Sarah Childress Polk

Sarah Childress Polk was born in Rutherford County, Tennessee, the third of six children. Although raised in the rugged Western Frontier, Sarah grew up amidst wealth and refinement. Her father, Joel Childress, was a successful businessman and planter.

Although an education was scarce for frontier girls, Sarah attended a local school and, in 1817, was sent to Salem Academy in North Carolina. This school was considered one of the best in the South. The unusually strong curriculum included English grammar, Bible study, Greek and Roman literature, geography, music, drawing, and sewing. Sarah's education was cut short, however, by the death of her father.

While James K. Polk was a Tennessee Legislator, he began courting Miss Childress, and on January 1, 1824, James and Sarah were married at her parents' home near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The young couple moved to a cottage in Columbia, where Mr. Polk could concentrate on his law practice and political career.

Sarah's education would serve both her and her politically ambitious husband well. As James K. Polk embarked upon his long national political career, Sarah acted as his secretary by keeping her traveling husband aware of local political events. Because of her ability to intelligently converse about politics, she was respected and befriended by some of the great politicians of the day.

As First Lady, Sarah Childress Polk quickly endeared herself to the country. She was a strict Presbyterian, and changed the image of the President's House. She curbed the tradition of heavy drinking and dancing at White House social functions. In charge of completely remodeling the State floor of the President's House, she created an elegant setting befitting the highest office in the land.

After four years, Sarah looked forward to her husband's retirement where they could live quietly in their new home, Polk Place, in Nashville. Their quiet retirement did not last long, however, as James K. Polk died just three months after leaving Washington. A 45 year-old widow, Mrs. Polk donned the black clothes of mourning for the rest of her life.

Not long after James K. Polk's death, Sarah became the guardian of an orphaned great niece. This "adopted" daughter, Sally Polk Jetton, would remain with Sarah for the rest of her days. Mrs. Polk was honored at Polk Place throughout her life, and was considered the “grande dame” of Nashville for over four decades. After a short illness, Mrs. Polk died at Polk Place in 1891, just short of her 88th birthday, forty-two years beyond her illustrious husband.

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