Mexico weekly ledger., 1919-09-25
WILLIAM POLLOCK SO
YEARS OLD TUESDAY
Oldest Millwright in United States
Has Lived in Audrain County
Since 1869

william POLLOCK, the Oldest mill
wright in the United States will be 80
years old Tuesday, September 23. He
is the oldest active business man in
this city and probably in the state.
Mr.. Pollock is still active notwith-
standing his advanced age. He allows
no one to supervise his affairs, but his
own interest and control of small de-
tails which other people would have
overlooked is still as keen as ever and
is one Of the reasons he has been sucn
success as business administrator.
His activity is not confined to his
home as it is for most men of his age,
but he can be seen almost every day
driving his electric runabout atteni-
ing to his business affairs. He is the
active head of the Pollock Milling and
Elevator Company.
He was born in Green County, Pa,
on September %, 1880. At the age of
six he moved to West Moreland where
he lived until coming to Missouri. In
June 1886, he came to this city to make
his residence. In September the mil
which he built here was running and
doing business. The first mill he
started working on was at Big Sew
ickly Creek, near West Newton, in
Pennsylvania He was then only thir-
teen years of age.
The William Pollock Milling Com
pany was Incorporated in 1891 at
which time the big elevator was built.
Since then additions have been made
until the mill in this city is one of the
best in the state. Other elevators have
been built in the state by the company.
Altogether in Missouri Mr.. Pollock has
built fourteen of these buildings.
Mr.. Pollock has always been one of
the staunchest Democrats Of the state.
He has consistently voted for the Dem
ocratic men. With the coming cleo
/ tion in 1920 he will have voted for
! eighteen presidents of the United
/ States. The first time he voted was in
7 'fS52 w'itr ne went 20 one precfrfce but
was not allowed to cast his ballot. He
mounted his horse and rode eighteen
miles to West Newton where after
some argument he was permitted to
vote. The Democrats carried this town
by only one vote.
He has been instrumental in organ
izing many associations in this state.
He was one of the leading men in the
organizing of the Millers Mutual Fne
Insurance Association. Many build
ing committees have had him as a
member. AS a member of the Board
of Directors of Hardin College he has
always stood for advancement. He
was on the building Board Of the Pub
lie Library when it was erected here.
As member of the Presbyterian
Church he has held several church Of
! fees and is always present at every
meeting. He never fails to be in his
accustomed place and is active in
church work,
I Throughout his lSehe has been for
new ideas and progress. Today he
stands for that which will make things
better. The only "new-fangled idea"
of today that he can not tolerate is
the airplane. He cannot believe that
! it will ever take the place of the auto
mobiles as the latter did the place of
the horse and buggy.
The year Of 1919 makes the seventy
fifth year he has been millwright.
In his administration Of the local mill
and others in this state he has always
given "the most of the best for the
least" in so far as was possible. His
efforts to make flour that it might he
had by people for less money have
been continuous and in many instances
costly. Today his success is indicated
by the sale of the products Of his mill
, over this state and others.
The Ledger joins his many friends
, in wishing him many happy returns Of
his birthday and hoping that many
. | ,>an,n Was, fo1lo1u