Election Riot of 1874

Election Riot of 1874 occurred on November 3, 1874 near Comer, Alabama.

Location of historical marker

Located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 82 and Barbour County Road 49 near Comer, Alabama.Marker Dedication or Erection Date: July 19, 1979

Text

Near here is Old Spring Hill, the site of one of the polling places for the November 3, 1874 local, state and national elections. Elias M. Keils, scalawag and Judge of the City Court of Eufaula was United States supervisor at the Spring Hill ballot box. William, his 16 year-old son, was with him. After the polls closed, a mob broke into the building, extinguished the lights, destroyed the poll box and began shooting. During the riot, Willie Keils was mortally wounded. The resulting Congressional investigation received national attention. This bloody episode marked the end of the Republican domination in Barbour County.

Erected by the Historic Chattahoochee Commission, 1979.

External links

* [http://www.hcc-al-ga.org/tour_markers.cfm?GetPage=1&County=1 Historic Chattahoochee Commission ]