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				GEORGE W. AND ESTHER H. (NUTTING) PALMER.

GEORGE W. PALMER.  Many a youth in foreign lands has looked longingly toward the West and dreamed
of making a home in the New World, where he fondly believed that better opportunities were 
afforded than in the land of his birth; and numbers have realized their dreams and are now among 
the prosperous and useful citizens of the United States.  The population of Montcalm County has 
been added to by some of this class and among them the gentleman above named, whose home is in 
Bloomer Township.  His history is that of a youth whose early advantages were limited and who 
upon reaching the New World found it hard work to get a start, but who finally gained a footing 
and added little by little to his financial standing and is now a well-to-do farmer with a 
pleasant home abounding in comforts.
	Mr. Palmer was born in East Kent, England, July 22, 1825, his parents being Joseph and 
Elizabeth (Chamberlain) Palmer.  His father was a farmer and until he was fifteen years old the 
lad remained at home, learning what he could in the common school and doing various kinds of 
work upon the place.  He then left home and began to work for himself, and in his twentieth year
he crossed the Atlantic and located in Jefferson County, N. Y.  there he farmed until the spring
of 1855, when he came to Michigan.  He found Montcalm County a densely wooded region where little
had been done in the way of improvement.  He took up eighty acres of land and began clearing it, 
and undismayed by the arduousness of the labor required, by the discomforts and hardships of 
frontier life, and the lack of close associates, he worked on toward competence.  He added to his
landed estate, made various improvements from time to time, beginning to have help in his work 
as soon as he got a good start.  When he first located here he went eight miles to Mattison to 
trade.
	In all his worthy efforts Mr. Palmer has had the sympathy and womanly aid of a 
true-hearted wife.  This lady bore the maiden name of Esther Hay Nutting, was born in New York 
and became a bride March 7, 1855.  Her wedding trip was a journey to the western wilds, where 
the young couple arrived May 19.  They have had four children, whose record is as follows:  
Cora A., born January 10, 1856; Beecher, April 5, 1858; Joseph, March 27, 1860; Alden G., 
March 11, 1862.  The daughter died after reaching womanhood, the date of her decease being 
September 1, 1880, and Joseph died April 29, 1860, when but a few weeks old.  The two sons 
who are living are married and farming in Gratiot County.
	A characteristic that is almost universal among Englishmen--that of steadfastness in any 
lone of conduct once decided upon--is shown by Mr. Palmer in his political relations.  Having 
made up his mind that the Republican party was the one entitled to his suffrage, he is 
unswerving in his allegiance to its principles.  He has held the various school offices and 
whether in or out shows an interest in the increase of the efficiency of the public schools. 
As to his business in life he has not only placed his farm in excellent condition, supplying it
with the buildings before mentioned, substantial fences and a growing orchard, but he raises 
stock of good  breeds, the cattle being Durhams and the sheep Shropshires.



This biography is taken from "PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, 
MICHIGAN."  Chapman Brothers.  Chicago, Illinois.  1891.  Pages 414-415.