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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County
Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908

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The Biography of James T. POLLITT 

[Surnames: BAKER, BECKSTEAD, BLACK, FARRIS, HUGHES, KENDALL, POLLITT, THOMAS] 

POLLITT, JAMES T.

    
One of the oldest and most respected residents of Fulton County, who has spent nearly three score and ten years within its borders, and is still an honored occupant of the farm in Sect. 2, in Liverpool Twp., to which he was brought by his father in the pioneer days which tried men's souls, was born in Lewis Co., KY, June 19, 1835. He is the son of James an Mary (Thomas) Pollitt, the former a native of Somerset County, MD, where he was born July 20, 1798, and latter of Fauquier Co., VA, where she was born Mar. 16, 1802. The Pollitt family if of Scots-Irish origin. 
    
Jonathan, the grandfather, moved at an early period from Maryland to Lewis Co., KY, where he and his wife died. In the fall of 1835, Joseph Pollitt journeyed to Fulton Co., IL, and settled near the city of Lewistown. In 1837 he bought the farm where his son James T., now lives in Sect. 1, Liverpool Twp., where he spend the remainder of his days dying Feb. 14, 1875, at the age of 76 years, his wife surviving him until May 20, 1880. He and his wife were the parents of the following children:
Alexander H., who died at the age of 63 years.
Alvin A., a farmer in East Liverpool Twp.
George and Jonathan, deceased.
Mary, deceased wife of John Farris, also deceased
Francis M. who died in 1874
James T.
Sarah A. deceased, who was the wife of Wesley Brinegar, a resident of Canton.
Susan, who died in childbirth, the infant son also dying.
Nancy A. wife of Martin Hughes, residing near Bridge Station. 
    
James T. Pollitt was an infant when his parents settled in Fulton Co. He was reared on the farm where he now lives, and received his education in the subscription schools. On lhis farm of 165 acres his family have grown to manhood and womanhood. Mr. Pollitt still supervises the farming operations and raises the best bred stock, including Norman horses, Shorthorn cattle, and Poland China hogs, and a good grade of mules. 
    
On June 25, 1874, he was united in marriage with Arilla Beckstead, a daughter of George Beckstead of Canada, who was for some years connected with a packing house in Canton and afterward moved to a farm in Liverpool Twp. where he died. 
    
Mr. and Mrs. Pollitt have had six children: Harriet C., wife of Theodore Black, a farmer in Liverpool Twp. One who died in infancy
James A. who married Martha Kendall, and died in 1896, leaving two sons, James T., and Jesse B.
Ambrose D., who married Martha A. widow of his brother, James A., by whom he has had five children: Arilla A., Polly K., Dorothy D., Goldie and Hobart R.
Mary F. wife of James D. Baker, a farmer of Liverpool Twp., and who has had four children: Ambrose D., Hattie, and Georgia, twins, and James Robert.
Georgia, who died in infancy.
Benjamin E., who looks after the home farm. He is a member of Maples Mills Camp, No. 2027, M.W.A. 
    
In politics, Mr. Pollitt has been a Republican. Originally he was a Whig, and cast his first presidention vote for Millard Fillmore. A member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.