IRVIN POLSON

POLSON

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/20/2020 at 13:56:52

IRVIN POLSON, one of the prominent and wealthy citizens of Adams county, Iowa, was born in Garrett county, Kentucky , January 23, 1814 . His father, John Polson, was a native of Maryland and a minute-man during the Revolutionary war. The Polsons trace their ancestry back to the first Norwegians that settled in the United States . John Polson married Martha Briant, who was born in Virginia, daughter of Benjamin Briant, also of the Old Dominion. When Irvin, their son, was a lad of ten years they moved to Harrison county, Indiana, and later to Washington county, same State. They had a family of seven sons and one daughter. The mother died at the age of eighty years and subsequent to her death the father came to Iowa . The latter passed away in Marion county, aged ninety-five years, eleven months and six days.

Irvin Polson spent his youth on a farm in the Hoosier State , receiving a limited education in the primitive log schoolhouse of that period. In 1852 he came to Marion county, Iowa , and settled on what was then the frontier. Crossing the Mississippi river at Keokuk, he remained for a short time in Salem , Henry county, before locating in Marion county. His has been a useful and active life. For many years he was engaged in buying and selling lands and dealing extensively in stock. He was also engaged in the general merchandise business for years. Long before the advent of the railroad in these parts he bought cattle and hogs and frequently drove them 100 miles to a shipping point. At one time he drove 1,000 hogs to Ottumwa , a distance of sixty-five miles. At another time, by virtue of his being one of the most extensive shippers in that part of the State, he received from the railroad company a rebate of $750. Mr. Polson continued to reside in Marion county until 1879, when he sold his interests there, came to Adams county and purchased 400 acres of land in Carl township, where he has since made his home.

He was married, at the age of twenty-two years, to Miss Polly Radcliff, who has proved herself a most worthy companion and helpmate. She was born in Washington county, Indiana, daughter of David and Rachel Elizabeth (Brown) Radcliff, both natives of Christian county, Kentucky . Her parents died in Washington county, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Polson have had ten children, as follows: Martha Jane, wife of John Davis, of Buffalo county, Nebraska; Cyrus, of Marion county, Iowa; John T., Marion county, Iowa; Nancy, wife of William H. H. Brown, of Adams county, Iowa; Clarra, wife of James Swim, of Prescott, Iowa; David of Carl township, this county; Irvin, Jr., of Marion county, Iowa; Wike P., Marion county; Stephen, at home. One son, Charles V., was killed by an accident, aged thirty-five years. He left a widow and children. Mr. Polson and his wife have about twenty-five grandchildren. Politically he is a Republican, as also are his seven sons one of whom, John T., served as a member of Company G, Fortieth Iowa Infantry, during the late war.