John Henry Palmer

     John Henry Palmer was born on 2 November 1818 Garrard County, Kentucky. He was the son of Burton Palmer and Rebecca Bruce. John and Catherine Nowlin Graves, daughter of William Graves and Lucy Berger, were married 31 August 1841 Montgomery County, Missouri. John Henry Palmer died 1 March 1894, in Mt. Angel, Marion County, Oregon at age 75 years, 3 months and 27 days. His estate was probated on 24 March 1894 He died intestate. The announcement of the probate as follows:
THE PALMER ESTATE. Geo. W. and Marion Palmer have been appointed joint administrators of the estate of John H. Palmer, deceased. The death of Mr. Palmer occurred on the 1st ult, at his home in Mt. Angel, this county. He left property both real and personal of the supposed value of $15,000. The heirs of the deceased are Catharine N. Palmer, widow, aged 68, Geo W., aged 52 Marion, aged 39, Brunett Cleaver, aged 37, Thomas, aged 33, all of Mt Angel; Lucy J. Maddock, aged 48, Dixon. Cal.: H. N., aged 43, Prescot, Arizona; H. L., aged 41, of Elk City Or; Edwin, aged 31, of Lebanon: and C. B., aged 24 of Salem. The following are the children and heirs of Clarissa R. Glover, deceased who was the daughter of the decedent, J. H. Palmer: Lenora Glover, aged 28, Wallace, aged 19, Edith, aged 17, Ralph, aged 16, Matilda, aged 12, Ronald, aged 11 and Mabel, aged 9, all of Albany, Linn countv: Laura Ashbv. aged 27, and Orage Glover, aged 23. of Salem; Samuel Glover, aged 25, of Eastern Oregon; Narcissus Taylor. aged 21, of Macleay. Henry and Burton Davis, aged 14 and 13, of Silverton are the children and heirs of Martha Davis, who was the daughter also of Mr. Palmer.^2,3 and was buried Miller Cemetery, Marion County, Oregon.
     According to the archivist at the monestery,John and Catherine "planted fruit trees immediately upon their arrival."

A note from the early librarian at the seminary in Mt. Angel noted that John Henry Palmer "bought squatter's rights to DLC on north end of Butte" on 3 September 1853. ("Graves Butte")

It is possible that one of Catherine's siblings, Jack Graves or Maria (Graves) Glover, had somehow laid claim to the land, although it was not part of either of their DLC claims. Otherwise, it is possible that someone who had come much earlier had placed a "pre-DLC" claim on the land, and John Henry was paying him off.
John and Catherine obtained a Donation Land Claim on 1 May 1866 Mt. Angel, Marion County, Oregon.

The abstract of the DLC application notes:
"No. 1870 PALMER, John H., Marion Co; b 1818 Garrard Co, Ky; Arr. Ore. 2 Sept 1853; SC [settled claim] 23 Sept 1853; m Catharine N. 31 Aug 1841, Montgomery Co, Mo. Aff: Benj. Cleaver, John W Cleaver, Robert Scott, James McPhearson."


It's interesting that neither of the near relatives, Catharine's brother Jack Graves, or her brother-in-law William Glover signed the affidavit here. They were said to have had something to do with "saving" the land for them.


Patentees: CATHARINE N PALMER, JOHN H PALMER
Survey State: OREGON
Acres: 290
Metes/Bounds: No
Title Transfer Issue Date: 5/1/1866
Land Office: Oregon City
Cancelled: No
U.S. Reservations: No
Mineral Reservations: No
Authority: September 27, 1850: Oregon-Donation Act (grant) (99 Stat. 496)

Aliquot Parts Sec./ Block Township Range Fract. Section Meridian State Counties Survey Nr.
SWSE 3/ 6-S 1-W No Willamette OR Marion
E½E½ 10/ 6-S 1-W No Willamette OR Marion
SWSW 11/ 6-S 1-W No Willamette OR Marion
1 10/ 6-S 1-W No Willamette OR Marion
Remarks: LOT 1 OR NWNE QUARTER
2 10/ 6-S 1-W No Willamette OR Marion
Remarks: LOT 2 OR SWNE QUARTER.



John Henry Palmer and Catherine Nowlin Graves
arrived in Oregon September 2, according to the Donation Land Claim, which probably means they arrived at Oregon City, to put in their claim, or Graves Butte, by that date. The Indian Agent at the Utilla Indian Agency (near today's Echo, Oregon) kept a log of the immigrants as they passed through the area. The train, as it passed the agency on 15 August, consisted of 130 people, 53 men, 21 wives (one fellow had two wives) and 56 children. Included were: Graves, T. and Palmer, J., w, 3s, 2d.
Based on the "journal" of Benjamin Cleaver in 1848, and other contemporary records, it may be expected that they left Independence or St Joseph around 24 April 1853.

September 7, 1848, B Cleaver is at Laurel Hill (the Barlow Trail), 3 September 1853, J and C Palmer "arrive in Oregon" but have been in Oregon since 15 August when they are counted at the Utilla Indian Agency (Echo) Oregon. Henry Laramie was born in or near Fort Laramie 5 Jun 1853, Benjamin Cleaver was "at Fort Larama" 8 June.
Backing up, Benjamin left St Joseph 27 Jun, so the Palmers must have been on the road that week or the week before (depending on how long they stayed at Fort Laramie.)⁴