Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/153

 JAMES KNOX POLK 117 Character of James Knox Polk,&quot; by A. O. P. Nicholson (Nashville, 1849) ; &quot;James K. Polk,&quot; by John S. Jenkins (Buffalo, 1850) ; &quot;History of the Administration of James K. Polk,&quot; by Lucien B. Chase (New York, 1850) ; &quot;Diary of James K. Polk During His Presidency, 1845 to 1849,&quot; edited by Milo M. Quaife, 4 vols. (Chicago, 1910) ; and Bancroft s large MSS. collection of Polk s letters and extracts from his diary, extending to twenty- two quarto volumes, now in the possession of the New York Public Library. Referring to these type-written copies, made for him in 1887 with a view to the preparation of the president s life, Mr. Bancroft wrote to a friend: &quot;His character shines out in them just exactly as the man was, prudent, farsighted, bold, exceeding any Democrat of his day in his undeviatingly correct exposition of demo cratic principles; and, in short, as I think, judg ing of him as I knew him, and judging of him by the results of his administration, one of the very foremost of our public men, and one of the very best, most honest, and most successful presidents the country ever had.&quot; His wife, SARAH CHILDRESS, born near Mur- freesboro, Rutherford County, Tenn., September 4, 1803; died in Nashville, Tenn., August 14, 1891, was the daughter of Joel and Elizabeth Childress. Her father, a farmer in easy circumstances, sent