The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-02-12

IO 49,
Forty Third North Carolina Regiment
under Col. Kenan, and was with it in
the battle of Gettysburg, where he
was wounded. He recovered in
August. and re joined the regiment,
which vas then with Lees army,
Early in 1864 he fought under Hoke at
Plymouth and later at Drewry's Bluff
under B9auregard; and he was in the
Battles at North Anna Bridge, Han
over junction, Bethsads. Church and
other points. He also took part with
his regiment in the battles of Washing
ton City, Smokers Ferry, Bunker Hill,
Berryville and Kernstown, being under
fire torty-one times in the course of
that summer. While serving in the
army of Virginia in 1864, he was cleo
ted by his people at home to the leg
~islature.
Accepting, after the war, the changed
condition of affairs, he with lis faith
full wife, who had been hitherto un-
used to toll, set resolutely to work;
she to her domestic duties, and he to
the plough.
In 1873 he founded the village of
Polkton On his farm, and shortly after
sold it off to settlers and began to de
vote himself more exclusively to the
service of the State. AS chairman of
the committee for the State Grange, he
was the moving spirit in the establish
ment of the agricultural department.
When in 1877 the act for its establish
ment was passed, he became it's first
and most efficient commissioner.
In 1884, 1885, 1886 and 1882, he was
the most powerful factor in the estab-
lishment of the Agricultural and Me
chanical College in this State.
A convention of the farmers of the
cotton States was called, which met in
the city of Atlanta, Ga, August 18th,
1887. Colonel Polk was unanimously
elected President. At the next annual
meeting of this association, which was
held in Raleigh, N. c., August 21-2S.
Col. Polk was again unanimously
elected President; also in 1889.
+ y
1t was with some hesitancy that I
accepted the invitation to deliver this
address, conscious of my inability to
do full justice to the life and character
of this noble defender of oppressed hu
manity.
1t had been my privilege to know
Col. Polk but a little over two years,
during which time he was the most
conspicuous defender, and devoted ad-
vocate of the principles of our Order,
Few men in so short a time over won
the hearts and confidence of the masses
of the people, or did so much to allay
sectional and national prejudice. The
South never had a truer SOD; the nation
a purer patriot,
Washington brought a nation into
life and became the Father of his
country Polk lost his life striving to
protect the heritage of his people.
Jefferson was more than the author
of the Declaration of Independence he
laid the basis of popular liberty Polk
died while nobly battling for the rights
of the industrial classes. From every
section of the country there came reso
~lutions of sympathy, loving memorials,
and beautiful poems.
In the Arena, published at Boston,
August, 1892, the following notice of
Col. Folks death appears:
"On the 18th of June, there passed
from life one of the noblest souls in
public life, the most conspicuous apps
tie of Industrial freedom in America.
Mr. L L. Polk vas one of those sincere,
honest and intensely human natures,
whose love for the oppressed amounts
to a passion"
"Col. Polk, by no means strong or
well, was over mastered by n great
and luminous belief that he should live
to see the industrial millions of Amer
lea emancipated. When he saw and
felt the fact that social conditions were
alowly but surely pressing down into g
sea of hopeless poverty and tenantry,
the sober industrial millions of the
great Republic; he entered the battle
with q zeal which burnt out the candle
long before he reached the ripe age his
noble life merited.
''TruO patriot, wise leader, noble man
Net for such IS he The formal pOmp
And empty show Of grief: but higher far,
A shrine within the soTrOWlnG peoples heart
Where love and reverence guard his memol y.
And letter yet-the honor uDexceIl d.
A plRce among the shining band OF those
Who have lived, fought and died for Truth and
Right"
NY first meeting with Col. Polk was
- Don-Lo.o Oh 1000 VIZ