Biographical Sketch of Samuel PALMER; Delaware County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Cyndie Enfinger Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* Jordan, John Woolf, A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people, Lewis Hist. Pub., 1914, p.686-687 PALMER At this juncture, in a volume devoted to the careers of representative citizens of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, it is a pleasure to insert a brief history of Samuel Palmer, who has ever been on the alert to forward all measures and enterprises projected for the good of the general welfare and who served his home city of Chester in the capacity of fireman for a period of twenty-nine years, of which he was fire chief for three years and first assistant chief three years. He retired from the office of chief of the Felton Fire Company of Chester in 1905, and since that time has been devoting his attention to the brick manufacturing business, in which line of enterprise he has been interested for forty years. The Palmer family traces its genealogy to old English stock. The name Palmer originated during the Crusades, when pilgrims to the Holy Land who carried palms with them came to be known as "Palmers." It was at that time that people began to realize the significance of surnames, and Palmer was adopted by those who had recently returned from the Crusades and who had been known by that name during their pilgrimage. It has been ascertained by students of the origin of names that people of the present day bearing the cognomen Palmer are descended from an ancestry that dates back to the Crusades. Thus it is certain that the Palmer family of this sketch is of ancient English lineage, and that it is likewise old in America may be seen when it is stated that the founder of the family in this country came over in the "May-flower," in 1620, he having been of old Quaker stock. From New England representatives of the name removed to Pennsylvania, and in this state occurred the birth of Aaron Palmer, the date of which was April 13, 1792. He gained distinction as a manufacturer of shell combs in the city of Philadelphia, where he resided at the time of his demise. November 24, 1811, was solemnized his marriage to Susannah Denney, who bore him the following children : Samuel, mentioned in the following paragraph ; Thomas, died in infancy ; John, achieved remarkable success as a butcher and meat man in Philadelphia; Parmelia, married John Ward, of Camden, New Jersey; and Mary Jane and Caroline, both died young. Samuel Palmer was born in Frankford, Pennsylvania, December 28, 1815. He was educated in the public schools of his native place and in his youth entered upon an apprenticeship to learn the trade of shell combmaker in the factory of his father in Philadelphia. As a young man he taught school for several terms and eventually he learned the trade of brickmaker. In 185o he located at Chester, Pennsylvania, and here was foreman of a brick yard for Pierce Baker for several years, at the end of which he purchased the brick yard referred to and continued to conduct the same with increasing success until his death, September 21, 1864. He married Margaret News, a daughter of William and Catherine (Morrison) News, of Philadelphia. He and his wife were devout communicants of the Catholic church in their religious faith, and in politics he was a stalwart Democrat, holding a number of important local offices. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer had the following children : Eleanor, married Henry Goodman, a brick manufacturer in Philadelphia, they are both deceased; Caroline, married Michael Cast, likewise a brick manufacturer, and they are both deceased; Kate, is the widow of Captain James Dougherty, who was killed on a boat, she lives in Philadelphia, where she did mission work for many years; Susan, died as the wife of John Moore, who was a prominent oil man in Chester; Ann Eliza, died unmarried; Margaret, is single and maintains her home in Philadelphia ; John and Thomas, both deceased; Samuel, is the immediate subject of this review ; William, deceased ; and Elizabeth, who is the widow of Edwin Hawkins, and resides at Philadelphia. Mrs. Palmer was summoned to eternal rest September 21, 1896. In 1864, after her husband's death, she bought a brick yard at Palmer and Ward streets, in Chester, and with the assistance of her sons, conducted the same for several years, subsequently renting it. Mr. Palmer was a valued and appreciative member of the time-honored Masonic order, and he was well known and highly respected throughout Delaware county, as was also his wife. Samuel Palmer, son of Samuel and Margaret (News) Palmer, was born at Chester, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, August 2, 1852. He attended the public schools of his native place in his boyhood, and at the tender age of eight years began to work in his father's brick yard. After reaching manhood he engaged in the brick manufacturing business on his own account, and he has been engaged in that line of work for the past forty years. In 1887 he became a driver for the Felton Fire Company of Chester, and continued as such until 1899, when he became assistant fire chief for the city of Chester. From 1902 to 1905 he gave most efficient service as chief of that fire department, and during that time he wrote and had published a complete history of the company. Once, as a driver, he met with an accident, being thrown from a fire wagon that was going at full speed. He landed on the ground at Second and Hays streets, and was run over by an eighty hundred pound engine. That he was not killed remains a miracle to this day, but he was only laid up a short time and recovered completely from his injuries. In 1905 he retired from his position as fire chief and is now devoting his undivided attention to business matters. He owns the old Palmer homestead in Chester, the same being located at 2404 West Third street, and he owns considerable other real estate in Chester, part of which is located on the corner of Palmer and Fourth streets. In 1877 Mr. Palmer was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Lawrence, a native of New Jersey, where her birth occurred. Nine children have come to bless this union, and following are their names with brief data concerning each one : Margaret and Mary, both at the parental home ; Samuel Jr., a pipe cutter in the Sun Oil Works of Chester ; as is also John, who married Lottie Roberts ; Aaron, likewise in the employ of the Sun Oil Works, living at home ; Harry, engaged in business at Chester; William, a blacksmith by trade; Catherine and Ella, both at home. Mr. Palmer had been a member of the Felton Fire Company of Chester since the time of its organization, and he is likewise connected with the Keystone Fire Chiefs' Association of the State of Pennsylvania. Although not an office seeker or a politician in any sense of the word, he gives an unswerving allegiance to the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor, and is ever ready to do all in his power for the progress of his home community. He is a man of sterling integrity of character, and one who has always been on the level in his business dealings. His connection with the fire department of Chester has been fraught with many thrilling experiences, and he is very graphic in his narration of them.