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BIOGRAPHY For the family of John Alexander Polk and wives
JOHN A. POLK was born in 1823 in Maury County, Tennessee, son of Joseph Lee Polk and Hannah Lemaster. This date was calculated from census research.
FRANCES A. TAYLOR was born on 27 April 1830 in Maury County, Tennessee. She was the daughter of Thomas Isaiah Taylor and Lucretia Cragg (or possibly Craig).
They were married on 24 December 1851 in Maury County, Tennessee by a Justice of the Peace. The first record I have of them after their marriage is the 1860 federal census. They are listed as living in Perry County, Tennessee. So sometime between 1851 and 1860, they moved from Maury County to Perry County. John is listed as a farmer with real estate valued at $3000 and personal property of $750. These values are within the range of his neighbors. His wife Frances and 4 children are listed on this census.
In 1870, they are found again on the federal census for Perry County, Tennessee. He is listed as a farmer with real estate value of $2500 and personal property valued at $1500. Again, these values are within the range of his neighbors. His wife Telitha and 6 children are listed on this census record. The 12 year old Gideon, 11 year old Telitha and 8 year old Susan are listed as being in school during some part of the year. 15 year old Savannah is listed “at home” and did not attend school.
So sometime between 1866 (birthdate of last child) and 1870, his first wife Frances died and he married her sister, Telitha. That marriage makes sense to me. The 6 children would know their aunt and be familiar with her so dealing with their mother’s death and father’s re-marriage was probably made much easier.
A note here: I am uncertain whether the last child, Mary F., was the daughter of the first wife, Frances, or the second wife, Telitha. I do not have a death record for Frances nor a marriage record for Telitha, so this was an educated guess. Hopefully I will locate a marriage record which will tell us for sure.
In 1880 they are listed on the federal census for the 6th civil district in Perry County Tennessee. He is listed as a farmer. His wife Perlilie (nickname for Telitha?) and 6 children are listed in the house. 13 year old Mary and 9 year old Sam attended school.
Between 1870 and 1880, John Polk’s daughter Neoma Savannah married James Tucker. The 2 children were born and then she died. So living in John & Telitha’s house is James Tucker and his children, Mary E age 10 and Black age 8.
I have a copy of a transcript of J.A. Polk’s will. He signed it and it was witnessed on 21 May 1887.
1) In it, he first lists his children by his first wife, Frances: G.M. Polk, Thomas H. Polk, T.L. Hufstedler and Susan Hufstedler. (his daughter Neoma Savannah had died and so had apparently his daughter Mary). To these children he bequeathed all his land on the north side of the Buffalo River. 2) He then lists his children by his second wife Telitha: Samuel F. Polk, Margaret A. Polk and Perry E. Polk. To his wife Telitha and these senior heirs (children by his second wife Telitha), he bequeathes all of his home place and everything in it. His wife Telitha is to have use of it until her death and then it goes to these 3 children. However, if she does not remain a widow after J.A.’s death, then she only receives a child’s portion of his estate. 3) He then bequeaths his wife Telitha and his 3 children by her to have the use and benefit of the tract of land on the south bank of the Buffalo River until Perry Polk turns 18. After that, he bequeathes the same tract of land to his children by his first wife. 4) He then willed to Rufus Black Tucker (his grandson who was being raised by him and his wife) $5.00. If he remains with his grandmother until the age of 21, he is to have a horse and saddle worth $75.00 5) He then willed to Mary E. Tucker (his granddaughter who was being raised by him and his wife) $5.00. If she remains with her grandmother until her marriage, then she is to have 1 feather bed and bed cover. The will was witnessed by J.K. Hufstedler (daughter Telitha’s husband) and S.H. Hufstedler. I belive this is actually Samuel Nacy Hufstedler, daughter Susan’s husband.
Their home place in Perry County was visited in April 1972. The house was still standing but had been remodeled in the early 1900’s. An old stone chimney appeared to be the original. On the home place, is the family cemetery. John A. Polk’s granddaughter Kyle Hufstedler Largent recalled that the following were buried in the Polk Cemetery: John Alexander Polk, born 1823, died 1887; Telitha Taylor Polk; Thomas Polk, son of John Polk; Mary Elizabeth Tucker
Children by his first wife, Frances A. Taylor:
Children by his second wife, Telitha C. Taylor:
Copyright 2004
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