Alexander Sheldon Palmer

Regions: Schoharie Co., NY; Walworth Co., WI

From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, Publ. 1912 - Page 910-912 DR. ALEXANDER SHELDON PALMER. No name from the annals of the past in this section of Wisconsin is worthier of perpetuation on the pages of history than that of Dr. Alexander Sheldon PALMER, who has long been sleeping serenely in God's acre, a dreamless slumber from which no one ever wakes to toil or trouble, but his influence still pervades the lives of his old contemporaries who have survived, for he was a strong and commendable character and did a world of good in the pioneer days here when the country was sparsely settled, roads were bad, dangers many and hardships the rule. Dr. PALMER was born in Connecticut, but in childhood he was brought to Schoharie county, New York, where he grew to manhood. He was the son of Dr. Hosea PALMER, of Utica, New York, under whom he studied medicine, later attending a medical college at Pen Yan, New York. Upon his graduation there he began practicing with his father at Utica and also at Whitesboro. They also spent nearly two years at Lebanon, Illinois, about twenty five miles from St. Louis, but they later returned to New York. This was a family of physicians. Dr. A. S. PALMER's brother, Napoleon PALMER, was president of the Kings County (New York) Medical Society at Brooklyn. Dr. Alexander S. PALMER married Jane SEARS, who came from New London, Connecticut, that being the site of the historic Fort Griswold massacre, and an ancestor of the Doctor's, Colonel Ledgard, was wounded by a cowardly thrust of a sword, and from that the old legend of the "bloody shirt" started. Jane SEARS was the daughter of James SEARS, and her people were early-day settlers and merchants at New London. Her father and the mother's father, Hazzard, were in business there when Benedict Arnold made his raid on the town and destroyed the stores and business houses. Colonel Ledgard was run through with a sword by the dastardly British commander when the former presented his sword to the latter in token of surrender. Colonel Ledgard was then taken to the home of Jane SEAR's ancestor. Her brother, James SEARS, was also a physician. Dr. PALMER of this review came to Wisconsin in 1847, by boat by way of the Great Lakes, landing at Kenosha, and, having brought his carriage on boat, he drove the rest of the way to Lake Geneva. Here he rented a house, intending to go to Milwaukee in a few months. However, he found practice good here, so he remained and had all he could do for nearly a half century. Politically, Doctor PALMER was a Democrat, and in 1850 he was elected to the Legislature of Wisconsin. In 1860 he was nominated lieutenant-governor on the ticket with his friend, Harrison C. HOBART, who ran for governor, but they were defeated with the rest of the ticket that year. He served two years as president of the village board in Lake Geneva, and while living in New York he was postmaster. As a public official he performed his duties ably, conscientiously and faithfully, winning the hearty approval of all. Doctor PALMER had no children of his own, but he adopted Jennie HUBBARD, daughter of Mrs. PALMER's sister. She married Franklin Asbury BUCKBEE, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. Dr. PALMER's abilities, both in professional and private life, were early recognized by people of this vicinity, and he as a man of much influence, a leader in the political party whose principles he espoused, and sufficiently popular among men of all classes here to overcome hostile majorities on all occasions when he would consent to run for office. As a member of the General Assembly from this district in 1850 he won the hearty commendation of all classes, and as president of the village of Lake Geneva in 1857 he made such a splendid record that he was re-elected the following year, but declined to serve. In 1859 and the two following years he was elected and served as chairman of supervisors, and in all these positions he gave entire satisfaction to his constituents. His death at the comparatively early age of fifty-five years was a serious loss to the community and was universally regretted. He passed away in September 1864, his widow surviving until 1884. The Doctor was a member of the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Submitted by Carol