Gaston, Joseph.  "Portland, Oregon, Its History and Builders."  Vol. 3.  Chicago
- Portland: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 599-600.
 
ALMOND CHESTER PALMER

Almond Chester Palmer, a splendid representative of the progressive elements in
the citizenship of Portland, he has been accorded a liberal clientage in his
practice before the courts, particularly in the field of his specialty which
covers real estate law and land, claims, was born in Portage county, Wisconsin,
February 1, 1855. His parents were Hiram and Sophia Palmer, the former a
millwright and mechanic, who gave four years of his life to service in the Civil
war, acting as sergeant of the Eighth Wisconsin Battery. The mother was a
daughter of William G. Lyman, who was born in Massachusetts and was a close
relative of the Lyman Beecher family.

In his youthful days Almond Chester Palmer went with his parents from Portage to
Wood County, Wisconsin, where he pursued his education in the public and high
schools, being graduated in 1874. He afterward engaged in teaching school and
with a desire to become a representative of the legal profession, lie took up
the study of law, to which he devoted two years in the office of State Senator
C. W. Webb and Jerry D. Witter. At the end of that time he successfully passed
the required examinations but could not be admitted to practice before the
courts, owing to the fact that he has not yet reached the age of twenty one
years. In 1876 he removed to Pawnee County, Nebraska, where he engaged in
teaching and also filled a position in the office of the county clerk. He
studied law for six months with Representative Babcock, of Pawnee City, and from
life's contacts and experiences was learning lessons which have been a source of
benefit to him since he entered actively upon the practice of law on the coast.

It was while a resident of Nebraska that Mr. Palmer was married in 1877 to Miss
Hattie 0. Gile, and after residing for two years in that state they removed to
Denver, Colorado, in 1879. There Mr. Palmer engaged in merchandising, mining and
contracting and met with good success, but owing to the state of his health came
to Oregon in March, 1882. He first took up his abode in Mitchell, now in Wheeler
county, where he engaged in teaching, his ability in imparting knowledge to
others being manifest in the excellent' results which be obtained in the work in
the schoolroom' He became deeply interested in the questions which were then
engaging public attention and which had important bearing upon the welfare of
the community, and in 1884 was elected on the republican anti vigilantes ticket
to the office of county clerk of Crook county, although at that time the county
had an overwhelming democratic majority. His position in opposition to a policy
which bad been greatly abused led to his selection for the office. During his
term the vigilante troubles were settled and, the democratic, Power resuming
sway, he was defeated when a candidate for reelection. In 1886, therefore, he
turned his attention to business lines, engaging in general merchandising and in
stock raising. He had established his business upon a successful basis when the
unusually severe winter of 1887 88 caused heavy losses to Mr. Palmer and many
others, forcing him to discontinue his efforts in that field.

In the year 1889 Mr. Palmer was again called to office when appointed postmaster
at Prineville. He filled the position until 1892, when he resigned. He had
served several terms as clerk of the school district at Prineville, was also a
member of the city council and city attorney, exercising his official
prerogative in support of every measure and movement which he deemed beneficial
to the community of which upheld its legal status. In 1895 he was admitted to
the bar of Oregon and the following year was appointed United States
commissioner, in which capacity he served for seven years. In the meantime, from
1895 until 1903, he had enjoyed a large practice before the United States land
office and since becoming a member of the Portland bar has largely specialized
in the field of real estate law. Moreover, he is thoroughly informed concerning
the natural resources of the country and the possibilities for the cultivation
of the land that lies east of the mountain range and has delivered many public
addresses and written various articles upon the subject of irrigation in eastern
Oregon. Thoroughly understanding the situation, he has closely studied the
conditions that exist and knows that with the never failing water supply that
can be secured from the streams that have their source in the snow capped
mountain ranges, the lands of that district may be reclaimed for the purpose of
civilization and made to yield as abundantly as does the Hood river valley and
other well watered districts near the coast.

At the present time Mr. Palmer is specializing in the development of large stump
lands or logged off lands in the immediate locality. He was a pioneer in this
particular phase of land development.

In his political views Mr. Palmer has ever been an earnest republican, voting
the straight ticket, for his close study of the issues and questions of the day
has made him fully convinced that in the platform of the party lies the best
elements of good government and that the best interests of the country will be
conserved through the adoption of its principles. He is widely known in
fraternal circles and has represented the local organizations of the Masonic
fraternity and the Ancient Order of United Workmen in the Grand Lodges of
several occasions. He has also organized several United Artisans lodges. Those
who read between the lines of this review will recognize the fact that Mr.
Palmer is a man of force and of resourceful ability, accomplishing what he
undertakes, while the results of his labors are largely of benefit to his
fellowmen. Moreover, his activities have touched many interests and in all
connections he has manifested support of progressive citizenship.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2008 by John Palmer.  Email:
mipalmers at comcast dot net.  For more information on the Palmer family, please
visit his website at: http://mipalmers.us/TNG/