BIO: Michael Palmer, Jefferson County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kitty Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/pa/jefferson/ http://usgwarchives.net/pa/jefferson/beers/beers-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens. Chicago, Ill.: J. H. Beers, 1898, pages 1073-1074. _____________________________________________________________________ MICHAEL PALMER, a lumberman and farmer of Perry township, Jefferson county, has long been an esteemed citizen of his section of the State. A son of Henry and Barbara (Enfield) Palmer, the father was born in Bedford county, Penn., but when a young man went to Indiana county. He was one of a family of five brothers. Peter, the eldest, was twice married, reared a large family and spent his entire life in Indiana county. John married a Miss Enfield, and died in Indiana county some years ago. Charles also married, and lived in Indiana county until his death. Henry Palmer removed to Jefferson county after his marriage and, purchasing timber land, developed a farm in the midst of the forest, building thereon a hewed-log house and barn. He died in 1865, at the age of seventy-three, and his wife, who had long shared with him the joys and sorrows of life, died the same year at the age of sixty-nine. They reared a large family, of whom our subject is the eldest. (2) Isaac Palmer, the second of the family, wedded Mary Whitesel, and located upon a part of his father's farm, where he spent his remaining days, dying in 1855. He had five children, namely; Michael, of Indiana county; Sarah, wife of James Wachob, of Henderson township, Jefferson county; Philip, who married a Miss Brown, of Jefferson county, and served for three years as a soldier in the Union army, after which he resided in Big Run until his death; George, of Big Run; and Mary, wife of George Fetterman, of Punxsutawney. (3) Henry married Miss Susher, and removed to Lewiston, Penn., where he died twelve years ago, leaving a wife and nine children. (4) Sarah became the wife of Peter Depp, and both died in Jefferson county some years ago leaving three children - Isaac M., deceased; Mary Ellen, wife of Joseph Newcomb, of Perry township, Jefferson county; and Henry, of Apollo, Indiana county. (5) Jane, born in Indiana county, became the wife of James Ross, of Perry township, Jefferson county, and resided near her father's farm. Both are now deceased. She died in 1897, at the age of seventy-five years, leaving four children, namely: Madison, who is married and lives with his family in Jefferson county; Isaac, who follows lumbering in West Virginia; Matilda, wife of Samuel Williams, of Clayville; Jane, wife of Joseph Stewart, of Indiana county. One son belonging to this family, Clement, married Ella Rogers, of Jefferson county, and died some years ago, leaving a wife and one son, Donald. (6) Peter, born in Indiana county, became the wife of Philip Whitesel, and lived on a part of her father's farm until her death some years since. (8) Caroline, born in Perry township, became the wife of Charles Williams, and died at their home near Clayville, Penn., leaving three sons, Henry, William and Clauson. (9) George, born in Jefferson county, in 1839, married Martha Bowersox, and lives on the old homestead. They have sour children - Laura, wife of John Tucker, of Punxsutawney; Ward; Etta, wife of Patrick Mann, of Punxsutawney; and Joseph. (10) Martha, the youngest child of Henry and Barbara Palmer, died in early life. Michael Palmer was born in Indiana county, in 1814, and after the removal of the family to Jeffeson county, aided in the arduous task of developing the home farm. In 1841 he was elected constable of Perry township, which then also included Porter, Oliver and Ringgold townships, and served for four years. He purchased land, to which he removed after his marriage, and from the wild tract developed a rich and fertile farm. His first buildings have been replaced by a more modern set, and in 1887 he erected a large two-story frame residence, one of the best homes in the township. In 1851 he was elected justice of the peace, serving for twenty consecutive years in a most creditable and satisfactory manner. Since his retirement from office, in 1871, he has de voted his attention exclusively to his farming interests, and although now nearly eighty-four years of age possesses the physical and mental vigor of a man of fifty. In 1844, Mr. Palmer married Miss Annie, daughter of John and Elizabeth Martin, well-to-do farming people of Jefferson county. Their family numbers nine children: (1) Nancy A., born in 1845, in Perry township, began teaching at the age of sixteen years and followed that profession in Jefferson, Clearfield and Indiana counties. In 1880 she became the wife of Wallace A. Dowdish, of New York, and removed to Brockwayville, Penn., where he followed the jeweler's trade until his death in December, 1885. His widow and son, Earl W., reside on her father's farm, and she still follows teaching, having for nine successive years been thus employed in Horatio. (2) Jane, born in 1847, was for two terms a teacher in the public schools. (3) Elizabeth died at the age of nine years. (4) B. F., was born in 1851, married Malinda North, of Ohio, and is now a railroad man living in Punxsutawney. They have a daughter, Alice. (5) Harry died at the age of five years. (6) Mary, born in 1855, successfully followed teaching for a number of years, and in 1877 became the wife of H. A. Raught, of Du Bois. Ten years later, they removed to Washington, where they now reside on a farm. (7) Alice B., born in 1857, died in 1887. (8) Isaac, born in 1859, removed to Logan county, Kansas, where he secured a homestead of 160 acres. He married Annie Marker, of Kansas, and on account of the drought in that State went to Centralia county, Wash., where he is now living. They have four children - Roy M., Mabel, Anna L. and Frank. Our subject has long been prominently identified with the best interests of Jefferson county, belonging to one of its pioneer families. His people were instrumental in building the first church in Perry township, erected in 1839, and he has ever been a liberal contributor to Churches and schools. His is one of the most highly cultured families in the locality, and has furnished to the county some of its most successful teachers. He has held the office of school director for two terms, has been assessor and collector, was constable for four years, and has discharged his duties in a most commendable manner. His political support is given the Republican party.