Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Taylor, Palmer H. 1911 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net July 24, 2010, 8:17 pm The Ionia Weekly Standard, Friday, February 3, 1911 Palmer H. Taylor, well known pioneer, for two years secretary of the County Pioneer society, prominent in Masonry, and widely known as a writer of verse, passed out into the shadows covering the world beyond, at 6:30 Tuesday night. Palmer H. Taylor was born in Lewiston, N.Y., July 12, 1819. He came to Ionia from Lockport, N.Y., arriving Jan. 31, 1838 (thus completing his seventy-three years’ residence exactly), driving a cow the entire distance, and being 29 days on the road. His parents settled on what is known as the Taylor farm, two miles south of city, on Bellevue road, where was his home for many years, working most of the time at his trade as a carpenter. One of the buildings erected by him was the house occupied by his father. He was married to miss Arabella L. Jackson at Monroe, Mich., on Oct. 5th, 1854. Five children are living; Geo. D. of Grand Rapids, Mrs. Martha A. Babcock of Akron, Col., and Mrs. Mary A. Bowen of Ionia, twin sisters, and Mrs. Grace R. McArthur of South Boston, Ionia county. Mrs. Taylor died on March 6, 1873, in Ionia city. In politics Mr. Taylor has always been a Democrat, casting his first vote for Martin VanBuren for president in 1840. He has always refused to accept a nomination for office, but served to fill two vacancies in the office of Justice of Ionia city. He is the oldest member of the Presbyterian church, organized Oct. 29, ’42, under Congregational form. Mr. Taylor was a devoted Mason, and is claimed to have been the oldest member of the order in the state, at time of his death. He has filled every office in all of the Masonic bodies, including lodge, chapter, council and commandery, having conferred the degrees upon his own father, the only instance of its kind in the Masonic history of the United States where a son conferred the templar degrees upon his own father. He has served the grand bodies as junior grand warden and grand captain of the host. Two years ago the grand lodge officers and their staff conferred the grand honors upon him at his home, a distinguished honor never before conferred at a private home in the history of the grand lodge of Michigan. He was also the only living honorary member from Michigan of the Illinois Veteran Masonic association, whose membership is scattered over the entire globe, and included in his life the late King Edward of England. Mr. Taylor dearly loved to talk about the “Old times,” and he has been in a sense the guardian of pioneer day events. Only two or three now remain in the county who date back local residence equal to his. He was kind hearted and sympathetic, a good neighbor and friend. The writing of verse was in away a kind of passion with him, and many of his productions had wide circulation. His lines were most often of a religious case, frequently picturing the beautitudes of the world beyond, to which he has now gone. The funeral services, under the auspices of the Knights Templar, will be held on Sunday afternoon, 2 o’clock at the house, 2:30 at the Presbyterian church. Interment, Oak Hill. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/t/taylor7144nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 3.7 Kb