The Life of Sarah Pamela Polk
Sarah’s obituary as published in The Progressive Farmer on 18 June 1901.
Transcript of Obituary:
Mrs. Sarah Pamela Polk, widow of the founder and first editor of The Progressive Farmer, Col. L. L. Polk, died at her home in Raleigh Wednesday of last week. Our readers will recall that she was stricken with paralysis nine days before, hence her death was not entirely unexpected.
Mrs. Polk was born in Anson county, North Carolina, Dec. 2, 1840. Her father was Joel P. Gaddy, a prosperous farmer. At an early age she graduated from historic old Salem Female Academy, and in her eighteenth year she married Col. Polk, of whose life and work it is unnecessary to speak to our readers. Mrs. Polk remained with her husband in their native county until 1877, when he became Commissioner of Agriculture for North Carolina, being the first man to fill this important position. Since that time she has resided in Raleigh, except for a few months when Col Polk was publishing The Progressive Farmer in Winston. Mrs. Polk was the mother of seven children, only two of whom survive her; these are Mrs. J. W. Denmark and Miss Carrie Polk. One of her daughters married Mr. D. H. Browder, of Winston-Salem, who was for some time manager of this paper; another daughter married Mr. Jay Harris of Cabarrus county, now deceased. Mrs. Polk was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Raleigh. At five o'clock last Thursday afternoon her body was laid to rest beside that of her husband; exactly nine years and one day before her death he likewise had received the summons from Him "who giveth his beloved sleep."
Mrs. Polk was a splendid type of the best Southern womanhood - patient, tender, modest, industrious, persevering. "She had known sorrow;" five children had preceded her over the river, and her husband had fallen in the hour of his greatest influence, yet she never yielded to morbid gloominess, but lived faithfully, cheerfully, earnestly until death came. And one who has so lived, relying upon the promises of Him who is the Giver of the perfect life that knows no death, may
"By and unfaltering trust approach the grave
Like one who folds the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams."
- Progressive Farmer.