Bio of Peter O. Palmer (b.1867)Wabasha Co., MN USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Martha J. Berryman Note: This Biography is taken from the book "History of Wabasha County" copyrighted 1920. Palmer - Peter O. Palmer, a prosperous member of the agricultural class in Lake Township, is a man who has built up his own fortune through industry and perseverance. He was born in Landskrona, Sweden, February 17, 1867, son of Olaf and Elna Pearson Olson, and was educated in the common schools of his native land. His parents being poor, he had to begin industrial life at an early age, herding pigs, sheep, and geese in the summer and attending school in the winter. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the Regular Army and afterwards he continued military training for three or fours weeks annually. In accordance with Military requirement he had to take a new name as a soldier, and the name Palmer was given to him, one which he has since retained. In 1889, at the age of 21, having received an honorable discharge, he resolved to better himself by emigrating to America, and accordingly set out, landed at New York, and came directly to Wabasha County, where his brother, Olaf Olson, who had three years before preceded him to this country, was living. During his first year in this county he worked as a farm hand in Lake Township. Then in the spring of 1890 he went to Minneapolis, where for four years he was employed as a common laborer. Having returned to Lake Township, in this county, in 1894, he rented 80 acres of land and began farming. He remained at his first location but four years, and then in 1898 came to his present place, known as the Charles Crawshan farm, in section 21, a farm containing 220 acres, of which 200 are now under the plow. Here he has demonstrated his ability as a man of action, with a good knowledge of agriculture, raising abundant crops, keeping good stock, and having an adequate equipment of modern tools and machinery, including a good touring car. His success has been commensurate with his efforts, and each year sees him farther advanced. He is an American citizen, both naturalized and in spirit, and is politically aligned with the Democrat party, though he exercises independent judgement in casting his vote, on particular occasions favoring the best candidate regardless of party. Mr. Palmer was married early in 1890, to Maria, daughter of Per and Anna Mary Shuberg Swensen, a native of Sweden, who was born October 29, 1862, and came to America on the same boat and at the same time as her husband. Four children have been born to them: Mabel Edith, October 17, 1890; Oscar William, December 29, 1891; Elsie Olivia, January 11, 1896; and Carl Henry, September 4, 1897. Mabel Edith is the wife of Menno Kobs, a machinist in Minneapolis, and has two children, Virginia May and Palmer William. Oscar William is working on the home farm with his father. Elsie Olivia was married, October 11, 1916, to Edwin Bade, of Lake Township, and has three children, Mary, Eleanor Agnes, and Agnes. Carl Harry is residing on the home farm. Mr. Palmer is a member of the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Brotherhood of America. He was reared a Lutheran, as also was his wife, and their children have all been christened in the Swedish Lutheran church at Lake City. Note: This biography was taken from the book "History of Wabasha County" copyrighted 1920. -----