Alma Jordan Palmer

Alma Jordan Palmer was the third child of Alma Zemira Palmer and Alzada Sophronia Palmer, born March 21, 1881, in Snowflake, Apache County, Arizona. Alma Z. and Alzada S. had been married in Utah in 1874. They came to Arizona from Utah in about 1878. Alma Jordan had an older brother named Wesley and an older sister named Ida.

In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census for Taylor, Navajo, Arizona, their family was listed as follows: Alma, 46, Alzada, 42, Jordan, 19, John E., 14, Sally J., 12, Arthur, 9, Dora, 5, Regetta, 3, and Lula, 9 months old. Alma and Alzada had been married for 26 years, had given birth to 10 children, 9 of whom were still living. Alma was born in Utah and Alzada in California. His father was born in Canada and his mother in Missouri. Her father was born in Pennsylvania and her mother in Missouri. All their children were born in Arizona.

Alma Jordan Palmer married Alice Lewis April 3, 1903 and they had 12 children, however, their first child, a daughter, born December 20, 1903, in Snowflake, Navajo County, Arizona, was stillborn. Then came Alzada, Zeniff Alma, LaRue, and Floyle, Hilda, Phyllis, Grant and Larry Night Palmer. Another child, Mark Jordan Palmer, was born October 21, 1918, in Taylor, Navajo, Arizona, but sadly died four days later. Two more children were stillborn, one in 1922 and another in 1925.

The family was listed in the 1910 U.S. Federal Census for Taylor, Navajo, Arizona, as follows: A.J. Palmer, 29, Alice L., 27, Alzada, 5, Zeniff Alma, 2, and LaRue, 8 months old. They were all born in Arizona. Alma and Alice's fathers were born in Utah, his mother in California and her mother in England. Alma was working as a farmer and he owned his farm free from a mortgage.

When Alma Jordan Plamer completed his U.S. World War I Draft Registration Card on September 12, 1918, he described myself as being of medium height and build with gray eyes and brown hair. He registered in Holbrook, Navajo County, Arizona, and was 37 years old at the time. He was working as a farmer and living with his wife, Alice L. Palmer in Taylor, Arizona.

By 1920 the family was living in Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona, on a farm located on Haymore Lane, and were listed as follows: Alma, 38, Alice, 36, Alzada, 14, Zeniff A., 12, LaRue, 10, Floyle, 8, and Hilda, 5 and a half years old. Alma was still working as a farmer. He owned his farm but had a mortgage.

They were still living in Mesa in 1930 and were listed as follows in the census record: A. Jordan, 49, Alice L., 47, Zeniff, 22, LaRue, 20, Floyle, 18, Hilda, 15, Phyllis, 10, Grant, and Larry, 3 years 5 months old. Alma was still farming and Zeniff was working as a farm laborer.

By 1940 the family was living in Maricopa County, Arizona, and were listed as follows: Alma, 59, Alice, 57, Grant Lewis Palmer, 16, Larry Knight Palmer, 13. They owned their home which was valued at $3,000. Living next door was Alma and Alice's son Zeniff Alma Palmer, 32, and his wife, Sybil, 22, and their son Billie Ray, 4 years old. Sybil and Bille Ray were born in Texas.

Alma had 3 years of high school, Alice had 2 years of high school, Grant was in the second year of high school and Larry was in the 8th grade. Zeniff had 2 years of college and Sybil had 4 years of high school. Sybil had been living in Kelsey, Star County, Texas in 1935. Alma was working as a maintenance man on the highways, and Zeniff was working as a farm laborer. For the 52 weeks that Alma worked in 1939 at 48 hours per week his income was $1,500.

Alma Jordan Palmer passed away December 26, 1956, and was buried in the Mountain View Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona. His wife, Alice also passed away in 1956 and was buried with her husband.