Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-07-16
from the Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Biographical Sketch of
AMES KNOX POLK,
LATE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

LATE PkESlDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
James Knox Polk, the eleventh President of the
United States, was the eldest of ten children, and
was born on the second Of November, 1895, in
Mecklenburg county. North Carolina.--His an
cestor, (whose original name, Pollock, has, by OBJ
vlous transition, assumed Its present furm,) emf
grated in the early part Of the eighteenth century
from Ireland, the family traces their descent from
Robert Polk, who was born and married in Ireland;
his wife, Magdaene Tusker, was the heiress OF
Moving Hill. They had six sons and two daugh-
tiers; Robert Polk the progenitor of James Knox
Polk, was the fifth son he married Miss Outlet
and removed TO America, Ezekiel Polk, the
grandfather of James Knox Polk, was one Of his
sons.
the Polk family settled in Somerset county, on
the Eastern shore Of Maryland, where .sdtne Of
their descendants still sojourn. Being tile only
democrat Of note in that county, they were called
the democratic family. The branch of the family
from which theP President is descended, removed
to the neighboshood qfCarlisle, in Pennsylvania,
and thence to the western frontier of North Caro-
lima sometime before the commencement Of the
Revolutionary war. Some of the Polk family
ehonosnby distinguished in lhat eyentful strug
gle. On the Goth Of May I775, consequently
more than twelve months anterior to the declara-
ton Of the 4th Of July, l776, the assembled ill.,
habtants Of Mecklenburg county publickly absolv-
ed themselves from their allegiance to tie British
crown, and issued formal manifesto of indepen-
dence, in terms OF manly eloquence, similar to
some Of the expressions in the declaration of the
American Congress, adopted more than a year
afierwaId. Colonel Thomas Polk, the prime mo-
yer in this act Of noble daring. and one Of the sign
ers Of this fret declaration Of Independence, was
the great uncle Of the President, and the family
is also connected with the Alexanders, chairman
and secretary Of a meeting which adopted the de-
caration, as we'll as with Dr.. Epbraim Breyard,
the author of the declaration ITSELF
The father Of James K. Polk was farmer of
unassuming pgetensons, but enerprising character.
Thrown upon his own resources in early life, he
became the architect Of his own fortunes. He was
warm supporter Of Mr.. Jefferson, and through
life a firm and undertaking Democrat.
In the autumn Of 1906 he removed, with hi.
family Of ten children, from the homestead in
North Carolina to Tennessee. where he was one 4,
Of the pioneers Of the fertile valley of Duck river,
branch of The Cumberland, then a wilderness,
but now the most furnishing and populous portion
ofthe State. In this region the subject of this
sketch resided until his election to the Presidency
So that he may be said, literally to have grown
with It's growth. and strengthened with its strength
Or course, In the infancy its settlement, the OPP
portunty for instruction could not be great. Not
withstanding this disadvantage, and the still more
formidable one Of painful affection from which
after years of suffering, he was finally relieved by
a surgical operation-he acquired the elements of
a good English education. Apprehending that his
constitution was too much impaired to permit the
confinement Of study, his father determined much
however, against the will Of the son, to make him
a commercial man; and, with this view, placed
him with merchant.
He remained afew weeks in situation adverse
to his wishes and ncompatihe with hi. taste