Palmer, William Mathew 1896-1940

 

April 14, 1896 – October 20, 1940

William Mathew Palmer (known as Mathew) was born April 14, 1896 in Richmond, Virginia. He was the first of three children born to George Melvin and Nanny R. Beck Palmer. He was later joined by brothers, George Lawrence (1899) and Rowlett Mack (1900). Little is know of Mathew’s youth, but it is known that his father was a harsh man, and his younger brother Rowlett chose to live with his father’s brother, William Woodard Palmer.

Matthew served in World War I as a chauffeur in the 343 Field Artillery, Virginia. In 1920, he moved from his family home to Detroit, Michigan, probably to find work. In 1920, he met and married Iris Luella Bradley, daughter of Nelson and Eusibia Ostrander Bradley of Sanilac County, Michigan.

Mathew and Iris had three children: William Mathew, Jr. (1921), Marilyn Ruth (1923), and George Melvin (1926). William continued to live in Detroit and worked as a paper jobber, until he became ill with lung cancer in his early 40’s. He died October 20, 1940 at age 46, leaving wife Iris and three teenage children.

April 14, 1896 – October 20, 1940
FACTS ABOUT WILLIAM MATHEW PALMER

DEATH CERTIFICATE: Veteran of World War; Full name: PALMER, William; Local file no: 11355
Place of death: Wayne County; Detroit, Michigan
U.S. Marine Hospital Length of stay in hospital: 30 days
Sex: Male Color: White
Married – Name of wife: Iris palmer
Birth date of deceased: April 14, 1896 Age: 44 years, 6 mos, 6 days
Birthplace: Virginia (Richmond)
Usual occupation: Paper jobber
Father: Name–George; Birthplace–Virginia Mother: Maiden name–Nanny Beck; Birthplace–Virginia
Informant: Deceased and Mrs. Wm. Palmer; 21747 McNichols
Burial: Detroit, Mich; Grand Lawn; Oct 22, 1940 Funeral Director: G.H. VanValkenburg, 22250 Grand River
Filed Oct 21, 1940
Usual residence of deceased: Michigan; Wayne County; Detroit City; 21747 MacNichols Rd. W. [sic]
Medical Certification; Date of death–October 20, 1940; I hereby certify that I attended the deceased from Sept. 20, 1940 to October 20, 1940. I last saw him alive on October 19, 1940. Death is said to have occurred on the date stated above at 5:50 a.m. Immediate cause of death–carcinoma, right lung with metastasis to brain. Duration unknown. Certified F.T.Zinn, J.R. Ridlon, Medical Director, USPHS, Medical Officer in Charge.

NAME: William Mathew Palmer

BIRTH:14 Apr 1896, Richmond, Virginia
DEATH: 20 Oct 1940, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
BURIAL: Grand Lawn Cemetery, Detroit, Wayne County, MI
FATHER: George Melvin Palmer
MOTHER: Nanny R. Beck

MARRIED: Iris Luella Bradley, after January 1920
CHILDREN: William Mathew, Jr., Marilyn Ruth, and George Melvin Palmer

LINKS:
Mathew’s family genealogy is at http://myheritagesite.com

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