Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1844-07-05

| and the COOK, Carr, came upon deck, they
were compelled in order to save their lives
to join the pirates"
A SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF j. X. POLK
the Candidate of the Democratic I'cry for
Presidency.
Mr.. Polk was born in Mecklenburg co.,
North Carolina, on the second of Novem-
her. l795. and consequently, is now in
The for,y.ninth year of his age. His an
ooslors emigrated, more than century
age, from Ireland. The original name
was Pollock +; but an elision of two of the
middle letters has changed the name to a
monoslllable. They first established them
selves in the State of Maryland, where
many of the family still sojourn. Previ
Gus TO the revolutionary war, The branch
of the family from which sprung the dis
tngushed man who is the subject of this
short biography, and who is destined to
| fill one of the most exalted stations in the
world, removed to the neighborhood of
Carlisle in the State Of Pennsylvania, and
thence to the western frontier Of North
Carolina. The part taken by the Polk
family in the>glorious struggle for Anerl-
can Independence is one of rare dlstinc-
zion. On the goth May, more than one
year anterior to the Declaration of indie
pendence, the inhabitants of Mecklenburg
county, the birth place of Mr.. Polk, as
embed, and publicly absolved themselves
from their allegiance to the British crown,
and issued declaration TO that effect -
| The terms of manly eloquence in which
this manifesto was written has caused it to
be termed by some the first Declaration OF
Independence. Col Thomas Polk, the
great,uncle Of James X the presen. Dem
ocratic nominee for tie Presidency, was
one of the prime movers and slgner OF
this first Declaration of Independence -
| The evidence of the authenticity and gen.
uineness Of this interesting document has
been collected by the Legislature of North
CAROLINA, and deposited in the archives OF
the State. The people of Mechlenburg
were, sI.lIoSt to d 1IaH. slaaGcf wings IN
the true acceptalion of The term, and have
ever since been remarkable for their firm
adherence to Democratic principles. AS
an evidence of the unwavering condition
of the Democracy Of the people of Meek
Ienburg county, it has often been observed
of them, in style of humor and pleasant
ry, that, at the last war, they took up arms
six months before the Government and
did not lay them down until twelve months
after. In the mighty struggle for indie
pendence, the relatives of MIR. Polk DIS
tinguished themselves. To be allied to
such people, to be the descendant OF
such an ancestry is fit subject OF honor'
able pride The American people ever
have manifested an affeciionate regard tor
the heroes, sages and martyrs of the Rev
olu.iDn. They furnish proof that Repub'
lies are not ungraeiul.
The father of Mr.. Polk was farmer OF
unassumiDg pretentions, but enierprising
character. In early life he was thrown
upon his own resources, and became the
archilec. of his own fortune. He was a
warm supporter of Jefferson. and through
life firm and consistent Republican. In
the autumn of 1906 he removed to Iennes-
see and settled on the fertile valley OF the
Duck river, then wilderness, but now
the most flourishing and populous portion
of the State. In this region MIR. Polk
still resides; so that it may be said of him
that be has grown with lis growth and
strengthened with It's strength. Ofcourse
in the in the infancy of the country the
j.. opportunities for instruction could not be
very great; still he acquired the elements
Of GOOD English education. The con.
s,itoiIon of MIR. Polk being feeble, his
father determined, against the will OF his
son, to make commercial man OF HIM
and with this view, placed him with
merchant. He remained, however, but
} few weeks in situation so adverse TO hi;
wishes, and incompatible with his taste
In July, 1918, he was placed under tht
care of the Rev. DR.. Henderson. and sub
,, sequently at the Academy Of Murireesbo
rough, Tennessee, then under the charg'
of Mr.. Samuel p. Black, justly celebrate'
as classic teacher. In the autumn O.
1915, he entered the University OF Nortl
9 Carolina, having in abou: two years and
y half, thoroughly prepared himself to com
mence his collegiate, course. upon VIVA
;, slender threads, sometimes hangs the DIES
J. ,nies Of a mans life A little more. AM
+ James X. Polk, the candidate for the Pres
e idency in 1914, in spite of his Democrat
: origin and early tendencies might hav
: been Wing merchant, dealing out anthe
!, mas against General Jackson and MART
: Van Buren, Cor their Incorporating op
position to National Bank.
: This hasty sketch furnishes another ev
idence of talent and perseverance triumph
> ing over great difficulties in early III
= So frequent are instances OF this kina' 'h'
!, il would almost seem, that real talent Q