Biography of Jacob S. Palmer, pages 745 / 746.  History of De Kalb County, 
Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Jacob S. Palmer, farmer and gunsmith, section 15, Richland Township, was 
born in Stark County, Ohio, Dec. 10, 1810, a son of John and Margaret 
(Swihart) Palmer.  In 1812 his father took the family to Washington County, 
Pa., and left them with the mothers’ father and enlisted in the war of 1812; 
was taken ill and died five days later.  Our subject was reared by his 
grandfather, Peter Swihart, remaining with him till twenty-one years of 
age.  His grandfather was a gunsmith and also carried on a farm, and he 
learned the trade and worked on the farm.  He received a good education in 
the subscription schools.  After reaching his majority he worked as a 
journeyman till 1833, when he moved to Ohio, and in 1836 opened a shop of 
his own.  In 1850 he moved to De Kalb County, arriving in Auburn, Sept. 6.  
He remained in Auburn till the following spring, when he bought a farm in 
Richland Township, which he has carried on in connection with his trade. He 
was married April 5, 1831, to Susan Tiger, a native of Pennsylvania, who 
died March 10, 1866, leaving five children---Margaret, John, Maria, 
Caroline and Eli.  Sept. 12, 1867, Mr. Palmer married Mrs. Abigail 
(Walford) Baird. They have five children---Amos, Sabina, Annie May, 
David L. and Marion Edwin.  Politically Mr. Palmer is a Democrat.  He and 
his wife are members of the German Baptist church.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com