William L. Palmer

As printed in 1881

WILLIAM L. PALMER, farmer; P. 0. Northfield; was born Nov. 4, 1820, in Windsor, Hartford Co.. Conn., to Hezekiah H. and Abigail (Taylor) Palmer. His father was born Jan. 19, 1781; his mother in Buckland, Mass., Jan. 12, 1792. They were married May 29, 1811. To them were born a family of eight children — Julia A., Eraeline, Abigail T., William L., Horace H., Henry T., and two deceased. The Palmers are of old Connecticut stock, who came over in the Mayflower. Some of our subject's ancestors were soldiers in the war of the Revolution. The father of our subject first came West to this State, locating in AVilloughby, in 1822, where he lived a short time, but, because of the prevalency of ague, he returned with his family and lived on the Holland Purchase in New York for some time, and then returned to his native county and State. In 1831, he came out and selected 160 acres at the Center of this township. Returning, he brought out his family in June, 1832, by canal from Albany, N. Y., and with the family settled in the woods, which in a short time was transformed to productive fields. Upon this tract the elder Palmer lived until his death Oct. 7, 1863; that of his wife occurred Dec. 10, 1875. He was a man of hardy constitution, a worthy citizen and a Jacksonian Democrat. William L. was reared among the early pioneer surroundings of the township; deer and wild game were plentiful. His first ideas of the fundamental principles of " book learning '' was obtained in a log school which stood on the site where the town pump now stands. Nov. 15, 1849, he was married to Amelia Whitney, born in Uniontown, Stark Co., Oct. 6, 1827, daughter of William and

Hannah (McNaughton) Whitney, both natives of Vermont. Her father was born Feb. 22, 1795; her mother in Rutland Aug. 25, 1795. He was a son of William Whitney, and she a daughter of Daniel McNaughton. Mrs. Palmer was of a family of eight children, five living — Louisa, Helen, Harriet, Parmelia and Mrs. Palmer. Since Mr. Palmer came to the township he has been a constant resident. Has served several terms as Justice of the Peace, and is at present fulfilling the duties of that office. He was seven years Postmaster, and bore well his part as a citizen and a neighbor. He has but one child, Helen, still at home. His nephew, William Palmer, has resided with him since a mere child, and recognizes no other place as home.

HENRY T. PALMP]R, carpenter, Northfield; was born in Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn., Dec. 12, 1829, and came West with his parents when 2 years of age. Raised to farming, he, in his early- manhood, learned his trade and worked for his brother-in-law, A. W. Bliss. March 2, 1854, he married Mary J. Hillman, who was born in 1836, daughter of David and Mary (Derrick) Hillman, to whom three children were born, Mrs. Palmer being the youngest; her mother died when she was very young, and she was raised by Mrs. Hollister, and saw her father but little afterward. She learned but little of her parents farther than that her mother was born in Canada, and was of Scotch parentage. She has a brother, Benjamin B., in Salamanca, N. Y., and one sister, Eliza (Mrs. Lyman Allen). After Mr. Palmer was married he resided fourteen years at the Center, and, in 1873. moved to the place he now owns, where he has erected new buildings throughout, and has a very pleasant and desirable residence situated a short distance north of the Center. They have had one child — Freddie, born March 20, 1864, who died Feb. 5, 1877, of spinal disease. He was beloved by all who knew him, both by his companions and those of river years, being kind-hearted to his associates and obedient to his parents. Henry T. was a son of Hezekiah H. and Abigail (Taylor) Palmer, who were among the first settlers at the center of Northfield, where they lived as its honored citizens, and in all the relations of life they were universally esteemed and beloved. Mrs. Palmer, at the age of 16, made a profession of religion and united with the Baptist Church, and for sixty-eight years she ever remained true to her allegiance, and never faltered in her Christian course, ever adhering with tenacity to the church of her early choice. Mr. Palmer never united with any church, yet he was not opposed to religion, but always acted independent of sects and denominations, yet favoring everything known to be right. In his daily intercourse with others he was unassuming, obliging and courteous; was scrupulously upright in all his dealings, ever diligently prosecuting his own legitimate business, and never meddled with the affairs of others; y et he was a man of decided opinions, which he rarely failed to express at the ballot-box; he died as he lived, an honored and substantial member of the community. Henry T. is an official member of the Presbyterian Church, is a man of few words and of a retiring nature, shunning publicity and preferment, and is a worthy citizen. " Aunt Mary," as she is familiarly called, is, like the good Samaritan, ever ready to do good, both in sickness and in health.

As printed in History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.