Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-11-28
DooRKEEPER POLK

dOOrkecper OF the national House oil
Representatives, gives this romantic
incident in his life
"Therc is said TO be romance in
the lite of every individual. Not long
after Colonel Pollks return from Cali
iornia he experienced what might be
termed the romance of his history.
Previous TO bis first marriage be was a
snitor for the hand Of Miss M'Clanahan,
with such encouragement as induced
him 10 believe his addresses were sue.
cessful But he was poor, and, as has
been told many thousand times before
and since, in and out of novels, the
parents exerted an influence against
him in favor of another suitor In a
little while
"They married her to forty thousand pounds
Aud messuages in York "
In other words, to Mr.. Jabez Smith,
sixty years Of age, worth s2,o0o,ooo.
Not long after the Colonel formed bis
matrimonial alliance with Miss Chick.
During his absence in California Mr..
Smith died, leaving the Colonel's old
fame a rich young widow. We will
not say the knowledge of this fact
fastened Colonel Folks return from
the golden coast but he came, and,
soon after saw and conquered The
old love was soon famed into new life,
and was as sincere as though no other
attachment lay between its first bios
soming and the ripened fruit, which
was soon realized in the marriage of
John W. Polk to Mrs Jabez Smith, to
whom her late husband had bequeathed
Internationally all his large property,
consisting OF about 100 slaves and a
large landed property in jackson
county, Missouri.
"Colonel Polk then devoted himself
to the management OF his wiie's prop.
erty, in which ho was quite successful.
Some three years before the breaking
out Of the war between the States, he
purchased q plantation in Mississippi
and one in Arkansas, making his resi-
dcnce on the former, but managing, in
general way the business of both.
He was just getting these ventures on
q paying basis when the war broke
out, and he entered the Confederate
service, being Colonel Of q Mississippi
regiment, and did good service in the
trans Mississippi department. Oncper-
formancc, for which he received honor.
able mention, was the bringing through
of train with supplies from Memphis
to Prices army at Springfield, Mo. He
came out of the conflict, like thousands
of others, totally broken in fortune,
but with q will to work and the deter
mination to do what in him lay to re-
cover his fortune. In this he has been
only partially successful, After the
war no settled in Wyandotte, Kansas,
opposite Kansas City, where he has
since resided.
"Colonel Polk IN q man of fine bust.
ness capacity, great native energy and
engaging manners, and is well qualified
to secure the confidence of all with
whom he comes in close relation, either
socially or in the way Of business In
early life he was, in politics, devoted
Wing, being an ardent admirer and sup
porter of Mr.. Clay. After the demise
of the Whig party he voted with the
Democrats, and soon became identified
as an active member of the party. Up
to the date of his election as doorkccp.
er of the House he had never held q
political Office. His friends, who used
their inauencein bringing him forward
for the position, and all who have shown
him favor, may rest assured that Col.
Polk Is worthy of their confidence.
Coming OF the old Tennessee stock
being of the same family as James X.
Polk and the late Governor Trustcn
Polk, Of Missouri--Congress may be
assured that it has no ordinary man
for doorkeepcr."