Robert Middleton Pollock was born December 16, 1854 to James and Eveline Halstead Pollock in Racine County, Wisconsin. Leaving school after two years for financial reasons, he taught for three years, during that time he also studied law. He then entered the law office of Judge Elbert Hand of Racine and 1879 was admitted to the bar in Wisconsin, leaving there in 1880 for Dakota Territory.  He was at the Constitutional Con vention in 1889 where he authored the prohibition clause and helped fight the Louisiana Lottery, and in 1891 was on the Compilation Commission which compiled the laws of North Dakota. He was Cass County States Attorney from 1893 to 1896.  Pollock died October 19, 1920.

The Pollock collection consists of correspondence, financial and legal records, and subject files. The correspondence basically pertains to Mr. Pollock's business, with numerous personal letters to relatives.  The financial records deals mainly with tax receipts for land in Barnes, Burleigh, Cass, Ransom, and Richland counties from 1882 to 1909. Cass county tax receipts are by far the most extensive, covering from 1882 to 1909.  The legal records contain mortgage deeds, warranty deeds, contracts, and various legal papers.  The subject files contain mainly the legal papers regarding the case Jordan v. Sweet and of special note the 1922 Pinkerton report regarding evidence of bribery concerning the Louisana Lottery. 
 

Politics and Government