The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-08-15

8 AA9uNALLEt 4ENE''J @ANe' @4'
James X. Polk, widow of the eleventh
President Of the United States, died at
1880 o'clock this morning at her home
in this city.
Mrs. Polk was born September 4, 1903,
at Murfreesboro. She was married to
Mr.. Polk when still in her teens, and
had lived continuously in Nashville, OK
cept when in Washington during the
congressional career OF her distinguish
ed husband and while mistress OF the
White House. For the past fifty years
she had lived in seclusion, and for many
years nothing was heard of her except
now and then stray newspaper para
graph.
at the time OF his death. The Nashville
home was the finest in the city. lie
owned q big farm at Athens, Tenn, his
former home, and several plantations
in Louisiana. The estate was kept to-
gether tolerably well until the civil war,
when nearly everything was destroyed
or lost. Mrs. Folks income kept dwind-
ling down until half dozen years ago,
when she found herself well nigh PEN
niless. She still owned the Polk man
sion, but it brought no revenue and re-
uuired money to maintain it, When q
bill was introduced in Congress to grant
the widow OF President lincolna a pension
OF s., 900 year, it lacked one vote in the
Senate to secure Its passage. That was
tho vote of Senator Howell E. Jackson,
Tennessee. He offered to vote for the
bill provided it was SO amended End as to
give annual pensions Of 5000 to Mrs
Polk and to the widow OF President
Tyler, as well as Mrs Lincoln, and after
good deal OF oratory the bill become q
law. Since that time Mrs. Polk had
lived comfortably on this pension.
The Polk residence is in the very cen-
ter OF the city on a square Of high
ground. II Is nearly 100 years old and
when erected it was the finest house in
the South. 1t is constructed of brick,
two and a half stories high, with many
square, old-fashioned rooms, and great
halls extending north and south
through the house. There are front and
side entrances, with immense pillars ex-
tending from the ground to the roof,
giving the house the appearance OF q
public building. Shortly after Mr..
Polk's death, Mrs. Polk had great black
bands painted around the immense pill
lars on the two sides Of the house, SC
placed as to resemble bands of Grape
wound round and round them from the
ground to the roof, They remained on
the pillars as long as the paint lasted.
Near the house, in the side yard, is the
tomb. II is a half dome supported by
circular pillars. In the center is O
square marble shaft bearing the dates
OF the birth and death OF James Knox
Polk and resume Of the principal
events OF his administration. In front
of the house there is a brick pavement
laid over sixty years ago. To this day
not single brick has ever loosened or
worn out.
President Polk was statesman, and
q lawyer OF great ability, but he proba-
bly, left the queerest will that was evel
probated, or rather was ever left to be
probated, by an intelligent man. Every
| thing was given to his wife, and at hol
death to be turned over "To the most
deserving member OF the member bear
ing the name OF Polk" the decision tC
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. Il
will be remembered that a fowyears agC
he became defaulter to large amoun
and fed the country, finally diving il
Mexico. His dishonesty cut him atlC
| his family of, and just how the mattel
will be settled is now mystery. Their
are no other deserving members OF thu
family bearing the Polk name, and nov
that Mrs. Polk is dead, the courts will
have to decide the matter. Its not be
lieyed that the document will stand {
legal test.
| Mrs. Polk was stricken down Wednes
day evening at Z o'clock, just after 70
turning from drive. In short whilt
she reacted and consclousness re
turned, and from that time until he
death she apparently suffered no pain
She was conscious of the approaching
end and only few moments beforI
it came called upon her surrounding
family, and placing her hand upon tn
head OF each member, gave her blessing
At six o'clock this morning her ply
sicians announced to her the fact tha
that the end was very near. "Yes, sh
quietly replied, ~ know it'll am read,
for it, and have been oil my lite-fead
to obey the summons OF my master.
She then, at length, as her strengtl
would bear, attested her faith in tn
Christian religion and the great peac
of mind and happiness it had alway
given her even unto this, tn
end OF her life. From this serene OK
preston Of her unwavering trust in tn
Lord she continued, with clear voice
though becoming momentarily feebler
to thank Him for his goodness and Hi
y mercy through all her life, prOlonge
far beyond that natural TO human life
and 70 praise Him and magnify Hi
name for His goodness and grace +
her, quoting most touchingly beautiful
stanzas from that rapturous hymn,
Would Not Live Always
Thus ended the mortal life, and thu
began the immortal life OF as good
Christian woman as ennobled her Sc
or graced in perfect womanhood ou
country, in which she had been elevate
10 the proudest position woman ca
hold, in presiding as lady OF the Whit
Housewife Of a President of the NJ
ton.
A large number Of kilograms OF cor
dolence were received from prominer
people in all parts OF the country, IN
the flag on the State capitol was place
at half mast. The funeral will occL
Sunday morning, the remains bein
placed in vault alongside that of he
husbands.
MR.. JoNEs's FUNERAL