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Subject: [IOWA] 1903 Bio of Francis W. Palmer
Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2003 09:33:38 EDT

Francis W. Palmer was born at Manchester, Indiana, on the 11th of October,
1827. His father removed to Jamestown, New York, where the son attended the
public schools until fourteen years of age when he went to New York City where he
learned the printer's trade. Returning to Jamestown he was for ten years
engaged in publishing the Jamestown Journal. He was elected to the New York
Legislature on the Whig ticket in 1853, serving two terms. In 1858 he removed to
Iowa, locating at Dubuque where he purchased an interest in the Dubuque Times
and became its chief editor. In 1860 he was elected State Printer and
removing to Des Moines purchased the State Register. He held the office of State
Printer eight years, resigning on the 1st of March, 1869, to enter upon his
duties as Representative in Congress to which position he had been chosen on the
Republican ticket the previous fall. Mr. Palmer served two terms in Congress,
retiring on the 4th of March, 1873. During the time he was editor and
publisher of the State Register it was the leading Republican daily in the state,
attained a wide circulation, and possessed a powerful influence in the councils of
the Republican party, as well as in the general affairs of the entire State.
After the expiration of his term in Congress he removed to Chicago and
assumed the editorial management of the Inter Ocean and some years later was
appointed postmaster of that city, serving three terms. For some years he was chief
editor of the Chicago Herald. When President Harrison was elected Mr. Palmer
was appointed Public Printer at Washington, serving until Cleveland became
President. Upon the election of McKinley, Mr. Palmer was restored to the
position and was holding that important office at the close of the century.



Debbie Clough Gerischer
Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County
http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/
IAGENWEB: Special History Project:
http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm
Gerischer Family Web Site:
http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/

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