Biographical Sketch of Samuel PALMER; Delaware County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Cyndie Enfinger 
<cyndiee@tampabay.rr.com>

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Jordan, John Woolf, A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people, 
Lewis Hist. Pub., 1914, p.686-687


PALMER
  At this juncture, in a volume devoted to the careers of representative 
citizens of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, it is a pleasure to insert a brief 
history of Samuel Palmer, who has ever been on the alert to forward all measures 
and enterprises projected for the good of the general welfare and who served his 
home city of Chester in the capacity of fireman for a period of twenty-nine 
years, of which he was fire chief for three years and first assistant chief 
three years. He retired from the office of chief of the Felton Fire Company of 
Chester in 1905, and since that time has been devoting his attention to the 
brick manufacturing business, in which line of enterprise he has been interested 
for forty years.
  The Palmer family traces its genealogy to old English stock. The name Palmer 
originated during the Crusades, when pilgrims to the Holy Land who carried palms 
with them came to be known as "Palmers." It was at that time that people began 
to realize the significance of surnames, and Palmer was adopted by those who had 
recently returned from the Crusades and who had been known by that name during 
their pilgrimage. It has been ascertained by students of the origin of names 
that people of the present day bearing the cognomen Palmer are descended from an 
ancestry that dates back to the Crusades. Thus it is certain that the Palmer 
family of this sketch is of ancient English lineage, and that it is likewise old 
in America may be seen when it is stated that the founder of the family in this 
country came over in the "May-flower," in 1620, he having been of old Quaker 
stock. From New England representatives of the name removed to Pennsylvania, and 
in this state occurred the birth of Aaron Palmer, the date of which was April 
13, 1792. He gained distinction as a manufacturer of shell combs in the city of 
Philadelphia, where he resided at the time of his demise. November 24, 1811, was 
solemnized his marriage to Susannah Denney, who bore him the following children 
: Samuel, mentioned in the following paragraph ; Thomas, died in infancy ; John, 
achieved remarkable success as a butcher and meat man in Philadelphia; Parmelia, 
married John Ward, of Camden, New Jersey; and Mary Jane and Caroline, both died 
young.
  Samuel Palmer was born in Frankford, Pennsylvania, December 28, 1815. He was 
educated in the public schools of his native place and in his youth entered upon 
an apprenticeship to learn the trade of shell combmaker in the factory of his 
father in Philadelphia. As a young man he taught school for several terms and 
eventually he learned the trade of brickmaker. In 185o he located at Chester, 
Pennsylvania, and here was foreman of a brick yard for Pierce Baker for several 
years, at the end of which he purchased the brick yard referred to and continued 
to conduct the same with increasing success until his death, September 21, 1864. 
He married Margaret News, a daughter of William and Catherine (Morrison) News, 
of Philadelphia. He and his wife were devout communicants of the Catholic church 
in their religious faith, and in politics he was a stalwart Democrat, holding a 
number of important local offices. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer had the following 
children : Eleanor, married Henry Goodman, a brick manufacturer in Philadelphia, 
they are both deceased; Caroline, married Michael Cast, likewise a brick 
manufacturer, and they are both deceased; Kate, is the widow of Captain James 
Dougherty, who was killed on a boat, she lives in Philadelphia, where she did 
mission work for many years; Susan, died as the wife of John Moore, who was a 
prominent oil man in Chester; Ann Eliza, died unmarried; Margaret, is single and 
maintains her home in Philadelphia ; John and Thomas, both deceased; Samuel, is 
the immediate subject of this review ; William, deceased ; and Elizabeth, who is 
the widow of Edwin Hawkins, and resides at Philadelphia. Mrs. Palmer was 
summoned to eternal rest September 21, 1896. In 1864, after her husband's death, 
she bought a brick yard at Palmer and Ward streets, in Chester, and with the 
assistance of her sons, conducted the same for several years, subsequently 
renting it. Mr. Palmer was a valued and appreciative member of the time-honored 
Masonic order, and he was well known and highly respected throughout Delaware 
county, as was also his wife.
  Samuel Palmer, son of Samuel and Margaret (News) Palmer, was born at Chester, 
Delaware county, Pennsylvania, August 2, 1852. He attended the public schools of 
his native place in his boyhood, and at the tender age of eight years began to 
work in his father's brick yard. After reaching manhood he engaged in the brick 
manufacturing business on his own account, and he has been engaged in that line 
of work for the past forty years. In 1887 he became a driver for the Felton Fire 
Company of Chester, and continued as such until 1899, when he became assistant 
fire chief for the city of Chester. From 1902 to 1905 he gave most efficient 
service as chief of that fire department, and during that time he wrote and had 
published a complete history of the company. Once, as a driver, he met with an 
accident, being thrown from a fire wagon that was going at full speed. He landed 
on the ground at Second and Hays streets, and was run over by an eighty hundred 
pound engine. That he was not killed remains a miracle to this day, but he was 
only laid up a short time and recovered completely from his injuries. In 1905 he 
retired from his position as fire chief and is now devoting his undivided 
attention to business matters. He owns the old Palmer homestead in Chester, the 
same being located at 2404 West Third street, and he owns considerable other 
real estate in Chester, part of which is located on the corner of Palmer and 
Fourth streets.
  In 1877 Mr. Palmer was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Lawrence, a native of 
New Jersey, where her birth occurred. Nine children have come to bless this 
union, and following are their names with brief data concerning each one : 
Margaret and Mary, both at the parental home ; Samuel Jr., a pipe cutter in the 
Sun Oil Works of Chester ; as is also John, who married Lottie Roberts ; Aaron, 
likewise in the employ of the Sun Oil Works, living at home ; Harry, engaged in 
business at Chester; William, a blacksmith by trade; Catherine and Ella, both at 
home.
  Mr. Palmer had been a member of the Felton Fire Company of Chester since the 
time of its organization, and he is likewise connected with the Keystone Fire 
Chiefs' Association of the State of Pennsylvania. Although not an office seeker 
or a politician in any sense of the word, he gives an unswerving allegiance to 
the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor, and 
is ever ready to do all in his power for the progress of his home community. He 
is a man of sterling integrity of character, and one who has always been on the 
level in his business dealings. His connection with the fire department of 
Chester has been fraught with many thrilling experiences, and he is very graphic 
in his narration of them.