Alton Milford Young Explained

Alton Milford Young
Birth Date:	24 May 1884 (or 1882)
Other Names:	Joseph Young

Alton Milford Young (May 24, 1884 – July 16, 1950) was the Grand or Imperial Kaliff and the Imperial Kludd of the Ku Klux Klan in New Jersey.^{[1] [2]} The Imperial Kludd is the chaplain of the Imperial Klonvokation and he performs "such other duties as may be required by the Imperial Wizard." The Imperial Kaliff is the second highest position after the Imperial Wizard.^[3]

Biography

He was born on May 24, 1884 (or 1882) in Albany, New York. His parents were migrants from Canada.^{[4] [5]} By 1918 he was the minister for the North Baptist Church in Jersey City, New Jersey.^[5] He received his Doctor of Divinity degree from Alma White College in 1927.^[6] In 1940 he testified before the Dies Committee.^{[1] [7]} Young and Arthur Hornbui Bell were ousted from the Klan following the joint meeting on 18 August 1940 of the Klan and the German-American Bund at the Bund's Camp Nordland, near Andover, New Jersey.^[8]

In May 1948, Young converted to Roman Catholicism and began using his baptismal name, Joseph. He died July 16, 1950, at his home in Jersey City, New Jersey, 121 Garrison Avenue, "of a heart ailment".^[9]

Notes and References

1. Encyclopedia: Isaac Landman. The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia ...: An Authoritative and Popular Presentation of Jews and Judaism Since the Earliest Times. Isaac Landman. The Universal Jewish encyclopedia . 1942 . The Reverend A. M. Young, former Grand Kaliff of the Ku Klux Klan in New Jersey, and Arthur Hornbui Bell, Klan organizer, the two men apparently responsible for the ... .
2. N. Matveyeva . . The Ku Klux Klan Today . 1956 . According to the evidence of Alton M. Young, a Klansman of 30 years' standing who was Imperial Kludd (the highest post after the Imperial Wizard) and who ... .
3. Book: Chester L. Quarles . Chester L. Quarles . The Ku Klux Klan and related American racialist and antisemitic organizations . 1999 . . Imperial Kludd: Is the Chaplain of the Imperial Klonvokation and shall perform such other duties as may be required by the Imperial Wizard .... 0-7864-0647-X .
4. His obituary says that he was a native of Texas but in the 1920 US census for Bayonne, New Jersey he is listed as born in New York with his parents born in Canada. His obituary lists his age as 68 but based on the birthday used in the World War I draft registration he was 66. He listed himself as 38 in the 1920 US census, which would have his birth year as 1882, and his age at death as 68.
5. [:File:Young-Alton 1918.jpg|Alton Milford Young in the World War I draft registration of 1918]
6. News: Zarepath Colony Institution in New Jersey Confers High Honors for First Time. . For the first time in its history Alma College, at Zarepath, near Bound Brook, N.J., conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity during its commencement exercises, which took place last week. ... Dr. A. M. Young, recipient of a degree at the commencement, was at one time King Kleagle of the New Jersey Klan. . . June 19, 1927 . 2009-07-06 .
7. Book: Investigation of Un-American Propaganda Activities in the United States . 1944 . . I am former grand kaliff of the State, which is vice Grand Dragon. ... I was made grand kaliff the day Mr. Bell was made grand dragon and I don't quite ... .
8. Book: David Mark Chalmers . David Mark Chalmers . Hooded Americanism: The History of the Ku Klux Klan . Duke University Press . 1987 . 323 . Arthur Bell and Rev. AM Young, the New Jersey Klan secretary were unceremoniously ousted from the Klan despite their long years of dedicated service. ... . registration . 0-8223-0772-3 .
9. News: Dr. Joseph Young . Dr. Joseph Young, formerly known as the Rev. Alton Milford Young, died here today at his home, 121 Garrison Avenue, of a heart ailment. ... . . July 17, 1950 . 2011-11-09 .