Collection Title: Jackson Purchase Oral History Project - Night Riders
Series Number: OH081
Interviewee: Gream, Willie
Interviewer: Susan Jones
Date interviewed: November 19, 1973
Processed by: Sheree Wise
Date processed: July 15, 2010
Description: 1 sound disc (20 minutes)
Abstract: Willie Gream recalls meeting members of the Night Riders in Calloway County, Kentucky. Not one of them spoke to him but he did notice many of them were riding grey mules. He further discusses the activities of the Night Riders, such as scrapping tobacco plants. He remembers that the Night Riders wanted to raise the price of tobacco and that they tarred and feathered those who opposed their ideologies. Gream also discussed the fact that he was never bothered by the Night Riders since he was a member of the "Association" and worked at an "Association" tobacco farm. He briefly mentioned that the Night Riders did not harass African Americans in Calloway County but offered no reasons why.
Biographical / Historical note: Willie Gream was born in Calloway County, Kentucky in 1892. He moved away from Kentucky for about forty years to work for the railroad. He returned to Calloway County to become a part-time farmer and brick layer.
General information: No user access to original recordings. Use audio user copies, digital derivatives, transcripts, and/or tape indexes. This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code). Permission for reproduction must be requested from Murray State University.
Subject Headings / Descriptors:
Gream, Willie, 1892-
Calloway County (Ky.) – History.
Night Riders
Research Notes: Abstract included with oral history.
