St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-15
A NOBLE WOMAN DIES.
Mrs. Polk Sinks Quietly to Sleep,
Deeply Lamented.

NASHVILLE, Aug. 14.-Surronnded
by few loving friends and relatives,
Mrs. James K. Polk, relict of the tenth
president of the United States, departed
this life at 7:30 o'clock this morning
peacefully and quietly, in full posses
sion of her mental faculties. Mrs.
Polk had been i'll perfect health
until last Wednesday evening, when, OH
returning from short drive, she was
taken suddenly ill, and she never raj
lied. Had she lived until the 4th of
September next she would have been
eighteen years beyond the allotted time
of three-score and ten. The cause of
heF-~death- was simply exhaustion. re-
sulting from old age. The bells
throughout the city are mournfully toll
ing. and sympathy and regret are heard
from the masses of people as they gaze
upon the bulletins announcing the de-
mise of this honored and beloved lady.
who spent her years among the people
she loved so we'll, and who respected
her as one of the noblest of her sex.
Mrs. Polk was conscious of the ap-
preaching end, and only few moments
before it came called upon her sur
rounding family, and, placing her hand
upon the head of each member, gave
her blessing.
One of the physicians who was con-
stantly at Mrs. POIk's bedside from the
time she became i'll. when called upon
this morning by a reporter, spoke in
an affecting manner of the deathbed
scene, said that he had never known
grander character than that of Mrs.
Polk. At o'clock this morning her
physicians announced to her the
fact that the end was very near.
"Yes," she quietly replied, 81 know it
II am rerdy for it and have been all my
life ready to obey the summons of my
Master" She then at length, as her
strength would bear, attested her faith
III the Christian religion, and the great
peace of mind and happiness it had al
ways given her.
A large number of telegrams of con-
dOlence we're received from prominent
people in all parts of the country, and
the flag on the state capitol was placed
at half-maSt. The funeral will occur
Sunday morning, the remains being
placed in vault alongside those OF her
distinguished husband.
TIE remains of Mrs. Polk will be in
tered at the tomb of her husband, on
the lawn of the Polk place, this city,
Sunday morning at a. IN. Services
will be held at the house.
Mrs. Polk was born Sept. 4, 1903, at Muir
freesboro. She was married to Mr.. Polk
when still in her teens, and had lived con-
tinuously in Nashville, except when in
Washington during the congressional career
of her distinguished husband and while
mistress of the White house. For the past
fifty years she had lived in seclusion. Presi-
dent Polk left very large estate at the time
of his death, which was kept together toler-
oh W when nearly
everything was destroyed or lost. Mrs. Polk's
income kept dwindling down until half
dozen years ago, when she found herself
well nigh penniless. When a bill was
introduced in congress to grant the
widow of President Lincoln a pension of
S., 900 year, it 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 twas
so amended as to give annual pensions OF
S., 600 to Mrs Polk and to the widow of Presi-
dent Tyler, as well as Mrs Lincoln, 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
intelligent 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 legislature. The
nearest relative, until recently, was State
Treasurer Polk, of Tennessee, to whom it was
supposed the estate would go. 1t will be re-
iaembered that few years ago he became
,afaulter for large amount and fled the
Country finally dying i'll Mexico. His dis
honesty cut him and his family of, and just
how the matter will be settled is now
mystery. There are no other deserving mem
bers 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
test.