Handbook N-P - Fulton County Public Library

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farm and a beautiful home, where he now spends his old days. He is one of the highly influential
men of this neighborhood, and justly deserves the high place he holds in the estimation of his
many friends. Both he and his companion are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, but formerly belonged to the Protestant denomination. He, though quite an old man, is
hale and robust, and has promise of many years in which to enjoy the fruits of his early struggles.
[T. B. Helm, Fulton County Atlas, A. L. Kingman, 1883, p. 34]
BIOGRAPHY
Oliver C. Polley was born in New London county, Conn., March 17, 1821. His father,
Oliver C. Polley, Sr., was born in the same county and state Jan. 8, 1794. He married Abigail
Payne, Nov. 30, 1815. She was a native of the same state and was born July 2, 1790, and died
June 10, 1826. They were both of English descent. On Feb. 27, 1828, he was married to Lura
Abell. She was born in Lisbon county, Conn., Sept. 28, 1808, and died April 15, 1869. Soon after
his marriage he emigrated West and settled in Ohio in 1830, where he died Sept. 6, 1842. The
subject of this sketch came from his native state and settled with his parents in Huron county,
Ohio, when he was about eight years of age. He received a common school education, grew to
manhood, and was married Nov. 1, 1846, to Eliza M. Mehrling, the daughter of Peter and Mary
Mehrling, natives of Pennsylvania. The father was born Dec. 2, 1801, and the mother May 31,
1804. they came to Ohio in 1832, and then to Indiana in 1849, where he died Jan. 14, 1874. Mr.
and Mrs. Polley have had five children, only one of whom is now living. Their names are: Mary
E., Oliver P., Andrew, an infant, and George W. The last named is the only living one. George
W. has the management of his father’s farm, and is a worthy young man. Mr. Polley came to
Indiana in 1849 and settled in Fulton county, where he bought land, then in the heavily wooded
district along the river. By hard and persistent labor he converted it into a highly cultivated tract
of land. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Polley has lived a
long and useful life, and much credit is due him. He came to the county in an early day, and he
has given much aid to the development of the country. He has always been progressive and has
stood as a firm friend of both church and education. In his declining years his blessings are many.
Surrounded with a good wife, a faithful son, many friends and a good home, he enjoys the fruits of
an exemplary life.
[Elia W. Peattie, Fulton County History, National Publishing Co., Chicago 1896, p. 118]
POLLOCK, GEORGE [Rochester, Indiana]
See Skating Rink
PONTIOUS, ABRAHAM [Henry Township]
BIOGRAPHY
Abraham Pontious. - This gentleman is a native of Stark County, Ohio, born November
20, 1831. That being a comparatively new country, the schools were, of a necessity, primitive, and
his educational advantages meager, yet by industry he obtained a very good common school
education. Upon attaining his majority, he went to Elkhart County, Ind., where, in the spring of
1853, he was united in marriage to Miss Christina Kreighbaum. Mr. Pontious and lady then came
to this place, and immediately set about clearing a piece of ground on which to build a cabin,
which in a short time was completed. Having thus secured a shelter, they did what they could to
reduce the forest to cultivated fields and to procure the necessaries of life. But they were not long
permitted to enjoy each other’s society, for in the autumn of 1854 an All wise Father saw fit to call
Mrs. Pontious away from earth and her husband’s embrace. However, through the energy of Mr.
P., the forests yielded, and cultivated fields and a good orchard appeared in their stead. To the
union of Mr. and Mrs. Pontious was born one daughter, Sarah, now a resident of Kansas. In the
fall of 1856, Mr. P. was again married, this time to Miss Rachel Pontious, daughter of Isaac and
Magdalena Pontious, who are mentioned elsewhere in this book. She was born in Stark County,