Lapeer County MI Archives Biographies.....Palmerlee, Noel 1836 - ************************************************ 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: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 12, 2007, 7:50 pm Author: Chapman Bros. (1892) NOEL PALMERLEE. A worthy representative of a family that has been connected with many eminent people, our subject is a resident on a fine farm located on section 31 of Lapeer Township, Lapeer County. Mr. Palmerlee is a son of Asa and Lucy (Seward) Palmerlee, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of New York. The mother was a distant relative of William Seward, who so distinguished himself during the administration of President Lincoln; and her father was Colonel Stephen Seward, a prominent man in Catarraugus County, New York. She was also a cousin of Mrs. Eliza Garfield, mother of President James A. Garfield. Our subject's father, who was a clothier and a carder and dresser of cloth by profession, removed to New York when a young man and there pursued his calling; later he became interested in farming and in 1850 came to Michigan, having previously married our subject's mother in Litchfield, Conn. They immediately settled upon the farm of which our subject is now the proprietor; it was at that time perfectly new land and like much of the Michigan land, heavily timbered. He bought out a claim upon which there was a log house and a few acres of which had been roughly improved. The place comprised one hundred and sixty acres of land and of this he cleared ninety acres and built a barn which is 34x46 feet in dimensions. Asa Palmerlee died November 7, 1869. Our subject's mother survived a number of years, passing away December 4, 1885. They were the parents of eleven children, ten of whom grew to years of maturity and nine of whom still survive. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and active workers and supporters of the same. The father was a Trustee and also interested in the building of the church of that denomination at Farmer's Creek. In his political principles he was a Whig but on the organization of the Republican party transferred his allegiance to it. Our subject was the sixth in order of birth of his parents' family and was born April 3, 1836, in Cattaraugus County, N. Y. He was fourteen years of age on coming to Michigan with his family and was reared on his father's farm, remaining at home until twenty-one years of age. After spending four years in Minnesota and one year in Saginaw he returned to this place and has ever since been a resident upon the home farm. July 3, 1862, the original of our sketch was united in marriage to Almina Johnson, a daughter of Riker and Emily (Kelley) Johnson, early settlers in Oakland County, this State, and afterward of Hadley Township, this county. Mrs. Palmerlee was born in Oakland County, June 10, 1840, and died April 15, 1869. She was the mother of two children-Efner R., who was born June 16, 1863, and married to Hattie Green; he is now a resident with his father on section 31; Fred, who was born April 5, 1869, lives in Montana. August 20, 1874, our subject again married, the lady of his choice being Miss Frances E. Brown, a daughter of Charles W. and Susan E. (Cressy) Brown, the former a native of New York and the latter of New Hampshire. They came to Michigan at an early day and were married in Lapeer, making their home at Farmer's Creek until recently, being now residents of Lapeer. Mrs. Palmerlee was born July 5, 1847, in this county, and was educated in the district schools of this vicinity until she was twelve years of age, spending one year at Lapeer Academy and afterward graduating at the Newark Union School and subsequently at the academy at Newark, N. Y., with the Class of '65. She then became a teacher, both in this State and in New York. Although Mr. and Mrs. Palmerlee have not been intrusted with the care of children of their own, they are rearing two children and giving them good advantages. They are Anna Louise and Fen wick Palmer. Mrs. Parmerlee's father was Judge of the Probate Court and has been Justice of the Peace for many years. Our subject is a member of the Grange and also belongs to the Library Association. He is at present Master of the County Grange and he has also been Master of the local Grange and one year was President of the Library Association. Politically he is a Republican. He held the office of Drain Commissioner and for four years was Supervisor of Lapeer Township. He has been Director of the school and also of Lapeer County Farmer's Mutual Fire Insurance Association. He has cleared off forty acres of his land, freeing it from unsightly stumps and has laid nine hundred rods of tile. In 1873 he built a fine residence at a cost of $2,000 and the other buildings of his place are equally substantial. He here carries on general farming and his entire place is notable for the thoroughness with which it is cared for and also for the fine stock that is here raised. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of the Presidents of the United States Chicago: Chapman Bros. 1892 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/lapeer/bios/palmerle787gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 5.6 Kb