Palmer, William Tyler 1841 - 1932

PALMER, PHINNEY, HARRIS, RICHARDS, PRICE, WING

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:23

Clayton County Register, Thur., 10 Mar. 1932.

EDGEWOOD: William Tyler Palmer, a Civil War veteran, and for seventy years a resident of Clayton county, died at Marshalltown, Friday morning, March 4, 1932, at the age of 90 years, eight months and five days.

He was the son of Thomas C. and Euthalia Phinney Palmer and was born in Shenango county, Penn., June 25, 1841. At the age of 12 years his father brought the family west. In the fall of 1853 they came to Clayton county, Iowa, then a frontier county, and settled on a farm near Elkader, which is the present site of the Clayton county poor farm.

It was during his residence here that he enlisted in the 47th Iowa Infantry. With this regiment he was placed on garrison duty at Holly Spring, Miss. While here he contracted yellow fever and returned to a northern hospital.

For a number of years after he returned from the duties of a soldier he drove a stage coach route between Strawberry Point and Dubuque. Later he conducted a wagon shop in Edgewood for a period of ten years. The remainder of his life was spent in Edgewood, with the exception of the past two years, which time he spent in the Soldier's Home at Marshalltown, and in the home of his granddaughter, Mrs. John Harris, who resides near Greeley.

The deceased was twice married both wives having preceded him in death.

He is survived by his son, Rhoads of Denver, Colo., and by his daughter, Miss Rosan, who is an instructor in a State Teachers college in Virginia. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Harold E. Richards, of Chicago, Miss Gretchen Richards, of Belmont, Mont., and Margaret Richards-Harris of Greeley. One grandson, W. T. Richards, died 18 months ago. They were the children of his eldest daughter, Adella Palmer-Richards, who died December 30, 1906.

There are also two great-grandchildren, W. T. Richards, Jr., of Edgewood and Bobby Richards of Chicago; and two cousins, Stewart R. Price, and Paul Wing, both of Elkader.

Mr. Palmer was the last surviving member of the family. His three sisters and an adopted brother preceded him in death.

Fraternally he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having been a member for 58 years. He was also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and for many years a familiar and respected citizen of Edgewood whose passing will be a matter of regret by all who knew him well.

(Note: WPA records show him as Wm. Taylor Palmer, buried in Edgewood cemetery. The IGPP shows a dual gravestone for Wm. Tylor Palmer and his wife Sarah C. Palmer in Edgewood cemetery.)