Obituary: Rock County, Wisconsin: Lucien S. PALMER ************************************************************************ Submitted by Ruth Ann Montgomery, June 2005 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ Obituary After a long and lingering illness with great suffering borne with great patience our old friend and comrade, Mr. L. S. Palmer passed away at 11:40 Tuesday morning, July 31, 1900. Comrade Palmer was born in Littleton, N. H. on Feb. 24, 1830. He came to Evansville, Wis. in June 1855 and taught the first district school that ye editor ever attended in this place, in the winter of 1855; he was married to Miss Emma J. Rowley on Nov. 23, 1856, after which Comrade Palmer and his wife both taught school in the same building here, it becoming necessary to divide the school into two departments. He enlisted in Co. F, 16th Regt. Wis. Vol. Inf., Jan. 4, 1864; served through the Atlanta campaign, was with Sherman in his noted march to the sea, participating in the battles of Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, Leggett's Hill, Atlanta, Ezra Church, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station, Siege of Atlanta and Siege of Savannah; he was at the grand review of the Union troops in Washington D. C., when the army was disbanded at the close of the war. His comrades all loved and respected him as a quite unassuming good soldier, always willing and ready for duty. After the war he purchased a farm in the town of Magnolia, which occupation he followed until failing health compelled him to dispose of his farm and move into this city in 1886, where he has since resided still tilling the soil of a few acres until last fall, when he purhcased a residence on Liberty street which he had nicely remodeled to his liking intending to spend the remainder of his days in comparative ease with the hard toil of the past. But it appears that one who knows better than any of us had prepared a place for him better than could be in this world for his comfort and reward. Early in life he became a Christian and member of the M. E. church to which he was faithful to the end, as in all things else, and we don't know that we can say more for Mr. Palmer than that he was a good man in all and everything that the word good implies and if he leaves any but friends in this world we certainly cannot tell why. He leaves a loving wife and two daughters to mourn their sad loss of one of the best of husbands and fathers that ever lived, who showed their devotion by bestowing upon him their tenderest care to the last. The funeral was held under the auspices of the G. A. R. of which he has been a valuable member for a number of years, meeting with friends at the home at 2 o'clock p.m. Thursday and at the M. E. churcha t 2:30, where Presiding Elder Stevens, of Janesville, delivred the sermon, assisted by Rev. H. Sewell District Evangelist. There was a very large attendance: those from away being Marietta and Sarah C., sister of the deceased, of Chicago; Mrs. Robert Stone, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Berrell, Geo. Ferris and son Lucian, of Janesville, G. E. Lynts, of Fulton; Mr. and Mrs. Severson of Union; Mrs. Mattice of Footville; also Ed. Booker, Sherman Phelps, L. M. Nelson and J. G. Wray of Janesville, members of his company in the Union army. A long procession of carriages, under the escort of the G.A.R. on foot, followed the remains to its last resting place which had been beautifully decorated by the loving hands of members of the W.R.C. and the floral offerings which adorned the handsome casket were profuse and beautiful, showing the devotion and love of his many friends to the very last. As evidence that a loyal patriotic feeling pervaded Mr. Palmer's family during the war of '61 to '64 it might be well to state that his only brother Frank G., which one of Gen. Carter's escort and carrying an important message, was captured by Confederates and died in Andersonville prison. August 3, 1900 The Enterprise, p. 1, col. 4, Evansville, Wisconsin Obituary Died: At his home in this city, Tuesday morning, July 31, Mr. Lucian Palmer, of blood poison. The deceased was born Feb. 24, 1830 in Littleton, New Hampshire. He came to this vicinity when young. Nov. 23, 1866, he was married in this city to Miss Emma Rowley and they lived on a farm in the town of Magnolia, until about fifteen years ago when they moved to this city. Mr. Palmer was a soldier in the Civil war belonging to Co. I, 16th Wis. Vols. As an American soldier and as an American citizen Mr. Palmer ever stood for the truest and best in life. He won his friends by the sincerity of his character. He was a consistent christian. During the past seven weeks Mr. Palmer has suffered untold agony but through it all was patient and trustful. He leaves a wife and two daughters, Mrs. Harry Benney and Miss May Palmer, besides many other relatives and friends. The funeral occurred Thursday afternoon from his late residence at 2:00, and from the M. E. church, of which the deceased was a member, at 2:30 o'clock. Rev. W. W. Stevens a former pastor officiated. The M. E. choir furnished the song service which was beautiful and impressive. An abundance of flowers and palms adorned the edifice indicating the brighter side of the occasion. The remains were conveyed to the cemetery followed by many relatives and friends of the deceased, and also by twenty six comrades of the civil war. At the cemetery the G.A.R. service was conducted, and after a song by the choir the body was laid tenderly to rest. August 4, 1900, The Badger, p. 1, col. 4, Evansville, Wisconsin [note that the date of marriage to Emma Rowley is 1866 in the Badger obituary and 1856 in the Enterprise obituary]