On August 5th, 1898, Melvin Smith was a nearly lynched victim in Elmore County Alabama after being accused of attempted breaking an entering with the intent to rape a White girl. Melvin Smith was a Black man born on September 5th, 1881, in the state of Alabama. Melvin’s home in the 1920’s was located in Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama. As a Black man during the times of the late 19th century, Melvin Smith was able to read and write. Melvin’s occupation revolved around being a laborer for an industry mill. Melvin Smith was the head of his household where he rented his home and was married to a Gussie Smith. Melvin smith also was a part of the World War One Draft, in which he had a medium physical build with black hair and eye color. Melvin along with another Black man by the name of Willie Floyd were both charged for the attempt to rape a young white girl in the Elmore County area. The lack of detailed information and documentation on Melvin Smith is a reflection of the systemic discrimination and marginalization that Black individuals faced in the past. Melvin’s name was misspelled and misrepresented in white newspapers as “Melbie” and “Mettie”. The scarcity and lack of information about Melvin Smith makes it difficult to piece together a complete picture of his life and the experiences he faced with the attempted lynching.
Joe Burney’s friend was the victim of an attempted lynching in Floyd, Elmore County, AL on November 10th, 1912. That Sunday morning Joe Burney and him were riding in a horse and buggy when they met two white women’s buggy on the road. They were then accused of running the buggy off the road, and bumping into it breaking its harness, along with acting uncouthly towards the two white women. The two white women’s father then came and attempted to horse whip Joe and his friend, causing either Joe Burney or his friend, depending on the account to allegedly shoot the man, and then both Joe and his friend to run away into the woods. What then happened to him we aren’t quite sure. Almost all accounts come to a consensus that he successfully either hid out from capture, or escaped somewhere else, be it a neighboring county, or a different state. One account did say “The posse continued on with their determined efforts and have no doubt succeeded either in capturing or killing the other negro ere this.” however it offered no proof of his capture or death and is most likely false, and just propagandizing speculation.
On June 17th, 1898, a black man by the name of Camp Reese was lynched in Wetumpka Alabama by a mob of whites in the area after being accused, along with three other black people, of murdering a old white family named the Carden’s as well as an older white male by the name of Curlee. White Newspapers promoted the killing of the family to be a heist in which the Carden’s were ultimately the ones who paid the price. Camp Reese had so many name variations in many different news articles such as Reese Thompson, Camp Reese, and even Champ Reese. Unfortunately, it is very common for there to be a lack of information about victims of lynching and other acts of racial violence from the past. Many records from that time were not properly kept or have been lost over the years, making it difficult to piece together the full stories of these individuals. Camp Reese is now recognized at the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery Alabama as his name is included on a marker at the memorial, which serves as a somber reminder of the history of racial violence and lynching in the United States.
In the month of August 1899, the son of Peter Lewin, age 15, was lynched near Lovejoy Plantation Road, Eclectic, AL by a white mob after being accused of shooting a white man. He was killed alongside his father, Peter Lewin, age 44. The son of Peter Lewin was born around the year 1894 to parents, Peter and Martha Lewin. He was one of twelve children and lived in the household among them. He was in the middle of twelve children in the Lewin household Some of his siblings ‘names included Emmanuel (Manuel), Daisy, Charles, Sarah, Peter Jr., Edward, Willie, Addie, Zedakiah, and Rose. After his death alongside his father, his mother remained in Elmore County, took on the role as the head of the household, rented out a farm, Cand became a farm conductor and employer. Around 1910, his mother and remaining siblings that lived in the household relocated back to Tallapoosa County, rented out a new farm, and became farm employers and laborers. His older sister, Daisy, had married Floyd Blue and had three children named Lillie Mae, John, and Doc. His brother, Manuel, moved away from Elmore and relocated to Brighton, Alabama. He also found work as a coal miner, married a woman named Nancy and had six children.
In the month of August 1899, Peter Lewin, age 44, was lynched near Lovejoy Plantation Road, Eclectic, AL by a mob of masked men after being accused of shooting Jordan Hall, a white man. He was killed alongside his fifteen-year-old son in this tragedy. Peter Lewin was born in the year 1855 in Dadeville, Tallapoosa, Alabama. Much is not known about his younger years but on December 25, 1879, he wedded his wife, Martha Pounds in Tallapoosa County. He worked as a laborer while his wife kept the house. They had at least two children together, with one of their sons being named Manuel.
Sol Jackson was born circa 1850 in Alabama. He married Emeline Jackson, and together they had three daughters named Betsey born 1870, Mary born 1872, and Viney born 1878. His family lived in many places around Elmore County, such as Mitchell’s Mill, also known as Ware, and Riddle. His only known job was that of a laborer. Like Sol, neither his wife nor his daughters could read or write. Sol Jackson was lynched on June 17, 1898 near Riddle, Elmore County, Alabama by a mob numbering at least 150 people after being accused of the murder of William Carden, Amy Carden, William Curlee. He was “strung up” and “riddled with bullets”. Sol Jackson was just one of four lynched that day
Lewis Spear was born circa 1861 in Alabama. He and Ella Spear, ńee Pearson were married on December 24th, 1879. Together they had a total of 7 kids. The names known to us are Gaddis born 1884, Calvin born 1888, and Milton Spear born 1891. He and family lived and worked in Riddle community, roughly 7 miles northwest of Wetumpka, of Elmore County. Throughout his life, Lewis worked almost exclusively as a farm laborer. The people who he often worked for, William Carden and Randolph Curlee, were prominent farmers hailing from western Georgia. His last known place of residence is on the land George W. Howard. Despite him working on farms for nearly fourty years, he was never able to own his land, and remained a tenant farmer up until his death. In the face of targeted harassment by law enforcement and his numerous appearances in court, he was only ever convicted of crimes twice. Throughout his imprisonment, he was a victim of the convict leasing system, where he was leased out to at least two individuals and a local lumber company. As of 1910, only one of his seven kids was still alive, and their name is not known. After her husband’s death, Ella Spear eventually moved to Verbena, Alabama at some point between 1900 and 1910. Even though she could not read nor right, she went on to own her own home there. Lewis Spear was lynched on June 17, 1898 near Riddle, Elmore County, Alabama by a mob numbering at least 150 people after being accused of the murder of William Carden, Amy Carden, William Curlee.
On July 14th, 1898, John Durrett, of unknown age, was lynched in Coaling, Alabama, at his house by a group of citizens of unknown size. He was accused of attempting to start a race war over the lynching(s) of Robert Harris (and/or) Sidney Johnson. John Durrett was a local to Coaling, Alabama.
On July 13th, 1898, Robert Harris, around 30 years old, was lynched in Coaling, Alabama, by a railroad by an unknown amount of white townspeople after being accused of assaulting two white women. Harris was said to be accompanied by another African-American man, Sidney Johnson. Robert Harris was a six-foot, mixed man supposedly from Perry County.
On July 13th, 1898, Sidney Johnson, around 30 years old, was lynched in Coaling, Alabama, by a white mob of 20 men after being accused of assaulting two white women. Sidney Johnson is supposedly from Perry County.
On December 1, 1894, Lewis Brown, age unknown, was lynched in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in front of H.P Walker & Co. by a white man. His lyncher claimed it was for self-defense. Before being lynched, Lewis Brown worked as a miner at the local hospital.
On November 18, 1894, Harrison Swilley, age unknown, was lynched in Hulls, Alabama, outside the home of his white assailant after being accused of threatening the assailant days earlier. Swilley was the son of Prince and Mahala Swilley; the elder brother of Sealy, Ann, and Prince Swilley; and the younger brother of Affey Swilley.
On June 8, 1892, General Norwood, age unknown, was lynched in Big Sandy, Alabama, near the Big Sandy Bridge on Greensboro Road, by two white law enforcement officers who shot him multiple times for allegedly resisting arrest. Norwood lived near the Big Sandy Bridge.
On February 11, 1892, Charles McKelton, age 38, was hanged from a tree in Romulus, Alabama by a mob of 30 white men after being accused of stealing from and burning the stores of two white businessmen. Charles was born in Mississippi in 1851. He was a local farmer and had a wife that resided in Hale County.
On February 11, 1892, John (Pat) Johnson, age 24, was hanged from a tree in Romulus, Alabama, by a mob of 30 white men after being accused of stealing from and burning the stores of two white businessmen in Sylvan, Alabama. Johnson was born in Alabama in 1865. He left behind a wife, who lived in Tuscaloosa.
On July 6, 1891, Wash Bell, about 24 years old, was shot in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, by several white men. Bell was accused of assaulting his wife and seducing a white woman. The men shot and killed Bell the day before his trial. Wash Bell worked on a farm and was the son of Sady and Vaginia Bell, brother to Norborn Bell, and husband to Patsey (Johnson) Bell
On December 27, 1889, Bud Wilson, about 22 years old, was lynched near Old Byler Road in New Lexington, Alabama. Wilson was accused of assaulting a white woman. A white mob of 50 men took Wilson from police custody, shot and then hung him. Wilson left behind a father, Abe Wilson, mother, Marier Wilson, brother, Alexandrew Wilson, and two sisters, Louisa and Mary Wilson.
On April 4, 1888, an unidentified Black woman, age unknown, survived an attempted lynching by a group of three white men near Castle Hill, a historically Black neighborhood in Tuscaloosa. She was shot at several times without provocation and was the first victim of the mob in this attack. She was targeted in addition to Isreal Green and Isaac Craig, but no newspaper or record references her by name.
On April 4, 1888, Isreal Green, 19 years old, survived an attempted lynching by a group of three white men near Castle Hill, AL. Green was shot and left in critical condition. His neighbor, Isaac Craig, survived the same attack. He worked for the rest of his life as a coal miner, providing for his wife, Mattie and his daughter, Hannah.
On April 4, 1888, Isaac Craig, age unknown, survived an attempted lynching by a group of three white men near Castle Hill, AL. After the attack, Craig was said to be in critical condition from the injuries he suffered from the shooting. His neighbor, Isreal Green, survived the same attack. When Craig passed away years later, he was survived by his wife, Savannah, and their four children: Isaac, Mamie, Rosa, and Edna.
