Sarah Childress Polk Sarah Childress Polk, The wife of the 11th President of the United States, James Polk, served as First Lady from 1845 to 1849. Growing up on a plantation near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Sarah took the luxuries of silks and satins for granted. Her father's wealth allowed her and her sister to receive an education, a rarity for women in the early 19th century. She attended schools in Nashville and Salem, North Carolina, acquiring knowledge that would prove invaluable in assisting her husband's political career. Sarah's path crossed with James K. Polk! Sarah Childress crossed paths with James K. Polk when they both happened to be receiving instruction from Samuel P. Black at his residence in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It's worth noting that Polk was 19 at the time, while Sarah was only 12. Their formal introduction took place during the early 1820s when Polk's involvement with the State Legislature brought them together. According to legend, it was a...