All during the last few months of James K. Polk’s administration, his wife Sarah’s primary concern was Jim’s failing health. She watched him grow more frail by the month. He had attacks of fever and diarrhea constantly. When President James K.Polk died of cholera in his home, Polk Place, on the 15th of June 1849, he was only 53-years-old and his widow, Sarah Childress Polk, was only 45. She was fine-looking, well-to-do and brilliant. Since Jim and Sarah had no children, in his last will and testament, he left nearly everything to her. This included their beautiful home, Polk Place, on the corner of Vine and Union Streets, and a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
On Jan. 10, 1850, by a special act of Congress, Mrs. Polk was granted Franking Privileges, which meant that she was permitted to send her mail throughout the United States Postal System without affixing stamps. She merely placed her signature at the top of the mailing envelopes. Sarah never considered remarrying and seldom left home except to go to Murfreesboro to visit her family and to go to Sunday worship services at Nashville’s First Presbyterian Church. She had many visitors, however. One who came most frequently was Randal McGavock, a former mayor, and grandson of Felix Grunty. McGavock came frequently, often to seek the advice of the intelligent Mrs. Polk on his ideas.
During the Civil War, Mrs. Polk remained neutral and both Southern and Northern officers were her guests in her home. Officers on both sides admired and respected the ex-first lady and none of her property in Nashville was harmed. Nevertheless, Sarah’s financial situation was greatly altered by the war. Polk’s perceived “losses” mirrored many that carried on the practice of owning enslaved people before the Civil War: Her slaves had been freed and her cotton in Mississippi destroyed. She had sold most of the plantation there before the war. Now, she wrote Judge Avent, the husband of her niece, Mary Childress, asking him to dispose of the rest of her land in Mississippi.
The Tennessee State legislature granted Mrs. Polk a sum of $1,200 annually. This helped but it was not enough. Mrs. Polk’s niece and constant companion, Sarah Polk Jetton, and her husband, George William Fall, were living with her. Later, Sarah Jetton had a baby, christened Saidee Polk Fall, who brought much joy and happiness to the house. Despite some financial help from Mr. Fall, who was a successful businessman, finances were an increasing concern in the 1879s and early 1880s. Mrs. Polk was too proud to ask for financial assistance. However, Tennessee’s United States Senator, Howell E. Jackson, and his brother, ex-Confederate general, William Hicks “Billy” Jackson, knew about Mrs. Polk’s financial problems. Bill wrote his brother urging him to introduce legislation in Congress to grant Mrs. Polk a pension as a widow of a president of the United States. Howell also wanted to do so as he held Mrs. Polk in high esteem. Accordingly, he submitted a bill to give annual pensions of $5,000 each to the widows of Presidents James K. Polk and Henry Tyler. The bill passed. Mrs. Polk was extremely grateful and wrote Senator Jackson the letter show below:
Honorable H. E. Jackson
U.S. Senator
Washington, D.C.
My Dear Sir,
Permit me to offer my acknowledgement and grateful thanks to you that you so kindly introduced my name for a pension and have so successfully accomplished the object which will now render me in the evening of my life so comfortable and happy.
This noble and generous act of friendship and consideration, I do assure you my dear sir is appreciated. My gratitude can never cease. I can only commend you and yours to the Almighty power. My kindest regards to Mrs. Jackson. With much admiration, I am truly yours.
Mrs. James K. Polk
Polk Place
April 12, 1882
Had Senator Jackson not introduced a bill to give presidential widows pensions, Mrs. Polk would likely not have been able to spend her last few years at Polk Place. She did, however and enjoyed a graceful and honorable old age. Hers was a well-spent life. Just before she died at Polk Place on Aug. 14, 1891, she turned in her bed and, with a smile, said to her family, Salliee, Saidee and George, “The Lord bless thee and keep thee, and make His face shine upon thee, and give thee happiness and love and everlasting peace.” She then closed her eyes for the last time.