Jewett Palmer, Sr. - Another Veteran of 1812 Gone

The Marietta Register, October 2, 1873

The subject of this sketch, whose death was announced in the Register of September 18th, was born in the county of Grafton, in the State of New Hampshire, on the 18th day of May, A.D. 1797, and was consequently in the 77th year of his age at the time of his death.

Such education as he possessed was obtained while assisting his father to wrest a living for a very large family from the reluctant surface of a New Hampshire farm. It consisted of such of the rudiments of learning as were supplied by most New England families of the time within themselves, one of the most important features of which was the habits of industry, temperance, and perseverance, instilled by those early and severe struggles.

On the breaking out of the War of 1812, he enlisted, at the age of sixteen, for one year, and served the time in the First New Hampshire Volunteers. At the expiration of his term of service, he re-enlisted for "three years, or during the war," in the 45th United States Infantry. In common with those who re-enlisted, he was granted a furlough. He traveled home on foot to Grafton County from Plattsburg and, joining his regiment at Concord, marched with it to the northern frontier Although not in any general engagement, he was constantly employed in arduous service against the Indians, and in guarding and forwarding supplies to the forces to the westward. His term of service closed with the termination of the war, and he returned to the farm. In 1817 the family started for Ohio, spending one winter in Butler County, Pa., and arriving in Marietta in the fall of 1818.

They settled in Fearing Township, near its northern line, on Whipple's Run; and though not one of the pioneers, probably few men in the county have done more effective work than he toward reclaiming the wilderness. In 1823 he married Rachel Campbell, who survives him at the age of 83 years, and with whom he lived over fifty years, rearing a family of eight children. In 1851 he removed to Salem Township, where he resided up to the time of his death.

Though he never held official position outside of his township, he wielded an extended influence in the community. He was a man of general intelligence, a constant reader of the best newspapers, as well as of all valuable books that fell in his way, industrious and upright, of unerring judgment, a fearless adherent of principle, and a firm friend of the needy and of the slave. A well-known station on the Underground Railroad was kept by him, and many an anxious fugitive has blessed him as he stepped aboard the train for the next station.

In politics his quiet influence was perhaps greatest. Many young men of the neighborhood, whose fathers were bitterly opposed to him politically, side by side with "Uncle Jewett" at the polls, cast their first ballot for his candidates, at a time, too,  when it required not a little courage to do so, for his were the Abolition candidates, whenever that party had a ticket in the field.

Voting for John P. Hale in 1852, a young and enthusiastic admirer of Scott and his military exploits (who was unable to realize that the Whig party was even then dying from an "attempt to swallow the Fugitive Slave Bill") asked him, why, as an old soldier, he did not vote for Scott. To which he replied, "You may not now understand my vote, but, should you live an ordinary lifetime, you will witness the triumph of the principle for which I contend," little thinking that his own eyes should behold the triumph which he prophesied in the removal of his country's curse.

The blood of the old soldier was fired as he read of the insult to the flag at Sumter and, at the close of the three months service, when it seemed that the government might need the help of every man able to do duty, he again tendered his services to the flag and country he had defended in his boyhood. He went to Camp Putnam, at this place, as a recruit for the 36th Regiment, then forming, but was persuaded that the time had not arrived when the service of men of his age was required, and reluctantly consented to return home to await with other anxious patriots the issue of the terrible, dark years which succeeded.

Entertaining habitually feelings of the broadest charity for all men his faith in the everlasting goodness and mercy of God was of the most unquestioning character. He early became a firm believer in the ultimate salvation of all, and it was largely through his influence and means that the substantial church from which he was buried, was erected. His earnest wish, often expressed, that, when his work on earth was finished, God would take him quickly home without sickness or suffering, was literally fulfilled at noon of the 12th day of September 1873.

Coming in from the field, where he had been busily at work during the forenoon, he sat down and read his paper until dinner was announced; he declined to eat, saying he would wait a little while; a few minutes later his arms dropped by his side and his breathing ceased. Thus quietly as he had lived, he passed from his finished work on earth, prepared by his pure, unassuming life here, to begin what God has appointed him to do in a higher and broader sphere.