My Genealogy Hound

J. S. Pollock, cashier of the Exchange National bank, and one of Little Rock’s best-known citizens, was born in Erie County, Penn., fifty-one years ago, and is a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Wallace) Pollock, of the same State. Both parents lived and died in Pennsylvania. J. S. Pollock was reared and received a good common-school education in his native State, and when nineteen years old went to St. Louis. In 1858 he made a trip to New Orleans down the Mississippi River, in order to learn the duties of a steamboat clerk, and on his return trip his boat, the “Maj. Crosman,” burst her boiler when opposite New Madrid, and burned to the water’s edge. Mr. Pollock escaped by jumping into the river, and remained in the water for two hours. He was an expert swimmer, but his powers of endurance were about to succumb when he was happily rescued by reaching out and securing a plank that was floating by. He was found in an unconscious condition lying across the plank, and was afterward confined to his bed for some time, owing to the shock to his system, but finally recovered. In the summer of 1858 he obtained a position as second clerk on the “ D. A. January,” and during the same fall obtained a position as clerk in the St. Louis post-office, having once before occupied the same position for fifteen months in his native State. He remained in this place until the fall of 1862, and then moved to Memphis, Tenn., to take charge of the chief clerkship of the post-office in that city, after it was captured by the Federal forces. He remained in Memphis for thirteen months and then, at the request of Postmaster-Gen. Montgomery Blair, he went to Vicksburg to take charge of the post-office there as a special agent. In June, 1864, under the directions of the post-office department he came to Little Rock, to take charge of the post-office here as special agent, and in the spring of 1865 was appointed postmaster by President Lincoln, but his commission was signed by President Johnson (President Lincoln having been assassinated in the meantime). In the fall of 1870 he was removed from the post-office in favor of James L. Hodges, but in the fall of 1871 Mr. Hodges was removed and Mr. Pollock reappointed, serving until the spring of 1875, when he entered the First National Bank as teller, and later promoted to the office of assistant cashier, remaining in that capacity until February 1, 1882. About that time Messrs. J. H. McCarthy and W. P. Homan, railroad contractors and partners in business, concluded to start a bank and came to Mr. Pollock, asking him if he would accept the office of cashier. He agreed to do so, and resigned his position from the First National Bank, and immediately helped to organize the one he is with at present. The board of directors of the First National Bank, together with the president, Col. Logan H. Roots, gave Mr. Pollock a fine testimonial upon his retirement. In 1870 Mr. Pollock was married to Miss Lizzie Knight of Little Rock, a daughter of Col. J. E. Knight.