The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-11-16
VOTED THREE TIMES.
AND EACH TIME HIS BALLOT WAS
CAST FOR HENRY CLAY.

AND EACH TIME HIS BALLOT WAS
CAST FOR HENRY CLAY.
The Devotion of Judge Jimmy DOlnn
of Missouri to N Political Ideal.
The Only Man For Whom He Ever
Voted For President.
Judge Jimmy Dolan lived in the back
settlements Of Cass county, Mo-, when
the only voting place was the county
seat. He had to ride Al miles to cast
his vote. The journey consumed two
days at best, and if the creek was up he
counted ON an extra day.
His wife packed his saddlebags for the
trip. In one side was extra clothing, in
the other food, for there was only one
stopping place between his farm and the
courthouse. Several ears of corn fur
nished the filling in for either pocket Of
the saddlebags. These were for the
faithful animal which never SHE'D or
stumbled.
Judge Jimmy never failed to reach the
county seat ON the morning of the day of
election. He dismounted and tied his
horse to the rack on the public square.
He went direct to the courthouse, was
sworn and voted. He exchanged his
views with the judges of election about
the crops and the health of the neighbor-
hood and then did his trading. He usual
ly started on his homeward ride in the
afternoon and rode until night overlook
him. He was familiar with the country
and knew where he could camp out TO
the best advantage. He fed his horse,
built IL fire in the woods, partook of his
L. L. IAl,.
his big blanket about him, lay down in
the stiffness of the forest and slept.
Early morning found him continuing
his ride toward home, which he reached
some time in the night. The hour of his
arrival depended upon the condition of
the road. The bay of his pack of hounds
signaled his near approach. By the time
he reached his home one of his boys was
at the gate to take his horse, and Judge
Jimmy, with his saddlebags thrown over
one arm, entered his double log house
which he had helped to build in order to
have his own place for his bride.
The next day the routine Of farm life
was resumed and was continued often for
weeks without any break. On Sunday
Judge Jimmy expounded the Scriptures to
his family. Occasionally, once in two
months, travelling preacher staid over
night, read his favorite chapters in the
good book, prayed and went on his way.
The next trip to the county seat was
not made until Judge Jimmy Dolan went
to attend the sitting of the county court,
of which he was presiding justice. This
was from two to three months after the
election. according to the needs of the
county. 1t was not until he went to hold
court that Judge Jimmy Dolan heard the
result of the election. There was no
county newspaper. The Weekly Intelli-
gencer, published in a remote part of the
state, reached the county seat, the only
postoffice, with irregularity. Sometimes
there was no mail for weeks. Sometimes
the batch of Intelligencers for Judge Jim
my Dolan's postoffice missed connection,
and there was no news for two months,
except such as might occasionally be
communicated by letter, and the letter
possibly was addressed to one who did
not 60 or send for mail once In three
months.
In 1924 he voted for his first presiden-
tial candidate. Henry Clay, and did not
hear for three months and half that the
election had been decided by the lower
house of congress, which, by the vote Of
Clay himself. elected John Adams, and
later he heard that Clay had challenged
John Randolph. who had denounced him
as blackleg for voting for Puritan.
The second presidential election In
which Judge Jimmy Dolan was interest
ed was in 1882. when Henry Clay was
again his hero and candidate. 1t was
three months after he cast his ballot be-
fore Judge Jimmy Dolan learned that his
candidate had been defeated.
Four years later Judge Jimmy Dolan
made another trip to the polls, camped
out going and on his return as he had
done before, resumed his work on his
farm and did not learn until two months
after his ballot had been cast that Mar
tin Van Buren,, the man whom Dolan
hated because he was Jackson's candi-
date, and Jackson was the man who beat
Clay, had been elected president.
In 1874 Clay was again candidate
for the presidency. The population Of
Judge Jimmy Dolan's county had not in
creased much, and the vote was nearly
the same The county seat was still the
only voting place. Judge Jimmy made
his usual journey, voted for his hero and
returned 1t was six weeks before he
knew that Clay had finally been beaten
for all time. Again Judge Jimmy Dolan
rode homeward in the night. slept in the
woods and reached his place the follow
ing night. For more than a month he
refused to speak except as he gave orders
for the work on his farm.
In 1913. in 1852 and in 1856 Judge
Jimmy Dolan made no journeys to the
polls.
In 1860 precinct was established
nearer his farm. and Uncle Jimmy Dolan.
judge no longer, and three of his sons
went to the polls. He saw his sons vote
for Rreckinridge and Lane, but he cast
no vote.
The civil war followed. Uncle Jimmy
sent five sons to the Confederate army.
He lived to see the cause lost. In his
last hours he said that IL Henry Clay
had been elected there would have been
no civil war. And it was his boast that
he never voted for any man for president
except Henry Clay.-New York Sun.