My Genealogy Hound

FRANK PALMER is descended from an old family of Montgomery county Friends. He is the son of Thomas and Lydia A. (Iredell) Palmer, and was born on the homestead in Horsham township, May 30, 1865. He was reared on the farm and educated in the schools of the vicinity.

Thomas Palmer (father) was the son of Charles and Betsey (Cadwallader) Palmer, both of Horsham township. His ancestor, George Palmer, purchased a large tract of land from William Penn in England, five hundred acres in extent. On his way to this country he made a will, a copy of which is in possession of his descendants. He reached Pennsylvania, however, in 1682, and located his land in Moreland and Upper Dublin townships, then Philadelphia, now Montgomery county. It extended to where is now Horshamville. At that place he dug a saw pit, and by means of a whip-saw obtained the lumber to build a two story house which stood for nearly a century there and did good service. There is a tradition that on his arrival he caught shad and herring in the Pennypack creek near the site of the present turnpike bridge. A portion of the original tract of land is still owned by his descendants, Frank Palmer and his brothers. He was one of the first land owners in Horsham township.

Charles Palmer, grandson of George, better known as Squire Palmer, served as a justice of the peace for many years. He also kept the store at Horshamville, and was among the influential men of Horsham township. He was also a successful farmer. In politics he was a Whig and actively interested himself in securing the success of the principles of that party. He held several minor township offices. In religion he was a Friend, like his ancestors for several generations. His children: Isaac, died young; Jonathan, Thomas, father of the subject of this sketch; Lydia C., Mrs. Walton.

Thomas Palmer (father) was born and reared on the homestead, remaining under the parental roof until he married and settled in the vicinity, renting the Iredell farm. He remained on that for several years, and then returned to the homestead in 1869, where he remained until his death in 1874. In his youth he taught school several years. He was an exceedingly intelligent man, his mind being stored with information through his extensive reading. His wife survived him, dying in 1893, on January 26. She was a daughter of Jonathan and Sarah B. (Barnes) Iredell, both of old families in Pennsylvania, residing in Horsham township. Jonathan Iredell was an artist as well as a farmer, being an expert in taking daguerreotypes. He resided near Horsham Friends’ meeting. He was an overseer of the turnpike, and held other responsible positions. He was a Republican in politics. The Barnes family came to America from England in the same vessel with Thomas Iredell, the immigrant.

Thomas Iredell came to America from Horsham, in Sussez, England, his place of residence in the old country giving name to the township in which he settled. He purchased originally two hundred acres of land on which he erected a house a half mile north of Horsham meeting. In 1717 he was one of the overseers of the meeting. In 1722 he was one of the jurors in laying out the Governor’s road, which passed by his house. The township was named prior to 1734. William Penn preached at his native town in England in 1672, at which time it is probable that Thomas was convinced of the truth of Friends’ principles. The earliest mention of the name in meeting records as applied to the township is in 1719. The children of Jonathan Iredell: Elizabeth, died unmarried; John B., a teacher, later in charge of a shoe factory in Philadelphia; Lydia, mother of Frank Palmer; William P., served in the rebellion, and died from sunstroke; Daniel W., a farmer; Hannah, died at the age of fifteen years.

Thomas Palmer (father) and Lydia (Iredell) Palmer had three children, as follows: 1. Charles, occupies the homestead, is unmarried. He was born in Horsham township, November 16, 1855, was educated in the public schools, and remained under the parental roof. In 1869 he came with his parents to the farm where he now resides and since the death of his parents he has assisted in the management of the homestead and his father’s estate. 2. J. Iredell, a farmer; 3. Frank, subject of this sketch.

Frank Palmer was reared on the farm and remained under the parental room during the life-time of his parents. In 1889 he purchased the Horsham Mill, including ten acres of land. It is run by water power, and at one time was a popular grist mill, farmers coming a long distance to take advantage of the opportunity it afforded to have grain ground. Mr. Palmer has made repairs, and the old structure is in a good state of preservation. He grinds only feed, and in addition to his business at the mill he sells farm machinery. In politics he is an earnest Republican, but has never sought or held office.