Obit: Palmer, William (1842 – 1906)
Poster: Stan

Surnames: PALMER COON KERN AVERY CORNWELL

Source: CLARK COUNTY REPUBLICAN & PRESS (Neillsville, Wis.) 11/29/1906

Palmer, William (23 NOV 1842 – 8 NOV 1906)

William Palmer, son of Rev. Harvey Palmer and Emeline Coon Palmer, was born Nov. 23, 1842 in Levis Co., N.Y.

He had three sisters and two brothers, the only surviving member of the family being a sister, Mrs. Orville Cornwell of Neillsville, Wis. He came to Wisconsin in 1853, and in Augusta, 1861, enlisted in the 6th Regiment, Wis. Vols. , on of the regiment of the famous “Iron Brigade,” which had the greatest per cent of loss of any of the brigades serving in the war.

This Brigade served in the following engagements: Gainesville, Sec. Bull Run, Fredricksburg, Fitz Hugh’s Crossing, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, South Mountain, Anteitam, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Spottsylvania, Laurel Hill, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, North Anna, Hatchers Run, Weldon Bail Road, Five Forks Appomatax. Of these 19 battles and skirmishes he had served in 13. At Anteitam he received a severe wound in the hip and was in the hospital for some time. He returned to the regiment and took part in the Battle of Gettysburg, in which his brother Uriah received a wound which resulted as fatal.

In Jan. 1863 he married Clara Kern, who survives him. Three children, Grace, wife of George Avery; Percy and Herbert were born to them and five grandchildren, Vernon, Gladys, Avery, Hugh, Clare and Ralph, survive him.

In 1867 he removed from Sauk Co. to Clark Co., then comparatively unsettled. His love of nature and the pioneer instinct led him to cast his lot with those who were “hewing farms from the wilderness.”

After 20 years he moved to Oregon, which was his home for the remainder of his life.

He belongs to the George Wright Post G.A.R. and greatly enjoyed meeting his old comrades, though for the past three years he was unable to attend.

During this time he suffered greatly of rheumatism, but his patience and cheerful disposition enabled him to bear all with resignation. He expressed himself as willing and ready to go when his time came. His stay on earth ended Nov. 8, 1906, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Grace Avery near Portland, Ore.