From her obituary in the Daily Telegram, 1921
"Mrs. Emeline Palmer, the last real daughter of the
American Revolution in Michigan, and a former resident of
Adrian, died Saturday evening [2 April 1921] at her home in Highland Park [Michigan]. Mrs. Palmer, who was aged
86, was the life chaplain of Lucy Wolcott Barnum chapter,
D. A. R., of Adrian and was an active member until she left
the city about five years ago with her daughters, Misses
Cora and Sadie Palmer, who were offered teaching positions
in Highland Park. She had been in her usual health until
Friday evening, when she was stricken with heart trouble,
death coming at about 5 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
Funeral services will be held at the Methodist Protestant
church tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock, the Rev. H. L. Feeman
officiating. The burial will be made in Oakwood cemetery. [Adrian, Michigan]
Mrs. Palmer was formerly Miss Emeline Buker, the youngest
child of Israel and Sarah [Black]
Buker, and was born in Coshocton county, O., Mar, 26, 1835.
Her father, Israel H. Buker, was born in Bridgewater, Mass.,
April 17, 1756, and she was born when her father was 79
years of age, the youngest child of a second marriage. After
the immigration to Ohio after the war of 1812, Mr. Buker was
one of the pioneers of Coshocton county, where he owned a
beautiful farm and where Mrs. Palmer spent her
girlhood.
At the age of 20 she was married to Martin Palmer of
Otsego, O., who died many years ago. Seven children were
born to them, four of whom survive her, Misses Sadie and
Cora Palmer and O. L. [Orren]
Palmer, all of Highland Park and Mrs. Ernest [Clara] Evans of Iowa.
In 1882 the family came to Adrian in order that the
children might be educated in Adrian College, of which the
son later became an instructor and is at present a trustee.
The two daughters were instructors in the Adrian High School
before going to Highland Park.
Mrs. Palmer's father died when she was 14 years of age but
she was able to remember him as wearing the ruffled shirt
and wig of those days and had many vivid memories of his war
reminiscences. She often told of his story of the execution
of Major Andre at which he was present; how the
distinguished captive on the way to the final scene took off
his cap to wipe his brow, exclaiming "It is a warm day,
gentlemen," when as a matter of fact it was a very cold
day.
She remembered her parent's warm admiration for General
LaFayette, his stories of the hard days at Valley Forge
where he was connected with the body guard of Washington,
and the presentation to him of a sword for faithful service.
Mr. Buker was an ardent Whig and only a few days before his
death at 92 years of age he voted for Zachary Taylor. The
war records show that he served in the Massachusetts
regiments for the entire period of the Revolution from 1776
to 1783."
From the DAR Patriot Index - Centennial Edition, pg 323
(alphabetized under "Bowker")
BUKER, Israel H.: b 4-17-1756 MA d 11-5-1848 OH m
(1) Bathsheba Carver (2) Sarah Black Sgt
MA PNSR
For further information on Israel H. Buker's family,
contact our
Past Chapter Regent.
For information on membership, contact our
Registrar,
Marianne Vykydal.
For general information, contact our
Regent, Marcia
Cole.
Back to Charter Members page
Back to home page