| Charles was born December 29, 1849 in Lawrenceburg, Ripley County, Indiana to the proud parents, Sylvanus and Mary Jane (Baker) Palmer. One month later the 1850 census was taken and his residence was with his parents in Manchester, Dearborn, Indiana. His father is listed as a farmer. Also living in the household is a painter, Omer T. I. Palmer, 18. Charles first married Rosa Belle Lash on Dec. 28 1882 in Iroquois Co. Ill. Belle was born in 1860 and died in 1893 according to her tombstone in Mound Grove Cemetery, Kankakee, Kankakee Co., Il. Their son, Charles Clifford was born in 1889 in Kankakee. This son was a minor league baseball player in Chicago. He died December 15, 1932 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL. Charles then married Clara Dell Waterman October 28, 1897 in Kankakee, Kankakee Co., IL. Clara was a teacher and the daughter of Elisha Silas and Delia (Robinson) Waterman. Her father began the Waterman Pen Company. Charles and Clara had one son, Frank Waterman Palmer, born December 6, 1901 in Kankakee, Kankakee Co., IL. Frank traveled for several years for the Waterman Pen Co. He finally came to Eustis and settled there working in real estate and insurance. Frank died in Eustis, Lake Co., Fl on December 21, 1947. After Charles died December 2, 1902, he was buried in Mound Grove Cemetery in Kankakee. His widow and his 2 sons moved to Eustis. Clara's family had wintered in Eustis for several years. Her brother, Frank Dan Waterman, built her a home close to downtown and she lived there until 5 years before her death when she moved to Waterman Memorial Hospital which was formerly the family hotel, the Fountain Inn. For several years Charles worked as Route Agent for American Express. |