My Genealogy Hound

Allen J. Polk owes his nativity to Mecklenburg County, N. C., where his birth occurred on March 5, 1824. He is the son of Dr. William J. and Mary (Long) Polk, and the grandson of Col. William J. Polk, of Revolutionary fame. Col. Polk started out from Queens College when sixteen years of age, entered the army as lieutenant, and served in different capacities until the close of the war, when he held the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He is said to have been the first man wounded south of Lexington. He died at Raleigh, N. C. This Polk family is the same as that of James K. Polk, and our subject is a grandson of Gen. Thomas Polk, whose name is so intimately connected with the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, or Resolvency, of June 20, 1775. Dr. William J. Polk and wife were natives of North Carolina, born in Mecklenburg and Halifax Counties, respectively, the father on March 21, 1793, and the mother on March 10, 1797. Both died in Columbia, Tenn., the former in 1860, and the latter on September 20, 1885, at the age of eighty-nine years. They were married in North Carolina on June 1, 1818, and in 1836 moved from that State to Columbia, Tenn., where they passed the closing scenes of their lives. In 1848 Dr. Polk sent his son, Allen J. Polk, to Phillips County, Ark., to purchase land, and the latter is now living on land purchased in 1849. Dr. Polk was a graduate of Jefferson School of Medicine, but during his later years he was engaged exclusively in planting. In his political views he was a Whig, and took a deep interest in politics. He was president of the Bank of Tennessee, at Columbia, for many years, and was a man universally respected. He and wife were members of the Episcopal Church. Allen J. Polk received his education at the University of North Carolina, and in 1845 began the study of law at Columbia, Tenn., being admitted to the bar at that place in 1846. He practiced law for one year, and in 1849 commenced planting, which occupation he has since followed, although he has met with many reverses. In 1859 Mr. Polk married Miss Fitzhugh, daughter of Clark Fitzhugh, and the fruits of this union were four living children: Mrs. Susan Keesee (of Helena), Mrs. Anna Pepper (of Memphis), Zelda and Robbin. Mrs. Polk is a member of the Catholic Church. She is a grandniece of Gen. George Rodgers Clark, who captured the Northwest Territory. Mr. Polk is a member of the Masonic order and a Democrat.