Palmer, Thomas Champlain 1812 -1904

PALMER, PHINNEY, RHOADS, RHOADES, SOUTHWORTH, KNAPP, RICHARDS, PARTCH, WING, PRICE

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 4/10/2021 at 15:45:26

Elkader Register, Thur., 17 Mar. 1904. From the Denver, Col., Rocky Mountain Herald, undated.

On Tuesday morning, March 1, 1904, there died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. A. G. Rhoads, 1919 Grant Avenue, Denver, one of the best men that ever lived, and his name was Thomas Champlain Palmer. He was born in the town of Vergennes, Vermont, Jan. 26th, 1812, and was a few days past 92 at the time of his death. He lived in Vermont until he had attained his majority, when he married Miss Ruthalia Phinney, and in 1853 they removed to Clayton county, Iowa, then a frontier country, and settled on a farm at what was afterwards known as High Prairie, near Elkader. Here they lived for some twenty-five years, and the home of Uncle Tom was the home for all people in that part of Iowa. He was always very fond of young people, and during his life he gave quite a number of people homes and started them in life, and by his many generous acts his name became the by word of everybody in Clayton county. For some eight years he was postmaster in the town of Sigel, and served one term in that capacity under President Lincoln. When his wife died in 1880, he came to Denver for the purpose of spending his remaining days with his two daughters, Mrs. Dixon L. Southworth and Mrs. A. G. Rhoads, and during the past five or six years has lived constantly with Mrs. Rhoads, where he died. He was of a jolly disposition and made many friends wherever he went. He leaves behind him one son, William Tyler Palmer, of Earlville, Iowa; two daughters Mrs. Lucy Southworth and Mrs. Thalia Ann Rhoads, of Denver. Besides these there are three grandsons, Thomas P. Southworth, of Denver; Dr. Wm. T. Knapp, of Charles City, Iowa, Rhoades Palmer, of Golden, Col.; two granddaughters, Mrs. John Richards, of Edgewood; Miss Rose Ann Palmer, of Strawberry Point; two great-grandsons, Wm.. Knapp, Jr., of New York, James Blaine Southworth, of Denver. The late Mrs. James Partch, Mrs. A. M. Wing and Mrs. R. E. Price, of Elkader, are nieces of Mr. Palmer.

The funeral services will be conducted at the residence of Mr. A. G. Rhoades, at 1919 Grant Avenue, tomorrow at two o'clock, the Rev. David Utter, of the Unitarian church officiating, and at 4:15 p.m., Mrs. Rhoades will accompany the remains to Iowa, via the Burlington route, where they will be laid alongside those of his wife.

Thus endeth the life of one of the most active men that ever resided in our midst.- Rocky Mountain Herald, Denver, Col.

(Notes: Copied as published. Both spellings of the surname Rhoads/Rhoades were used in the article. Mr. Palmer & his wife are buried in Fairview cemetery, Delaware co. Iowa)