C. T. Suddeth

Politics as Usual

Men carrying guns at political rallies is nothing new. My grandma (Ova Short Suddeth) had a brother, Sam Short. In 1912, he got moonshined up and rode his horse into a political rally, “To hell with the democrats!” (Not certain; he could have said Republicans) He was promptly shot off his horse. His wounds must not have severe—by 1917 he was a Doughboy fighting in France. Though he lived to be 88, he did not learn his lesson—that is another story.

[Burkesville, Kentucky, Cumberland County Courthouse, where the shooting likely happened]