Catherine Nowlin Graves

     Catherine Nowlin Graves was born on 1 July 1825 Pittsylvania County, Virginia. She was the daughter of William Graves and Lucy Berger. Catherine and John Henry Palmer, son of Burton Palmer and Rebecca Bruce, were married 31 August 1841 Montgomery County, Missouri. Catherine Nowlin Graves died 19 November 1907, in Lebanon, Linn County, Oregon at age 82 years, 4 months and 18 days and was buried Miller Cemetery, Marion County, Oregon.
Catherine N. Palmer
Born in Virginia July 1, 1825
Died Nov. 19, 1907.
     Catherine and her sister Jane were probably sent to school before 1841 St. Louis, Missouri.
The family story is that due to the early death of their mother, in 1837, Jett and Catherine were sent to some kind of boarding school. The extremely brief mention of Jette and Catherine in their cousin David's book indicates they weren't around the neighborhood as the boys were. There is no documentation of this to date, other than the “family tradition” that John Henry Palmer met Catherine when "she was at boarding school in St Louis." A study is currently underway to determine which of the many "girls' schools" in the St Charles and St Louis areas may have been chosen.¹
According to the archivist at the monestery,Catherine and John "planted fruit trees immediately upon their arrival."
Catherine and John 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.