Abner D. Polleys was born in Baring, Maine, May 3, 1856. His father, William H. Polleys, had come to Maine in the early 40's from Novia Scotia and had married a New England girl, Dorothy Woodcock. There is some evidence that William Polleys engaged in a retail grocery business in Baring and was also active in the lumber business, an interest which eventually led him to Wisconsin. William Polleys had twice visited Milwaukee where he no doubt learned of the opportunities in lumbering in the north. Finally, in late 1856, he moved with his wife and four sons, William E., Edgar H., Abner D., and Frank O., to Melrose in Jackson County, Wisconsin.

An examination of the Polleys' papers indicates that William H. and Abner D. are the chief figures in the “narrative.” Unfortunately little is known about the father. Of Abner, however, we possess more information.

In 1875, Abner D. entered Black River Falls high school where he specialized in the commercial course, work designed to prepare him for a position in his father's flourishing lumber and logging business which was located on French Island, in the Black River near La Crosse. The lumber operation came to be called W.H. Polleys & Sons and Abner served as company bookkeeper from 1876 to 1880 at which time he entered farming in Jackson County.

Abner D. became a popular figure in Melrose and throughout the county. In 1888 he was elected town clerk and served for five years. Following this, he was chosen town chairman for ten consecutive terms. He became in 1904 supervisor of assessments of Jackson County and shortly thereafter a member of the Melrose school board. In 1907 he was chosen Jackson County's first highway commissioner. Politically Abner D. was an ardent Democrat and a prohibitionist. He was one of the founders of the Jackson County Historical Society, 1936. His interest in local history was also expressed in the many articles of historical interest he wrote for La Crosse, Trempealeau, Monroe, and Jackson County newspapers (La Crosse Tribune, Monroe Republican, Melrose Chronicle, and the Banner-Journal of Black River Falls).

Abner died in 1942, leaving his widow, Minnie James of Richland Center whom he had married in 1893, two daughters, Mrs. Lloyd (Mae) Milbright and Mrs. Wendell (Dorothy) Barlow, and one son, James, who resided in Merrimac at the time.