PALMER, James Parson
Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 701-702

James Parson PALMER, a well-known farmer and highly-esteemed citizen of 
Fairfield Township, Sauk County, WI, was [p 702] born 16 Oct 1826 in Alna 
Township, Lincoln County, ME, and is a son of John and Malinda (FISHER) 
PALMER. His paternal grandfather was Simon PALMER, a native of England, who 
was born in 1746, and lacked only six months of being 100 years old at the 
time of his death. His wife was killed by Indians during the French and 
Indian war. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Peter FISHER, who 
was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and came to this country as a soldier in the 
British army during the Revolutionary war. He was taken prisoner and held in 
captivity until hostilities ceased, after which he married and located in 
America. The father of our subject was born in ME in 1788, and in early life 
followed the sea, but later gave his attention to agricultural pursuits. He 
was one of a family of four children, John, Jonathan, Elisha and William, all 
of whom settled in ME with the exception of one who went to IA.

The subject of this sketch is also one of a family of four children, the 
others being Emily, Anna Eliza and Louisa. His early life was passed in 
Lincoln County, ME, attending the public schools in winter, while during the 
summer months he served in the capacity of a cabin boy on packets plying 
between Boston [Suffolk County, MA] and Wiscasset [Lincoln County], ME. At 
the age of 15 he went to Boston to learn the machinist's trade, spending two 
years at that place. He continued to work at the trade, however, for eight 
years, serving as foreman of a shop in Augusta [Kennebec County], ME, for two 
years of the time. In Apr 1849 he came west, and landed in Sauk County, WI, 
on 02 May 1849, since which time he has made his home here. For about four 
years he engaged in lumbering and running on the Wisconsin River, and later 
accepted the position of overseer on what is known as the WELLS farm. About 
1864 he purchased 40 acres of land in Fairfield Township [Sauk County, WI], 
upon which he has made his home since 1875, his time and attention being 
devoted to agricultural pursuits.

On 13 Sep 1856 James Parson PALMER was united in marriage with Miss Permelia 
P. PLUMMER, also a native of Lincoln County, ME, born in the town of 
Pittston, 09 Apr 1838. In 1848 she came to WI with her parents, Riel and 
Rosanna (COLBY) PLUMMER, who settled in Sauk County on the Wisconsin River, 
when Fairfield Township contained only ten or twelve families, and most of 
the land was in its primitive condition. Her father was born in Alna 
Township, Lincoln County, ME, 10 Sep 1802, and her mother was born on 
Westport Island [Lincoln County], ME, 27 Nov 1806. Colby's Grove was named 
for her parents. To our subject and his wife were born six children: Lester 
Eugene, Marion, Frank, Louis (deceased), and Erving. Politically Mr. PALMER 
is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and takes a deep interest in 
public affairs, never witholding his aid from any enterprise calculated to 
prove of public benefit.

Contributed by Cathy Kubly