Most wives of politicians during the 1800s remained out of the public eye. Not Sarah Polk. She was an independent woman who shared in her husband's political career publicly and was a key adviser, helping him with speeches and letters. She was an avid reader and made many friends in Washington, D.C., where her husband, James K. Polk (1795-1849; see entry in volume 2), served for fourteen years in Congress and for four years as president. The respect she had earned for her intellect is reflected in the official visits politicians continually made to Polk Place, their estate in Tennessee. She managed Polk Place for forty years following her husband's death five months after leaving the White House.

Sarah Childress was born to a wealthy family in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on September 3, 1803. Her father, Captain Joel Childress, and mother, Elizabeth, were planters and innkeepers. Sarah was indulged...