My Genealogy Hound

FRANCIS M. POLK, the most prominent horticulturist of Perry County, was born in the county, April 8, 1830. His father, Thomas Polk, a native of Kentucky, came to Perry County when a youth, and located in the bottoms which now bear his name, being one of the first white persons to settle there. He married Melvina Ryan, a native of New York, by whom he is the father of two boys and one girl. Until his retirement he was engaged in farming, and was also for many years in the nursery business. He is now living on the place where he first settled, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. His wife is seventy-eight years of age. Francis M. received only a limited education in youth, and remained at home working the farm for several years after attaining his majority. He then rented property until 1868, when he went into the nursery business, in connection with his farm work, taking into partnership John C. Shoemaker, now editor of the Indianapolis Sentinel. They conducted the business for four years when Mr. Shoemaker withdrew. He then continued four years longer, but the enterprise not proving successful abandoned it. He has since given his attention to fruit-raising, and now has one of the best orchards in the State. He has about 3,000 apple trees, 50 pear trees, 30 cherry trees, 5 acres in raspberries, and 8 acres in strawberries. Mr. Polk is Vice-President of the Indiana Horticultural Society of the first fruit district, and is thoroughly posted on all points connected with the cultivation of fruits.