BIOGRAPHY: Henry C. Palmer; Eaton, Madison co., NY

submitted by W. D. Samuelsen
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Biographical Review
The Leading Citizens of Madison County, New York
pub. 1894, Boston, Biographical Review Publishing Company

HENRY C. PALMER. In these closing days of the nineteenth century, when such
particular attention is being paid to every scrap of Colonial history,
our subject can point with pride to a line of ancestry beginning in this
country almost coeval with the arrival of the "Mayflower."

The first of the family of whom we have record was one William Palmer, who was
born in England, and came to America in a vessel called the "Fortune," which
arrived here in 1621, the year after the landing of the Pilgrims. He settled
in Salem, Mass. In 1629 one Walter Palmer - a powerful man, weighing over
three hundred pounds, and from whom our subject traces his descent - located
his farm on the site where is now the city of Stonington, dying there in 1661,
and leaving a family of twelve children. Another of the early Palmers was
named Isaac, and was a hero in King Philip's War and a sturdy pioneer of that
era.

Ephraim Palmer, the father of our subject, was born in the town of Windham,
Conn., in 1795, and with his brother, Henry Palmer, was among the first
settlers of the town of Lebanon, N.Y. After making a home in this place,
Ephraim went back to Connecticut, and brought his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Calvin
Palmer, to live with him. They made the trip with an ox-sled, it being a slow
and tedious journey, full of danger, privation, and adventure. Calvin Palmer
died at Lebanon, aged seventy-five years. He was the father of five children,-
four sons and one daughter, - all of whom are deceased. Ephraim Palmer and his
brother owned three hundred and thirty-five acres of land, on which they built
their humble home, - a log cabin. On this place Ephraim became a prominent
farmer and also dairyman, having forty-two head of cows, besides carrying on
his trade - that of a cloth-dresser - for a number of years. He married Miss
Sally B. Clark, who was an energetic and thrifty helpmate to him in his
struggle with fortune. Mr. Palmer died in the town of Lebanon, January 20,
1885, at the age of ninety. He was a strong and active man to the last, taking
a deep interest in the affairs of his section, which he had lived to see grow
from small beginnings to such numbers and prosperity. At his death all his
valuable farms in the towns of Lebanon and Eaton were inherited by his only
son, Henry C. Palmer, whose sketch is here presented.

Henry C. Palmer was born May 29, 1825, and was reared and educated in the
schools of Eaton, teaching for one term. He remained at home engaged in
farming with his father until twenty-nine years of age. His first venture on
his own account was to buy a stock of goods and run a general store in the
village of Eaton for one year. He then moved to Bouckville, where he remained
for five years, going from there to West Eaton, where he kept a store for four
years, being engaged in farming during all this time. In 1854 he married Susan
Danforth, who was born in the town of Linden, Vt., in 1832. Her father, Silas
Danforth, was born in Massachusetts, and his wife, Alpha, in the State of New
Hampshire. He was a mechanic by trade. They had a family of ten children, nine
of whom grew to maturity; but only six are now living: Mrs. Palmer, who is the
eldest ; Mrs. Dellow, residing in Elvira, Cortland County; Silas L., in the
city of Cortland, N.Y.; Helen Marsh, in Bingham-ton, N.Y.; Julia Gilmore, in
Topeka, Kan. ; and Milton, in Saginaw, Mich. Mr. Dan-forth died in Little
Falls, N.Y., aged forty-seven years, and his wife in the town of Eaton, when
she was sixty-eight years old. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal
church. In politics Mr. Danforth was a firm adherent of the Democratic party.
Mr. Palmer, having disposed of his store to his sons, gives his whole
attention to the running of the old homestead farm, which consists of three
hundred and thirty-five acres. He also manages a large dairy, supplying many
families in New York City with butter. For ten years he enjoyed the patronage
of the family of A. T. Stewart, the merchant prince of that city. Five
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Palmer. Henry D., born in 1855; Willie
W., in 1856; and Ephraim C., in 1860 form a mercantile company at McGrawville,
N.Y. Cora S., born in 1858, is the wife of Dr. Charles Clark, their residence
being in Omaha, Neb. (For the ancestry of Dr. Clark, see sketch of C. G.
Clark.) Walter D., born in 1871, lives at home with his parents. Mrs. Palmer
is a member of the Methodist church, taking a lively interest in its religious
work; and herself and husband are among the most prominent and highly esteemed
residents of the town. Mr. Palmer is well known as a progressive farmer,
prosperous in his enterprises and reliable in his word. He is a worthy
representative of the hardy pioneers whose sturdy labors laid the foundations
of our noble republic. In politics he is, as was his father, an earnest,
unswerving Republican.