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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