Transcription of Investigation into Peter J. Epp's Request for a US Passport
This is the last blog posting about the request of a Church of God in Christ, Mennonite farmer in Oklahoma who was seeking a passport to look after business and family interests in Mexico.
It's a transcription of the FBI report - and fascinating reading.
Report made by: Place where made: Date when made: Period for which made:
M.K. Blount Oklahoma City 4-18-19 4-20-19
Title of case and offense charges or nature of matter under investigation:
In Re: Peter J. Epp Passport Request for Mexico
Statement of operation, evidence collected, names and addresses of persons interviewed, places visited, etc.
Agent at Homestead, Okla.
Referring to above letter, under date of April 5th, with initials of MDA, relative to request made by subject for passport to visit Mexico, this date I left Alva, Oklahoma at 12:40 P.M. by way of the Rock Island and arrived in Homestead, Oklahoma at 4 P.M. I called at the home of subject, who resides five miles northwest of Homestead, Oklahoma. Stated that he was 54 years of age; that he came to the United States at the age of twelve with his father, Peter J. Epp, now deceased. That is is of German descent, and was born in Einlage, Russia; that his forefathers lived in Germany and that he could not recall the name of the town. Stated that he was a member of the Church of God,[1] and that on account of his religious belief, he was opposed to war, and for this reason, in the past war with Germany, he did not contribute in the way of purchasing Liberty Bonds and other war activities except when urged by the patriotic citizens of his community, and the Council of Defense, Fairview, Oklahoma, County Seat of Major County; that altogether he had #300.00 in Liberty Bonds and contributed $30.00 to the Red Cross. That all of this was paid out against his wishes, on account of his religious belief. Further stated that he was a Republican. That in Fairview, Oklahoma, he had a number of friends, most of them being of German descent, who were all Republicans. That since the state of Oklahoma is Democratic, much pressure was brought to bear on the Germans, on account of politics, the Democrats being in the majority. That on account of this political difference, many of the best citizens in Fairview, Oklahoma, were mistreated during the way by being forced to buy Liberty Bonds and contribute to other war activities. That on account of this malice and mistreatment, some of the best citizens in Fairview were moving away to other towns.
Subject stated that he is the owner of 160 acres, upon which he now lives, five miles northwest of Homestead, Oklahoma. That he is the father of twelve children, having been married twice. That he was married in Marion County, Kansas, and lived there until about twelve years ago, when he came to Homestead, Oklahoma.
Subject states that he was naturalized as a citizen of the United States before the District Court of Marion County, Marion, Kansas, on March 28, 1892.
Subject stated that he desired to visit Mexico to look after some timber land that to which he held title. That his primary purpose was to dispose of the timber growing thereon. Subject also stated that he thought some of going there to make it his permanent residence. Subject exhibited abstracts of deeds, showing that he was the owner of the following described tracts of land in Mexico: deed #9060, dated February 17, 1919, from the Mexico Land Securities Company, Kansas City, Missouri, to Peter J. Epp, conveying lots 5 to 12 of Section 74, Fomento, Block one, state of Oaxaca, containing 320 acres, consideration $2400.00. Deed #9017, dated January 26, 1914, from the Mexico Land Securities Company, Kansas City, Missouri, to Peter J. Epp , conveying W1/2 of SE1/4, and SE1/2 of Section 44, Block one, Fomento Tract, containing 240 acres, consideration $1910.16. Deed #9047, dated November 28, 1918, Mexico Land Securities Company, Kansas City, Missouri, to Peter J. Epp, conveying SW ¼ of NW1/4 of Section 44 of the Fomento Block one Tract, state of Oaxaca, Republic of Mexico, containing 40 acres, consideration $300.00.
Subject stated that since purchasing the aforesaid land, he had not been there to look it over, and that he made these purchases on account of the fact that he had a large number of friends who had made investments in Mexico, and thought that it was a safe investment. That he has no connections in Mexico, with the exception of two sons, John Epp, who was born January 16, 1987, and Peter Epp, Jr, who was born August 28, 1898. That these two sons left his home near Homestead, Oklahoma, on or about August 1, 1918. That being opposed to war on religious grounds, he talked the matter over with his sons, and the advisability of going away to evade the draft; that said sons wanted to go north into Canada, where he, subject, has a brother,[2] but he, subject, opposed the idea of going there, telling them that the climate in Mexico was much better, and for that reason a more fit place to live. That his son, John Epp, went to Mexico alone, and while in El Paso, Texas, enroute to Mexico, he wrote him a letter stating that he had registered under the draft in El Paso, Texas. That his son, Peter Epp, Jr., went to Mexico with Jake and Albert Ratzlaff, to whom they are related by marriage; that the Ratzlaff boys, at that time, also lived on a farm with their parents near Homestead, Oklahoma. That one of the Ratzlaff boys was also of draft age, and made his way into Mexico for the purpose of evading the draft.
H.E. Strader, prominent merchant in Homestead, Oklahoma, was interviewed by me, and stated that he had known subject for the past twelve years, he, subject, having come to Oklahoma from some place in Kansas. That subject is a religious crank, and lives to himself, or, rather, in a small settlement of Germans. That during the past war subject and all of his friends were considered unpatriotic, and only contributed to war activities when urged by the patriotic citizens of that community. That the Ratzlaff family was considered very pro-German, so much so that one time they were called before the Council of Defense in Fairview, Oklahoma. That subject did not make any remarks showing his disloyalty, nor did he do any outward acts, with the exception of close association with the Ratzlaff family and others who were considered pro-German, and failed to contribute to any of the war activities except under pressure brought by the patriotic citizens of that community. Strader had never heard of subject owning any land in Mexico, but did verify the statement made by subject relative to his sons, Peter and John, and the Ratzlaff boys leaving sometime in August, 1918 to evade the draft.
Jim Haggard, farmer, who resides near Homestead, Oklahoma, was interviewed and made substantially the same statement as given above by Strader.
Called at the homes of several farmers who live on farms adjoining to subject, and after talking with them, I found that they were all of German descent, and of peculiar appearance to subject, wearing bears, and tending to show that they belonged to the same church as subject. For this reason I did not undertake to question them relative to subject.
Subject further stated that his secondary purpose in going to Mexico was to visit his sons, John and Peter Epp. That he heard from them about a month ago, and they were at that time working on a farm near Mexico City. That he, subject, writes his sons, Peer and John, addressing his letters care of General Delivery, Mexico City. Subject also stated that if his passport to Mexico was granted, he would be unable to go until next fall, after harvest.
Subject was very frank in giving me the above facts, and appeared to be ignorant and half crazy on the subject of religion.
The above facts speak for themselves, without comment, as to the advisability of granting a passport to subject to visit Mexico.
[1] See Schmidt, H. U. (1957). "Major County (Oklahoma, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 11 May 2008 http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/M3485.html for information about Anabaptist churches in Major County, Oklahoma, including a Church of God in Christ, Mennonite in Fairview.
[2] Peter’s brothers as shown in GRANDMA are: Cornelius (1861-1863), John (1862-1863), Cornelius (1866-1867), and his step-brothers are: Cornelius (1870-1933), Abraham (1871-1941), Johann (1873-1876), Johann (1873-1876), John (1885-1937). Of these, the reference above must be to step-brother Cornelius, Abraham, or John since the others died young However, GRANDMA indicates Cornelius and Abraham died in Oklahoma while John died in Kansas. Perhaps the reference to a brother in Canada wasn’t factual, was one of the three step-brothers but who only lived in Canada for a while, the “brother” was actually a faith brother, or a more distant family member who was considered a fictive brother (e.g. a brother in law or cousin).
In kinship and for MHSA,
Judii
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