Biographical Sketch of

Augustus L. Palmer

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 819 - 820 - 821


Augustus L. Palmer, one of the enterprising farmers and leading citizens of the town of Brooklyn, residing on section 
7, belongs to a family of English descent.  The original founder in America settled in the country prior to the 
Revolutionary War.  The grandfather of our subject, Jonathan Palmer, was born in Hartford, Conn., Jan. 20, 1773, 
and in early life learned the painter's trade, which he followed for a number of years, but afterward engaged in 
farming.  He married Lydia Bunnell, who was born Dec. 22, 1777, in Connecticut, and they became parents of three 
children.  Both lived to an advanced age and died in the town of Brooklyn, Green Lake County.  The wife departed 
this life on the 8th of January, 1851, at the age of seventy-eight years; the husband died Feb. 28, 1855, at the 
age of eighty-two years.
 
The maternal grandfather of our subject was Commodore Hobart Rogers, who for many years was employed on a vessel 
trading on the Chesapeake Bay between Baltimore and Philadelphia.  He there won his title of Commodore.  He married 
Beulah Warner by whom he had nine children.
 
Commodore Hobart Rogers was born in Connecticut, and there his marriage with Beulah Warner took place.  He was then 
engaged in farming.  After the birth of two children they removed to Delaware County, N. Y., and subsequently removed 
to Otsego County, where he engaged in lumbering and milling.  The death of his wife occurred about 1825.  He afterward 
married, but his second wife lived only about a year.  After the death of his second wife he again turned his attention 
to lumbering and trading on the Chesapeake Bay.  After following that occupation for several years he died at Baltimore.  
Of that family of nine children, Mrs. Palmer, the mother of our subject, is the only one living at this writing (1889).
 
Elias Palmer, the father of our subject, was born in Hartford, Conn., Aug. 18, 1799, and when a child accompanied his 
parents to New York, where he was reared to manhood, and formed the acquaintance of Miss Harriet Rogers, whose hand 
he sought in marriage.  Their union was celebrated in Delaware County in 1825.  Having removed to Oswego County, N. Y., 
they made their home in that community until 1836, when following the course of human emigration, which was steadily 
flowing westward, they landed in Milwaukee, Wis.  They were among the first settlers of the State, and what is now one 
of the leading cities was then but a mere hamlet.  After a year they went from Milwaukee to Waukesha County, where the 
succeeding ten years of their lives were passed, when, in 1847, they came to Green Lake County.  Their only neighbors 
at that time were the Pottawatomie Indians with the exception of three white settlers, whose homes were twenty miles 
distant.  In his early life Mr. Palmer had followed the sea for fourteen years, but he now gave his attention to farming 
in which enterprise he was very successful.  His duties of course took him greatly from home, but his wife was a courageous 
woman, and though she knew that no one was near to whom she could call for aid in case the Indians molested her, she showed 
no fear.  At one time an Indian came to the cabin and asked her for several articles, at the same time toying with the 
butcher knife.  She told him she could not spare what he wanted, whereupon he became saucy.  Annoyed beyond endurance, 
she seized the old long-handled shovel and in less time than it takes to record it the Indian had left.  By the united 
efforts of husband and wife they accumulated a comfortable property, though they were in limited circumstances at the 
time of their arrival in the county.  Mr. Palmer was numbered among the prominent and influential citizens of the 
community, and bore no inconsiderable part in the work of upbuilding and progress.  He helped to blaze the trees 
which indicated to the traveler the road between St. Marie and Stevens' Point, and did all in his power to promote 
the interests of town and county.  In early life he was a Whig, but afterward he supported the Republican party.  
He died in the faith of the Methodist Church, of which he was a consistent member, Nov. 14, 1883, and his death 
was deeply mourned by many friends.  His wife, who was born Dec. 21, 1806, is still living, and retains both her 
mental faculties and physical powers to a remarkable degree.  They were parents of eleven children, but only five 
are now living, four sons and a daughter.  One of the daughters was drowned in Green Lake in 1873.  She and her 
mother formed a party who had gone out upon the water in a sail boat for a pleasure trip.  The boat capsized and 
all on board were thrown into the lake, but the mother saved herself by clinging to the boat.
 
Augustus L. Palmer, whose name heads this notice, was born in Oswego County, N. Y., July 10, 1835, and was the 
seventh child in his father's family.  In Wisconsin he has passed almost his entire life, having been brought 
by his parents to Milwaukee when a babe in 1836.  He came to Green Lake County when eleven years of age, and 
in its common schools received his education.  He was reared to manhood upon the farm, and until attaining his 
majority assisted his father in its cultivation.  On leaving home in 1855, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Janet Laurie, the wedding being celebrated on the 20th day of November.  The lady is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, 
born Jan. 24, 1840, and a daughter of John and Marian (Laurie) Laurie, both of whom were born in Scotland, the 
former of Highland and the latter of Lowland parentage.  The father was a machinist by trade, following that 
occupation in Scotland until 1849, when he embarked for America.  After seven weeks spent upon the water the 
vessel reached Boston harbor, and he at once continued his journey to Springfield, Mass., where he resumed his 
old occupation.  His next place of residence was in Delaware County, N. Y., where he engaged at the carpenter's 
trade, being a first class workman in that line as well as a machinist.  When he left Delaware County he removed 
to the South, settling in the State of Mississippi, whence he came to Green Lake County in 1853.  His wife had 
died before he had left his native land, and his death occurred in Green Lake County at the age of sixty-three 
years.  Their family numbered eleven children, but only two are now living, both daughters.
 
After his marriage, Mr. Palmer located upon the farm where he now lives.  It was then entirely unimproved, not 
a furrow having been turned.  At clearing the land he broke the sod and labored diligently to place it under 
cultivation until Feb. 16, 1864, when he offered his services to the Government, becoming a member of Company I, 
31st Wisconsin Infantry, in which he served a year and a half.  During a greater part of the time he was on guard 
duty, but took part in the Atlanta campaign; sickness, however, prevented him from participating in the celebrated 
March to the Sea.  He rejoined his command at Raleigh, N. C., and thence went to Washington.  He was mustered out 
at Louisville, Ky., July 1, 1865, and then returned home.
 
Immediately after his arrival Mr. Palmer resumed farming, which he has since followed with good success.  He has 
also held various official positions, including that of Clerk of the School Board and District Treasurer, and for 
a year and a half was Postmaster at Bluffton.  In connection with his son he owns 244 acres of as fine farming 
land as can be found in the county.  Himself and family are held in the highest esteem throughout the community 
where he has made his home for more than forty years, and in the Congregational Church, of which the are members, 
they have many, many friends.  Mr. Palmer in political sentiment is a Republican, and socially, he is a member 
of the G. A. R.
 
There were three children born to our subject and his worthy wife, but only one is now living, the second, Charles 
A., who married Jessie Janes and assists his father in the cultivation of the home farm.  Marion E., the eldest, 
became the wife of Fred W. Thrall and died at the age of thirty-two, leaving two children; Agnes H. the youngest, 
died when five years old.
 





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