From the book History of Walworth County Wisconsin, by Albert Clayton Beckwith, 
publ. 1912 - Pages 650 - 652
 
EDWIN EUGENE PALMER.  The life record of the late Edwin Eugene PALMER, for many 
years one of the leading citizens of Geneva township, should not be permitted 
to perish, for in it may be found many valuable lessons.  He was a man who 
believed in carrying the Golden Rule into his everyday life and while laboring 
for his individual advancement and the good of his immediate family, never to 
neglect his duties as a citizen, and he therefore did much for the general 
upbuilding of his locality and own the esteem and admiration of all who knew 
him.
 
Mr. PALMER was born in Greene county, New York, in the town of New Baltimore, 
May 24, 1849.  He was the son of William S. and Angeline (PALMER) PALMER, the 
mother having been born on April 3, 1820, at Rensselaerville, New York, and she 
was the daughter of Joseph and Polly (PALMER) PALMER, they being no relation.  
Joseph G. PALMER was the son of Jacob and Mary (GILLETTE) PALMER, the former 
the son of Thomas and Jennie (VANDUSEN) PALMER.  Polly PALMER, who married 
Joseph G. PALMER, was the daughter of Robert and Eunice (ALGAR) PALMER.  Robert 
PALMER was the son of Gideon and Jane (WILLIAMS) PALMER, who were married, it 
is believed, in 1744.
 
William S. PALMER, father of the subject of this sketch, was the son of Ezra 
and Polly (SLEIGHT) PALMER, the latter being born in Dutchess county, New York, 
and she was of Dutch ancestry.  Her mother was Catherine SLEIGHT.  She was 
Edwin Eugene PALMER's great-grandmother and she gave him a little pitcher that 
her husband, Ezra, gave her on their wedding trip.  It is at least one hundred 
and fifteen years old, and is now the property of Mrs. PALMER.  She also has a 
chair left by the mother of Joseph PALMER.
 
Polly PALMER, who married Joseph PALMER, and who was the subject's maternal 
grandmother, was a sister of Ezra PALMER, the subject's paternal grandfather 
and they were children of Robert and Eunice PALMER.  The first of the family to 
come here were Joseph and Polly PALMER in 1853; they settled in the 
northeastern part of Geneva township where E. C. PETRIE lives at present.  
Joseph G. PALMER was a soldier in the war of 1812.  His family consisted of ten 
children.
 
William S. PALMER and family came here early in April 1865, and for six months 
lived on the farm now occupied by E. C. PETRIE; then, in the following August, 
bought the farm in sections 10 and 11, which is still in the PALMER family.  
When William S. PALMER purchased this place it was only half fenced, and had on 
it only a log cabin, and much of the land was grown up in hazel brush.  They 
lived there seven years and improved the place, finally building a good new 
house, and there they spent the rest of their lives and became active and 
influential in the pioneer life of their time.
 
Two children were born to William S. PALMER and wife, Edwin Eugene, of this 
sketch, and Jennie, who died in 1864, when two years old.
 
Edwin Eugene PALMER grew to manhood on the home farm and on December 31, 1873, 
he was united in marriage with Frances CHADWICK, who was born in Liverpool, 
Onondaga county, New York, August 17, 1852, the daughter of Warren Reid 
CHADWICK and Jane (HAMLIN) CHADWICK, the former having been the son of John and 
Susannah (REID) CHADWICK.  Susannah REID was born in New York, but her parents 
were from Scotland.  The birth of Warren R. CHADWICK occurred on February 18, 
1818, in Schuyler, Onondaga county, New York.  Jane HAMLIN was born in Clay 
township, that county, June 15, 1832, and she was the daughter of David and 
Luanna Judd (ORVIS) HAMLIN.  David HAMLIN was born in Connecticut and was an 
old schoolmate of Henry Ward BEECHER.  Luanna J. ORVIS was also born in 
Connecticut.
 
John CHADWICK was the son of John, Sr., and Eunice (MURRAY) CHADWICK.  It is 
said that Eunice MURRAY was of French ancestry.  John CHADWICK, Sr., was 
descended from one of three brothers who lived in England and who emigrated to 
America in an early day.  They had an elder brother who inherited the estate 
and was a knight and he died unmarried, leaving a vast estate.
 
Frances CHADWICK came here in 1859.  Her parents had preceded her two years, 
having located at Geneva, and she lived with them until her marriage to Mr. 
PALMER.  Her father died in October, 1879, and her mother is now living in 
Pontiac, Illinois, with her son, Walter.  Mrs. PALMER has two brothers, Albert 
of Chicago, and Walter of Pontiac.  She also has a sister living in Pontiac, 
Mrs. Jennie BRAGA, wife of A. J. BRAGA; she also had a sister, Hattie, who died 
May 9, 1883.
 
After Edwin Eugene PALMER and wife were married they lived on the old PALMER 
homestead for thirty years, successfully engaged in general farming and stock 
raising then moved to the city of Lake Geneva early in January 1904.
 
Mr. PALMER had taken abiding interest in the affairs of the township and 
county, and he held a number of local offices, fro a sense of duty.
 
Four children were born to the subject and wife: Kate E.; William Edwin, a 
sketch of whom appears in this work; Jennie May, who married Eugene WOOLSEY, 
lives at Hawkeye, Iowa, and they have eight children, Clarence Edwin, Warren 
George, Aimee, May Engeline, Eunice, Mabel, Ruth, and a baby girl; Walter 
Chadwick PALMER was the youngest in order of birth of the subject's children.  
 
The death of Edwin Eugene PALMER occurred on December 27, 1907, after a 
successful, honorable and useful life.  Since then Mrs. PALMER has lived with 
her daughter, Kate and son, Walter, in Lake Geneva.
 
Fraternally Mr. PALMER was a member of the Modern Woodmen, Springfield Camp, 
and his was the first death in that lodge, and the summons came to him just 
eighteen years after he had joined this lodge.  He was also a consistent member 
of the Baptist church.  Mrs. PALMER is a worthy member of the same.

Submitted By:  Carol
(carolann612@charter.net)