My Genealogy Hound

Charles W. Polk. Among the husbandmen of Randolph County, Ark., who have made for themselves an honorable name by a long term of years of steady and successful farming and upright citizenship is Mr. Polk, whose birth occurred in Tennessee in 1842. His parents, Michael and Mary (Duckworth) Polk, were born in North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, the former being related to ex-President Polk. They reared a family of eight children, six of whom are living: C. W., Ferraby (wife of James Wells), Rebecca (wife of Harrison Matthews), Polk, Ella (wife of Richard Polk, of Missouri) and Harvey (residing in Searcy County). Mr. Polk died in 1873, at the age of forty-one years, and his wife in 1865, aged thirty-six. They were members of the United Presbyterian Church; he was a member of the A. F. & A. M., and was a Republican in his political views. C. W. Polk received somewhat meager educational advantages in his youth, and in 1879 came to Arkansas and located in Clay County, where he at once commenced farming on 120 acres of land which he had purchased some time before. The farm is well improved with good buildings of all kinds, and is supplied with the necessary stock for successfully conducting its management. His first marriage took place in 1860, it being with Miss Effie Higgins, of Tennessee, but she died in 1863, followed by her only child, whose death occurred in infancy. After living a widower for seven years Mr. Polk was married in 1870 to Miss Martha Alexander, of Hardin County, Tenn., by whom he has had a family of six children, three of whom are now living: Emmer (wife of Joseph Cox), and Joseph and E. D. (at home). Mr. Polk was so unfortunate as to lose his second wife by death in March, 1884, and three years since he espoused Mrs. Mary Eldridge, who only survived until the following year. His next marriage was with Mrs. Nancy Jane Lewis, who had borne her first husband two children: John and Bertie. Mr. Lewis died in 1885. He was a communicant in the Baptist Church, and was a leading member of the A. F. & A. M. In 1863 Mr. Polk joined the Union army, and was a faithful defender of the stars and stripes until the close of the war, being a member of Company C, Second Tennessee Mounted Infantry. He was at Clifton, Johnsonville, Lexington, Nashville and in numerous skirmishes. After returning home he engaged in the dry goods business, but next year he began farming, which occupation he has continued up to the present time. He and wife are members of the United Brethren Church and he is a warm Republican, politically, and in all matters tending to benefit his county he is one of the leaders. He is in every respect a self-made man, and is a prosperous agriculturist.