Claude Kline "C.K." McDowell was born in Bent County Colorado to H.H. and Anna McDowell. At some point in his early life he lost a leg to amputation. He married Beulah May Weatherford in Fowler, CO on May 10, 1914. C.K. worked in the coal fields of southwest Missouri as a bookkeeper for the Sherwood Lester Coal Company near Liberal, MO. In 1922 he was the superintendent at the Southern Illinois Coal Company's Lester Strip Mine near Herrin, Williamson County, IL. during the union coal strike of 1922. On June 22, 1922, over 50 employees of the mine surrendered to the striking miners after a battle and were promised safe passage out of the county. During the march to town from the mine the defenseless men were shot down leaving 20 dead. CK McDowell, as the superintendent, had been beaten and unable to keep up due to his amputated leg, was killed first. The incident is part of the history of "Bloody Williamson" and known as The Herrin Massacre. CK's body was brought back to Colorado by his father and buried at Riverside Cemetery. Besides his wife Beulah May, he was survived by his parents and brothers Lawrence, Horace, John and Ernest and sister Margret.
Claude Kline "C.K." McDowell was born in Bent County Colorado to H.H. and Anna McDowell. At some point in his early life he lost a leg to amputation. He married Beulah May Weatherford in Fowler, CO on May 10, 1914. C.K. worked in the coal fields of southwest Missouri as a bookkeeper for the Sherwood Lester Coal Company near Liberal, MO. In 1922 he was the superintendent at the Southern Illinois Coal Company's Lester Strip Mine near Herrin, Williamson County, IL. during the union coal strike of 1922. On June 22, 1922, over 50 employees of the mine surrendered to the striking miners after a battle and were promised safe passage out of the county. During the march to town from the mine the defenseless men were shot down leaving 20 dead. CK McDowell, as the superintendent, had been beaten and unable to keep up due to his amputated leg, was killed first. The incident is part of the history of "Bloody Williamson" and known as The Herrin Massacre. CK's body was brought back to Colorado by his father and buried at Riverside Cemetery. Besides his wife Beulah May, he was survived by his parents and brothers Lawrence, Horace, John and Ernest and sister Margret.
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