Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-03
CAPTAIN H. B. PALMER is DEAD
Former Postmaster Falls Victim to
Disease of Heart.
HAD IN NO WAY COMPLAINED
Was One of the Earliest Pioneers of
che state and sRs Veteran of
the Civil and Indian
Wars.

Henry Emerson Palmer, a prominent citi-
zen of Omaha for the last twenty-five
years and former postmaster. died sud
avenue, Sunday morning at lO:SO o'clock
1t is presumed that his death was caused
by stroke Of apoplexy
Mr.. Palmer was apparently as we'll as
ever Saturday and Sunday morning.
Shortly after 10 o'clock Mr.. Palmer pre-
pared to go down town from his home, but
thought he would sweep some snow from
his upper porch. Nelghbors passing no
ticed that Mr.. Palmer had fallen and not-
fled members of the family. They found
that he was dead.
Three years ago, March g. his son and
partner died. leaving two small children
and widow. The children are Morse ann
Jean Palmer. Besides these he is survived
by his wife and daughter, Mrs. Herman
Kountze, who lives in New York City. Mr..
Palmer was SO years old. The funeral
probably win be held Tuesday afternoon
at 2:9O from the family residence, but the
time will not be definitely decided until
Mrs. Kountze is heard from.
AS head Of the Ii. K. Palmer Son g. Co.,
an insurance company, and as a member
of the Grand Army Of the Republic and
Loyal Legion, Mr. Palmer had a very wide
acquaintance. Associated with him In the
insurance business were Jay Foster and
Joseph Barker.
Mr.. Palmer was born at Centerville, o.
July 81. lS41, and to few men have been
given the varied career of this man, who
held proud record as pioneer a soldier
and business man. He was pioneer of
seven states and territories Wisconsin in
1858, Nebraska and Colorado in 1860, Kan
/ sas in 1861, Wyoming in 1865, Montana in
/ 1866 and Idaho in 1867.
walked Miles 60 school.
/ When Mr. Palmer was II years old his
parents moved to Wisconsin, where the lad
was obliged to go five miles to school on
foot through the Wisconsin woods. Alone
he crossed Iowa when the state boasted
but fifty miles of railroad. working as
assistant cook for his board from Omaha
to the mountains. walking the entire dis
tance from Baraboo, Wis, to Mountain
City, Colo. 1850 miles, in two months.
He left the west for Leavenworth, Kan,
TO enlist in the civil war. He was married
September 23, 1868, to Miss Bette Houck
of Westport, Mo. but continued In the
| service. In January lsbJ, captain Halmei
was ordered to Fort Riley, Kan and early
the following month marched through
frightful storms TO Fort Kearney, Neb.
where he heard the news of the death O
his wife and child, who had died nearly
month before. He served to the close o
the civil war. He then engaged in IN,
pursuit OF trading with the Indians fl
Wyoming until the breaking out OF tn,
Red Cloud war when his goods were seize,
and he was held a captive in a tepee 10
three weeks lie was liberated near IN
Custer battlefield and Travelled on foot
! living on berries and buffalo grass seed
to Montana, where he engaged in minin
untn March 1867. The next year he re
turned down the Missouri by boat and &
I November settled al Plattsmouth. lie wen
2 into the grain business and shipped IN
I first two carloads ever sent out OF Ne
braska.
] In 1870 Captain Palmer entered the insuI
Z ance business and continued al il unit
his death. He was one OF the foremus
e Insurance men In the entire west. an actlv
E member OF the Northwestern Underwater.
4 association. contributor 10 insuranc
journals and state agent for the Home IN
surance company of New York for Kar
CONTINUED on Second Page)