Marcellus A. Palmer was my great grandfather. I have been honored to research the history of M.A. and learn as much as possible about this wonderful and warm man. The following information comes from conversations with my uncle, Frank C. Rigg, M.A.'s only surviving grandchild. Numerous newspapers and books have published accounts of M.A.'s life and just recently I have met several cousins from Oregon whose father and my father were first cousins. They have generously shared what they have in documentation and personal writings so that I can add as much as possible to the Palmer-Berry website.

Marcellus A. Palmer was born in Washington County, Ohio on July 8, 1837. His parents were, Francis Palmer and Anna Tildsley Palmer. He received a common-school education in Ohio, and attended the graded school at Marietta, Ohio. Raised as a farmer, he came to Kansas in 1857. He lived near Topeka, Kansas. M. A. enlisted in Company A, Fifth Kansas Cavalry as a private on July 16, 1861. On July 8, 1862 he was declared Missing In Action at Black River Ferry, Arkansas. He had been taken prisoner by the rebels there and taken to Little Rock where he was kept for twenty-six days and then exchanged for another prisoner. He was found "foraging" in September of 1862. My uncle tells me that when M.A. was held captive he was in deplorable conditions. Little food or water was given to him. He had made a pet of a rat that shared his "cell". Years later M.A. would keep his robe closed with a big "safety-type" pin that he had found while incarcerated. He told of being exchanged for another prisoner and off to the horizon from the camp there was a fence to which he was told to head towards and keep walking. He served out the balance of his three years and was mustered out on August 11, 1864 with the rank of Sergeant.

On January 22, 1865, he was united in marriage with Susan Catherine Berry at Monmouth Township, Shawnee county, Kansas. The ceremony took place at the home of Susan's parents, George Washington Berry and Nancy Stewart Berry. Judging from personal letters, diaries and journals, M. A. and Susan had a profound love for each other. In 1867, Marcellus, Susan and their baby daughter, Anna Sophia Palmer traveled by covered wagon to Little Walnut Township in Butler County, Kansas. They made the journey with Benjamin F. Rickey and Abigail Palmer Rickey, M.A.'s sister and brother-in-law. They all lived together in Rickey's cabin until M.A. and Susan could build their own cabin on a hill south of Leon, Kansas. They lived in this cabin until 1884, when they moved into Leon.

Together Marcellus and Susan had eight children. Little Anna who had traveled to Butler County with them sadly died just short of her second birthday and was buried on their property. This land would later become the Leon Cemetery with Anna's grave being the first gravesite. Anna had been born on October 13, 1865 and died on September 22, 1867. Next came Mary Florence Palmer on September 16, 1867. Nancy Catherine Palmer was born on April 5, 1870 and would only live to the age of 9 years of age. Her death occured on November 19, 1881. Susan May Palmer arrived on August 19, 1873 followed by the first and only boy in the family, Charles Francis Palmer who was born on December 4, 1875. A set of twins, Abigail and Adelade Palmer were born on November 19, 1881. Adelade died at birth. Susan and M.A.'s last child was my grandmother, Leola Pearl Palmer born on January 11, 1888.

Marcellus assisted in laying out the town of Leon, Kansas. He started the first drugstore there and ran it for a number of years. He also was associated with two others in organizing the Leon Bank and was the first cashier of that establishment. M.A. later sold his interest in the bank. For eighteen months, he was superintendent of the Leon Creamery and was active in many commercial aspects of Leon from its beginnings. He served one term as county commissioner of Butler county by appointment and was elected to two more terms. In 1876, M.A. was elected a member of the State legislature. In 1892, he was elected register of deeds of Butler county, serving one term.

M.A. and Susan reared their children in the Christian Church at Leon, Kansas. They both were highly esteemed residents of Leon and the surrounding area. M.A. was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Grand Army of the Republic and the Christian Church. He died on June 12, 1921 at the age of 83 years 11 months and 4 days.