The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-03
Claiborne Jackson, Oldest Re-
publican VoIsr, is Dead.
WAS BORN AT ALEXANDRIA, VA.
First Saw III, Light fsur Days Before Tho
First President Of tie Republic has
lnausuIaias.

Jackson, O., Dec 3.--There died in this
city yesterday the oldest Republican voter
in the nation IN the person OF Claiborne
jackson. aged 4 y years.
lie MaS born un April 26. 1883 four days
before Washnston's inauguration as
president OF th. new republic ltA saw
the light at Alexandria, VA then the
chief town OF the old dominion. and was
the az REVOLUTIONARY soldier In tho
Virginia line in the continental estsb-
lshment and was an uncle OF Stonewall
Jackson.
This centenarian was ten years Of age
when Washington died and he attended
the funeral OF that great soldier in De-
cembcr. 1899. The obsequies were held in
very cold weather and the attendance
was therefore very small owing 10 the
inadequate facilities for communicating
the news OF the death and the want Of
travelling accommodations.
This venerable patriot lived eight miles
from the Washington estates and often
saw the first president riding about upon
his favorite horse.
His last sight of e...a vas during a vlo-
lent snow storm while the general was
riding about the estate on his last trip.
when he caught the cold that resulted in
his death only few days later.
Mr.. Jackson at his death was older than
this nation-that Is. his birth antedates by
four days Washington's Inauguration as
president. lie was I'm Washington city
two days before the British burned the
capital in the war Of 1912, and was one OF
the drivers who handled the team that
hauled President Madison with many of
the government records and archives over
into Montgomery county. Maryland,
where they were secreted in an old Epis-
copal church on Rock Creek.
Mr.. jackson got has first vote for presi-
dent in lSl2 anu cast IL for Madison and
In 1916 and 1870 he voted for Monroe. Tie
voted for Clay i'm 1874, Adams in ISIS, Gay
an lSS2 Harrison I'm 1850 and 19l0 Cia
in lsl4. Taylor in lSlS. and Scott in 1852,
all Nirginlans. Mr.. Jackson often said.
The Jackson family was anti-slavery
ana never owned slaves. Mr.. Jackson
was only "A poor tenant farmer and I'm
Boo, when the Republican party was or
ganized, he and his son were the only
two voters In the county who cas- their
ballots for John G. Fremont.
However, their votes were not counted.
appearing I'm the returns as scattering" :"
In 1850 he and his son voted for Linz
coin and Hamiin, and that year they were
two OF the six voters In that county SO
10 vote, and their votes were counted
They voted against secession In the
spring OF 1861 and when the state. a few
days later, seeded the patriarch. then y
years of age, moved with his son, the
latter's family and an unmarried daugh-
ter, 10 this county, where his son bought
a little farm.
Ten years ago his son sold the farm and
removed 10 this city, bringing his aged
father with him. Mr. Jackson had al
ways enjoyed splendid eyss'~ht. and last
fall he walked through the now 20 vote
for Judge Nash for governor and az the
last election he voted the straight Ro-
publican ticket and was almost overjoved
when the returns announced Mr.. Mckin-
ley's reelection.