John B. Palmer dies after Short Illness. Was Pioneer Citizen of that Place.

John B. Palmer was born June the 5th, 1855, one and one-half miles north east of the present site of the village of Leaf River, and was the son of Henry and Lydia [Beeler] Palmer, one of the pioneer families of this community. He was united in marriage October the 9th, 1879, with Harriet Smith, to which union four children were born, one of whom died in infancy. Two daughters, Mrs. Amos Rothermel and Mrs. Olin Schelling, both of Leaf River Township and one son, Ernest, of Glen Ellyn, remain with their mother to mourn the loss of a husband and father, whose unfeigned piety to his God, his unfaltering loyalty to his country, and unselfish devotion to his family have endeared him to all he met whether within or outside of the family circle.

He was a charter member of the Leaf River Christian Church and treasurer and trustee of that association since its organization.

He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the village during the installation of the municipal water system and aided in procuring the electrical service which has also been a factor of progress in our community. As a partner in the store of Myers and Palmer for nearly 24 years, his influence has ever been cast on the side of honest and conservative business.

He was suddenly called home by his master, March 21, 1924, in his sixty-ninth year of his life. His funeral was held on Monday, March 24th, in the Christian Church conducted by the Rev. Truett and assisted by the Rev. Pittman, both of the Christian Church. [unreadable. . .]

feeling much improved, as he had been under the doctor's care the past year, but suddenly made a change for the worse and passed to his rest. His remains were brought to Lightsville on last Monday where funeral services were held in the Old Stone Church where he attended Sunday School. The Rev. Davenport of Loves Park preaching, assisted by the Rev. Allen of Leaf River.

another obit from the Leaf River newspaper:

Sudden Death of J.B. Palmer

Perhaps not since the founding of our little burg, have the people in general been so entirely surprised as when on Friday night, March 21, 1924, the word was given out that one of our business men had died at his home very suddenly. John B. Palmer, who was a partner with David Myers, in the firm known as Myers & Palmer, was dead, dying at 9:30 p.m. Friday night.

Mr. Palmer had not been very well for perhaps two weeks, but he had been to the store every day. On last Friday he had been to the store in the evening at about 7 o'clock. When he arrived at home he told his wife that he was very ill. Dr. Bowerman was sent for, but it was soon discovered that Mr. Palmer was a very sick man. Dr. Kretsinger was sent for, but no encouragement could be given, and as stated, he passed away at 9:30 from hemorrhages of the lungs, and had also contracted pneumonia. Thus has another of the business men of our village gone to his rest. He was a man much thought of by all who knew him.

John Beeler Palmer was born June 5, 1855, one and one-half miles northeast of the site of the present village of Leaf River, the son of Henry and Lydia [Beeler] Palmer, one of the pioneer families of this community. He was united in marriage October 9, 1879, with Harriet Smith, to which union four children were born, one of whom died in infancy. Two daughters, Mrs. Olin Schelling and Mrs. Amos Rothermel, of this community and one son, Ernest of Glen Ellyn, remain with their mother to mourn the loss. . .

He was a charter member of the Leaf River Christian Church, and treasurer and trustee of that association since its organization.

He was a member of the board of trustees of the village during the installation of the municipal water system and aided in procuring the electric service which has also been a real factor of progress in our community.

As a partner in the store of Myers & Palmer for nearly 24 years, his influence has been ever cast on the side of honest and conservative business.

He was suddenly called home by his Maker, March 21, 1924, in his sixty-ninth year. The funeral of the deceased was held on March 24th, in the church at Leaf River. . . services were conducted by the Rev. Truett, and assisted by the Rev. Robert Pittman. . . laid to rest in the Christian Church Cemetery at North Grove by the following who were pallbearers: John D. Croft; Samuel Heater, John P. Wilson, David Kretsinger, Frank Shelling and G.G. Welty. . .

Those who attened the John B. Palmer funeral, who were out of town folks, were: Rev. Robert Pittman, of Washington Grove; Mrs. Roy Douglas, Mrs. Henry Palmer, Mrs. Earl Palmer, Mrs. Nora Fountain of Rockford; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Grim, Mr. and Mrs. Dew, of Polo; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest O. Palmer and son, of Chicago. The immediate relatives of the deceased were two brothers, Henry and Jacob Palmer and four sisters, Mrs. Chas. M. Stine, Mrs. Dorr Hazzard and Mrs. E.S. Pyper, of Leaf River, and Mrs. Zack Pyper of Shelby, South Dakota, and nine grandchildren, all being present at the funeral except Mrs. Pyper and sons of South Dakota.

Source: Leaf River, IL newspaper

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