T. M. Polk & wife, Alice May Coward
The Family of
Timothy Morgan Polk
& Wife
Alice Mae Coward
Page Created by Sadie Greening Sparks
Copyright October 18, 2000
NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE
Timothy Morgan Polk was born March 31, 1868 in Prob. Clarendon Co, SC and died Jan. 19, 1951 at Pisgah, Nacogdoches Co., Texas. He married Miss Alice May Coward in Walker Co, Texas on Dec. 2, 1892. She was born March 27, 1869 in Montgomery Co, Texas and died Feb. 16, 1933 at Pisgah, Nacog. Co, Texas. She was a school teacher in the Black Jack Community, Walker Co, Texas prior to her marriage. Both are buried at Bethel Cem, Appleby, Nacog., Co, Texas (double marker)
He was the son of Elias Franklin Polk & Sarah Jane "Sally" Ladd Polk & Alice was the daughter of Wm. Milburn M. Coward & wife, Mary Clark.
His mother's name came from his brother Sam Polk's Bible, from
Annie Belle Polk Listenbee.
Her mother's name came from Alice Coward Polk's Death Certificate-Informant,
husband, T M Polk.
T. M Polk was a farmer by occupation, and his family were of the Methodist faith.
The Polk family left Walker Co, in the fall of 1908, moving to near Athens, Henderson Co, Tx. where they lived for about 8 yrs, then removed to near Marlin, Falls Co, where they lived for about 1 year, then removed to Arkansas, near Little Rock, in 1917, and removed to Pisgah area of Nacogdoches Co, Texas in the fall of 1919, where they remained for life. Some of their descendants are still living in the area. In the summer of 1920, the Pisgah School burned; after the crops were harvested in the fall of that year, the Polk family assisted other community families in rebuilding the Pisgah School, which stands today, but in dire need of repair. This building was also used for church purposes.
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Marriage License of T. M. Polk & Alice May Coward-
The State of Texas)
Walker County)
Before me, T. J. Brooks, County Clerk of said County in said State, personally appeared T. M. Polk, who being duly sworn by me says that he is over the age of twenty-one (21) years, and that wife Alice Coward, the lady he intends to marry, is over 21 years of age, and there is no legal cause why they should not be married.
X -T..M. Polk
Sworn to and subscribed before me Dec. 2, 1892
T. J. Brooks, Circuit County Court, Walker County
The History of the Black Jack Church and Cemetery, compiled and written by Mr. & Mrs. J. J. Head, June 12, 1955
The First Black Jack Methodist Church was built in the year of
1871 on a plot of ground given by Henry Lee Taylor, near Hwy. #75, just S. of
the present home site of Joe Bruce.
Relatives and friends will remember the following families as belonging to this
early group. Allen, Deason, Dorrell, Frederick, Hamley, Head, Hickson, Hill,
Johnson, Kelley, McKenzie, McKnight, Murray, Pierce, Polk, Robbins,
Shepard, Taylor, Thomas, Weisinger, Wilcox, & Wolverton.
"The thriving community proved to be no exception to the rule of progress of our forefathers; as time marched on, new trails were blazed, new homes built, new farms cleared, and new roads were opened causing the population to shift eastward. This made it necessary to move the church to the present two-acre location donated by Mrs. Sophronia J. Warren in 1886, to be used for church building and a new cemetery. H L Taylor, A W McKenzie & Steve Johnson, leaders of the early church, along with other families, some of different denominations, but all with an unwavering faith in God in worshiping in one accord.
School was held in the present church for a short time, after which a one room school building was erected. Among the first teachers were Mamie Kennedy, Carrie Reynolds, Lillian chambers, Minerva Brice, Alice Coward, Will Coward, Leighfronia Murry, whose salary was $28.35 per month for a four month term. Following her were Mary Ross, J. H. Dishroon, Janie Mercer, and Willie Holloway."
T. M. Polk & wife, Alice May Coward
Children: POLK
Dates taken from T. M. Polk Bible @ home of son Herbert L.
Polk, in Jan,1979
Personal visit by me-sgs
1. George Russell Born Dec 9, 1893 Walker Co, Tx. Died: Jan 23, 1918 -WWI, US Navy, Great Lakes, Ill. -never married -Buried Blackjack Cem, Walker Co, Tx
WW I nCivilian Draft Registration-George Russell Polk, Serial No 1158, Add: Pine Valley, Walker, Texas, b. December 9, 1892, caucasian, natural born citizen, b. Pine Valley, Walker, Texas; Occ: farmer, same add; single, No Prev. Military Exp; Exemption claimed: enlarged leg; Sig: George Russell Polk; Phys. Desc: Tall, medium bld, black eyes, black hair, not bald, Sig: W J Coward, Regist., Pct 8, Walker Co, Texas, June 5, 1917
2. Herbert Leigh Born Sept 19, 1895 Walker Co., Tx Died: Feb 6,
1980 Nacog. Co, Tx
(M) Florence Parker June 8, 1929 (of Shelby Co, Tx)
Born April 14, 1901 Shelby Co, Tx Died: June 20, 1990 Houston, Harris, Tx
Both buried @ Bethel Cem., Appleby, Nacog. Co, Tx
a. Connie May (M) Bobby Stokes from Garrison
b. Mamie Lois (M) Dale E. Stokes from Garrison
c. John Leigh
WWI Civilian Draft Registration, Hubert Lee Polk, caucasian male, Henderson Co, Texas, born Sept. 19, 1895 Texas (Card Not available, Ancestry.com)
3. Mamie May Born Feb 20, 1897 Walker Co, Tx Died Aug 13, 1900 Walker Co, Tx-Buried there
4. Erma Elma Born April 14, 1899 Walker Co, Tx Died Dec 1, 1943,
Nacog. Co
Buried Bethel Cemetery (Her marker has birth date as 1900)
(M) Robert Lacy (Buck) Pleasant Sept 30, 1923 Nacog. Co, Tx
He was born 1903-later remarried and is buried near Conroe, Texas
a. Aulee (M) Wilbur Lilly-No children
b. Dorothy (M) Fred Nelson-2 children
c. Betty Joe Born 2/21/1931 (M) Bill Lindner (No ch)
d. Robert Odell born 5/29/1932 Died 6/26/1948 -Bethel Cemetery,
Appleby
(fell off a truck near Nacog. High
School
5. Ralph Shirrell Born April 11, 1902, Walker Co, Tx Died Aug.
1, 1989 Van Zandt Co, Tx
(M) Myrtie Sparks May 7, 1924 Nacog. Co, Tx
Born Sept 23, 1907 Died Dec 15, 2001 Van Zandt Co, Tx
Borth buried @ Old Bethel Cem, Canton, Van Zandt Co, Tx
Myrtie was the dtr of Wm. R.
Sparks & #2 wife, Luvenia Watkins Gardner
Polk Children:
a. Pauline Hazel
(M) Godfrey Hicks, Jr.
(Live @ Central Heights Community, Nacog. Co, Tx)
1. Wanda Jean born Dec.
9, 1944 Nacog. Co., Tx.
2. Ralph David
"Buddy" Born Dec. 26, 1946 Nacog. Co., Tx.
b. Ralph Sherrill, Jr. Born Nov.
27, 1928 Nacog. Co., Tx. (Lives in Canton, Texas)
(M) Lillian
Box
1. Ralph III
Sept 28, 1962 (M) Nicole Bledsoe
a. Ralph, IV
b. Amanda Nicole
2. Brenda Nov 3,
1963 (M) David Kuykendahl
a. Chrystal
b. Julie
c. David Eugene
Ralph Shirrell
Polk, Jr. (M) #2 Wanda Laymance
3. Tammy (M) Jared Hand
a. Kameryn Payge
c. Herbert Leigh "H.
L." Born Aug. 17, 1930 Nacog. Co, Tx Died: Nov 3, 1998 Forney, Kaufman Co,
Tx. Buried: Old Bethel Cem, Canton, Texas
(He & wife Opal
Letterman adopted a dtr Rebecca
d. Thomas O'Neil Born May 15,
1935 Nacog. Co., Tx.
(M) Alma Faye
Thomas
1. Lee
2. Paige
(M) #2- Frances
Canova
3. Thomas
Jackson
H. L., Ralph, Jr., Pauline, Myrtie, O'Neil & Ralph Polk, Sr.
6. Nettie Ethel Born Oct 16, 1904 Walker Co, Tx Died: Mar. 10,
1996 Nacog. Co, Tx
(M) William Lindell ("Jake") Lowery Sept 23, 1923 Nacog Co Tx
Both buried @ Sunset Memorial Park, Nacogdoches, Tx
a. William Lindell Born May 30, 1924 Nacog.
Co, Tx Died: June 14, 1979 Lafayette, La.
Bur: Sunset Memorial Park, Nacog. Co,
Tx
(M) # 1 Tynsie ______
1. Ronnie L.
2. Brenda (M) _____Weed
(M) #2 Virginia Ann Pickels
Born Mar, 9, 1926 Died: May 3, 1986 Bur: Sunset Mem. Park, Nacogdoches, Tx
b. Herbert Cleo Born May 5, 1928 Nacog. Co,
Tx
(M) Georgia Louise Powdrill
Born Jan 16, 1931 Died May 27, 1986
Tyler, Smith, Tx Bur: Sunset Mem. Park, Nacogdoches, Tx.
1. Scott
2. Sandra (M) ____Stutts
3. Stacey (M) _____Beckham
c. Triplets (3 Female) Born & Died June 30, 1930-Bethel Cem, Nacog. Co, Tx
7. Infant Dtr. Born & Died 1906 Walker Co, Tx-buried there
8. Allie Bertie Born July 9, 1908 Died April 28, 1995 Nacog,
Nacog, Co, Tx
(M) John Thomas Sparks Sept 12, 1928 Nacog. Co, Tx -See His page
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DB 35, P 77, Walker Co, Texas
20th April, 1911
T. M. Polk & wife, Mrs Alice Polk of Henderson Co, State of Texas to F. K. Williams of Walker Co, Texas, in consideration of four hundred and fifty dollars ($450.) a certain tract of land, situated in Walker Co, Texas, part of Thos. Wilson League, conveyed by J. E. Wyche & wife (unnamed) to T. M. Polk by deed of date Nov 1, 1900, recorded in Vol 11, P 164, Walker Co, Texas, containing one hundred and sixty acres.
Witness our hands this 28th day of April, AD, 1911
And the said Mrs. Alice Polk, wife of T. M. Polk, having been examined by me privately, and apart from her husband, and having the same fully explained to her by me, she the said Mrs. Alice Polk acknowledged such instrument to be her act and deed and declared the she had willingly signed the same for the purposes and consideration therein.
Given under my hand and seal of Office, this the 28th day of April, AD, 1911.
T D. Erwin, Notary Public, Henderson Co, Texas
Filed for record, Dec 31, 1912 at 2 o'clock PM Recorded @ 2:30 PM
Index to Deeds-Walker Co,Tx
Nov 1, 1900 (16-183) T. M. Polk from J E. Wyche (50 AC)
Nov. 28, 1900 (17-119) T. M. Polk from J. E. & wife, M. A. Wyche-160 AC on Sandy Branch, Walker Co
22-168 T. M. Polk to J Wyche & J W Thomason
1910 Walker Co, Tx Pct 6, P 7A, HH 83-84
William J. Coward 52 WM Tx SC Ala Single farmer Owns home
Mary " 76 WF Ala Ga Ga Widow, Rel: Mother
George R. Polk 16 WM Tx SC Tx Single Rel: Nephew*
This is son of T. M. Polk & Alice May Coward
1910 Henderson Co, Texas ED11, Pt of Pct 1, Sh 10-A April 30,
1910
by Stephen B. Tarper Farm # 198 HH 1-1
Timothy Poke (Polk) 42 WM SC SC SC Farmer (Rents) Marr 18 yrs
Alice " 41 WF Tx SC Ga Wife (Had 8 children-6 living) (Coward)
Herbert " 15 WM Tx SC Tx Son
Erma " 11 WM Tx SC Tx Dtr
Ralph " 08 WM Tx SC Tx Son
Nettie " 05 WF Tx SC Tx Dtr
Bertie " 01 WF Tx SC Tx Dtr
1920 Nacogdoches County, Texas Census, Pct 3 (pt of) Arden S.
Rucker, Enumerator
HH 351-354
Timothy M Polk HH/Head Own home, mortgage, 52 WM Marr SC SC SC Farmer
Allie May " 51 WF Tx SC GA
Hubert Lee " 24 WM Single TX SC Tx son
Alma " 20 WF Single Tx SC Tx dtr
Ralph D. " 17 WM single Tx SC Tx son
Nettie Ethel " 15 WF Single Tx SC Tx Dtr
Bertie " 11 WF Single Tx SC Tx Dtr
1930 Nacogdoches Co, Tx Pct 3, ED 9 P 26A HH 517-523
Lindell Lowery 25 WM Tx Tx Tx farmer (M) @ age 19
Nettie " 23 WF Tx SC Tx wife (M) @ age 17
W. L. " 6 WM Tx Tx Tx son
Cleo " 2 4/12 WM Tx Tx Tx son & 1 boarder
HH 518-524
Ralph Polk 28 WM Tx SC Tx farmer (M) @ age 22
Myrtie " 22 WF Tx Tx Tx wife (M) @ age 16 (Sparks)
Pauline " 5 WF Tx Tx Tx dtr
Ralph, Jr. " 1 5/12 WM Tx Tx Tx son
HH 519-525
Timothy Morgan Polk 62 WM SC SC SC farmer (M) @ age 24
Allie " 61 WF Tx SC SC wife (M) @ age 22 (Coward)
ED9, P 15B HH 269-302 (same HH as Thomas Pleasant)
Lacy Pleasant 27 WM Tx Tx Tx farmer (M) @ age 19
Erma " 31 WF Tx US US wife (M) @ age 24 (Polk)
Aulie " 6 WF Tx Tx Tx dtr
Dorothy " 4 3/12 WF Tx Tx Tx dtr
Tommie & Bertie Polk Sparks lived in Port Arthur, unable to locate in 1930 Census.