Palmer, Minor T.

PALMER

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 8/11/2008 at 13:55:17

Minor T. Palmer

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.71, Belknap Twp.)
M. T. Palmer, physician, Parma, was born in Fayette County, Ind., March 22, 1822. His father, William Palmer, was born in South Carolina about 1774; he served in the war of 1812; was an early settler in Fayette County, Ind., and subsequently settled in Rock Island County, Ill., where he lived about two years, and then died October 25, 1840. Subject's mother, Jane (Gill) Palmer) was born in Virginia about 1780, and died August 25, 1846. The parents had ten children, eight of whom, three sons and five daughters grew to maturity. Mr. Palmer's school advantages were very limited, his education being mainly self-acquired; he being the youngest son, remained at home engaged in farming and taking care of his parents till their death; then, he being in delicate health, lived for three eyars with an older sister at Yellow Banks, Ill. While at the latter place, Mr. Palmer studied medicine; he also there met Caroline Tuel, whom he afterward married in Rock Island County, Ill., November 30, 1848; her parents were Presley and Mary (Bell) Tuel, he a native of Virginia, died in Ohio; she a native of Ohio, died at the residence of her daughter in Iowa. After marriage, Mr. Palmer spent a year on the homestead in Rock Island County, Ill.; then sold out and moved to Sugar Grove, Mercer County, where he farmed and leared carpentering. October 31, 1853, he moved to Council Bluffs, where he helped to build the first steam sawmill erected at the bottom west of that place; he also took the contract for the first frame building erected in Omaha, Neb. Mr. Palmer engaged in farming near Council Bluffs from 1854 to 1856, when he came to Big Grove, then a new settlement, and located on the farm where he still lives. After studying medicine for about six years, and receiving much instruction from Dr. Barrett, a graduated of Glasgow, Scotland. Mr. Palmer began to practice medicine about 1861, and since then has been active and successful in the profession. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have had nine children - Marion, born April 5, 1851; Sumner Steven, April 28, 1853; George, May 6, 1855, died February 4, 1876; Minor T., Jr., May 21, 1857, died August 17, 1857; Mary Matilda, December 30, 1859; Abraham Lincoln, April 26, 1861; Alexis Presley, July 28, 1864; Hiram Thomas, January 16, 1868; and Lucy Adella, July 9, 1872. Mr. Palmer has been School Director and has twice been Postmaster. he and wife are Missionary Baptists; he is a Republican.