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In 1812 or 1813, a party of settlers came from Bourbon Co., Kentucky, to seek a home in Ohio. Stephen Mitchell Irvin, Burwel B. Mills, and Griffith Foos and Capt.William Palmer were all a part of this group.
As it turned out, each of these gentlemen was married to a Whitsett sister, all daughters of Joseph and Mary Clifford Whitsett, of Miller Station, Bourbon County, Kentucky. Based on the birthplaces of their children, they came to Kentucky about 1788, between the births of Charles and Jane.
Those pioneers from Kentucky - Palmer, Foos, Mills, and Irvin - chose a site they believed to be in Clinton County, Ohio (which turned out to be Fayette Co.) and settled there. They were pleased with the fertility of the soil and the dense forest. The timber was black walnut, oak, hickory, ash, sugar maple, elm and maple. They had to first clear enough land to build a log cabin and then they cleared a garden spot and later the larger farm land. When a log cabin was to be raised, all the people from miles around were invited to the house raising. The nearest trading post was 30 miles away, from which they purchased salt, groceries, and dry goods.
Griffith Foos did not like all that timber, so he and Margaret¹s sister, Elizabeth settled in nearby Clarke County, bought land, built a hotel which he named Travelers¹ Home, and mapped out a village. That village later became the city of Springfield.
Burwell Mills remarried after the early death of his Whitsett wife, Nancy. He lived until his death in the corner of Fayette County and was known as an excellent citizen.
Stephen Irvin was a preacher. His family had been strict Presbyterians, but they became identified with the Disciples of Christ in Kentucky. Even in the last years of his life, Stephen preached nearly every Sunday. His Whitsett wife, Jane, known as a strong Christian, died at the age of 43.
Although William Palmer was the first to arrive, he didn¹t marry Margaret until 1814, in Harrison County, Kentucky. They settled in Jasper Township, Fayette County, near the line with Clinton County. Their nine children were all born there. Although he settled in the southwestern corner of the county, his farm was spread out in three different counties which made it very inconvenient at tax-paying time.
William became a very prominent citizen.
He served briefly in the War of 1812. As a very young man, he raised a company of men from his Ohio neighborhood and trained them as their captain. They served just thirteen days and had several skirmishes with the enemy but were not officially enrolled with the main U.S. Army. From that time on, William was affectionately called ³Captain William².
William further distinguished himself by being elected to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives in 1840-41. He was a Democrat.
In addition to his service in the legislature, William accomplished much for the growth of Fayette County by the introduction of short-horn cattle and fine thoroughbred horses. He was a pioneer in raising the stock, and creating public interest in their favor. His farming operations were so successful that he became the owner of one thousand acres of land, much of which he cleared and cultivated. He was especially interested in the Agricultural Society of his county, and officiated for a time as its president.
There were business dealings between the Palmer and Hankins families. William Palmer helped to form the Clinton County Importation Company (for which he was a director) in Wilson Township in 1853. Their purpose was to introduce the shorthorn cattle into the county. Samuel Hankins¹ brother, Harvey, was chosen as one of the agents to go to Europe and purchase that cattle. William Palmer paid $1,000 for some of the short horns. Harvey also purchased some of them, and his herds acquired a national reputation.
(William and Margaret's daughter, Emeline, married into Samuel Hankins).
In 1860, Wiliam and Margaret Palmer helped to organize the First Universalist Church of Jeffersonville, and he was elected as one of the first deacons and trustees.
Margaret Palmer died in 1865 and William died in 1866. They are both buried in Fayette County, in a small private cemetery located in the yard of the land owner.
Sources: R. S. Dills, ³History of Fayette County², (Dayton, Ohio: Odell & Mayer, Publ., 1881), p. 712-714;
Whitsett Family Chart #3, compiled by Bob Whitesitt, Kirkwood, MO; ³Portrait and Biographical Record of Fayette, Co.,Ohio², (Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1892), p. 156
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