Ranking with the representative farmers of Ophir township, LaSalle
county, is found the gentleman with whose name we are pleased to introduce
this review, Ransom Dunn Palmer.
Mr. Palmer was born on the farm on
which he now lives and which has always been his home, October 18, 1857. He
was educated in the Englewood high school. After completing his four years'
course in that institution he became actively identified with the management
of the farm. His father becoming enfeebled more and more as age crept on,
the responsibilities of the farming operations were finally all transferred
to the son, Ransom D.
Joseph Snow Palmer, the father of Ransom D.,
was born in Warsaw, New York, April 29, 1819, a son of Thomas and Rebecca
(Snow) Palmer, who emigrated from New York to Medina county, Ohio, in 1831,
and to Kane county, Illinois, seven years later. In 1843 Joseph S. Palmer
returned to Ohio and bought the old home place, but in the fall of that year
sold it and came back to Illinois, settling then in LaSalle county, December
15, 1845, he married Cynthia Parker, who died in July, 1899, at their home
in Ophir township, whither they had moved in the spring of 1851. His death
occurred June 27, 1892. Their children are as follows: Mrs. Azema Kimmey, of
Chicago, Illinois: Rush H., of Miden, Nebraska: Ransom D., whose name
initiates this review: Mrs. Alma Smith, of Peoria, Illinois; and Dr. Enos
E., of Ottawa, Illinois. Mrs. Cynthia Palmer was a daughter of Shepard and
C. Zarina Parker, and was born in Lower Canada. Her parents removed to Ohio
in the early part of the present century and died in Medina county, in 1846.
Joseph S. Palmer was one of the foremost citizens of Ophir township,
interested in all that tended to advance the general welfare and material
prosperity of his township and county. His industry and business foresight
were amply rewarded by the acquirement of a large landed estate, and
everybody within the scope of his acquaintance was glad to refer to him as a
friend. Politically he was a Republican; religiously a Free-will Baptist.
Ransom D. Palmer was married January 13, 1887, to Miss Nettie E.
Cole, a daughter of Lawrence and Frances (Lowe) Cole. Mrs. Palmer is one of
a family of five, her brothers and sisters being: Charles D. Cole, a
commission merchant of Chicago; Edwin Cole, of Pomona, California; Mrs.
Catherine Hickok, of Crown Point, New York; and Mrs. J. W. Phelps, of
California. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer are the parents of three children: Horace
E., Ina Frances and Kenneth Cole.
Ransom D. Palmer is a counterpart
of his father in all that contributes to good citizenship. He is successful
to a marked degree in his vocation and is an honor to the name he bears and
a credit to the town and county in which he lives. A staunch Republican, he
has done his part, as he has been called upon, in matters of public
interest, but is in no sense a seeker for public honors.
Extracted 19 Dec 2018 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, pages 582-583.
| Lee | DeKalb | Kane |
| Bureau |
 |
Kendall |
| Putnam | Grundy | |
| Marshall | Woodford | Livingston |
