Montgomery Howe “Trey” Polk

Submitted by: Diana Quinn Cotton {grandniece-in-law}

 

Montgomery Howe “Trey” Polk was born around 1895. Joseph Maxim served in World War 1 with the United States Army . The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

 

Montgomery Howe “Trey” Polk, son of Walter H. Polk and Lillian (Montgomery) Polk, was born on April 4, 1895, in Natchez, Mississippi. Trey’s maternal great-grandfather was General Charles Clark, a Confederate Civil War Governor of Mississippi. He was related on his father’s side to Lt. Thomas Polk, who buried the Liberty Bell to save it from the British.

Trey played on the Mississippi A & M College football team and served during World War I as a 1st Lieutenant in Co. “A” 125th Infantry AEF France.

The following is a letter that Trey wrote to his future brother-in-law, Henry Eugene Quinn, during the war:

Henry E. Quinn Pvt Co. “F” 28h Inf. American E. F. France:

Somewhere in France
Sept. 18, 1918

Dear Henry,
I have just received your address from Mary Louise (Note: Henry’s sister) and decided to write you at once. I have been trying to get your address every since I have been over here but have just succeeded.

At the present time I am laid up in a hospital with a couple of wounds neither of which is very serious, and I should be able to go back to my organization in a two or three weeks at the latest. I have been in since the fifth of July so I think that it is time I was getting out. One of the wounds is all the way thru the leg just above the knee and has tightened up the muscles to a considerable extent in healing. The leg will not bend very much at the knee as yet, but I will come around all right. No bones broken, arteries or veins cut.

I suppose that you have seen a good part of France and have learned something of the French language by now. Are there any other men that use to live in Shreveport in your company?

Perhaps some day we will run across each other, but I doubt if I would recognize you; for they tell me you have grown considerably in the five years since I have seen you. Perhaps you had better hang a sign on yourself so that I might know that it is you. Or write a letter describing yourself, or draw a picture of yourself and send it to me. As for me I have not changed much, only grown a little heavier set.

Your friend,
Trey Polk known here as Monty Polk

address
MH. Polk
1st Lt. Co. “A” 125th Inf. American E Fr France

Trey was awarded the Purple Heart for his injuries.

Montgomery Howe “Trey” Polk married Mary Louise “Dee Dee” Quinn (1896-1981) December 6, 1920. They had four children: Montgomery Howe Polk Jr. (1922-1999); Mary Louise “Sis” (Polk) Milton (1924-2017); Emma Adelia (Polk) Barbee (1926-1946); and Lilian Elizabeth “Lil” (Polk) Beshears (1928-2018). The family resided in Greenville, Mississippi; Monroe, Minden, and Shreveport, Louisiana; and finally settled in Tomball, Texas. At age 47, Trey registered for the draft during World War II in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Montgomery Howe “Trey” Polk Sr. died December 19, 1969, in Tomball, Texas, and was buried with a simple graveside service at the Veterans Administration Cemetery (later renamed the Houston National Cemetery) in Houston, Texas. 

Montgomery Howe “Trey” Polk & wife, Mary Louise “Dee Dee” (Quinn) Polk.