JOHN A. POLLOCK, M. D., was born in Onslow county, N. C., November 1, 1844, the son of W. A. J. Pollock, who is also a native of Onslow county. The father was educated in Wilmington, N.C., under Dr. Freeman, and later in New York city under the tutelage of Dr. Beach. For over fifty years he was engaged in the practice of medicine in Onslow and Lenoir counties, and is now retired and living in Kinston, having won a reputation as a most skillful and intelligent physician.
He married Miss Olivia B. Humphrey, daughter of Lott Humphrey, of Onslow county, who was an extensive planter and a noted public man, having served in the legislature for many years. In 1850 Mrs. Pollock died, leaving three children, Andrew, an eminent physician of Florida. He served as president of the yellow fever commission durin~ the course of that terrible epidemic recently in Florida. As captain of Company H, Fifty-fifth North Carolina regiment, he fought for the cause of the southland during the greater portion of the Civil war. Dr. Pollock is an ex-member of the Florida legislature. John A., and Virginia, wife of James G. Cox, of Kinston, being the other children. The father was again married, Miss Annie Loftin becoming his wife. By this marriage two children were born, viz.: William D. and Sarah.
The Pollock connection is of Scotch descent, William Pollock, the great-grandfather of our subject, having come from Scotland to America in early times. He settled in Onslow county, N. C, and fought in the patriot army of the Revolution. He became a leading man in the county, and served as a justice of the peace for several years, and also as county surveyor for sometime. John Pollock, his son, was also born in Onslow county, and became an extensive planter. His brother, Elijah, served through the war of 1812. John Pollock was a justice of the peace and surveyor of the county, and was a staunch democrat. Of his four children, all are dead with the exception of W. A.J. Pollock, M. D. One son settled in New York. one in Georgia, an another, John, was a leading politician, and for several years was a member of the state senate from Onslow county. During the Mexican war he volunteered in the United States army, and was made colonel of militia in after years.
We will now write more particularly of John A. Pollock, M. D. Mr. Pollock lived in his native county until 18S0, when he removed to Lenoir county. His education was received at the Kinston academy, and in January, 1862, he enlisted in Company H. Fiftyfifth North Carolina regiment, but soon after was transferred to the Third North Carolina cavalry, and served in that regiment with distinction until the close of the war, when he returned home and studied medicine under the direction of his father and Dr. William H. Moore. Entering tne University of New York, he was graduated there from with the class of 1886, with the degree of M. D., and has since practiced at Kinston. From 1865 until 1874 he was interested in the drug business at Kinston. Dr. Pollock is a member of the state medical society, and he is also prominently identified with the Lenoir county medical society, the Masonic fraternity and the I. O. O. F., and is past noble grand and regent of the Royal Arcanum. As medical examiner of Lenoir county he rendered the highest degree of satisfaction. Always a staunch democrat, he was offered the nomination for state senator, but declined and nominated Col. Whitfield.
Dr. Pollock was chairman of the Kinston graded school board and president of the Kinston collegiate institute. In 1867 he married Miss Agnes P. Jones, a daughter of William C Jones, of this County, and three children have blessed the union, viz.: Mozelle, Raymond and Emily. The family are communicants of the Baptist church, of which he is a trustee.
Source: McCrady, Edward, and Samuel A. Ashe. Cyclopedia of Eminent and Representative Men of the Carolinas of the Nineteenth Century. Brant & Fuller, 1892. Google Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=wkYTAAAAYAAJ