BIO: Michael Palmer, Jefferson County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens. 
Chicago, Ill.: J. H. Beers, 1898, pages 1073-1074.
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MICHAEL PALMER, a lumberman and farmer of Perry township, Jefferson 
county, has long been an esteemed citizen of his section of the State.
  A son of Henry and Barbara (Enfield) Palmer, the father was born in 
Bedford county, Penn., but when a young man went to Indiana county.  He 
was one of a family of five brothers.  Peter, the eldest, was twice 
married, reared a large family and spent his entire life in Indiana 
county.  John married a Miss Enfield, and died in Indiana county some 
years ago.  Charles also married, and lived in Indiana county until his 
death.
  Henry Palmer removed to Jefferson county after his marriage and, 
purchasing timber land, developed a farm in the midst of the forest, 
building thereon a hewed-log house and barn.  He died in 1865, at the 
age of seventy-three, and his wife, who had long shared with him the 
joys and sorrows of life, died the same year at the age of sixty-nine.  
They reared a large family, of whom our subject is the eldest.  (2) 
Isaac Palmer, the second of the family, wedded Mary Whitesel, and 
located upon a part of his father's farm, where he spent his remaining 
days, dying in 1855.  He had five children, namely;  Michael, of 
Indiana county; Sarah, wife of James Wachob, of Henderson township, 
Jefferson county; Philip, who married a Miss Brown, of Jefferson 
county, and served for three years as a soldier in the Union army, 
after which he resided in Big Run until his death; George, of Big Run; 
and Mary, wife of George Fetterman, of Punxsutawney.  (3) Henry married 
Miss Susher, and removed to Lewiston, Penn., where he died twelve years 
ago, leaving a wife and nine children.  (4) Sarah became the wife of 
Peter Depp, and both died in Jefferson county some years ago leaving 
three children - Isaac M., deceased; Mary Ellen, wife of Joseph 
Newcomb, of Perry township, Jefferson county; and Henry, of Apollo, 
Indiana county.  (5) Jane, born in Indiana county, became the wife of 
James Ross, of Perry township, Jefferson county, and resided near her 
father's farm.  Both are now deceased.  She died in 1897, at the age of 
seventy-five years, leaving four children, namely:  Madison, who is 
married and lives with his family in Jefferson county; Isaac, who 
follows lumbering in West Virginia; Matilda, wife of Samuel Williams, 
of Clayville; Jane, wife of Joseph Stewart, of Indiana county.  One son 
belonging to this family, Clement, married Ella Rogers, of Jefferson 
county, and died some years ago, leaving a wife and one son, Donald.  
(6) Peter, born in Indiana county, became the wife of Philip Whitesel, 
and lived on a part of her father's farm until her death some years 
since.  (8) Caroline, born in Perry township, became the wife of 
Charles Williams, and died at their home near Clayville, Penn., leaving 
three sons, Henry, William and Clauson.  (9) George, born in Jefferson 
county, in 1839, married Martha Bowersox, and lives on the old 
homestead.  They have sour children - Laura, wife of John Tucker, of 
Punxsutawney; Ward; Etta, wife of Patrick Mann, of Punxsutawney; and 
Joseph.  (10) Martha, the youngest child of Henry and Barbara Palmer, 
died in early life.
  Michael Palmer was born in Indiana county, in 1814, and after the 
removal of the family to Jeffeson county, aided in the arduous task of 
developing the home farm.  In 1841 he was elected constable of Perry 
township, which then also included Porter, Oliver and Ringgold 
townships, and served for four years.  He purchased land, to which he 
removed after his marriage, and from the wild tract developed a rich 
and fertile farm.  His first buildings have been replaced by a more 
modern set, and in 1887 he erected a large two-story frame residence, 
one of the best homes in the township.  In 1851 he was elected justice 
of the peace, serving for twenty consecutive years in a most creditable 
and satisfactory manner.  Since his retirement from office, in 1871, he 
has de voted his attention exclusively to his farming interests, and 
although now nearly eighty-four years of age possesses the physical and 
mental vigor of a man of fifty.
  In 1844, Mr. Palmer married Miss Annie, daughter of John and 
Elizabeth Martin, well-to-do farming people of Jefferson county.  Their 
family numbers nine children:  (1) Nancy A., born in 1845, in Perry 
township, began teaching at the age of sixteen years and followed that 
profession in Jefferson, Clearfield and Indiana counties.  In 1880 she 
became the wife of Wallace A. Dowdish, of New York, and removed to 
Brockwayville, Penn., where he followed the jeweler's trade until his 
death in December, 1885.  His widow and son, Earl W., reside on her 
father's farm, and she still follows teaching, having for nine 
successive years been thus employed in Horatio.  (2) Jane, born in 
1847, was for two terms a teacher in the public schools.  (3) Elizabeth 
died at the age of nine years.  (4) B. F., was born in 1851, married 
Malinda North, of Ohio, and is now a railroad man living in 
Punxsutawney.  They have a daughter, Alice.  (5) Harry died at the age 
of five years.  (6) Mary, born in 1855, successfully followed teaching 
for a number of years, and in 1877 became the wife of H. A. Raught, of 
Du Bois.  Ten years later, they removed to Washington, where they now 
reside on a farm.  (7) Alice B., born in 1857, died in 1887.  (8) 
Isaac, born in 1859, removed to Logan county, Kansas, where he secured 
a homestead of 160 acres.  He married Annie Marker, of Kansas, and on 
account of the drought in that State went to Centralia county, Wash., 
where he is now living.  They have four children - Roy M., Mabel, Anna 
L. and Frank.
  Our subject has long been prominently identified with the best 
interests of Jefferson county, belonging to one of its pioneer 
families.  His people were instrumental in building the first church in 
Perry township, erected in 1839, and he has ever been a liberal 
contributor to Churches and schools.  His is one of the most highly 
cultured families in the locality, and has furnished to the county some 
of its most successful teachers.  He has held the office of school 
director for two terms, has  been assessor and collector, was constable 
for four years, and has discharged his duties in a most commendable 
manner.  His political support is given the Republican party.