James Gould Polk (October 6, 1896 – April 28, 1959) was a prominent
U.S.
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
politician of the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
during the middle of the 20th century.
A native of
Highland County, Ohio, Polk grew up on a farm and graduated from high school in
New Vienna, Ohio. He did not serve during
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
because of a physical disability, and graduated from
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly called Ohio State or OSU, is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. A member of the University System of Ohio, it has been ranked by major institutional rankings among the best publ ...
in 1919.
left, 250px, Group of legislators leaves White_House_after_asking_Franklin_D._Roosevelt_for_$80,000,000_for_flood_control_in_Ohio_Valley.html" ;"title="Franklin_D._Roosevelt.html" ;"title="White House after asking Franklin D. Roosevelt">White House after asking Franklin D. Roosevelt for $80,000,000 for flood control in Ohio Valley">Franklin_D._Roosevelt.html" ;"title="White House after asking Franklin D. Roosevelt">White House after asking Franklin D. Roosevelt for $80,000,000 for flood control in Ohio Valley, March 7, 1938. front: l-r Joseph A. Dixon, James G. Polk, Eugene B. Crowe, George William Johnson (congressman), G. W. Johnson, Lawrence E. Imhoff, rear l-r : Peter J. De Muth, Kent E. Keller, Brent Spence.
Polk worked as a school administrator in small towns in Ohio during the 1920s, and was first elected to office in 1930, as a
U.S. Congressman from
Ohio's 6th District. He won five elections in a row before stepping down in 1941.
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, Polk worked as a special assistant in the
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. It aims to meet the needs of comme ...
in
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
After the war, Polk re-entered politics, and won back his old Congressional seat in the 1948 election. He remained in Congress until his death.
Polk died of cancer on April 28, 1959, in Washington, D.C.
His remains are buried in Highland Cemetery in
Highland, Ohio
Highland is a village in Fairfield Township, Highland County, Ohio, United States. The population was 232 at the 2020 census.
History
Highland was originally called Lexington, and under the latter name laid out in 1816.
James G. Polk, a Dem ...
.
File:Headstone Of James G. Polk, Highland, Ohio.jpg, Headstone of James G. Polk located in the Highland Cemetery in Highland, Ohio.
File:Gravemarker Of James G. Polk, Highland, Ohio.jpg, Gravemarker of James G. Polk located in the Highland Cemetery in Highland, Ohio.
See also
*
List of United States Congress members who died in office (1950–99)
References
Sources
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress: POLK, James Gould
1896 births
1959 deaths
People from Highland County, Ohio
Ohio State University alumni
Deaths from cancer in Washington, D.C.
20th-century American politicians
Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio
{{Ohio-politician-stub
