Page:Lives of the presidents in words of one syllable (1903).djvu/73

 1845

1849

JAMES KNOX POLK.

For years and years, and long ere we fought to be free, I-rish folk came to this land. An-drew Jack-son's kin were of this race and so were James Pol-lock's. They found it was good for them to be here and not in their old home. When the time came to try to get free from the yoke of Eng-land, they were right glad to help.

The real name, Pol-lock, soon came to be Polk. The Polks took up land on the west edge of North Car-o-lina. In 1795, in the farm house of Sam-u-el Polk, a son was born who came to have the name of James Knox Polk, to be Gov-ern-or of his own State, and Pres-i-dent of the U-ni-ted States in years to come.

The child was not strong, but bright. As years came to