According to a biography of T. Hartley, Pollock in the History of Missouri, by March and published in 1967, the town of Pollock was named for his paternal great-grandfather since the Pollock family owned land in Missouri for several generations.  This Pollock family came from Pennsylvania to Putnam County about 1851.  Putnam and Sullivan Counties were made out of Linn County, so it is possible the Pollocks owned land in the area of the town of Pollock.

The following was taken from the History of Adair, Sullivan, Putnam and Schuyler Counties, published in 1888.  “Pollock is on the Chicago, Burlington and Kansas City Railway and embraces the southwest quarter of the southwest quart of Section 7, Township 64, Range 19, and the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 12, Township 64, Range 20.  The proprietors of the town were H. T. Warner and his wife Mary Ann, and William Lane and his wife, Mary E.  The survey was made in July 1873, the plot containing thirty-two blocks.  The streets running east and west are A, B, C, D and E and those running north and south, First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth.  Godfrey’s Addition to Pollock was made in October 1876, south of the original town.  It contained fourteen blocks divided into 111 lots, sixty-eight of which are 108 X 54 feet in size, the others of various sizes and shapes.  In a business point of view the town of Pollock is quite a thriving little place.”

From the Missouri Gazetteer and Business Directory 1883-1884, Pollock had a population of 250, a telegraph, a Western Union, American Express, mail daily, and H. T. Warner was postmaster.  Malipa Capeter was proprietor of the hotel, Clanahan and Watson had the general store, Gilbert Creason was one of the blacksmiths, Monroe Dormer was another, T. M. Dormer was railroad and express agent, S. W. McDonald was the constable, J. M. Roberts was the physician.  J. H. Stanard was the carpenter, H. F. Warner and son had the General Store and Wm. H. Watson was a stock shipper.

Ten years later 1893-94 the population of Pollock was still 250.  J. M. Dormer was postmaster, Andrew Cotter was notary public, Davidson and Coin had a saw and grist mill, M. C. Ellison had a livery stable, Dr. J. Kidwell was a druggist, E. M. C. Ledford had a general store, S. W. McDonald was just of the peace, Robinson and McNab had a hardware store and George Scobee had a general store.

James W. Scobee was postmaster of Pollock in 1889.  Auxier and Barbee had a general store, as did S. W. Bough and W. L. Watson.  Rosa Cotter was a dressmaker, Kidwell and Cotter were druggists, J. M. Newell had a hardware store.  J. C. Watson was just of the peace.  Melissa Capito had the hotel in 1891, James W. Scobee was postmaster, O. Denslow had harness, Holliday and Garrett had drugs, J. M. Roberts was a physician, and the rest are about the same as in the first list and through the years.

The last Gazetteer (1898-1899) said Pollock had grown to 300 people, and Adams Express and M. C. Ellison was postmaster.  Melissa Capito still had a hotel   Wm. Colina was wagonmaker, John Eaton had drugs, M. C. Ellison had a livery stable, livestock, stationery and notions.  Samuel J. Holliday and Alexander W. Widner were physicians, John S. Losey had a general store, Riech and Hale were harness makers, H. C. Shelton was a lawyer and J. W. Vanderpool had a saw and grist mill.

The Village of Pollock was incorporated March 6, 1901.  It is known a jail was erected north of the old bank building (the one that collapsed) and housed the post office.  The records show no names of the various officials, and as no verification can be made, none will be mentioned.

(All the foregoing information was sent from the Missouri Historical Society and included by Gladys Crumpacker in the 1973 Centennial Book.)

A tornado went through Pollock in 1943. The M. E. Church on the south side of town was destroyed and several homes received significant damage.