The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-03-15
IN MEMORIAM.
Tribute 10 the Life and Character Of
A. r. Palmer, Late Of
SipeS Mills.
Written by b N. Palmer.

ShSC w oouIleIy, anu purify Oh
character, has endeared him to a
host of friends?-a man of gen.
lus, whose masterpieces of pro.
duction have been accepted by
the ablest critics of fine arts, in
America. A. R. Palmer whose
untimely death has been chron.
icled, was such a man.
We are fully conscious that
nothing can be said in this briei
biography that would add to his
accomplishments; neither can
any thing be said that would de-
tract; for he kept in his heart a
shrine to the IDEAL, and upon
the altar the fire never went out.
Bert" Palmer, as he was famil-
iarly known, was born in Belfast
township, Fulton county, Pa,
within a few miles of the place
where his quiet but illustrious
life ended.
His first advent into business
was to serve an apprenticeship
with his brother, the late Sol
Palmer, in the marble and gran
ite business. In 1875, be went
to Everett, Pa, where he enter
ed into partnership with his cous-
in. Elijah N. Palmer, in the mar
BILE and granite business, and re-
mained there until 1883. 1t was
during this time that he forged
himself to the front, and he be-
came recognized as one of the
most skillful men in his line. He
saw in the rough block of marble
or granite a basket of flowers, or
a human face, and his genius
brought it forth.
1t was during this time, also,
that he developed his natural tai
ent for Art. Ae attended some
of the best Art Schools of Amer
lea, and took lessons in portrait
painting in oil, crayon, and pas
tell. Some of his portraits have
been accepted by severe critics
as masterpieces. He was of a
quiet unassuming disposition and
devoted much of his time to
painting as a diversion from
business.
He loved to wander to the
mountain and develops his talent
in the study of nature; he dis
cerned the myriad tints in earth
and sky, in ocean and forest.
The songs of the birds and the
babbling brooks were to him the
sweetest of music; and thus, his
life was ornamented and enrich
ed by a love of the beautiful.
In 1890 Mr.. Palmer went to
Connellsville, Pa, where he spent
ten years in the marble and gran
lite business with his brother Sol
and, later, two years in McKees-
port with another brother engag-
ed in the same business, after
which he returned to his old home |
at Sipes Mill. During those
years, and even up to the time of |
his death, he continued his study |
id Art.
How many who lived his neigh
Dors, realized when they con.
versed with him, that they were
N the presence of a man whose
master mind had engaged the at
,ention of great men. He was
IN original designer and an ex-
BERT with the air brush. He de-
signed monuments and mauso-
Gums for many of the largest
dealers of marble and
,ranite in the United Estates.
low many realized that his rep
ltation, in his chosen line of
work., was national, not local.
Many of the designs which he
originated have been worked in
o realities and have been export
d into foreign countries, while /
theirs are types of beauty in the |
arger cemeteries of America. If
Civilization is measured by Ar /
hitecture, Sculpture, and Paint 1
1g" Bert" Palmer has contrib I
ted his share. Every commune I
will have its treasured names, /
very valley will cherish its hon. I
red register. but Fulton County h
as produced none whose name il