Thomas Polk

Thomas Polk, a well known merchant of New Castle, Hardeman Co., Tenn., is a native of the county where he resides, born November 27, 1852, a son of J. J. and T. J. (Bowels) Polk. The father was a native of North Carolina, born in 1808 and died in Hardeman County, September, 1871. The mother was born in Virginia, in 1816, and died in Hardeman County in 1879. In early life, the father immigrated to Tennessee and settled in Hardeman County, where he spent the remainder of his life as a farmer, and was one of the most extensive planters in the county. He was a Democrat in politics, and he and wife were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject came of one of the most eminent families that has ever made a home in Tennessee, J. K. Polk, the President, being one of its illustrious members, Thomas secured a good education in his youth, and after farming until 1872, he then established a store in New Castle, and since then has been an active merchant and has secured a fair competency. He now owns a stock of goods valued at $10,000, and owns 800 acres of good land in the county. July 15, 1874, Mr. Polk married Miss Willie Rodgers, a highly cultured lady, a native of Louisiana, born March 1, 1855. To this union have been born four children: John J., born April 28, 1875; Florence E., born May 17, 1877; Sarah T., born August 20, 1879, and Lola M., born November 27, 1881. Mr. Polk is a Democrat and he and wife are influential members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

Source: “The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1886”