File:Frank Eugene Farnsworth (1868-1926) obituary in the The Boston Globe of Boston, Massachusetts.png

Ex-King Kleagle Of Klan In Maine Dead. F. Eugene Farnsworth Was Also President of the Loyal Coalition Had Varied Career. F. Eugene Farnsworth, president of tho Loyal Coalition and former King Kleagle of the Ku Klux Klan in Maine, died in the Phillips House, Massachusetts General Hospital, last right. Farnsworth came originally from Eastern Maine, but lived in that State for a comparatively short time. While still a youth he moved to St Stephen, X B, and there he became an apprentice to a barber. After completing his term as an apprentice In the barber school Farnsworth turned his talents to the cause of the Salvation Army and for a long time lie proved a valuable asset to the street-corner meetings which have made that organization so famous. Tiring of this work he took up the study of hypnotism and gave exhibitions In a number of New England cities from time to t!m. J Following an unhappy incident in Woonsocket, as the result of a demonstration he was holding there, he secured a position as a photographer on a Boston newspaper, where he worked for some eight years. He next came Into the limelight as a lecturer, giving travel talks, but this work proved unremunerative, and he went into the moving picture business, operating a studio in Medford, where he lived for some time. Ills Medford project was not successful, and he next became known to the public apflrfn whifi he was identified with the Society Players' Film Company. This company was organized in 1916, and, after three years, passed out, of existence. Later he became Identified with the Ku Klux Klan in Maine, and was elected King Kleagle there. Had Stormy Time as Klansman. He had a rather stormy existence nubile head of the Klan, and, was an earnest worker in that order. On the eve of the Portland, Me, elections In 1923 he spoke before a large gathering In that city, and the Invitation cards were Issued to Klansmen and friends" to head "the best loved and most hated man in Maine. He was given the appellation of doctor and professor by many of his Maine friends, but he always asked them to leave off these titles, as he was Just a plain dub from the State of Maine. For some time he-worked tirelessly to make Oct 12 a Klan holiday In Portland, but his dream was never realized. In 1923, when the Klan movement was at its peak in the Portland elections, it was Farnsworth who was the prime mover and made possible to a great extent the big landslide there. Farnsworth was the man who so Increased the membership of the Klan in Maine that the organization grew from .but a handful of men in 1921 to 15,000 to 20,000 members two years later, and for a time. Just after he had taken charge of the activities In that State, the Klan took in new members at the rate of 1000 a week. This city will remember him not only as a leader of the Klan movement, but also as a lecturer, for it was here that he gave' his first lecture as a travel-talker, at Tremont Temple In 191L Klan. lie was charged, at that time, with showing lack of secrecy and treason to the Klan by attempting to build up an Independent organization. , At the time of his resignation he attributed his leaving to Ill-health' and the feeling that a younger and stronger man could carry on the work while he recuperated, and 'he emphatically denied that he was forced to resign because of any charges of fraud or treason. Farnsworth was the exponent of the Klan in Massachusetts, and spoke at the first meeting of the Klan in this State, held In Worcester on Sept 27, 1923. The meeting was attended by a large crowd, despite the proclamation issued by Mayor Sullivan, 'calling on the citizens of Worcester not to attend. In Portsmouth, N H, he met with stern opposition on attempting to gain a foothold for the Klan there. " Farnsworth once said in an interview, I always enjoy attacks upon myself, and as leader of the "most talked-of organization In the country" he bore the brunt of many. Abandoned Plan for Parade Here. ' On September 6, 1923, he was the subject of a speech of Ex-Aliayor Curley, when he attempted to bring the Klan to (Boston, and his pans to hold a huge parade here were finally abandoned. His career as head of the Klan ended In 1921, when he tendered his resignation as King Kleagle at a special meeting of the Klansmen, held April 21. This resignation followed an investigation which it was said disclosed the fact that his general character was not in accord with the principles of the i ...

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