My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT POLK, farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Farmer City. This gentleman was born in County Derry, Ireland, upon the 24th of June, 1828; at 16 years of age, he, with an older sister, emigrated to America, and landed at Philadelphia in July, 1845; after following teaming here a short time, he went to Delaware, where he followed farming six years, and, in the spring of 1858, he emigrated to Illinois, and lived in Chicago three months, when he came to Empire Township, McLean Co., where, after obtaining employment for a time, he rented land and followed farming ten years, during which time he purchased thirteen acres, upon which he erected a residence, which he disposed of in 1871, and leased 160 acres of land in West Township, upon which he lived five years; in the spring of 1876, he removed upon his present place, which he had previously purchased, and which contains eighty acres of land, all under fence, and in a good state of cultivation, and upon which he has good farm buildings. Mr. Polk landed in Le Roy in 1858 with a capital of but 40 cents, and, for lack of means, his family were left in Chicago; he has, since the above date, with the assistance of his wife, by their united efforts, strict economy and hard labor, accumulated a good property. His marriage with Martha Green was celebrated Feb. 1, 1855; she was born in County Donegal, Ireland, Dec. 11, 1830, and emigrated to America when quite young; they have six children by this union, viz., Robert J., Mary J., Sarah E. (now Mrs. John Conn, of Belleflower Township), Martha B., William S. and Margaret E. Mr. and Mrs. Polk are both believers in the Protestant religion, and educate their children in that belief.