Nebraska County Countdown: 77 – Garden County, Ku Klux Klan Encounter

Welcome to Garden County, Nebraska! Named after the residents’ aspiration of creating the “Garden of the West”, replicating the Garden of Eden, Garden County has a population of around 2,000 people. The largest town and county seat is Oshkosh, Nebraska, named after Oshkosh, Wisconsin. We have had a Wisconsin town in our state this whole time…

In 1987, the Garden County Historical Society published a book Helen M. Robinson’s recollections, which contains memories of Mrs. Robinson and other citizens about the history of the County and towns within.

Here is a part I found interesting occurring on June 5th, 1925.

Dr. Stewart of Kansas City was speaker – national lecturer for the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, delivered an address on the aims, purposes and principles of the Order. The meeting began at 8:30 o’clock, but the crowd commenced to gather at six o’clock, some taking their lunch. The speaker’s platform was placed at the bottom of a sloping hill close to green #2 on the golf course and the big audience was compelled to park their cars at the entrance of the golf course, some being requested to park their cars near the speaker’s stand to provide light for the occasion should any of the gas lamps go out or refuse to work. As soon as it became dark, four fiery crosses illuminated the heavens and the spectacle was beautiful to behold. The white robed figures passing to and fro through the crowd and along the hillside, reminding one of that great day when the Son of Man will descend from the heavens and gather unto himself those who have kept faith and followed in His footsteps. The Lewellen band furnished patriotic music and a quartet of ladies gave several vocal selections. Rev. Goodwin offered prayer.