Born in Christian County, Ky., November 3, 1821. His parents were Lewis G. and Ann H. (Tutt) Palmer. Mr. Palmer accompanied his father to Madison County, Ill., in the spring of 1831. He received a common-school education, and not having collegiate advantages he entered upon a course of self-instruction and qualified himself for the vocation of a teacher and taught several terms of school. While thus employed at Carlinville, Ill., he engaged in the study of law, under the direction of his brother, John M., then an eminent attorney of Macoupin County, and since Governor of Illinois. He was admitted to the bar at Hillsboro, Montgomery County, Ill., in 1846, and formed a law partnership with his brother, John M., under the firm name of J. M. & L. G. Palmer. That connection continued but a short time, on account of our subject’s enlistment in the volunteer service for the Mexican War, which occurred May 26, 1846, at Springfield, Ill., where he became a member of Company B, 4th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was assigned to the Quartermaster’s department, and served in Mexico until April 27, 1847, when he was discharged at Ft. Polk, Point Isabel, for physical disability. His condition was such at the time of his removal from the fort to the transport that he was not conscious of being carried on ship-board. He returned to Illinois in May following, where he recruited his health, and in November, 1847, came to Iowa and opened a law office at Mt. Pleasant. He has pursued the practice of his profession at that place continuously since, and has been called to fill various public positions of honor and trust. He has served two terms in the City Council of Mt. Pleasant, and was a member of the State Senate in 1861, and served one term from 1862 to 1864 as County Judge of Henry County. Judge Palmer was married at Mt. Pleasant, August 7, 1850, to Miss Orphia Bowen, a daughter to Isaac Bowen, a worthy pioneer of Henry County. Judge Palmer is a Democrat, but opposed his party and voted for Abraham Lincoln both in 1860 and 1864. As a Democrat, he is earnest and pronounced in his views, especially in his hostility to the States meddling with the rights of the individual citizen, and has borne a more or less prominent part in political affairs. The Democracy always in the minority in both county and State, his personal popularity has induced his party to place him in nomination for various offices a greater number of times than almost any other man in the State. At every election in which he was a candidate he succeeded in polling a vote many times over his party strength. In 1874, he was the Democratic nominee for Congress against Hon. George W. McCray, and succeeded in cutting the Republican majority down from about 5,000 to 1,500. He has been the most determined and persistent opposer of the building of railroads by means of a public tax and of every scheme of the Government engaging in business in any way. Judge Palmer has always been of studious habits, and is well versed in his profession, as well as in history and general practical information. He is gifted as a conversationalist, and is a companionable man, whose superior attainments command respect and esteem.
If you would like to get the permanent link to a url other than the page you are currently viewing you can paste
a url inside of the destination box and hit regenerate
Print
Permanent Link