In 1974, sisters Mrs. Dwight Burney and Mrs. Irvin Anderson, edited a centennial celebration for the town of Polk Nebraska titled Polk Memoirs: Where Corn is King, 1874-1974. In this manuscript they and other townsfolks provide a look at the people and businesses that made up Polk in both the past and present. Genealogists should pay special attention to the families section.
Franklin W. Brickey was born in Potosi, Missouri, in 1819 and moved to Illinois at 19. He established a business in Fort Chartres before building a mill in Prairie du Rocher in 1858. His son, F. M. Brickey, born in 1860, succeeded him and expanded their ventures, including grain buying and land drainage. F. M. Brickey was involved in local politics and education, and his family residence is noted for its modern amenities. He was married to Emily J. Glad and had three children, emphasizing their community engagement and musical pursuits.