Omaha daily bee., 1883-07-17
A CURIOUS DOCUMENT.
The Last Will Of President James K
Polk,
His Fnvoritc Nephew, Now on Trial
at Nashville, the Heir
Apparent,
Being the Nearest of Kin Bearing the
Name of Polk.

Since the arrangement of oN-Stato
Treasurer NJ. 7. Polk on the charge of
having been dcfaulter to the state to- the
amount of $500, 900, President Folks
will has proved to be q source of much
gossip, inasmuch as there has always
been q sort of indistinct idea as to what
disposal had been made of the Polk resi-
dencc, on the corner of Vine and Union
streets, one of the most prominent and
accessible locations i'll this city. The
will has always been considered u singu-
lar document, and the following which
constitutes nearly the whole of it, is pub
lished for the general information of a
curiosity-loving public
JAMES X. Folks WILL, RECORDED APRIL
%, 1861.
SIN the name of God, amen! |, James
X. Polk, of the state of Tennessee, but
residing during the term for which | was
elected president of the United States in
the city of Washington, considering the
uncertainty of life and the certainty of
death, do make, ordain and publish this
my last will and testament, rs follows
That is to say, it is my last will and de-
sire, and | do so direct that all Just debts
which | owe at the period of my death,
shall be paid out of my estate by my ex-
ecutors, hereinafter named. | devise and
bequeath to my brother, VIM. H. Polk,
and his heirs forever, the remainder in
terest which l own in the house and lot
lying and being in the town of Columbia,
Tenn, at present occupied by my aged
mother, Jane Polk. and i'll which she
holds a life estate.
81 devise and bequeath to my nephew,
Marshall S. Polk, now n cadet at the mil
itary academy at West Point, and to his
heirs forever, all the lands which | own,
lying in the state of Arkansas, which
said lands were patented to me by the
United States, and as | have much sole
itude for the future welfare and prosper
ity of my said nephew, Marshall 7. Polk,
whose father and mother are both dead,
and for whom l am guardian, it is my
bequest that my beloved wife, Sarah
Polk, will, from time to time, give him
such further aid and assistance out of the
estate hereinafter devised and bequeathed
to her as in her discretion she may think
right and proper, provided he shall, in
her judgment, prove to be worthy of
such aid and assistance, and she shall be
in a situation to do so without embar-
rassment and inconvenience to herself.
81 devise and bequeath to my beloved
wife, Sarah Polk, to be held, used and
enjoyed by her during the period of her
natural life, the dwelling-house and lots
and all the grounds, with the appurten-
ances thereunto attached and belonging,
situated, lying and being i'll the city of
Nashville, in the state of Tennessee,
which said house, lots and premises ] pur-
chased from Felix Grundy, deceased, and
from John M. Bass, and which, on my
return to Tennessee. Idesign to make my
future residence 1t is my wish and de-
sire that my said wife, Sarah Polk, shall
have the full right, as long as she may
live, to the exclusive possession, occupa-
ton and enjoyment of the said house,
lots and premises; and to add to, alter or
change the improvements thereon as she
may think proper. And as my beloved
wife and myself have mutually agreed
with each other that at our respective
deaths it is desired by us that our bodies
may be inferred in said premises which
| have denominated the Polk
place; and it is also
our desire that the said house, lots and
premises should never pass intothe hands
of strangers who are not related to me
by consanguinity, | do hereby with a
view to prevent such contingency devise,
bequeath and give the said house andlots
and premises and all the appurtenances
thereunto belonging or appertaining from
and after the death of said wife to the
state of Tennessee, but to be held by the
said state of Tennessee in trust for the
following uses, objects and purposes. and
none other; that is to say, that the said
state of Tennessee through its governor
for the time being, or if he should de-
cline to assume execution of the trust,
then through such other person as the
legislature of the said state may from
time to time empower and authorize for
that purpose, shall permit the said house,
lots and premises to be occupied by such
one of my blood relations having the
name of Polk as may be designated by
the said state or its authorized agent,
preferring always my nearest of kin OF
the name of Polk, if there be such a per
son who shall be deemed worthy and a
proper person to occupy the same; but if,
AT any tiile, Ihere shah o'
no blood relation bearing the
name of Polk, then the said house,
lots and premises shall be occupied, used
and enjoyed by such other of my blood
relations as may be designated by said
state to execute this trust. Whichever
of my blood relations shall, after the
death of my wife, Sarah Polk, from time
to time use, occupy and enjoy the SAID
house, lots and premises shall be required
to keep the same in repair so rs to pre-
vent them from depreciating or falling
into decay, shall pay the public taxes
thereon and shall preserve and keep il
repair the tomb which may be placed OIL
erected wei the mortal remains of my
beloved wife and myself, and shall no
permit the same to be removed, nor shall
any buildings or other improvements BIZ
placed or erected over the spot where thu
tomb may be. j request the public
authorities of the state of Tennessee
whose people i have s. long served il
various stations and to whom ] am undeI
so many obligations of gratitude, at the
death of my beloved wife, Sarah Polk
to accept and execute the trust specified
in this demise"