Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1899 — PRESIDENTIAL ROLL CALL. [ARTICLE]

PRESIDENTIAL ROLL CALL.

Captain Dolan’s Chain Unbroken Untit a Girl Was Born. James Monroe Dolan lived for more than fifty years on the farm he bought In 1835. He was a Virginfan, and, having owned a flat-boat on the James River, was known as “captain.” He was a patriotic American, and his ambition was to have each of his children named after a President, provided they were boys. He lived to see eight Presidential namesakes grow up about him. He used to say that his family was part of the history of his country. Strangers and neighbors who stayed all night at Captain Dolan’s farmhouse could hear the roll call of the Presidents from Washington to Van Buren, including the latter, early every morning. The old fanner’s acres were broad, and he was one of the first cattle kings of that part of the country. Hence ft was necessary for him to get his boys out early for the work of the day. The house, like most farmhouses of that time, was a double log structure, with an entry between, which was used as the storeroom. Into this entry old Captain Dolan went every morning at 6 o’clock and called the roll of the Presidents, who were asleep in one wing of the house. For many years the following roll-call was strictly attended to, in the order given: “Washington, Washington, Washington!” The young man of that name was expected to answer on the third call, and when he had done so he heard the command, “Come, sir, time to be out.” And then the call proceeded: “John Adams, John Adams, John Adams! Come, sir, time to be out.” John Adams had answered to his name on the third call. The roll continued, and the guest who heard it learned after it was finished that there were two Johns and two Jameses in the family. One of the Johns was always called John Adams, and the other John Quincy. One James was called by his name, the other was Jimmy. After the .birth and baptism of Martin Van Buren Dolan, the father is said to have sighed. He was a Whig, and it was a bitter pill to name one of his boys Andrew Jackson, but he hated Van Buren. However, he said he couldn’t break the chain. Two years ’after Martin Van Buren’s advent the household was brightened by a girl baby. For more than a year this child was known as Sissy, because the father and mother failed to agree on a name. At last, however, the mother gave way, and the ambition of the father was to some extent gratified. He called the girl Henry Clay Dolan, and long after her father’s death, while her brothers were in the Confederate army, and her mother was an invalid, Henry Clay Dolan held the homestead against raiders until under a military order she and her mother were banished. Every member of this family, except its heads, is still living.