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Note: {geni:about_me} Marcellus Palmer was born in Allegany county, New York, August 24, 1824 and died at his home in Day township, Montcalm county, Michigan, December 24, 1915, aged ninety-one years and four months. At an early age he was converted and soon after united with the Wesleyan Methodist church, remaining a devout member up to the time of his death. On December 22nd, 1846, he was united in marriage to Mary L. Gardner who preceded him to her eternal home May 25th, 1911. Five children, four sons and one daughter, were born to them. In 1862 he enlisted and joined the Union army where, soon after, he suffered injuries for which he received an honorable discharge. In the fall of 1864 he came to Ionia with his family where he worked by the month on the brick yards of Thomas Cornell until November, 1865, when he moved onto the farm where he resided until the time of his death. He organized and superintended, in his own home, the first Sunday school in the township of Day, where the same was held until the organization of the first district school and school house constructed. His home was always open to travelers and homeseekers and many times the resting place of Indians. During his entire lifetime he never tasted of any kind of intoxicants, never used tobacco in any form, never attended a dance, never played a game of cards, nor had a card deck in his home. For many years, hanging in the front door of his book case was the following motto: "Do nothing, that you would not like to be doing, when Jesus comes. Go to no place, where you would not like to be found, when Jesus comes. Say nothing that you wouldn not like to be saying, when Jesus comes." He had no organic disease and suffered no pain. His life's work was done. For several months he looked forward to his departure with perfect reconciliation. The last intelligent words that came from his lips was the quotation of the 23rd Psalm. Thus he died in true christian faith to enter the joys of a life eternal
Palmer Cemetary Day Township Montcalm County MI
PALMER
Adeline N. 1828-1894
Addie M. 1845-1920
C.G. 2 Nov 1823- 24 Nov 1905
Cornelia H. 23 July 1835- 19 Dec 1895
Cornie 18 Apr 1883 7 years
Francello A. 1846-1932
Francis 1861-1905
Glenn B. 1897-1909
Jeremiah J. 1824-1903
Lucius 1853-1878
Marcellus 1824-1915
Mary L. 1824-1911
Nettie B. 1864-1920
While living in Centerville, MARCELLUS married Mary L. Butts sometime about 1846 based on the birth date of their first child. They eventually had five children together. Marcellus was a farmer his entire life. His father was HUMPHREY Palmer and his mother was SARAH STACY, who were Centerville pioneers (Sarah also left and died in Montcalm Co. in her old age).
HENRY ELIAS WILLIAM Palmer married Cornelia Saivtelle. His father was WILLIAM B. Palmer and his mother was Eleanor Knickerbocker--they have a write up in Minard's "Allegany County and It's People"). Henry left Centerville with his cousin William was a pioneer in Montcalm County, Michigan about 1864. Marcellus and his cousin, Henry E. W. Palmer, apparently emigrated to Day Township together in the mid-1860's. Marcellus' brother, Luke also went to Day Twp. All three left with their families to farm in the Michigan heartland. It appears that the Butts family also left Centerville for Day Township as his wife's parents are also living there by 1865. There are two published descriptions of their pioneering activities in to Montcalm County histories cited below:
INFO FROM DASEF's HISTORY OF MONTCALM CO., MI
"Day township is located in the central part of the county and is designated on the government survey as town 11 north, range 6 west. it is bounded on the north by Home township, on the east by Ferris, on the south by Evergreen and on the west by Douglass.
"The erection of this township, which comprises congresstional township 11 north, range 6 west, was brought through the presentation of a petition signed by the following: Alonzo Darling, H. E. W. Palmer, Samuel Butts, Fared Strong, Jr., R. Rawson, D. S. West, Sebastian martin, Win Armstrong, Counrad Rough, J. J Jounton, Alexander Oneal, Henry Kretzinger, Egbert L. Heath, Christopher Hare, David Buck, Joshn S. Ford, Albert Ferris, Wibber E. Roby, John M. Hancock, Isaac Tillne, E. B. Hare, Andrew Zuner, J. G. Garrison and david Shaffer. This petition was passed upon by the board of supervisors, and the township was duly created on Oct 12, 1864. The first election was held at the house of Henry kretzinger on the first Monday in April, 1865, and H. E. W. Palmer, John A. Dyer and Jared Strong acted as election judges.
"The name of the township wa selected by a mere accident. While a number of its citizens were debating on the question of a name and unable to select one from the many proposed, some one suggested that action regard to it be postponed until another day. It was then proposed that all the other names be droppped and the name "Day" inserted in the petition, which was accordingly done. The first meeting was held in compliance with the appointment made by the board of supervisors. The meeting was called to orde by H. E. W. Plamer, one of the inspectors appinted by the board. The other two inspectors chosen by the board were absent, and George F. Case and John D. Herrington were appointed by the electors present ot fill their vacancy. George f. Case was chosen chairman, and H. E. W. Palmer was chosen clerk. The lollowing persons were elected to offices in the township: Supervisor, Sylvester Derby; clerk, Edwin K. Wood; H. E. W. Palmer, treaurer; G. F. Case and H. E. W. Palmer, school inspectors; John D. herrington, John K. Marston and Henry Dretzingter, commisoners of highways; George F. Case, John d. Herrington, Suamuel Butts and Albert Register, justices of the peace; Aaron F. Lee, Phipps Waldo, H. E. W. Palmer and John J. Owen, constables.
Early Settlement
"The first settler of the township was John A. Dyer, later a resident of Ferris, who came in 1854 and settled on the sougheast quarter of section 125. he built a good log house, set out an orchard, planted the first crops, and made the first improvements of note long before any other settler came in. his wife, who died subsequently, is regarded to be the first death in Day township.
"About the year 1862 several familes came to the township and entered smal tracts on section 8. The all built small cabins, but soon after, selling their claims, removed. The next settler and the first permanent one in that vicinity, was Alonzo Darling, who, under the state homestead law, entered one hundred and twenty acres, principally on section 8. he mad some permanent improvements, conspicuous among which was building a large barn and clearing forty acres.
"Sebastian Martin was the first settler in the west part of the town, having entered land and built a cabin on section 6 as early as 1862. With his wife he lived here for a time, making shingles by hand; but at length he too, sold for one thousand dollars and moved. his wife was subsequently drowned in the Grand River. "In May, 1864, accompanied by his cousin, Marcellus Palmer, came in, and with him purchased two hundred acres of Jacob Lemasters for three hundred dollars and fifty cennts per acre. H. E. W. Palmer was formerly a regular minister of the Baptist church, but his health failing, he sought the pinelands of Michigan in hopes of restoring it. After purchasing, Marcellus, returned to Ionia and in about eight months brought his family to Day. In 1865 Conrad Rouash settled on section 7, where he remained a number of years, when he moved to Doughals. "Some time after the settlerment of the Palmers, Norman Webster came in and bought the northeast quarter of section 8, for which he paid a team of horses, a wagon, and some minor consideration. he also sold out and moved to Kent count, thence to Texas. John Harrington came from Hillsdale county, Michigan, in 1864, and settled on section 19.
"In the spring of 1866 the school bard formed the northwest quarter of the township into a school district. The first school meeting was held at the house of H. E. W. Palmer, he being chosen director, and Samuel Butts, moderator, Marcellus Palmer, assessor. The first school was taught by Mrs. H. E. W. Palmer in an unoccupied room in her dwelling. Arrangements were made to build a log school house, but the motion was reconsidered by a vote of the district, an it was decided to erect a frame one, which was accordingly done. The second term, however, was taught in the northeastern part of the township; but, as the inhabitants mostly soon after removed, the district formation was dropped.
"The first public religious meeting in Day, so far as is known, was conducted by Rev. H. E. W. Palmer in his house in 1864. The first Sabbath School was organized by Marcellus Palmer at his house, and of which he was elected first superintendent." Source: Dasef, John W., History of Montcalm County: Its People, Industry and Institutions, Indianapolis: Bowen, 1916, 2 volumes
SOURCE FOR THE NEXT BIOGRAPHY IS FROM GUSTAFSON A. M., "THE GHOST TOWNS OF WESTVILLE AND SLAUGHT'S MILL" (19??):
The Early Days
The precise year of the first house, saw mill, or store at the location of Westville is uncertain. On April 3, 1865, Daniel West purchased from William P. and Mary Baker, of Jackson County, Michigan, for $600, 120 acres of land in the west half of section 7 of Day township. The Bakers had obtained this land previously from the United States Government. The preceeding year, 1864, H. E. W. Palmer, and his cousin Marcellus Palmer, had already acquired 250 acres at $3.50 an acre from Jacob Lemasters. This was located a short distance east of the future site of Westville. H. E. W. Palmer, a native of the state of New York, was an ordained Baptist minister who had come to the pine woods of Michigan in search of relief for his failing health. Marcellus Palmer, also born in New York, first settled temporarily with his family in Ionia, but eight months after the purchase of land in Day township, established his home at what is now the northwest corner of the intersection of Coral and Peoples roads. For many years this location was known as Palmers' Corners. It seems that H. E. W. Palmer lived in the immediate vicinity, possibly on the southeast corner of the same intersection.
"Both of the Palmers were interested in community affairs. It is believed that the first public church service in Day township was conducted by H. E. W. Palmer in his home and that his cousin, Marcellus, opened his home for the organization of the first Sunday school and was elected the first superintendent. At the first township meeting, held in April, 1865, H. E. W. Palmer was elected to the offices of treaurer, constable, and road overseer. The two Palmers were instrumental in the establishment of the first public school in Day township in 1866. First located in the home of H. E. W. Palmer, then for the summer of 1866 in a room furnished by Marcellus Palmer, it was soon moved to a new frame school house on the Palmer property, directly north of the home of Marcellus. Later in 1876 it was moved to the newly built two-story frame structure in Westville." http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.allegany/9756/mb.ashx
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