Nathaniel Polland
Nathaniel Polland, a prominent farmer of Brandywine Township, was born in Clermont Co,
Ohio, January 18, 1825. He was the fourth of eight children -- four sons and four daughters -- born
to Nathaniel and Eleanor (McChesney) Poland, the former a native of Essex County, Mass.,
of Irish descent, and the latter a native of Monmouth County, N.J., of Scotch descent.
He was
reared upon a farm in his native county, and at the age of twenty-one he began to learn the cooper's
trade. This was finished in due time, and for several years he worked as a journeyman cooper in the
States of Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. In March, 1853, he came to Shelby County and located in the
woods of Van Buren Township. There he immediately set about clearing up a farm, and he also
erected a cooper shop which he conducted in connection with farming until in the spring of 1865, when
he removed to Brandywine Township and located upon the farm he now occupies.
There he also
erected a cooper shop which he continued to operate in connection with the management of a large
farm until 1885. His entire attention is now given to superintending his farm.
His marriage to Elizabeth Bass occurred March 17, 1853. She was born in Marion Township, this county, June
27, 1827, and is the daughter of Henry and Judith (Fox) Bass, the former a native of Randolph County, N.C., of English descent and the latter a native of Bunkam County, N.C., of Dutch
descent. Mr. and Mrs. Poland are the parents of seven children, as follows:
John H., born December 23, 1853; William, born March 8, 1856; Albert, born January 5, 1859;
Mary E.,
born August 9, 1861; Charles, born April 28, 1864;
Juda, born November 24, 1867, died Feb-
ruary 9, 1874; Amanda Belle, born August 12, 1871.
Mr. and Mrs. Poland are members of the
Christian Church. The former is a member of the I.O.O.F. Lodge.
History of Shelby County, Indiana, "Brandywine Sketches", Brant and Fuller, 1887, page 623-24.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
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