Surnames: PALMER MOLZHON NEIPERT

----Source: NEILLSVILLE PRESS (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 04/19/1928

Palmer, Merton (2 SEP 1864 - 16 Apr 1928)

About noon Monday morning the body of Mert Palmer was found in Black River back of the Frank Viergutz farm. Mr. Palmer had disappeared from his home Sunday evening and the efforts of the family and sheriff and police were without avail in their efforts to locate him. Monday morning his son, Ernest, started out with another searching party and as a last resource went along the banks of Black River. The body was finally found by Mr. Palmer and Mr. Wittke.

Mr. Palmer had been very sick with the flue for the past two weeks and had only been up and about the house for the past few days. He seemed to sense a light failing of mind and talked with his wife about it, but she felt that the felling was the result of his illness and worry. Evidently the state of mind that he dreaded came to him Sunday evening, and while thus deranged he slipped out the house and made his way to the river. He had been met near the Frank Hewett home by Ernest Palmer's hired man, but the latter thought nothing of it as he suppose that Mert was going to his son's farm. But when Mert did not reach there, the family became alarmed and the search was started, and which ended with the sorrowful discovery.

Merton Palmer was born at Neillsville, Clark County, Wis. on Sept. 2, 1864, the son of Hiram and Rosa Palmer. During his youth he was associated with his father in the lumber business. He was married to Katherine Molzhon of Humbird, at Boyd, Wis. He then engaged in farming, successfully carrying on the work of two farms west of the city. During his work on the farm he was president of the Pine Valley Creamery and held offices in various cooperative enterprises.

About ten years ago he and his wife retired from active labor and moved to the present home in Neillsville on West Fourth St.. He had continued to be active and for some time represented the Mason Produce Co. of Chippewa Falls. But of late he had been in poor health and had a nervous breakdown, and which condition he had striven to conceal from his family. Mr. Palmer was a might fine man and a most excellent citizen, and progressive and enterprising in all affairs with which he was connected. He was a kind and thoughtful husband, always tolerant and considerate of others, and his death will be deeply mourned. He was a member of the M. W. A. and Beaver lodges.

Mr. Palmer is survived by his wife and three children: Ina, Mrs. Harry Neipert of Fort Atkinson; Ernest, who is on the home farm in the town of Pine Valley; and Josephine, a teacher in the Shawano schools. He is also survived by six grandchildren.

The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Lowe Funeral Home and will be conducted by Rev. Longenecker.