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, Linda Hartley.
For general information, contact our Regent, Marianne Vykydal.
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