HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG1323.AM: William A. Polock, 1817-1882
Papers: 1863; 1866-1871
Brownville, Nemaha County, Nebraska
Size: 0.25 cu.ft.; 1 box
BACKGROUND NOTE
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 12, 1817, William A. Polock came to Nebraska and enlisted in the 1st Nebraska Infantry on June 15, 1861. He transferred to the 1st Nebraska Cavalry on November 6, 1863 and mustered out on October 3, 1865. Polock became active in politics, serving in the Nebraska House of Representatives in 1866-1867 and again from 1879 to 1881. He served as Speaker of the House in 1866. William A. Polock died at Brownville, Nebraska, on March 29, 1882 and is buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The collection consists of one box mostly consisting of reminiscences and speeches written by William A. Polock. Most of the reminiscences relate to his time in the military, including various battles, skirmishes with Indians, and hunting buffalo. Also included is a letter from Polock to U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, Charles Sumner. Dated November 19, 1866, Polock writes to Sen. Sumner asking him to change his vote against admission of Nebraska as a state. In the letter he discusses why the word “White” was used in the state constitution as a qualification to vote. One final item is a record book with personal accounts of William A. Polock. Part of the volume was used as a scrapbook, having several newspaper clippings pasted in. Three pages of the volume (pp. 30-32) appear to list ordnances and other military supplies received during the Civil War.
INVENTORY
Box 1
Folder
- Letter, 1866
- Reminiscences, speeches, etc.
- Record book/scrapbook, 1863, 1867-1871
Subject headings
Battle of Shiloh
Bison hunting
Civil War
1st Nebraska Infantry
Nebraska — Politics and government
Nemaha County (Neb.) — History
Polock, William A., 1817-1882
Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874
Revised TMM 04-03-2018
