Francis Palms, I

Businessman. Born in Belgium, his father, Ange Palms was a Commissary in the French Army. He arrived with his family in 1833 to Detroit. He found his fortune with land investments in Michigan and Wisconsin. He was President of the People's Savings Bank, the largest in Detroit at the time; Michigan Stove Company and was also involved in other minor businesses within Detroit. He was also one of the original incorporators of the Detroit, Mackinaw and Marquette Railroad, Vulcan Furnace and the Peninsular Land Company Ltd.

(bio by: Honoring our ancestors) 

PALMS, FRANCIS b. 1810 d. 11-24-1886. Bur. Sec. S in the Palms Mausoleum. Son of Ange Palms, quartermaster in Napoleon's army. The family came to Detroit in July 1833. Francis and his sister, Mary Frances - who later married Daniel Joseph Campau - stayed in Detroit while Ange, three of his sons, and a daughter moved to New Orleans. There, Ange founded a manufacturing firm. In 1836, Francis married Martha Burnett, who died soon after the birth of Francis II. The infant was sent to New Orleans to be raised by his grandfather. In 1840, Francis was remarried, to Catherine Campau, daughter of Joseph. The couple had one daughter, Clotilde, who later married Dr. James Burgess Book. When he first arrived in Detroit, Francis had worked with Joseph Campau, then later clerked for Mr. Goodwin. Then he started his own business, manufacturing linseed oil. In 1837, he ended this business, becoming a partner in the wholesale grocery firm of Franklin Moore & Co. When this firm was dissolved a few years later, Francis made a considerable capital gain. He used the money to buy and sell land, acquiring 40,000 acres in Macomb and St. Clair counties. Ten years later, he sold this land in small parcels, making nearly $4 million. He then invested in pinelands in the upper portion of Michigan and in Wisconsin, becoming one of the largest landowners in the country. Because he retained mineral rights to lands sold in the Upper Peninsula, he was the owner of many valuable mining districts in the Gogebic range. A railroad was built, connecting the two Michigan peninsulas, through the enterprise and capital of Francis and James McMillan. In the mid-1880s, Francis constructed a large number of business blocks in Detroit. He also built the Palms Apartments, the Palms House 71 on East Jefferson, and the Palms Theater. For many years, he was the largest stockholder in and president of People's Savings Bank, and a stockholder in Michigan Stove Co. He was president of Michigan Fire & Marine Insurance Co., and had connections with Galvin Brass & Iron Co., Union Iron Co., and the Vulcan Furnace & Peninsular Land Co. He was vice-president and a director of Detroit, Mackinac & Marquette Railroad. Francis left an estate of $7 million. In 1925, the Francis Palms building was erected in his honor.

357/651 E Jefferson Ave. also known as the Francis Palms residence, Built 1848 by Palms himself, this was an Italianate style residence. Francis Frederick Palms was born in born in Antwerp, Belgium December 13, 1809. Federick and his parents and his Siblings relocated to Detroit in 1833, He spent the majority of his early years working as working for Campau, Francis worked as a clerk and then tried manufacturing linseed oil. Francis Married his second wife Catherine Campau, daughter of Joseph, who was a large landowner in early Detroit which also helped him kick start his career here. After Francis sold his Business he became a partner in the wholesale grocery firm of Franklin Moore & Co. Palms made considerable capital as a grocer and purchased 40,000 acres Macomb and St. Clair Counties. in 1848 he built his home at 357/651 Jefferson ave which was very close to the city center Francis was also a Real estate developer and help the development along Jefferson as well. 1880s Palms began building business blocks in Detroit. (The Francis Palms Building which houses the Fillmore theater in Detroit is named for him.) He was the president and largest stock holder in the Peoples Savings Bank as well as the Michigan Marine and Fire Insurance Company. He was the president of the Michigan Stove Company and part owner of the Galvin Brass & Iron Co., Union Iron Co., and the Vulcan Furnace & Peninsular Land Co. He was the vice president and a director of the Detroit, Mackinac and Marquette Railroad and he built the Palms Apartments & Palms House on E. Jefferson. He was also an early supporter of the Detroit Institute of Arts. During his Later years Between 1875 and 1885, his health declined when he suffered a paralytic stroke and heart disease. At the same time, he was struggling with his businesses as timber became scarce and taxes and the immigrant population increased, so he invited his son to the business in 1880. Francis passed away on November 4, 1886. Leaving his estate which was worth supposedly 7-10 Million Dollars, the largest estate in Michigan at the time. His children Francis Frederick and Clotilde fought about the Palms estate for 20 years they were estranged before finally coming to an agreement. Palms legacy lived on by not only his sons but his grandsons as well. His son Francis Frederick and his wife Celimene Palms resided in the 1394 East Jefferson Avenue in 1887 for the rest of their lives. His house sat on East Jefferson Between St. Antoine and Hasting street. He built the house himself close to the city center and spent the rest of his Life living in the house (1848-1886) after his death his estate went to his family but his two sons Francis and Clotilde spent 20 years fighting over it until they came into agreement. His home was demolished by 1908 and replaced with a Romanesque style building which belongs to the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. The first image is the house dated 1881 from the Burton Historical collection. the second image is the house from Silas Farmers History of Detroit and Michigan 1884 which was based off the Burton Historical collection.