Person:Jon Palmer (1)

Jon M. Palmer, 1891 California

Per Robert Henry Palmer’s birth certificate May 3, 1868, his father John Palmer was a plate layer on the railway. Family living in Lynywain Llantwit, Registratin District Neath, Sub-districtof Neath, Glamorgan County

Became a naturalized citizen November 7, 1882, in Pittsfield, Illinois. That made all his children citizens too.

Communication from Clara Palmer to Bruce Palmer, July 16, 1932 Grandfather John Palmer (no middle name) was born in Bristol, England in April 15, 1840. He was married in 1862 or 3 to Mary L. Williams in South Wales (Neath or Swansea, Glamorganshire). He was buried in San Bernardino, California in July, 1904 and died of Bright's Disease. Grandmother was born in Neath, South Wales, January 2, 1840. She died from a stroke of paralysis on April 12, 1916 and is buried at their old home, Pleasant Valley, El Dorado County, California. For information concerning our grandfather, write to Mrs. Sarah Harris (or her descendants) Neath, South Wales, Great Brittain. She was (or is) his sister..

Refer to Mansell V. Williams, or his descendants, Williams Terrace, Llanbrwdyr, near Neath. He is grandmother's brother.

John William Palmer (Dad's brother) married Daisy Ellen Davenport at Chico, California. Their present address is Placerville, California, Route 1.

From Bruce Palmer's Notebook: Jon Palmer worked in the construction division for a railroad in Wales. In the later part of 1868 he came to America and the family followed in 1869. He worked in the mines of Pennsylvania for a while, then to Logansport, Indiana, then to Griggsville, Illinois where he worked for the Wabash Railroad. Then to Hannibal, Missouri - worked for Wabash; then to Minnesota in 1885-86, relaying track for the Great Northern and thence to California, where he worked for the Santa Fe RR.

Per Bess Palmer Watson, John Palmer was 6 ft. 4 in. tall.

Mr. Retallice once told Bess Palmer Watson her Grandpa Palmer knew every line of the Masonic work and could fill every chair and so could her Dad. He was eloquent in giving the part. Grandma Palmer knew all the Eastern Star and gave it well too.

From a letter Bruce Palmer sent to the Bureau of Vital Statistics, California: Jon Palmer died July 1904 or thereabouts at the home of a friend, a Mr. Wilke at West Riverside, California. His remains were brought from there to San Bernardino, California by morticians Barton and Catick from whose parlors the funeral was held at 3:00 PM Thursday under the auspices of Phoenix Lodge No. 178 AF & AM with St. Bernard Commandery of Knights Templar acting as escort.

Written by Ruth Palmer Short: Grandpa Palmer was a very active Mason. I remember hearing a fellow Mason say that he had the most impressive voice when he was taking part in ritual of the Masons. It's queer how admonitions given by our elders stay with us even though we may not follow them always. When they were with us in Henrietta that winter, Grandpa bought a brand new hatchet & told me that under no circumstances was I to touch that hatchet. Bu tomboy that I was, I yielded to temptation. In trying to cut off the top of my pencil, the hatchet cut my thumb. I very plainly remember Grandpa leading me to Mother, crying, blood gushing from my thumb. He kept telling me that when we disobeyed, we would always be punished.

Service for date of death: Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of California, San Francisco, CA Nov. 16, 1967

The Citrograph (Redlands, CA) July 30, 1904 PALMER-In West Riverside, California, Tuesday, July 26, 1904, John Palmer, aged about 70 years.

The San Bernardino Daily Sun, July 27, 1904 PALMER-In West Riverside, California, Tuesday, July 26, 1904, John Palmer, aged about 70 years. The funeral will be held Thursday at 3 o'clock from the parlors of Barton & Catick, under the auspices of Phoenix Lodge, No. 178, F. and A.M., the Knights Templar acting as escort.

Article from the San Bernardino Sun July 27, 1904 DEATH OF JOHN PALMER PROMINENT MASON, WHO WAS AN OLD RAILROAD EMPLOYEE, PASSES AWAY IN RIVERSIDE - FUNERAL TO BE HELD IN THIS CITY, WHERE DECEASED HAD MANY FRIENDS John Palmer, for many years a resident of this city, and well known as a Santa Fe employee and a prominent member of the Masonic Order, passed away yesterday afternoon in West Riverside at the home of a friend, Mr. Wike. his age was about 70 years and he leaves a wife, one son R H Palmer, who is a cashier in a bank at Henrietta, Texas and another son, John Palmer, who is an attorney. The remains were brought to this city last evening by Barton and Catick from whose parlors the funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock, under the auspices of Phoenix Lodge, No. 178, F and AM St. Bernard Commandery, No 23, Knights Templar will act as an escort at the funeral. Mr. Palmer was for many years a resident of this city, being a Santa Fe employee. Last December he went to Henrietta, Texas to make his home with his son. But failing health compelled him to return here a few weeks ago. About 10 days ago Mr. Palmer, accompanied by his wife went to West Riverside to visit an old friend, Mr. Wike. While there he was suddenly ill and rapidly grew worse until his death. His wife and son, Joh, were present at his death. Mr. Palmer was an enthusiastic Mason, being a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 178, F & AM Silver Wave Chapter, Order of Eastern Star of this city, Keystone Chapter No 56, RAM and St. Bernard Commandery, No 23, Knights Templar. He was a man who had many friends in the community.

San Bernardino Sun, July 29, 1904 FUNERAL OF JOHN PALMER PROMINENT MASON LAID TO REST YESTERDAY UNDER AUSPICES OF THE ORDER, PROFUSION AND BEAUTY OF THE FLORAL OFFERINGS - ONE SON COULD NOT ATTEND The funeral of John Palmer, who died at West Riverside Tuesday afternoon, was held yesterday afternoon from the parlors of Barton & Catick. The funeral was under Masonic auspices, being directly in charge of Phoenix Lodge, No. 178, F. and A. M., with the members of St. Bernard's Commandery, No. 23, Knights Templar, acting as an escort. The services at the parlors were conducted by Rev. J.E. Crutchfield of St. Paul's M.E. church, South, while the Masonic service was ready at the grave. The floral offerings were conspicuous by their beauty of resign. One design combined the emblems of the F. and A.M., R.A.M., and Knights Templar. The cross of the Knights Templar was in red and white carnations, the square and compass in pink, white and blue, and the keystone in white and red carnations. The design was the tribute of St. Bernard's Commandery, of. 23, Knights Templar; Keystone Chapter, No. 56, R.A.M, and Phoenix Lodge, No. 178, F. and A. M. Another design was the emblem of the Eastern Star in the colors of the order, the deceased also having been a member of that degree. The pall-bearers were Smith Halle, Lem Parker, Jonas Allen, J.S. Kerr, John Driver, and D.J. Hedger of Riverside. The funeral was attended by Mr. Wilke of West Riverside, at whose home Mr. Palmer died, and his son, John Palmer. The other son in Texas was unable to attend.

Letter from Barry Lodge No 34 AF & AM, Chartered October 8, 1945, Barry, Illinois, December 5, 1967 to Mrs. B B Watson, Barry, Illinois Dear Mrs. Watson: Replying to your letter of November 27th, regarding your grandfather, John Palmer. Our records show that he petitioned for affiliation march 8, 1879; elected to membership in Barry Lodge No 34, April 5, 1879; appointed Senior Steward December 27, 1879; December 11, 1880 appointed Junior Deacon; December 8, 1880 appointed Senior Deacon; December 27 elected Junior Warden; December 19, 1885; demitted March 22, 1902. Our records do not show what Lodge he belonged to before affiliation with the Barry Lodge; also they do not show where he moved his membership to. Sincerely yours, Harold C. Ewing, Secretary Barry Lodge No. 34

1870 US Census, Richmond Township, Ray County, Missouri 8/18/1870 John Palmer, age 30 male, coal miner, born in England, father and mother foreign born, male citizen of 21 years or older (this wasn't true) His wife and child were living in Hannibal

1880 Census, Barry, Pike County, Illinois, June 3-4, 1880 John Palmer, white, male, age 39, married, works on railroad, born in England to parents born in England Mary, wife, female, age 40, wife, married, keeping house, born in England to parents born in England (wrong!) Robert H, white, male, age 12, son, single, at home, born in England (WRONG!) to father born in England and mother born in England (WRONG) John W, white, male, age 8, son, single, at home, born in Missouri to father and mother born in England Emma, white, female age 8/12, born in September, daughter, single, at home, born in Illinois to parents born in England

1900 US Census, Mount Vernon Precinct, San Bernardino City, San Bernardino County, California John Palmer, head, white, male, born April 1839, age 59. married 38 years, born in England, mother and father born in England, immigrated to US in 1869, in US 41 years, Naturalized, Section Boss RR, can read and write and can speak English, rents house Mary M, wife, white, female, born January 1840, age 60, married 38 years, bore 5 children and 2 are still living, born in S. Wales, mother and father born in Wales, immigrated to US in 1849, 41 years in US, able to read and write and speak English John W, son, white male, born May 1872, age 28, single, born in Missouri, father born in England, mother born in S. Wales, schoolteacher, unemployed for 3 months, able to read, write and speak English

He and Mary were in Los Angeles, California in 1891 because pictures of him and Mary were taken by a Los Angeles photographer.

1. ↑ Birth Certificate
   Entry No. 178 in the Reigster of Births No. 5, Bristol District, County of Bristol, England.
2. ↑ Obituary
   San Bernardino Daily Sun July 27, 1904.
3. ↑ Cemetery Record
   Pioneer memorial Cemetery Burial Card.
4. ↑ Naturalization Papers
   On file with the Pike County, Illinois courthouse.