Bio: Polley, Horace N. (1842 – 1914)

Contact: Crystal Wendt

----Surnames: Polley, Russell, Hutchins, McIntosh, Bush, Searle

----Source: History of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin (1914) pages 827-828

Horace N. Polley was born at Messena, St. Lawrence county, New York, March 10, 1842, and is descended from New England ancestry. His parents were Ira and Delila (Russell) Polley, who came from Vermont to New York state and followed the occupation of farming. Mrs. Polley died in 1844, leaving Horace, two years old, and one sister, Delila. Four years later, in 1848, the father came west to Wisconsin, locating at West Point, Columbia county. He was again married, this time to Miss Katherine Hutchins, and to them five children were born, two of whom are now living, viz.: Hiram E., resides at Madison, Wis., and Etta, the wife of Albert McIntosh, of Lodi.

Horace N. Polley spent his boyhood days on the farm in Columbia county and attended the public schools. When nineteen years of age, in 1861, he enlisted as a musician in Company H, 11th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer infantry, and was afterwards promoted to principal musician and served as such until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged in September, 1865. He was first attached to the 13th army corps and afterwards transferred to the 15th army corps, his time of service being confined to operations in the West and Southwest. He took part in the siege of Vicksburg and the battle of Champion Hill. After the close of the war he returned to the farm in Columbia county and later moved to Eau Claire county. He afterwards went to Trempealeau county, where he spent two or three years, then returned to Eau Claire county, where he resided until his death, September 18, 1914.

In 1863 Mr. Polley married Miss Letitia Bush, daughter of Parley and Letitia Bush, of Sauk county, Wisconsin. To this union nine children were born, viz.: Kittle, wife of Frank Searle, resides at Milaca, Minn.; Ira lives at home; Foster B. resides in the Milk River valley, Montana; Maude is deceased; Ellen M.; Madel and Amy are at home; Ray H. lives near Rice Lake, Wis., and Delila, who is a professional nurse, resides in Detroit, Mich. A Republican in politics, Mr. Polley was a staunch adherent of that political faith, and a firm believer in the principles of protection and other cardinal doctrines of the Republican party. His services in behalf of the party and his fitness for official position were recognized in his nomination for and his election to the General Assembly in 1897, and his re-election in 1899. In addition to his two terms in the legislature Mr. Polley served as assessor for Bridge Creek township twenty-three years, a remarkable record and one which is seldom equaled and rarely surpassed. In social matters Mr. Polley occupied a conspicuous place and was an active member of the George E. Perkins Post, No. 98, Grand Army of the Republic.