A patron of the Pioneer Memorial Public Library was in the other day talking about a man named Joe Brown who was lynched in Whitmer, WV in 1909. He said that he had heard that chief of police of Whitmer, Scott White, admired two pearl-handled pistols of Joe Brown and had confiscated them when he arrested Brown. Later, Brown shot Scott in the head wounding him severely and the townspeople of Whitmer took Joe Brown and hung him for his offenses. What follows is an interesting piece of West Virginia history.
Who Was Joe Brown?
As a amateur historian and folklore follower I had to ask, 'Who was Joe Brown?' It turns out there is quite a bit that has been published regarding this episode in West Virginia history. An article from the now defunct http://www.wvculture.org/history/crime/lynchingbrown.html">Randolph Enterprise from March 25, 1909 reports that, "Joe Brown, a notorious character who had earned the reputation of an outlaw expiated his crime in shooting Scott White, Chief of Police of Whitmer and a son of Wash White mayor of the same town, early last Friday morning when Brown was taken from the jail at Whitmer by an orderly party of masked men and strung up to a flag pole on the principal street of the town."
Just this one paragraph leaves many questions about the events leading up to the lynching of Joe Brown. Allegedly, a party of 50-100 masked men overcame the prison guards at gun point and took Joe Brown to be hung. In a town as small as Whitmer, I speculate that the masked vigilantes would have been known to most. Also, the Chief of Police, Scott White, was the son of Whitmer Mayor, Wash White, implying that the power in the town of Whitmer was held by the White family.
Outlaw or Victim?
Another line from the above-referenced article says, "It was generally understood here that Brown also was to be brought to Elkins to have his arm dressed but these plans were altered and Brown retained in the Whitmer jail." The Chief of Police was taken to Elkins for medical attention on that evening's train. Joe Brown had a shattered shooting arm, and yet he was not taken for medical attention. This might imply that the animosity for Joe Brown was so great that he was left in the jail to suffer and to possibly allow for the capture and lynching to take place. Clearly, Joe Brown had a lot going against him in Whitmer.
The final line in the news article also reveals that, "Learning of the lynching upon his return from Washington, Governor Glasscock immediate[e]ly communicated with the Sheriff and Prosecuting Attorney, insisting upon a complete investigation. It is possible that the lynching may be investigated but it is doubtful if any more information could be secured than is now known for Brown was so cordially hated by the people of Dry Fork that those who composed the lynching party would be protected in every way even by those who did happen to known everything connected with the lynching." To this researcher's knowledge, no one was ever held accountable for the death of Joe Brown.
So, who was Joe Brown? Where did he come from? What are the true facts of his life and death? According to the same article, Joe Brown was born in Tazewell County, Virginia around 1861. He was hung around 1:30am on Friday, March 19, 1909. The story made the http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F20E13FA3E5D12738DDDA90A94DB405B898CF1D3">New York Times. This article says that Brown was hung from a telegraph pole while others say it was a flag pole. Either way, it was not a pretty sight. There is a photograph that was published of the dead man hanging but I will spare gentle readers from this sight.
According to historian David Armstrong, Joseph Brown was born in Tazewell County, Virginia, on June 29, 1868, to parents William Patton Brown and Lucinda (Whitt) Brown. Joe Brown married Susan Snyder Summerfield in Harman, WV. Brown's death record gives him a first initial of "W." and indicates that he was married and aged 45 at his death. I do like that Armstrong tries to give more positive attributions to Brown, but by most accounts he was a violent alcoholic and sure shot who enjoyed shooting men's suspenders off for fun.
Side Effects of the Lynching
The lynching of Joe Brown had many repercussions. In the book "Transforming the Appalachian Countryside" by Ronald L. Lewis, it is stated that Joe Brown had a sock stuffed down his throat after he was lynched in an attempt to speed up the dying process. Lewis also says that Whitmer could not get a liquor license approved two months later perhaps due to the drunken and violent nature of Joe Brown and his lynching. In an anecdotal telling of the tale on http://www.wvangler.com/2/post/2012/07/a-lynching-in-whitmer.html">WV Angler, it is said that the lynch mob spent some time drinking before they did the deed.
On December 13, 1911, The Randolph Enterprise reports that Charles Edward Hedrick committed suicide because he was involved in the lynching of Joe Brown and could not resolve his actions. He was found by the railroad tracks with a self-inflicted bullet to the head. Hedrick was once a constable of the Dry Fork district and later served as chief of police for Whitmer.The real facts about Joe Brown, who he was, and what happened over a hundred years ago in a remote rural town in West Virginia may never be known. What is fascinating is that people today are still talking about it and asking questions about the life and death of Joe Brown. There is no doubt that in the 19th century, wild and wonderful West Virginia was also wild and wooly.
Good article Mary!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this interesting piece of our history!
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good article on Joe Brown. My grandmother, Edna White Elza, told me when I asked her about the hanging was that all the men involved in the hanging "died with their shoes on". I ask her what this meaning of this was and she replied, "each one died a long and suffering death". His name was William Joseph Brown. You might wonder how I know this, it's because Joe Brown was a friend of my Grandparents. Also, it should be known that Scott White did not die that night, he lived for many years after the shooting. Again thanks for reading between the lines.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that clarification of Joe Brown's first name. And you are right, Scott White did recover from the gun shot to the face. And thank you for your family info that has been passed down. That is awesome that you were listening. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy G-mother Gladys Mallow/Mullennex was the step daughter of Scott White. Heard many stories about Joe Brown. Joe Brown was from Va.. was in jail there for a few years. Came to WV and married a woman from Harman..he cut her throat and went to prison..later he broke out...went to Whitmer...shot Scott White under the right eye...ran into the mountains....was shot in the right arm and he shot a couple of the guys...was hung that night...nobody ever told on anyone...there is a post card that shows a picture of a lady and child standing under the body on the pole..that was Ada Kimble/White with her oldest child Grace also a step child to Scott. Scott and Ada had around 15 or so children together.
ReplyDeleteMy mother was Anna White born in Whitmer(Little Italy) in 1919, since deceased. Her father was John Wesley White. He was a logging foreman. My mother told me he was a feared man in the area. Scott White is a descendent of mine. My mother gave me a photo of Joe Brown hanging in Whitmer.
ReplyDeleteScott White was my Great-grandfather. My mother, Helen Purkey Hutchison, was the daughter of Mary White, one of Scott White's daughters. My mother lived on the farm in Whitmer with her grandparents, Scott and Ada during the summers. She often reminisced with regard to how Scott White always regretted the violence and lynching that took place that night while he was undergoing medical care for his wounds. She also recounted that prior to the shooting, Joe Brown was drunk and shooting up the town. Her grandfather directed Joe to turn over his guns or leave town in order to protect the safety of the community. Joe Brown agreed to leave town but when Grandfather White went to walk away Brown shot him.
ReplyDeleteTucker Co. Historical Society - Rosemarie Snyder Davis
ReplyDeleteWilliam Joseph Brown was my Great Uncle by marriage. He was married to widow Susan Snyder Summerfield Brown. I have several photos and much information on this. Researched this story for years, much of what was printed was untrue gossip, tall tails, and exaggerations. No he was not a perfect citizen but much of what was claimed was not true such as killing his first wife or any body for that matter. No evidence that he had a first wife. As one reader stated above I have the names of those involved and they all died terrible deaths and several could not live with it afterwards. several of the ring leaders were brough to trial in Randolph County Court but it went no where witnesses and families were threatened and many left the area the others just said nothing. Thew records can still be viewed in the court records. I have stories from Susan's son about what happened as he told to his children. There is a lot more to the story and lot of the true story has been lost. I was lucky enough to talk to several who remember him well. Maybe someday I will write my families story along with Joe and Susan's story.
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ReplyDeleteHi my name is Kevin Snyder I would like to talk to you how do I that
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