Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-10
FUNERAL RITES TODAY
FOR MRS. Mamie F. POLK
Noted Woman, Prominently Con-
nected, Passes Away at the Age
of Seventy Years.

The funeral of Mrs. Mamie Franklin
Polk, who died Friday evening at the
home of her daughter. Mrs. S. E. Sulli-
van. in Friendship Heights, Md. is to
take place this afternoon at o'clock at
ST. AIMS Catholic Church, Tenleytown
d. c. For more than twenty-five years
Mrs. Polk conducted the business of type
writing and stenography in the south cor.
ridor of the House of Representatives
and she had a wide acquaintance among
public men.
Prominent Family Connections.
Mrs. Polk. who was Miss Mamie Mad
dox, was related to many of the best
known families of Maryland and Vir-
GINA, being the daughter of William T.
Maddox of Leonardtown. son of Col John
Maddox of West Hatton. Charles county,
Md. a distinguished man of his day
The youngest of ten children. Mrs. Nan
ME Maddox Polk survived all but one sis
ter Mrs. John Washing ton Nixon of Au-
gusta, Ga. Her brothers, now deceased,
included Fred Maddox of LeOnardtown,
Col. Joseph Maddox, Thomas Maddox.
whose son Fletcher is at present solicitor
for internal revenue in the Department of
Justice, and DR.. Charles j. Maddox of
Rockville, father of Charles j. Maddox,
county surveyor OF. Montgomery county,
Md.
Through her husband, James Polk, son
of Col. James Polk Of Baltimore, came
relationship to many other politically and
socially prominent Maryland families. 1t
was through her connections that Mrs.
Polk first gained permission to have a
clerical business desk in the Capitol, and
hers was one of the first established, as
II was the last to remain. With many
others James Polk, her husband. lost
heavily by the civil war, but later he CON
Quoted prosperous business In Norfolk
Va. where he and his wife were among
the social leaders
Failing health followed by a series of
financial loses forced Mr. Polk to dis
pose of his business and he moved to his
farm in Anne Arundel county, Md,
where he died only few months later
Mrs. Polk Returns to Washington.
His wife was left with seven children,
the eldest under thirteen. She moved to
Washington because of its superior edu-
cational advantages and, though herself
in poor health, she bravely took up the
burden of her childrens support
Mrs. Polk became an expert typewriter
and established her Official desk in the
United States Capitol, later mas er.ng
stenoSrapny that she might be able to
transcribe the notes OF her assistant
clerks.
Speakers of the House of Representa-
tlVes have come and gone since Mrs.
Mamie +. Folks name was first hung
above the little office in the Capitol, ana
several Speakers issued orders to clear
the corridors of all other desks, but Mrs.
FOLK was always assured that she would
not De disturbed, holding as she did the
personal respect and esteem of each
Oh the various men who have filled that
distinguished office
30 great indeed was her love for the
fascinating environment of Congress and
It's lawmakers that Mrs. Polk could new
er be induced to give up her business
cares, even when the need for the reye-
nue. was past and her health began to
ran. Just week before the present
Congress convened she met her assistants
at her office and planned with them for
the work OF the coming session
But the exertiOn proved too much for
her failing strength and she never left
her room again. She died after an i'll
ness of about ten days, seventy years
old.
Five children survive her-Mrs. J.
Leland Boush of Norfolk, Va: Mrs.
William n. Nixon of Augusta. Ca:
James X. Polk of Washington. William
M. Polk of Birmingham, Ala, and Mrs.
S. E. Sullivan of Friendship Heights.
Md