Lucy Anna Palmer

Lucy was living in Waterville, Marshall County, KS in 1880 (recorded in the federal census as "Parmer"), and living in Wheatland, WY, in 1902.

In 1861, Lucy began a subscription school in the Palmer's home in Blue Rapids. Her father, William, turned over the postmaster's job to her and the post office was moved to her house. At the outbreak of the Civil War, her husband Don let it be known that he was an avowed abolitionist. When his livestock began disappearing he suspected the pro-slavery element in the Palmetto colony in Marysville. When the Palmer's took their sick baby to the Thompsons, their house was burned and all postal and school supplies were lost.

In 1865, she developed symptoms of Tuberculoses and was advised by her physician to seek a highter altitude. With her husband and little son, William A., they started with an ox team and joined the ox train bound for Denver, Colorado. They were three months on the road, but the long tedious journey had eradicated all trace of the disease. The Palmers moved to Bingham, Nebraska in 1890 and remained there until October of 1892, when they moved to Gering. They remained there until until October of 1895, when they moved to Asbury, Missouri, but on account of illness they moved from there in October on 1896, when they moved to Wheatland. They homesteaded on land six and one half miles west of the new town, and this was their home until the time of Mr. Palmer's death in 1916. Mrs. Palmer then went to California for a few months and returned to Wheatland where she purchased a small house and remained until a short time before her death when she again went to California. She was able to be up and about her house until within a few hours of her death.

© Early Settlers of the Wheatland Flats - The Palmers

Bio courtesy of Lucy, March 2016.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Nov 6 2017, 15:03:21 UTC