From History of Walworth County Wisconsin, Vol. 1, by Albert Clayton Beckwith, 
publ. 1912 - Pages 718 - 719
 
WILLIAM EDWIN PALMER.  This well known farmer of Geneva township is a 
descendant of one of our old settlers who was among the first to come to the 
wilds of southern Wisconsin and undertake the task of clearing a farm and home 
from the dense woods.  When the PALMER family arrived here the clearings were 
few and the homes far between, and all the members of the family were required 
to bestir themselves in placing the wild land under cultivation and in 
establishing a comfortable home.
 
William Edwin PALMER was born on the farm on which he now lives in sections 10 
and 11, Geneva township, this county, his birth occurring on February 2, 1878.  
He is the son of Edwin Eugene and Frances Alveretta (CHADWICK) PALMER, a record 
of whom and their ancestors will be found on another page of this work; suffice 
it to say here that they did much toward the early improvement of the county. 
 
William E. PALMER, of this sketch, grew up on the home farm and there made 
himself generally useful during the crop seasons when he became of proper age, 
and during the winter months he attended the public schools in his home 
district and received a fairly good education.  He has spent his life on the 
homestead, which he has kept well improved and well tilled so that it has 
retained its original fertility.  He took charge of the place in January 1904, 
and ran it on the shares until his father's death, the latter merely directing 
the operations in a general way and advising the subject as to the best and 
time-tried methods of general farming and stock raising in which he had been 
successful through a long life of industry.
 
Mr. PALMER of this sketch was married on December 4, 1901, to Iva Viola ABBOTT, 
daughter of Frank ABBOTT and wife, a highly respected family of this county, a 
sketch of whom appears elsewhere.  Here Mrs. PALMER grew to womanhood and was 
educated.  To the subject and wife three children have been born, Beulah Ellen, 
Alice and Edwin Eugene.
 
For a time after his marriage Mr. PALMER worked out, then farmed one year on 
Frank ABBOTT's farm.  He is a kind, courteous and industrious gentleman whom 
everybody likes, being a man of good character.

Submitted By:  Carol
(carolann612@charter.net)