Walter F. Bossert
Encyclopedia
Walter Frederick Bossert (27 April 1885 - 14 January 1946) was Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan
for Indiana
and 17 other states, from 1924 to 1926.
, then obtained his law degree at Indiana University
in 1907. After several years as a prosecutor and private practice lawyer in Brookville and Terre Haute, Indiana
, he settled in Liberty, Indiana
. There he established a private practice, and later served as attorney for both Liberty and Union County, Indiana
. With his attorney brother Elmer F. Bossert, he was the senior partner in the firm Bossert and Bossert. From 1922 to 1926 he also maintained a law office in Indianapolis, Indiana
. The law firm that he founded in Liberty is now known as Toney & Douglass.
In 1913 he wed Healen Margaret Roach and they remained married until his death.
Bossert was chairman of the Union County Republican Committee from 1910 to 1914, and was Sixth District chairman from 1916 to 1922. He served on the Republican state committee. Bossert assisted national Republican Party
chairman Will H. Hays
and often traveled with Hayes around the U.S.
When Ku Klux Klan powerbroker D. C. Stephenson
was ousted from his position as Grand Dragon, Bossert replaced him. After Stephenson was convicted in 1925 of murder resulting from his violent rape of a female associate, the Klan quickly lost favor with the public and its considerable political clout in Indiana declined. After resigning as Grand Dragon in 1926, Bossert devoted himself to his legal practice and Republican Party politics. He made unsuccessful attempts to secure the Republican nomination for United States senator in 1938 and 1940. In 1943 he was named board chairman of the Indiana Old Age Pension Fund.
Bossert died at his Liberty home, and he was buried at West Point Cemetery on the outskirts of the town.
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
for Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and 17 other states, from 1924 to 1926.
Biography
Bossert was born and attended school in Brookville, IndianaBrookville, Indiana
Brookville is a town in Brookville Township, Franklin County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,625 at the 2000 census. The town is the county seat of Franklin County.-Geography:...
, then obtained his law degree at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
in 1907. After several years as a prosecutor and private practice lawyer in Brookville and Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
, he settled in Liberty, Indiana
Liberty, Indiana
Liberty is a town in Center Township, Union County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,061 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Union County.-Geography:Liberty is located at ....
. There he established a private practice, and later served as attorney for both Liberty and Union County, Indiana
Union County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,349 people, 2,793 households, and 2,072 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 people per square mile . There were 3,077 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile...
. With his attorney brother Elmer F. Bossert, he was the senior partner in the firm Bossert and Bossert. From 1922 to 1926 he also maintained a law office in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. The law firm that he founded in Liberty is now known as Toney & Douglass.
In 1913 he wed Healen Margaret Roach and they remained married until his death.
Bossert was chairman of the Union County Republican Committee from 1910 to 1914, and was Sixth District chairman from 1916 to 1922. He served on the Republican state committee. Bossert assisted national Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
chairman Will H. Hays
Will H. Hays
William Harrison Hays, Sr. , was the namesake of the Hays Code for censorship of American films, chairman of the Republican National Committee and U.S. Postmaster General from 1921 to 1922....
and often traveled with Hayes around the U.S.
When Ku Klux Klan powerbroker D. C. Stephenson
D. C. Stephenson
David Curtiss "Steve" Stephenson was an American Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan in the U.S. state of Indiana and 22 other Northern states. He is considered to have been one of the most successful Klan leaders up until his downfall after his conviction for murder...
was ousted from his position as Grand Dragon, Bossert replaced him. After Stephenson was convicted in 1925 of murder resulting from his violent rape of a female associate, the Klan quickly lost favor with the public and its considerable political clout in Indiana declined. After resigning as Grand Dragon in 1926, Bossert devoted himself to his legal practice and Republican Party politics. He made unsuccessful attempts to secure the Republican nomination for United States senator in 1938 and 1940. In 1943 he was named board chairman of the Indiana Old Age Pension Fund.
Bossert died at his Liberty home, and he was buried at West Point Cemetery on the outskirts of the town.
External links
- Walter Frederick Bossert at Findagrave.com