The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-02
"UncIe Billie" Palmer, Veteran
Trolley Car Man, Passes Away
HAD BEEN CONFINED TO HIS
HOME BY ILLNESS FOR
SIX MONTHS.
Was Driver Of Horse Cars and Later
motorman For Wheeling Tract
lon Company. Well Known.

feople from all parts OF the coun-
try far and wide will hear with regret
that William II. Palmer. the Oldest
street car man in the state of West
virginia. departed on his last run last
night at 1920 o'clock after an extend
ed illness of cancer. His illness be
gan June 25. 1913 and since that time
his life has hung In the balance and
each day. friends of the family have
waited the sad news that Uncle
Billy" was dead
Even though his death will come as
a great surprise. 1t has been expected
for some time for the serious condi-
ton of the old motorman. lie began
as driver on one of the horse cars,
when they first began running from
Tenth and Main streets 10 the end OF
the bridge on the Ohio side of the
river at Bridgeport When the horses
were taken of the road ard electricity
was placed in the cars Billie was Civ
en- position as motorman, which he
held up until the time of his illness
last. summer.
between Wheeling and Bridgeport and
was later put on the Martins Ferry
and Wheeling division. When the
road to Rayland vas opened he was
given the privilege 10 take the first
car over this road. During the last
years q his street car life. owing to
his length of service. he was permit
ted 10 lay OF every Sunday on regu-
lar pay and to work only when he
pleased. His life was one OF service
Tor his company Ind never did he
shirk the duties placed upon him.
Studied Much.
Mr. Palmer was born in Brooke
county January IS. isie. where he
lived untn he was p years Of age,
coming 70 rilis city - year ago. Al
though never attending college. h
under fha OLD line which fitted him
for hts Wort and gave him q general
know le6ge OF the world His life had
been spent IN doing good for these
who trusted htn and during the time
he he'd lived In Wheeling ne was a
M r'ber NJ ~ IvS<e't p Z ehUrch
The deceased Is survived by hts
widow and the following chill iren: W.
=. Palmer and O 5. Palmer engaged
as butchers I'm McMechen. Mrs. Eva
Attwell. Of Steubenyille. and Miss
Bessie Palmer. % this city. Also one
sister survives. Mrs Jessie Pedler
OF New Philadelphia. O aside from a
has also three Erandchildrcn. Lloyd
and Bessie. Stilwell. OF s,.ubenvilie.
and Billie" Palmer. of McMechen.
Old Veteran Conc.
With the passing Of this man The
Wheeling Traction company loses one
Of its best employees aud the city one
Of her most valued and well thought
Of citizens. While the city g'cries Iu
the JOYS ~ the now year they viii
nevertheless rrievc over the sad new s.
~ this old veteran death. which
came so soon after tiir Old year and
bid us adieu. The deceased was 600
the siNty-nffh years ~ Dis aCr. The
last 20 ~ which hc mad been engaged
- street car DCt0rmIu
Rev UririuCham az 81 fuke's =.
y church viii deliver The fuaoral sor.
mon. the time ~ which has not yet
boon decided ITO VIII likely D. Ie.
sisted hv other ministers NJ tho city
who have ridden behind fhis oii vet
eran as thrv went from place fo place
over the cifs Practically all the chill
dron in fho citv. especially flc Island.
hero fho decreased idnd. know
him rs Uncle rrlv." ans their Tor
NOR waves or Sadness as no passed
will ho turned into sorrow