The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-10-07
". 4 POLK is DEAD
One of Wichita's Oldest Citi-
zens Passes Away.
He CANE HERE IN 1870
Taken Away by CONGESTION of
the Bowels.

Yesterday morning early the word went
over Wichita: "B.ll Polk is dead"
At first men who had seen him the first
of the week and talked with him could
hardly believe it, but when the confirma-
ton came there was many q sad heart
in Wichita.
For w. A Polk was as much part of
Wichita as the names of its streets, as
Its public buildings, or the streams that
run through it.
When Wichita was a dismal huddle Of
cottonwood plank shacks, the late Mr..
Polk came here and probably not more
than six or eight men have ever remain
ed closer to their business and more in
the city in the thirty years that have
passed than he.
W. A. Polk was taken sick Thursday
evening with congestion of the bowels.
He was very i'll all day Friday and said
to Mrs. Polk: II am very sick" All
Friday night he remained very ILL., and
though DR.. Purdue and Dr. Hoffman,
who attended him, realized how i'll he
was they did not expect that he would
die. The trouble went to his heart, and
at 6:15 yesterday morning he passed
away. DR.. Purdue was present Mr..
Polk was conscious to the last.
William Polk knew the west. He was
part Of 1t, had grown up with it, and
fortune had treated him kindly. He came
to Wichita with a dollar and a quarter.
His estate is now estimated at $4,000.
He was born in st. Louis in 1851, in
September. His father was William NJ
Polk, an old resident of ST. Louis. His
mother died when he was two years old
In 1859 the family moved to the extreme
ly far west, Council Grove, Kansas At
that time Lawrence was the end Of
everything, and young Polk was probably
one of half dozen boys who lived west
of Emporia, anywhere. At Council
Grove he and his partner, Tom Arnold,
went to school together in a, school house
made Of the twisted, warped cotton
wood lumber. When he was 10 Mr. Polk
and William came to Sedgwick county.
The elder Polk took a homestead Just
south Of Wichita and later VIII took
claim on the Minnesota. In 1870 Mr..
Polk was married to Miss Mary A.
Smarsh. They settled in Wichita and
have lived here ever since Mr.. Polk
first represented in Wichita the Pabst
Brewing company as wholesaler and his
place Of business was No III West
Douglas, where he afterWard erected
building In later years he built also
two structures on North Main street and
ne also has half interest in the build
ing at the corner of Main and First
streets. He also has a fine residence on
North Lawrence avenue and many lots
over the city
Those Of the family who SURVIVE hin,
are Mrs. W. A Polk, John Polk.
brother, at Council Grove: Tom Polk .
brother, at Olathe. and Mrs. Il. T Goe
sister at Chicago. His father died
about ten years ago.
a man who was as close as a brother
to him, who has been with him since bow
hood, is Wichita's citizen, Tom Arnold
who loved him.
w. A. Polk was probably as widely
known as any business man In this mart
or the United States. His name Is "a
miliar all over Missouri, Kansas Okla
homa, Texas and Colorado. He was not
a traveller He was always at home. He
left town less than any other citizen.
10 everything Of a public nature in
Wichita he contributed. In the matter
OF bonuses, Folks name was always
near the head. No church organization
ever asked him to help that he did not.
NO individual who was worthy ever ask
ed MIN for aid and was turned awav
without it. He had a great big heart
always responsive, always moved easily
TO pity, always urging him 10 give. Bv
nature he was jovial, and while temper
amentally he was strong. assertive and
affirmative in his convictions he saw
the pleasant side of life and invited fell
lowship. He believed that the soul of
man was immortal and that there is a
without him Wichita will seem less
like Wichita. In the old guard. the guard
which found the virgin prairie here, and
struck from the buffalo grass business
center and a metropolis. the old guard
that first had faith, pluck. perseverance. |
there is a big gap.
For the old guard knew that whenever
there was doubt or hesitancy in W. A.
Polk they would always find one who |
believed always in Wichita and her des-
tiny and who was willing to back the |
He was a good husband. a noble friend |
and a true partisan Of his CITY.
The funeral will be in charge of the |
Red Men, Of whom he was one and VIII /
take place from the residence. 1888 North |
Lawrence, at o'clock this afternoon.
eHFA R@sa @sE@