Bio: Palmer, Byron O. (1914)

Contact: Crystal Wendt

----Surnames: Palmer, Sherman, Arnold, Cooper, Cole, Lee

----Source: History of Eau Claire County Wisconsin (1914) pages 685-686

Byron O. Palmer was born in Madison, N. Y., and came to Wisconsin in 1847, locating in Fond du Lac county. He was educated in Michigan, and after coming to Wisconsin was engaged in school teaching until the breaking out of the civil war. In 1861 he enlisted in Company D, Fourteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until after the battle of Shiloh, when his term of enlistment expiring, he was discharged. He reenlisted in Battery C, First Michigan Light Artillery, and took part in the battles of Resaca, Dalton, Dallas, Kennesaw mountain, Decatur, Atlanta and Bentonville. He was with General Sherman on his famous march to the sea. In 1872 he located at Fairchild, Eau Claire county, and for a time taught school, subsequently opening a drug store, which he successfully conducted until failing health compelled him to sell out, and disposing of his interests to R. E. Arnold, he retired. He took an active interest in all public matters, and any enterprise for the betterment of his city and county, received his hearty co-operation.

He was a member of Brooklyn Lodge, No. 169, A. F. and A. M., and Major Payne Post, G. A. R., Fairchild. In 1879 he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret, daughter of David W. and Margaret (Cooper) Cole. Mr. Cole was reared in Wisconsin, receiving a common school education, and after his maturity engaged in farming in Monroe county and Fairchild, Wis.

In February, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, Thirty-sixth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and took part in the battles of Ft. Ann, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Jerusalem, Plank Road, where he received a bullet wound in his right heel, Strawberry Plains, Reaves Station, Hatches' Run, High Bridge, and the contest which ended in the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox, and was one of those who stood guard at the time of surrender. Returning to Wisconsin after the war, he resumed farming in the town of Fairchild, which he continued until 1898, when he retired, and has since resided with his sister, Mrs. Palmer. He was a member of Major Payne Post, G. A. R., of Fairchild, until its disbandment.