Robert M. Pollock Papers

Collection

Identifier: Mss 14

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Robert M. Pollock Papers have been organized into four series: correspondence, financial, legal records, and subject files. The Correspondence Series basically pertains to Mr. Pollock's business, with numerous personal letters to relatives. Also included are letters concerning funding for Fargo College. Physically, the correspondence consists of letters and pressbooks covering a period from 1893 to 1912. It is not complete, with most of the material dating around 1897 to 1909. The pressbook for 1904 to 1906 is missing. The Financial Series deals mainly with tax receipts for land in Barnes, Burleigh, Cass, Ransom, and Richland counties from 1882 to 1909. Cass county tax receipts are by far the most extensive, covering from 1882 to 1909. It should not be assumed that all of these receipts represent the same parcel of land, or even that the property in question was actually owned by Mr. Pollock himself. There is also a general file containing miscellaneous receipts such as road taxes, payments, the Argus newspaper, goods received, and grain. The Legal Series contains mortgage deeds, warranty deeds, contracts, and various legal papers. The mortgage deeds deal mainly with real estate over the period of 1882 – 1911, and are part of normal business records. Similarly, the warranty deeds cover the time from 1880 to 1911, and also pertain to real estate transactions. The contract portion of the legal series includes real estate sales and also farm labor contracts. The legal papers section contains a tenant’s certificate, affidavits, insurance papers, and a statement of clear title of real estate (1900 – 1911). The Subject Files Series contains a variety of material spanning the period 1880 to 1915. The Cass County Bar Association is represented in a file containing a booklet of memorial addresses in honor of deceased members. Also include are two copies of the Pinkerton Report. The Pinkerton Detective Agency in 1890 was hired by Governor John Miller to gather evidence of bribery concerning the Louisiana Lottery. There is also a printed copy of Senator Henry C. Hansbrough's speech at Rolla, N.D. on July 4, 1895. The certificates file contains a title of land, and a certificate of election. The Peter Duffany and Evelyn Pollock files concern their respective estates. The material on Fargo College deals mainly with the resignation of President Morley in 1903. The Jordan v. Sweet collection contains the legal papers of Mr. Pollock and papers relating to a court case in which the election of William Sweet as Mayor of Fargo was contested by John Jordan in 1912. Mr. Pollock represented Mr. Sweet. Included are memoranda, legal notes, an order to appear, and many similar items. The Frank Lynch file includes accounts with Robert M. Pollock, receipts for grain, memoranda, bills of sale, and similar business papers. The newspaper clippings files include on the Temperance League contains newspaper clippings, copies of the prohibition laws of North Dakota, and the program of the 16th annual convention of the W.C.T.U. held in 1904. Other newspaper clippings include city ordinances of Casselton, election returns, and a notice of a meeting to elect delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1889. The Northwest Telephone Exchange file holds a document granting it the right to use a portion of Mr. Pollock's property (1906). The amended plat from Pollock's addition to Casselton is related to the division of city property in Casselton. The Subject Files Series also include two copies of the Pinkerton Report.

Dates

1869-1930.

Creator

Pollock, Robert Middleton, 1854-1920. (Person)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection are not held by the Institute for Regional Studies.

Biography

Robert Middleton Pollock was born December 16, 1854 to James and Eveline Halstead Pollock in Racine County, Wisconsin. He left college after two years for financial reasons. He taught for three years and during that time he also studied law. He then entered the law office of Judge Elbert Hand of Racine and in 1879 he was admitted to the bar in Wisconsin. He left for the Dakota Territory in 1880. He stopped briefly in Fargo. He then went on to the end of the railroad at Casselton, where he settled. From the first day he had a thriving law practice, lasting seventeen years. During that time he was also City Attorney, Mayor and a member of the Board of Education in Casselton. He was at the Constitutional Convention in 1889 where he authored the prohibition clause and helped fight the Louisiana Lottery. In 1891 he was on the Compilation Commission which compiled the laws of North Dakota. He was the Cass County States Attorney from 1893 to 1896. In 1891 he formed a law partnership with H. G. Scott which in 1897 was transferred to Fargo. In Wisconsin on December 31, 1881 he married Christine Corse of Racine, Wisconsin, who had been born there on February 14, 1854. They had seven children, Evelyn (adopted), Christine Mina, James, John C. (later Judge), Curtis, Robert B., and Philip Hewison. Mr. Pollock died October 19, 1920, and Mrs. Pollock died October 29, 1937. Both are buried in the Casselton Cemetery. Mr. Pollock was a prominent Republican and a 32nd degree Mason. He also belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and served as Grand Master. He was a trustee in the First Presbyterian Church of Fargo, and from 1898 was on the Board of Trustees of Fargo College. He was a leader in the Anti-saloon League and in 1917 framed the North Dakota Women's Suffrage Law. Mrs. Pollock was active with the W.C.T.U. and was editor of the White Ribbon Bulletin, (1904 – 1928). She served in many Presbyterian Church groups including the Mission Society, Ladies Aid, Dorcas and Presbyterial Society. She was on the School Board (1914, 1918 – 1928), the Directorate of the Florence Crittenden Home, president of the Fortnightly Club, and active in women's suffrage.

Extent

2.4 Linear Feet (2.4 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Present at the Constitutional Convention in 1889 and authored the prohibition clause and helped to fight the Louisana Lottery.

Provenance

Donated by John Pollock, Fargo, ND 1954 (Acc. 158).

Separation Record

The following items were removed from the Robert M. Pollock Papers and sent to the sections indicated. Maps (Institute Map Collection)

Amended Plat to Pollock's Addition to Casselton (1885) Broadsides (Institute Broadside Collection)

"Mass Convention" (1889) "Seth Newman's Record"