P. G. Palmer
P.G. Palmer, "The Horseman," was born two miles northeast of Bloomfield, Mechanic Township, Holmes Co., Ohio, April 6, 1856. From there he moved, in 1874, to Sugar Grove farm, one mile northeast of Bloomfield. Mr. Palmer has always been a fancier of fine stock, and while on the farm made a business of breeding and raising thoroughbred stock, including horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. Of those engaged in this branch of busines few have become more successful than the subject of this sketch. He has been an exhibitor at the State and county fairs for a number of years, and has been quite successful in carrying off the first premiums. He had a very good common education, but deeming it necessary to procure a business training, so that he might be the better able to meet the requirements of business life, he went, in 1878, to Mount Union College, and there took a commercial course. After completing same he returned to the farm. As he still advanced in age, he thought one of the requisites most necessary for a young man to possess was a true and loving wife, and he found same in person of Miss Lucy A. Robinson. They were united in marriage, January 1, 1884; went to housekeeping in the early spring, and remained on the farm until the fall of 1884. During the summer season they bought very fine property on Washington Street (in which they now live) and moved to same in the fall of that year. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer are the parents of two children, one daughter and one son, the names being Pearl and Guy Robinson. His wife will unite with us in saying that Mr. Palmer is a very true, loving and obedient father and husband, and the community knows him to be a highly esteemed and respected citizen.
Mr. Palmer is undoubtedly one of the best known breeders and dealers in standard-bred trotting horses in this part of the State. He is the son of Landon and Phebe (Fry) Palmer, who were the parents of seven children, viz: Lucinda Ann (Mrs. J.A. Evans), Rhoda Jane (Mrs. J. C. McKenzie), Phrancinia (Mrs. Robert Elliot), John Albert, Gabriel Warren, Ellen (Mrs. W. Farwell) and P.G. Two of these children are dead: John Albert, who died in the army, Company I, One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Regiment, Ohio National Guards, at Arlington Heights, July 24, 1864, at the age of eighteen years, ten months and twenty-four days, and Rhoda Jane (Mrs. J. C. McKenzie), who died July 6, 1887.
The father, Landon Palmer, an aged and highly-esteemed citizen of Mechanic Township, this county, died at his home, one mile northeast of Bloomfield, May 20, 1886. Mr. Palmer was born near Washington, Old Virginia, May 6, 1810, and moved from there to Belmont County, Ohio, in the year 1813. In 1824 he came to Mechanic Township, near Bloomfield, and was a citizen of that township up to his death. He was married February 16, 1837, to Miss Phebe Fry. He united with the Clark Presbyterian Church in the noon of life, and was a true and faithful member of the same up to his death. Mr. Palmer was a very industrious and hard-working man, and true and honest in all his dealings. He was strictly temperate in all things, and was always very cheerful, looking on the bright side of everything, and enjoying life exceedingly well. As the result of his toil and labor, he accumulated a good proportion of this world's goods, but the most consoling thing to his children is the knowledge that he had not only gained for himself and them a home here on earth, but that he secured for himself a "house not made with hands," in Heaven, and set an example to his children worthy of imitation. He expressed a willingness to leave this earth at different times during his sickness, and said the only thing he dreaded was to leave his aged wife, children and friends, but that he hoped it would be only a matter of time until they would all meet him in Heaven. He had a very large circle of friends, and proof of the same was the large concourse who followed him to the grave. His widow died at her home April 19, 1889. She was a very industrious, hard-working woman, true and obedient wife, kind and loving mother. The most consoling thought is, to know that she has gone to meet her husbnad, son and daughter in Heaven. She had a very large circle of friends, who envinced their respect for her by attending her funeral in great number, the procession, which was over one mile in length, being the largest ever witnessed in the country.
Precious ones from us have gone,
Voices we loved are stilled;
Places are vacant in our homes,
Which never can be filled.
God in His wisdom has recalled
The boon His love had given;
And though their bodies moulder here,
Their souls are safe in Heaven.
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Wayne and Holmes, Ohio, J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1889