The life history of John R. Polk touches the pioneer epoch in the annals of San Saba County, where he has long been well and prominently known as a land owner and stock farmer. He was born in Caldwell County, Texas, in 1853, to the marriage union of Headley and Hettie E. (Sebastian) Polk. Headley Polk, born in North Carolina but reared in Tennessee, came to Texas in 1844, settling first in Bastrop County, but later moved from there with his family to the western part of Caldwell County, on the San Marcos river. There he developed a fine farm in a beautiful location, and his old homestead there is still in the possession of the family, the home of his daughters. Headley Polk died in the year of 1907, at the advanced age of ninety-four years. He was by trade a miller, but always owned a farm.
It was at the old Polk homestead in Caldwell County that John R. Polk attained to mature years, but in 1883 he left there and came to San Saba County, locating ten miles west of the County seat, on the San Saba river, a most favorable location for farming and stock raising. He still owns his property there, as well as other valuable land in the County, but he lives in the city, in a pleasant home in the western part, one of San Saba's highly esteemed citizens.
Mr. Polk married Kate Wood, born in Guadalupe County, Texas, and they have five living children-Ivor May, Mrs. Katie Sloan, Annie Lee, Eupha C. and Lex D. Mr. and Mrs. Polk had the misfortune to lose by death their only son, Headley Word Polk, who died in January of 1904, at the age of eighteen years, one of the bright, strong and gifted sons of San Saba. He stood just upon the threshold of what promised to be a successful career when death claimed him, and his memory is cherished by his family, associates and acquaintances. Mr. Polk is a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity. The family worship at the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
http://genealogytrails.com/tex/prairieslakes/caldwell/johnrp... John Robert Polk Ranch - Known as San Saba County property with history of longest continuous ownership by a single family. Texas settler Headley Polk, a kinsman of 1845-1849 United States President James K. Polk, bought from grantee Burke Trammel in 1849 a section of land a half-mile to the south of this marker. Headley's son, John Robert Polk (1853-1946), grew up in Lockhart and on the San Marcos River at the Mooney Mill, where he made fine furniture. In 1883, "Bob" and his wife Kate Word Polk moved to this property with their herd of cattle. Over the years they bought adjacent land until they had 2,000 acres with frontage of three and one-half miles on the San Saba River. The second tract of land in this county ever to be enclosed was fenced by Polk with the help of a man named Baker. Two schoolhouses were built at different times on this ranch, for the convenience of the Polk family and neighbors. In the early era, Polk trailed his Bar-P cattle to market; for years he belonged to the Texas Trail Drivers' Association. John Robert and Kate Polk were parents of a son Headley (who died at 17, in 1904) and five daughters: Annie (later Mrs. W. W. Holman), Eupha (Mrs. Louis J. Bryan), Ivor Mae, Katie (Mrs. J. A. Sloan), and Lex.
http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5...In the fall of 1845 Headley and Hetty Eliza Sebastian Polk moved to Caldwell County, TX
Bolivar Bulletin, 2 Jul. 1897. Local News, "Mr. Headley Polk, a wealthy citizen of San Marcos, Texas, gave the Bulletin office a very pleasant call on Wednesday. Mr. Polk, who is related to the President Polk family, was a grocery merchant in this place in 1841, and this is his first visit here in 4 to 5 years. At the advanced age of 85 years he retains a fine physique, has splendid memory, and his reminiscences of Hardeman County and the funny stories he relates of the old settlers, very few of whom remain, are quite interesting. Mr. Polk was married in this county to Miss Sebastian, who was an aunt of Mr. Kim Hornsby. Many of the old citizens came from different parts of the county to meet him. In the fall of 1845 Headley and Hetty Eliza Sebastian Polk moved to Caldwell County, TX
Bolivar Bulletin, 2 Jul. 1897. Local News, "Mr. Headley Polk, a wealthy citizen of San Marcos, Texas, gave the Bulletin office a very pleasant call on Wednesday. Mr. Polk, who is related to the President Polk family, was a grocery merchant in this place in 1841, and this is his first visit here in 4 to 5 years. At the advanced age of 85 years he retains a fine physique, has splendid memory, and his reminiscences of Hardeman County and the funny stories he relates of the old settlers, very few of whom remain, are quite interesting. Mr. Polk was married in this county to Miss Sebastian, who was an aunt of Mr. Kim Hornsby. Many of the old citizens came from different parts of the county to meet him.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~seddon/ps0...See story and photo of Headley in "Polk family and kinsmen" By W.H. Polk - on Google at:
http://books.google.com/books?id=tW0NAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA343&a...