James Palmer 1816-1900

PALMER, CREWS, HABERKERN, ANGEL

Posted By: LA (email)
Date: 2/21/2012 at 08:01:38

DEATH OF AN OLD CITIZEN
To speak of James Palmer as dead, is for one who was closely associated with him in life, a mournful task. There was about his companionship a perennial delight that suggested no idea of sorrow or decay. He was to all who knew him, such a benefaction as travelers in the desert find in the cooling spring and grateful shade. His mind to him a kingdom was, but its monarch was princely in the distribution of its intellectual treasures. To meet him day by day and hang upon his rare good nature and council was to render the acquisition of knowledge and good feeling little less than a luxury.
Deceased was born in Clark county, Kentucky, on August 3rd, 1816, and died Friday evening, September 28, 1900. His age was 84 years, 1 month, and 25 days. When a youth of 11, Mr. Palmer, with his parents, emigrated to Boon county, Missouri, where he grew to manhood and in 1843 was married to Elizabeth Crews, with whom he has journeyed life's pathway these 57 years. In 1853 they came to Lansing where they made their home until 1875 when they removed to New Albin where he has been a familiar personage for 25 years or more. While at Lansing he served as sheriff of Allamakee Co., on the democratic ticket for three successive terms. In 1860 he took the census of the county and later on became a justice of the peace, which office he has held to the time of his death. Deceased has been in business in both Lansing and New Albin and has always been known as a man who scorned to do a dishonorable act.
For a number of years, during his sojourn in Lansing, he was a member and a strong worker for the M.E. church. The companions of his youth have long since journeyed that beautiful pathway that leads to everlasting life. Two half brothers survive him, one of whom resides in Missouri and the other Mr. Robert Angel of DeSoto. Mrs. L. Haberkern of this city was the only child and to her is given the sympathy of the entire community. Deceased has been failing in health for several years and very often expressed a wish to leave the cares of this world behind and journey to that land from which no traveler returns. Always accommodating and truthful is it any wonder that such a man is truly mourned? This earth holds too few of such men. His heart and mind were harmoniously attuned to all that was gently and sweet in human existence. He loved nature. The grass, the trees, the flowers and the birds and in fact all the gifts of God were a pleasure to him. With Mr. Palmer the thought of death was not a thing to put aside or avoid. He was free to speak of it to his close companions and friends. It was known that for some time past he regarded his departure from this world as an early possibility. This created no gloom of terror in his mind. He trusted implicity (sic) in the idea of ultimate and universal justice and in the benevolence of an overruling Providence. It was with the acquisitions of a useful and honorable life, that was a joy to his fellows, and with the belief that in the great future there will be a recompense for duty faithfully fulfilled and an atonement for disappointment and sorrow in this world that James Palmer, friend to many who shed tears upon his grave, entered the realms of the hereafter. --[Globe.
Lansing Mirror Oct 5, 1900