Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-08-22


ing, when on returning from a short
drive she was taken suddenly ill, from
which she never rallied. The bells.
throughout the city were moufnfully
tolled and sympathy and regret were
heard from the masses of people
as they gaze upon the bulletin an
nouncing the demise of this honored
and beloved lady, who spent her years
among the people she loved so well and
who respected her us one of the no
blest of her sex.
Mrs. Sarah Childress Polk was born Sep.
tember 4. 1903, at Murfreesboro, Tenn. Her
father, Joel Childrcss, was wealthy, cultured
and hospitnble planter OF Rutherford county,
Tenn. Some OF the pleasantest Of her years
of girlhood were spent at q seminary ut Salem.
N c. She became acquainted with Mr.. Polk
while he was rising young attorney at
Columbia, S. c., in 1924, and shortly after
her graduation while yet in her teens
she became his wife. He was then serving
his first term In the Tennessee legislature.
From this time on her talented husband con-
ilnued to rise, next year becoming member OF
congress from Tennessee For fourteen years
he was in congress and was speaker Of the
house for five terms, only resigning In 1899
when elected governor OF Tennessee. In 1S43 he
received the presidential nomination by the
democratic convention of Baltimore and was
elected the next year, defeating Henry Clay by
q small majority
During all these years Mrs. Polk was her
husbands contidante and chief counselor and
did much to ndd to his popularity and success.
AS mistress OF the white house Mrs. Polk
showed the beauty and strength OF her
character. With true womanly dignity she
presided social Washington, and
Is to-day acknowledged to have been the
most talented and beautiful uncrowned
queen vf the United States. One of her first
acts in this high station was to abolish the old
time democratic but undignifed custom OF
serving refreshments and giving dances at the
presidential mansion and substitute in the
place Of these celebrations the present
custom Of holding weekly state recep-
tions. A woman Of less tact and frmness
could not have wrought this change, as
oil social Washington was arrayed against the
change, and for time political opponents OF
the administration sought to make capital out
OF what was deemed un-American pride and
excluslveness. In the end Mrs. Polk not only
triumphed but succeeded by her example in
converting the social world to her way Of
thinking.
Mrs. Folks was rare type OF beauty. Her
olive complexion and dark, expressive eyes
were set off by q wealth of raven hair Her
rare conversational powers, keen repartee
easy grace and kindly hospitality won for her
universal admiration. Contemporary histories
and magazines are full of her praise.
June 10, ls49, Mrs. Polk has lived life of re-
tiremeut at the Polk mansion in the heart OF
| Nashville. Here she won the love OF all by her
| gentleness and charity and the quaint old
mansion has for forty years been visited by the
| worlds most celebrated men and women, oil
OF whom have, until declining health OF the hos
| tess prevented been entertained with the
| same charming grace OF the old days at Wash
| ington.
| or late years Mrs. Polk has been able to re-
| ceive but few callers and has confined her out
| door activities to quiet drives about Nashville
| Every New Years morning for nearly half n,
| century, in response to her invitation, the en-
| tire state legislature of Tennessee has been
| tertained ut the Polk mansion, that body in
| variably adjourning for that purpose This
| courtesy between the highest legislative body
of the state and one OF its most noted women Is
| a rare example of old-time chivalry and an un.
mistakable evidence OF the high honor in which
| this lady has been held.
| President Polk left a very large estate at
| the time Of his death, which was kept together
| tolerably we'll until the civil war, when
| nearly everything was destroyed or lost.
| Mrs. Folks income kept dwindling down
until half dozen years ago when she
| found herself wellnigh penniess. When bill
| was introduced in congress TO grant the widow
| Of President Lincoln a pension OF 5000 year,
| II lacked one vote In the senate to secure Its
passage That was the vote of Senator Howell
| E. Jackson OF Tennessee He offered to vote for
the bill provided it was so amended to give an
| nual pensions OF IS, 900 to Mrs. Polk and to the
| widow Of President Tyler, as well as Mrs Lin
| coln and the bill became q law. Since that
| time Mrs Polk had lived on this pension.
President Polk left one Of the queerest Wills
| that was ever left to be probated by an inteli-
| gent man. Everything was given to his
| wife, and at her death to be turned over
ITO the most deserving member of the
family bearing the name of Polk" the
| decision to be made by the state legis-
ature. The nearest relative until recently was
State Treasurer Polk Of Tennessee, to whom it
| was supposed the estate would go. 1t will be
| remembered that few years ago he be-
| came defaulter to large amount aud
fed the country, finally dying In Mexico
| HIS dishonesty cut him and his family
of. and just how the matter will be settled is
now mystery. There are no other deserving
| members OF the family bearing the Polk name,
and now that Mrs. Polk is dead the courts will
| have to decide the matter 1t is not believed
that the document will stand legal testl