Polk's Folly: An American Family History

by William R. Polk

The grand saga of American history told through the story of one remarkable family--a chronicle of pioneers and generals, presidents and scoundrels, cowboys and killers, Southern belles and civil rights heroes.

In 1680, a Scots-Irish mercenary named Robert Pollok fled war-torn Ireland with his family, in search of safe haven and a better life in the New World. When Robert (now using the name "Polk") arrived in Maryland, the only land available was a wretched piece of swampfront the locals derisively dubbed "Polk's Folly." From this desperate and hardscrabble beginning, the Polk clan would flourish, and generate some of the most fascinating and colorful characters in American history.

When William Polk was a boy in Texas, he sat rapt as his grandmother Molly spun tales of family lore, of Civil War heroes and rascals, presidents and slaves, Indian traders and fighters. Polk would go on to have a long and prestigious career as a historian and diplomat, but he kept his grandmother's stories alive for his children, and when he retired, decided to research the truth behind the family history.

And what a history. In these pages one finds drafters of an early Declaration of Independence, oft-wounded soldiers of the Revolutionary War, women taken hostage by Indians, land speculators, slaveholding aristocrats and populist crusaders, one of our greatest presidents, Civil War generals and foot soldiers from North and South, a grandfather who shot the sheriff of Laredo and became a cattle baron, the founders of the Wall Street firm Davis Polk, Patton's lead tank commander, Martin Luther King's lawyer, and the author's amazing brother, a World War II Navy pilot and journalist who was the first casualty of the Cold War.

The saga of this family is the story of the United States. Polk's Folly is both epic in scope and intimate in detail--a unique book about our shared past.


When Bill Polk was a boy in Texas, he sat rapt as his grandmother spun tales of family history, of Civil War heroes and rascals, of presidents and slaves, Indian traders and fighters. Throughout his long and distinguished career as a historian, Bill kept her stories alive for his children, and when he retired decided to approach his family story as a historian would.

And what a history. In these pages one finds drafters of an early Declaration of Independence, oft-wounded soldiers of the Revolutionary War, women taken hostage by Indians, land speculators, slaveholding aristocrats and populist crusaders, one of our greatest presidents, Civil War generals and foot soldiers from North and South, a grandfather who shot the sheriff of Laredo and became a cattle baron, the founders of the powerful Wall Street firm Davis, Polk, Patton's lead tank commander, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s lawyer, and the author's amazing brother, a Navy pilot and journalist who was the first casualty of the Cold War.

The saga of this family is the story of the United States. It is both epic in scope and intimate in detail--a unique book for an age obsessed with the past. -->

Genres: History, Biography, American History

544 pages, Hardcover

First published January 18, 2000

About the author

William R. Polk taught Arabic literature and history at Harvard University and the University of Chicago, served on the Policy Planning Council under President Kennedy, negotiated the Egyptian-Israeli Suez ceasefire, and founded the Adlai Stevenson Institute of International Affairs. He has written nineteen books.

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of us who know much about our family history think that we have some great stories to tell, and we're probably right. But in this case, William Polk not only has some great stories, but he has the writing necessary to tell them well. From the original colonial ancestor Robert Polk, newly arrived from fighting the English in Scotland and Ireland, to the North Carolina branch who served during the Revolutionary War, to the ranchers on the Wild West, the Confederate general and the aviation pioneer, there really are some great stories in here, covering every major movement in American history.

I did get a little bogged down now and then, especially during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. I didn't really have too much trouble keeping the names straight, but a few more maps would have really helped with tracing the military movements. Not too many pictures, but I enjoyed the ones that were there. If you enjoy genealogy or American history, I think you'd like this book. 3.5 stars.

[Bill Fornes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read 100 pages. Couldn't get into it.

[Janice SHULL · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author might have titled his book, The Greatest Family You Have Never Heard Of. Not quite, for surely everyone knows a Polk or two, including President James K. Polk. Yet, this family history is much more than the collection of stories of family members important only to other people named Polk. Tracing the family’s ancestry back to 1066, the author begins the real story of the Polks with the decision of Robert Bruce Pollok, a Scots-Irish officer in Cromwell’s army, to leave the dangers of war-torn Ireland and seek a better life in America. He and his wife Magdalen arrived in the Chesapeake Bay in 1680 and from their poor piece of swampland, called “Polk’s Folly” by the locals, grew a family which represents the essence of the White narrative of American history. The author makes good use of family stories passed on to him by his grandmother to depict the sweep of events across a continent and even the globe over three centuries.

[Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for President James K. Polk fanciers (like myself!) This well-written history book not only details the compelling story of the Polk clan but also gives the reader many small insights into the life of our emerging republic of the last three centuries. You'll time-travel from small beginnings on the shores of the Chesapeake, down to the hill country of North Carolina, through the Cumberland Gap to Tennessee and onward to the rawboned plains of Texas. Many interesting stories here which you will want to read before making your own history trek to Polk's family home in Columbia, TN. When in Columbia don't miss a brief visit to its local graveyard to see the memorial markers for JKP's parents. (President James K. Polk's remains are buried at the state capitol in Nashville.)

[Becki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved reading this book on my ancestors Robert Bruce Polk and Magdalen Tasker. I feel very thankful I was given the opportunity to come to know the history of this branch through this book that I may not have known otherwise from Robert Bruce Polk on down to the contemporary cousins, and yes President Polk. There are a lot of distinguished citizens that come out of this line that are talked about in the book. It seems a lot of research has been done to produce this book. Other members of my family have also enjoyed reading this book. Nice pictures! Very, very interesting!

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here's what I liked about the book - I thought it was a really great idea for the author to track his family's life through the history of America, and it is a truly remarkable family including a US President; Leonidas K. Polk, the fighting Bishop; and a prominent correspondent. The downside is that in the areas of history I know a little better, the author showed a lack of understanding or made overly broad generalizations, so while it's interesting to get insights on different parts of America/American history, it's tough to know how accurate it is at times.

[Russ Adcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read that covers broad periods of American history. I liked they way he interwove the story of his family with larger descriptions of the time periods. And, since we live in Maury County (the home of James K Polk) and our house sits in the the shadow of St. John's Church, Hamilton Place, Rattle & Snap, etc (homes of George, Lucius, Leonidas, etc), I really enjoyed all the insight into local history.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A history of one of the most storied and oldest American families...and to think I'm a member of that family.

[Rogers Hartmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading about my family history.