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PALMER, John 1831-1901

PALMER, LAMB, JEFFREY, JEFFREYS, LEVER, MISHLER

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 3/3/2014 at 19:28:24

[Waterloo Semi Weekly Courier, Tuesday, May 14, 1901, Waterloo, Iowa]

DIED OF CANCER

John Palmer Passed Away at 11:30 Last Night

He was a Prominent Citizen of Blackhawk Township

Funeral at 2 P.M. Tomorrow From Brethren Church, Hudson

John Palmer, one of the oldest settlers of Blackhawk County, died at his home in Blackhawk Township at 11:30 last night The cause of death was cancer, with complication of other diseases.

Mr. Palmer would have been 70 years old had he lived until June 14th. The cancerous affection asserted itself about three years ago on the hand. It gave him no particular discomfort until a year ago. Last August he went to Chicago to consult a cancer specialist and remained in that city until just before election time, returning to his election precinct to vote November 8th. The eminent specialist whom he consulted told him his case was hopeless.

In the winter he went to Marshall town to consult a cancer specialist there, who decided upon and performed an operation, removing the growth from the hand. The effect of this was very disastrous, as it seemed to scatter the poison through the system, extending upward over the arm and then through the entire body. His condition during the past three weeks has been very bad, he constantly growing weaker, but he had possession of all his faculties until yesterday noon. During his illness and at the time of his death all of his children and other
relatives were with him.

The funeral services will be held Monday afternoon. The procession will leave the house in Blackhawk Township at 1 o'clock and the services will be held from the Brethren church, at Hudson, one hour later, in charge of Rev. J. C. H. Light, pastor of the U. B. Church. Interment will be in Hudson.

Mr. Palmer was a native of England, being born in Devonshire, June 14, 1831, being a son of John and Joanna Palmer. He was the second of thirteen children. The eldest, William H., died in Mount Vernon Township; Silas, Ella and Hattie are living in Chicago; Thomas died in New Zealand and Mary Ann, Elizabeth and James are living in England. Steven died in Chicago, and three others are dead.

Mr. Palmer was reared a farmer, receiving a fair education in the English branches. To better his condition in life and to build for himself a home he came to America, embarking at Plymouth in a sailing vessel for Quebec, and after a seven weeks' voyage, landed May 29, 1853. On July 18 of the same year he was married to Louisa Jeffrey, who was born in Devonshire and came to America in the same vessel with her husband. After reaching America Mr. Palmer found employment as a farm hand at $12 a month. He remained in Canada three years, engaged in farm work, brick making and chopping cord wood, carefully saving his earnings with a view to getting a home in the United States. In 1956 the couple started for Iowa, taking a steamboat on Lake Ontario, there being no railroad there at the time, making the journey from Chicago with one horse and a spring wagon. Mr. Palmer reached Waterloo in May of the same year and bought a few lots in the new village and 80 acres of land outside of town. Trials came upon the couple. Sickness rendered Mr. Palmer unable to work and in the spring of 1857, having spent the most of his property, he went to Butler County and pre-empted 130 acres of land. That county was new. Neighbors were scarce and markets so distant that iiie seemed intolerable. In 1862 he disposed of his land, realizing only $.90 an acre, and returned to Blackhawk County for two years running the old Worthington farm. In 1864 he bought 80 acres in section 14, which is a part of his present farm. After that time his fortune changed and he became one Of the most prosperous farmers in this section.

Mr. Palmer has been a life long Republican, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He never sought official honors but has been given positions of honor and trust by his fellow citizens. For many years he was justice of the peace and a member of the school board. He has been on the board of directors for the Farmers' Mutual Insurance company of this county, and has held other offices. He and his wife were reared under the ministrations of the church of England (Episcopal) and were always in sympathy with the church of their youth.

Mr. and Mrs. John Palmer were the parents of eleven children, seven living and four dead. The living ones are John, residing in Wright county; Silas, in Lake Park; Mrs. Libby Mishler and Thomas of Worthington, Minn.; Samuel of Chadron, Neb.; Ernest of Osage; and Mrs. Hattie Kuehne, wife of the principal of the schools at Gladbrook.

Mr. Palmer was a man of the strictest honesty and integrity. He was a man fond of his children and was possessed of a kindly and cheery nature. The widow and children, besides the brothers and sisters and his neighbors will keenly feel his loss.

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[From History of Black Hawk County, Iowa 1886]

JOHN PALMER, one of Black Hawk County's most prosperous farmers, resides on section 14, Black Hawk Township. He was born in Devonshire, England , June 14, 1831, a son of John and Joanna Palmer. The former was born April 26, 1808, and died October 20, 1877, and the latter, February 11, 1809, and died September 25, 1878.

Our subject was reared a farmer, receiving a fair education in the English branches. He is the second of thirteen children. The eldest, William H., lives in Mt. Vernon Township; Silas, Ellen and Hattie live in Chicago; Thomas is in New Zealand; Mary Ann and Elizabeth live on farms in England; James is in the mercantile business in London; Stephen died in Chicago, and three others are also deceased.

To better his condition in life and build for himself a home, he came to America, where there is room for all, embarking at Plymouth in a sailing vessel for Quebec, and, after a seven-weeks voyage, landed May 29, 1853. July 18, the same year, he was married to Louisa Jeffrey, who was born in Devonshire, England, July 17, 1829, and came to America in the same vessel with her husband. After reaching America Mr. Palmer found employment as a farm laborer at $12 a month. He remained in Canada three years, engaged in farm work and brick-making and chopping cordwood, carefully saving his earnings with a view of getting a home in the United States. In 1856 they started for Iowa, taking a steamboat on Lake Ontario, there being no railroad there at that time, making the journey from Chicago with one horse and a spring wagon, making the trip in twelve days, having a few household goods and $200 in money.

He reached Waterloo in May and bought a few lots in the new village, and eighty acres of land outside the town. Trials were in store for them. Sickness made him unable to work, and in the spring of 1857, having spent the most of his property, he went to Butler County and pre-empted 130 acres of land. But that county was new, neighbors were scarce, and markets so distant that life seemed intolerable to them. In 1862 he disposed of his land, realizing only 90 cents an acre for it, and returned to Black Hawk County, and for two years rented the old Worthington farm in Black Hawk Township. In 1864 he bought eighty acres on section 14, which is a part of his present farm, and commenced improving it. Ten acres had been broken and a small house had been built. Now his fortune changed, and he began to steadily gain ground, until today he is one of the township's most prosperous citizens. His farm of eighty acres has been increased by additions till he now owns 310 acres of productive land, and his residence and farm buildings are among the best in the township. This has been gained by unyielding perseverance, thrift and a systematic and practical care and oversight of his work. He devotes the greater part of his attention to stock-raising, making a specialty of horses and cattle, having in 1886, 130 head.

In politics Mr. Palmer is a Republican, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has never sought official honors, but has several times been given positions of trust by his fellow townsmen. For four years he was magistrate, and has been a member of the school board for several years. He is one of the directors of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, of Black Hawk County. He and his wife were reared under the ministrations of the Church of England, and are still in sympathy with the church of their youth.

They have eight children: Emanuel J. and Silas G., of Wright County, Iowa; Samuel J., in the Black Hills, Colorado; Nellie, wife of Clarence Lamb, of Sioux County, Iowa; Elizabeth Ann, Ernest W., Hattie J. and Thomas A. are living at home. Three children are deceased—Edwin J., Stephen H. and Susannah, all dying in infancy. Mrs. Palmer's parents, Emanuel and Susannah Jeffrey, died in their native country, her father in 1855, aged seventy-five years, and her mother several years later, aged seventy years. They had a family of ten children, of whom but five are living: Mrs. Palmer, Mrs. Elizabeth Lever, of Osage, Iowa; John and Samuel, in Australia, and Emanuel in Wales. One son, George, was killed in the Crimean war.

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His wife - Louisa Jeffreys Palmer 1829 - 1918 [Credit Ross Morton]


 

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