John West Palm, 1849-1923

ANDREW, BUDDE, HOWE, KOPP, PALM, STOLLFUSS, YOUNG

Posted By: Pat Ryan White (email)
Date: 10/17/2006 at 10:14:52

JOHN W. PALM

Mr. John West Palm, the fourth child of Adam and Jane West Palm, was born on Oct. 23, 1849 in Southington, Trumble County, Ohio. In the year 1856, at the age of seven he came with his father’s family to what is known as the old “Ebenezer” neighborhood, three miles northeast of Mt. Pleasant, and has spent his life since that early day in this county. Mr. Palm got his education in the schools of Henry County, graduating from the High School of Mt. Pleasant in the class of 1871 of which he was an honor member. He finished his course in the Iowa Wesleyan University, as the institution was then known, graduating with the class of 1876 from the law department, being a member of the only class in law ever graduated by the institution.

Mr. Palm has lead a very active and useful life in business and the official and welfare interests of Mt. Pleasant and Henry County during these almost fifty years of life spent among us. He held the confidence of his fellow citizens and served them in a number of positions of public trust.

Mr. Palm’s official life in Henry County began with his appointment as County Superintendent of Public Instruction, following the death of Superintendent Samuel L. Howe, in March 1877 and that fall was elected to fill out the unexpired term of Mr. Howe. In January, 1879, one year before the expiration of his term as County Superintendent, Mr. Palm resigned to take the editorship of the Mt. Pleasant Journal, having become part owner of the paper. For some thirteen years he served in this place of influence, sending forth his messages of conviction upon important moral and political issues, helping to shape the ideals and purposes in the thot life of the community. In speaking of his own career he considered these years as editor as among the most important in the service rendered the community.

In the fall of 1887 Mr. Palm was elected to the office of County Treasurer, taking charge in January 1888 and serving four years. He later served one year as deputy under his successor Mr. J. G. Budde. He was then elected as County Auditor, which office he filled with his characteristic efficiency and faithfulness until his appointment as Post Master in the city of Mt. Pleasant in the year 1897, where he served for eight years or until the appointment of Mr. W. F. Kopp in 1906.

While serving as postmaster Mr. Palm under the direction of the department at Washington, established the rural mail routes of Henry County, one entire summer being given, in company with an agent from headquarters, shaping up these routes so that every family in the county should receive mail by free delivery. By this effort Henry County was the first in the state of Iowa in which every inhabitant of the county received free delivery of mails.

In the year 1897 the present Henry County Fair was organized with Mr. W. P. Young as president and Mr. John W. Palm as secretary. In this position Mr. Palm devoted himself unreservedly to the advance of the new association for three years. During that time the new site was purchased and under his direction the beautiful elm trees were planted and under his management unprecedented crowds attended the annual exhibitions. Wherever public duty called Mr. Palm answered with characteristic energy and devotion, rendering service far beyond the pleasure of financial compensation proving himself in every position of private and public trust an honorable man, a patriotic citizen and a devoted and trusted servant of his county and community in public life.

Since his graduation Mr. Palm has been a supporter and patron of his alma mater, Iowa Wesleyan College. He was devoted to books and gave much time to the reading and study of the great authors. His familiarity with Shakespeare and other great writers and his own literary gift of accurate and beautiful expression are well known. His spirit was always warm and friendly toward the college students, whom he often received into his private council and coached them for public oratorical work in which their success reflected to his credit. He was a member of Alpha chapter Phi Delta Theta, college fraternity, and a frequent guest at alumni social functions of the chapter, Mt. Palm was also a member of the Odd Fellows and of the Masons of this city, whose fraternity brothers join in expressions of sympathy for the stricken family and of their own loss and that of the whole community in the loss of Mr. Palm.

In the year 1879 Mr. Palm was united in marriage to Miss Florence Andrews of this city, who has been a faithful helpmate and co-sharer with her husband in all the honors, privileges and responsibilities of his career in public and private affairs of business and the home. Mr. and Mrs. Palm have three adopted children, one son and two daughters all living in the far west. Edward Palm and Mrs. Mary Palm Stollfuss of Kalispiel, Montana, and Miss Margaret Palm of Los Angeles, California.

Mr. Palm joined the Methodist Episcopal church at Ebenezer when a child and retained a consistent membership in the same through all the years until God in his providence called him to the fellowship of the triumphant and immortal church of the city not made with hands.

Some more that twenty years Mr. Palm’s ill health began with a nervous breakdown, from which he never fully recovered. Altho much in active life he was at times a great sufferer. The past year he has been much confined to his suburban home. On last Thursday he was fatally stricken and on the following Sabbath the end came and he passed from labor to reward. As he had faced the problems of life so he met the last great mystery, the dissolution of soul and body. To friends he expressed his faith in the loving providance of his Heavenly Father and the assurance of immortality provided in Jesus Christ the Savior.

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Unnamed, undated newspaper obituary found in the scrapbooks of Mary [Blaut] Abraham, wife of Captain Lot Abraham; the scrapbooks are currently owned by their great-granddaughter, Martha [Wright] Allen, Mt. Pleasant, IA. [October 2006]