 foot cabin. All were sleeping, most of them on the floor, but were quickly awakened by threats and shouts outside. A fight broke out, and when it was over, two were dead on the floor, and another lay close by, nearly dead from a blow with an ax to the head. Young William Walker was shot in the leg and he was seriously wounded. He dropped his gun, and with the rest of the Knobs, he fled. During the assault, a mask was torn from one of the Knobs by one of the women in the cabin. Later, she was able to testify as to the identification of the individual. --The Outcome Twenty four of those found to be involved in the terrible crime that night were arrested and jailed for their own protection. Later on, nine of those were released, but fifteen were transferred to the Springfield jail. A grand jury convened at Ozark, and indictments for murder were returned against the fifteen held in the Springfield jail, including William Walker. By April 27, 1887 a total of eighty indictments were returned by the grand jury charging various members of the Bald Knobs with various crimes of murder, assault, unlawful assembly, arson, disturbing the peace, and destruction of property. Large crowds of people gathered in Ozark to attend the trials, and some even came in covered wagons, and camped for over a week. --The Chieftains Fate William Walker was sixteen years old at the time of the murders and was seventeen when he went to trial where he was found guilty of murder in the first degree. Dave, his father, was found guilty of murder also. Both were put to death. Before daylight on May 10, 1889 every road into Ozark was clogged with horses, wagons, buggies, and people on foot. At 8:45, Sheriff Johnson read the death warrants and furnished the men with white shirts, collars, black ties, new suits and shoes. At 9:30 the Sheriff strapped the men's hands behind their backs. The men spoke their last words and the Sheriff adjusted the noose about their necks. At precisely 9:55 AM, the trap door sprung and the men fell. A cry of horror went up from the spectators as the new ropes stretched and one of the men's feet touched the ground, another's rope had come off and he lay unconscious on the ground. The third died instantly. The ropes were retied, and as the men were about to be hung again, one of them said, "For God's sake, hurry!" They were hung again . . . this time, successfully. As vindictive subjects of self-proclaimed law, they ironically met their end under the scaffold of a more constitutional edict. |
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©2003, Ozark Chamber of Commerce - All rights reserved 191 N. 17th Street P.O. Box 1450 Ozark, MO 65721 417-581-6139 |
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