Palmer, Kansas

Taken from William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas 

First Published in 1883

The village of Peach Creek was located in 1870, about two miles south of the present site of Palmer. In the spring of that year E. Wilson, of Sherman Township, established a store, and a Methodist Episcopal class was soon after organized, Dr. Geo. Wigg being pastor. Dr. Randall came about the same time, opened a store, and was appointed postmaster. Others came in 1871. In the spring of 1879, however, those who had settled at Peach Creek, moved to the new village of Palmer, which had been laid out and named in honor of J. Palmer, one of the first superintendents of public instruction in the count. The town was platted in November, 1878, R. M. Pomeroy, E. A. Thomas and Eliza A. Currier, proprietors. Frank Nadeau started the first store on the site of Palmer in 1879, and his father, Francis, the present incumbent, was appointed the first postmaster.

Palmer is now a village of about 200 people, containing besides the Methodist Episcopal Society, referred to, a French Catholic Church, organized in 1879 by Louis Ray and others.  Father Molier was their pastor.  They built a church the same year, and have now a society of some thirty. The present pastor is Father R. A. Hoffman. Rev. J. S. Horner is pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The village has a good district school.

The business of Palmer is represented by five general stores, an elevator, a lumber-yard, an agricultural implement depot, two blacksmith shops, and one hardware store. The traveling public are accommodated by two hotels -- the Palmer House and the Central House. The latter was built by W. J. Cook in 1879, and is kept by Francis Nadeau, the postmaster. The Palmer House has just been opened.

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