TOMS RIVER, NJ – You might have heard that Toms River and Ocean County were once a hotbed of activity for the Ku Klux Klan, but did you know that the KKK actually controlled the political power base in the county in the 1920s? More ironic is that the KKK Republican was based out of Lakewood, now a primarily Orthodox Jewish community.
How times have changed?
Dr. Clinton Fogg, an outspoken member of the Ku Klux Klan Wins GOP primary
In 1923, Dr. Clinton O. Fogg of Lakewood defeated Ulysses S. Grant, a former surrogate of the county. Yes, his name was Ulysses S. Grant; we’re not making this up.
Grant was one of the more prominent members of the Republican party and was supposed to win the 2023 election, but he lost. Not only did he lose, but he was severely beaten by another candidate in that 1923 primary election, Philip S. Bailey of Toms River.
U.S. Grant ran for Sheriff in 1924
Fogg eventually won the general election in a landslide. A massive five-mile parade was held from Point Pleasant to Toms River and was also described in the newspapers at the time as a Klan celebration.
Grant later claimed that he was double-crossed and knifed by his friends in politics.
In 1924, after being defeated by KKK member Fogg and beaten physically by Bailey, who had the backing of the Republican “gang,” as they were known at the time, Grant decided to run again as Sheriff, but he lost to Charles F. Pearce of Point Pleasant by 179 votes.
There was a three-way primary election for Freeholder and the Klan once again played a major role in that election through the support of Dr. Fogg.
The race was between Frank T. Holman, of Whitesville in Jackson, William T. Bewberry of Point Pleasant, and Howard Applegate of Toms River. It was never reported publicly which member had the backing of the influential Klan.
Applegate ended winning the primary election defeating Holman by 263 votes.
Source: Newspapers.com