Essentials
Born: 12 June 1853; Provo, Utah County, Utah
Son of: Jim Zemira PALMER and Sally KNIGHT
Baptized: 12 June 1864
Married: Alzada Sophia KARTCHNER; 11 May 1874; Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah
Died: 25 January 1925; Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona

Page contents
One-minute history
Oldest son's memories
Daughter's memories
Arizona pioneer

BY DARYL JAMES
FROM 'JAMES/HATCH ONE MINUTE HISTORIES' (1994)
     Alma Zemira Palmer was the oldest child in a family of 12 children. He was born June 12, 1853, in Provo, Utah. Not much is known about his childhood, but he must have endured many of the hardships of the early Pioneers, as his parents were settling new frontiers.
     Alma moved with his family from Provo to Heber City, Utah, in 1861 at age 8. The family later moved to Nevada and then to southern Utah, finally settling in Orderville. As a small boy Alma's hair was white and people called him "Towhead.''
     When he was 19, Alma took a team of horses his father gave him and went out into the world on his own. As he left, his mother said she was afraid he would never quit smoking in his new environment. After going some distance from his home, he thought of what his mother had said. He took the tobacco out of his pocket and said, "This is where we part.'' He never touched it again. With the team his father gave him he started farming in Panguitch, Utah. Here he met Alzada Sophia Kartchner, usually called ``Zadie.''
     Alma used to tell the story of the first time he saw Alzada. He asked his friend, Mark Kartchner, "Who is that pretty little girl by the fireplace?'' Mark replied, ``That's my sister, Alzada.'' Then Alma said, ``I'm going to marry her some day.'' The Kartchner family was musical and loved to sing and dance, and Alma was invited to partake in their enjoyment. Alzada's father and two brothers used to played the violin while Alzada joined them on the accordion. Between dances Alzada sang duets with her sister, Mindy.
     After about two years of courtship, Alma and Alzada were married in the Salt Lake City Endowment House in May 1874. Two of Alma's sisters married two of Alzada's brothers at the same time. The three couples had traveled by team and wagon to Salt Lake City, enjoying good times along the way. Alma and Alzada went to Beaver, Utah, after their marriage, where the first of their 10 children was born. They lived in Beaver about two years and then spent some time in Panguitch before Brigham Young called them to help settle Arizona. Alma turned down a tempting business offer at this time from his uncle, Jesse Knight, saying, ``The President of the Church has called, and I must heed this call.''
     In 1877, Alma, Alzada, their baby, Alzada's parents, and some of their brothers and sisters left for Arizona. Alma's and Alzada's belongings consisted of three yoke of oxen and two wagons with their necessities. Alma walked all the way, guiding the oxen.
     The trip took many weeks. Once when they were crossing a rugged mountain, the front wheel of a wagon went off the ledge. Alma grabbed the opposite wheel and yelled to his favorite ox, who pulled the wagon back onto the road. ``I was so frightened I had to sit down for a while,'' Alma recounted. ``If the wagon had fallen, all on earth I possessed would have gone into the Colorado River some 300 feet below, except the bull whip in my hand.''
     Alma and Alzada had their second child on the trail before finally settling in newly founded Snowflake. They lived outdoors for a year before Alma and John Kartchner finished a three-room cabin. Later Alma built a log cabin with a brick chimney for his family. Alma and Alzada lived near Snowflake for 18 years. Alma did farming and ran a store in Snowflake. He later moved his family to nearby Taylor and started a store there.
     Alma's stores were successful, but he was always generous with his money. When his daughter, Rose, worked in the store he showed her the outstanding accounts and said, ``We will never collect these debts.'' He died Jan. 25, 1925, in Mesa, Ariz. at 71.

-- Sources: 1. "Alzada Sophia Kartchner Palmer." Pioneer Women of Arizona, pps. 459-463 (On record at Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah); 2. Descendants of George Palmer and Phoebe Draper, pps. 445-461 (On record at Harold B. Lee Library).

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Oldest Son's Memories

BY WESLEY PALMER
ELDEST SON OF ALMA ZEMIRA PALMER
     Born the 12 of June 1853, in Provo, Utah. Baptized 12 of June 1862 by John Witt, at Heber Wasatch County Utah. He was confirmed by John Murdock, June 12, 1862. Ordained an Elder by John Wordsworth in 1868 at Panaca, Nevada.
     He was married to Alzada Sophia Kartchner on the 11th of May 1874, by Daniel H. Wells in Salt Lake City, Utah. John Henry Smith ordained him to a High Priest on 18 December 1887. He was set apart as an alternate member of the High Council on 18 December 1887 by John Henry Smith in Snowflake, Arizona.
     He lived in Provo, Heber, and Panguitch, Utah and also Panaca, Nevada. Then in 1877 he moved to Arizona and lived in the Old Taylor which was near Joseph City. In 1878 he went to Snowflake with the other Saints sent to colonize Arizona, and lived there until 15 of December 1895 when he moved to Taylor, Arizona. He was living at Mesa, Arizona, at the time of his death on the 25th of January 1925.
     He was a Counselor in the Bishopric at Taylor for 10 years. He built the first house that was built by our people in Snowflake, Arizona.
     When moving to Arizona in 1877, he drove 3 yoke of oxen and walked most if not all of the way. While crossing “Lee’s Backbone” an incident occurred which Father never forgot. The front wheel of the trail wagon went off the ledge and he grabbed the opposite wheel and put his weight on it and yelled “HA” at his favorite ox and the ox pushed the wagon against the ledge and it was pulled back on the road. Later, when all was safe and I was older, he said to me. “I was so scared I had to sit down for awhile. If that wagon had fallen, all on earth I had would have gone into the Colorado River some 200 feet below except the bull whip I had in my hand.” My Mother and I were in the trail wagon at the time. I was about two and one-half years old.
     Father had the spirit of discernment, for many times he was impressed to warn people of danger or trouble which they might avert if they heeded his warnings.
     He was always loyal to the Church and in building up the community where he lived. While in Snowflake he looked after the cattle and horses of the co-op herd for a number of years.
     Father and Uncle Mark Kartchner started the first store in Snowflake and later put it in what was known as the co-op Store by the council of the United Order. Then later they were dissatisfied so they took their share out and had a store of their own. In about 1893 or 4 Uncle Mark sold his part and Father owned it alone until 1895 when he went to Taylor and bought the Kay Store and from then until his death he owned the store in Taylor.
     He was strictly honest in his dealings--16 ounces to the pound. He nearly always had two years supply of wheat on hand and used to let his neighbors have wheat in the Spring for planting. When weighing it for the people he almost always put an extra pound in for good measure. He would tell us boys to do the same. Children would nearly always go to him for candy because he gave them a little extra.
     He had the confidence of the Indians because he gave them as much for their money as he did the white people.
     His half-sister Lettie, as he called her, told me he would warn his younger brothers and sisters of any bad company and helped them to avoid trouble. His word was as good as his Bond. Those who knew him would not ask for a note or a mortgage, they would take his word. He loved cattle and horses and was a very good judge of animals.
     Since I can remember, he would go without his dinner to get to a baseball game. He was a good farmer as well as stockman and merchant.

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Daughter's Memories

BY ROSE PALMER HALE
DAUGHTER OF ALMA ZEMIRA PALMER
WRITTEN IN AFTON, WYOMING (JUNE 21, 1954)
     It is with the deepest respect and reverence that I try to recall some of the fine traits of my Dear Father, Alma Zemira Palmer. He was an honest man. What greater thing could be said of anyone than to be able to say, “He was an honest man.”
     God said, "In as much as ye do it unto the least of these,...Ye do it unto me.” and my Father was continually doing kind things for people.
     One man told me at one time, that he wanted to tell me before he passed on that I had one of the most wonderful men for a Dad that anyone ever had. Then he preceded to tell me how my Father had kept his family for weeks with the necessities of life, medicine and anything they needed to carry them thru a terrible typhoid epidemic. Several of the family had typhoid that summer and they had nothing to keep them with. This was Will Lewis and his family. Brother Lewis said he always intended to pay my Father for the money he had spent during those weeks, but never found it possible to do so, but he loved and revered him for it, and that was after all the greatest pay--eternal pay.
     On another occasion I was working in Father’s store. Father was Quarantine Officer for the little town of Taylor, Arizona, and a certain lady who was at that time under quarantine, walked into the store. My father walked up to her and asked what she was doing out from under her quarantine, and the lady answered, that they were hungry, her husband had not taken care of their needs. Father told her to go back home, and told her he would take care of her needs. So he filled a large box with groceries and took them to her home. He did not charge them to her, he took care of that part himself.
     Alma Z. Palmer had great healing power. God blessed him with the gift of healing. Many times I have seen his administrations honored by God and the person he blessed was healed. I have witnessed two immediate healings in my own family under his hands, always accompanied by my Mother who had great faith to accompany his healing powers.
     My little son at the age of 3 ½ or four years old was run over by a wagon. He said, “If Grandpa Palmer can administer to me, I can walk.” We sent for my Father, he administered to my son, Bruce, and immediately after the blessing the child arose and walked across the bed to prove that his faith had been satisfied through the gift of his Grandfather. I was completely healed before he removed his hands from my head, upon one of his administrations to me.
     When he gave his advice; or if asked his opinion about a thing, he gave what he honestly thought was right, no matter where the chips might fall. Not to hurt someone, but because he thought it right to give his actual thought on the matter. Many times perhaps this gave him an enemy, but to me I revere him for just that. Because when he told me anything, I knew it was his honest opinion, and it gave me strength as I knew I could trust him to the limit of his word. So many times we have to combat wondering if a person is telling us something to bring about his own desires, or if that is what they actually believe about the matter. So to me a candid opinion of any question is appreciated and I loved my Father for this trait.
     Alma Z. Palmer helped many people in a financial and spiritual way during his stay on this earth. He continually gave to others. After I had completed High School, I was allowed to work in his store, and I remember well how he took me all around the store and showed me everything. He showed me a great stack of books and pointing to them said, “Rose, that is debts I have forgotten. People just couldn’t pay them as they are laid away and forgotten by me.” Then he said, “The candy is for the children, I do not pretend to make any profit on that, so give them a good helping when they come for candy.” The last thing he did was take me to the scales and place his hand on them, saying “You can make it fall back under a pound, we give them full measure for their money.” I was young, but I remember how I loved him for that, and how proud I was of him. How my heart swelled within me and I felt so important being taken around the store by him, and being taught all these fine lessons of honor and truth which made up the very fiber of his being.

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Arizona Pioneer

FROM "DESCENDANTS OF GEORGE PALMER
AND PHOEBE DRAPER"
     Alma Zemira Palmer, son of Zemira and Sally (Knight) Palmer, was born of goodly parents, on June 12, 1853, at Provo, Utah, where his parents had started their home. He was the oldest of a family of twelve children. Here he spent the first part of his childhood, as a young Latter-Day Saint boy, helping with the chores, herding cows and sheep, cutting wood, hoeing weeds from the garden, etc.
     At the age of 19 years he decided to go to Panguitch and work for himself. As he was leaving his mother, said, “What will become of you, I can hardly keep you straight here where I can look after you. And I’m afraid you will never quit smoking.” He had begun at the age of 16 years. But after he had gone a short distance from home he thought of what his mother had said, he stopped, turned his pockets inside out and dusted them. Then he said to the tobacco on the ground, “this is where we part”, and he never touched it again.
     Panguitch was a little farming town, settled by Latter-day Saint people sent by Brigham Young, several years before, to colonize there. There also was where William Decatur Kartchner and family settled after the church called them back from San Bernardino, Calif., where they were called to colonize, several years before.
     The Kartchner family were very musical, several members played guitars. Father Kartchner played the violin while they danced and played and sang. Into this environment Alma was invited while at Panguitch.
     A little incident in Panguitch: One evening at a party Alzada accepted his proposal to see her home. When outside she informed him that no boy had taken a girl home for some time because of a bunch of rowdies who would seize the young man and send the young girl home alone, and that they had nearly drowned one fellow who put up a fight, but they went on, and sure enough here came the clique and as they drew near Alma observed, “well boys are you out for a good time?” “ Yes, but it seems you’ve got the best of it.” “Then come and go with us.” They did peacefully, and when they reached her home he bid her goodnight, and joined the boys, to get acquainted, so by making friends there was no trouble.
     Alzada Sophia Kartchner was born in a wagon at Lower Water, on the Mojave Desert, California, where her parents had stopped due to the illness of her brother, January 5, 1858. They were on their way from San Bernardino to Beaver, Utah. The following night her brother James Peter died, leaving the family in sorrow in their joy. She was the seventh child of William Decator Kartchner and Margaret Jane Casteel in a family of eleven children. For eight years Alzada lived in Beaver, where she attended school. As her family was a musical one, she spent many happy hours dancing, singing and listening to music. She also learned to spin when she was so small she could hardly put the band on the wheel.
     Her parents moved to Muddy in Nevada, where men and women worked hard to build that place for five years.
     In 1871 the family moved to Panguitch, Utah and it was here that she met Alma Z. Palmer in 1872. Later, two of his sisters joined the group at Panguitch and later the three Palmers were at the home of the Kartchners. Into this family all three married, on the eleventh of May 1874, in the Endowment House, in Salt Lake City, Utah by Daniel H. Wells; Alma Palmer married Alzada Sophia Kartchner, John married Lydia Palmer, and Mark married Phoebe Palmer. They had their two mothers with them as they traveled to Salt Lake, and the trip was made by team and wagon and a joyous one, having many happy times along the way by the campfires.
     Alma and Alzada went to Beaver for awhile, he was working for a William Flake, and at this place their first child was born 24 July 1875. They named him Wesley. But they soon moved back to Panguitch and was there two and one half years when a mission call came from President Brigham Young to go to Arizona and colonize there. They as well as her father William Decatur Kartchner and family, her brothers, Mark and John and families, and William Flake who married Prudence Kartchner her sister.
     In 1877, Alma and Alzada and their little son, left for Arizona. Alma walked all the way from Panguitch to Arizona, and drove three yoke of oxen. He had two wagons of furniture and necessary clothes and supplies for one year till other crops could be raised. This trip took them weeks and they were confronted by hardships and dangers.
     When they got to the Big Colorado River it was late in the day but Father Kartchner took the women across in a small boat but they could not get the wagons and animals across until morning so the women were brought back again. (Alzada said she was so afraid she hated to go back knowing she would have to go again.)
     Next morning wagons and people were taken safely across but some of the animals had to have their heads held up by a rope before they would swim across. Then up over the Great Mountain, called Lee’s Back Bone, where the road was only wide enough for a wagon if everything went well. While they were still on this road one of the front wheels went off the ledge, where one inch further and the wagon would have gone into the canyon 300 feet below, taking his family and all he possessed to the river below. Alma called “Haw” to his oxen which means left. He stepped on the opposite wheel to balance the wagons as they turned back sharply and on the road safely. Then he stopped the wagons and sat down, he was so weak and shaky he felt he must rest. Because of Alzada’s faith in her husband and his judgement she had not fully realized the situation, she sat in the wagon and held her baby unafraid. I imagine he offered up a silent prayer for the safety of his young bride and little son as well as his possessions. You see he was answering a call from God and felt he had been helped.
     He went on as far as the Little Colorado River, across the river from where Joseph City now is, to a camp or place that was called the “Old Taylor Place” and decided to stop. The men began fixing to farm, then they put two or three dams in the Little Colorado River to store water for their crops. They built a dining room and kitchen and prepared to live the United Order where all would eat together, take turns cooking, etc.
     While they were here a little girl was born to them and they called her Ida, she was born 13 June 1878, the first child in Arizona in their company.
     Some Arkansas people joined them and there was quite a company. They worked hard but the quick floods would take out the dams every time one was built. It became very discouraging. Here Alma did some farming, but due to floods continually destroying their dams they moved.
     Alma saddled up his horse to go look for another place and William Flake asked where he was going. He said, “to find a better place.” The latter part of August 1878, they went South about 30 miles or more where a man by the name of Stinson lived on a little creek called Silver Creek. They made a trade with him, then all the men went together with cattle and other things to pay him. Alma and his 2 brother’s-in-law cut logs and built a dining room and a kitchen, and continued to use their wagons for bedrooms.
     They went back and brought their families to the new place. Here they settled on the East side with the United Order in mind, and lived out of doors for a year. Then Apostle Snow came to visit them, and told them to move to the west side, and lay out a town, and build on their city lots, and eat at their own table. That just suited Alma fine as he liked to do things for himself and take care of his own horses, etc. Alma helped Mayor Lad lay out a town, then things were divided up the best way possible according to what each had put into the Order. As the United Order was broken up, Alma and Alzada received half of a dining room that they shared with John Kartchner, 2 horses and some cows, this made Alma very happy as he was a lover of animals. He built a house and when he completed the fireplace and chimney, it was the first one built in Snowflake. They lived in Snowflake from 1878 to 1895 and during this time the following children were born to them; Alma Jordan, 21 March 1881; Jesse, 21 May 1883; John E., 26 July 1885; Sally Jane, 20 November 1887; Arthur, 15 December 1890; Dora, 3 October, 1894. Sorrow came to their home on September 14, 1884 their son Jesse died of a stomach ailment. This new town was named for Apostle Snow and William Flake and called Snowflake.
     Then they went up into the mountains and got logs to fix the end of the room and make clapboards for roofing. Clapboards are a little thicker than shingles. It looked nice but they had no floor so Alma got grass and fixed it all nice and smooth, then Alzada put her carpet down that she had brought from Panguitch and they had a nice home one year from the time they started from Panguitch.
     By this time all their flour was gone and Alma obtained wheat at Nutrioso, this turned out to be dark flour and they had to learn to make decent bread. Many things they learned in their pioneering days which were of benefit to them and taught them obedience through sacrifice and to rely on the Lord for they were in his service. They had good years and bad as all people do for they came to this probation to learn by the things they suffered.
     In Snowflake Alma and Mark Kartchner started a store. They lived here in Snowflake until 1895. They took part in the various organizations in the Snowflake Ward as they were given them. By this time they had a family of eight children and had taught them the laws of God, had taken part in the affairs of the little new town, and helped to make it thrive.
     While in Snowflake he was a member of the High Council for many years. He also was a member of the Board of Education and his council and advice was sought by many in both positions. He was wise in his decisions. He did not talk a lot but when he said things people knew him to be wise. They had this store for many years, after 18 years in Snowflake, Alma moved to Taylor, where he built a larger store, and a nice 8 room house which still stands. For a few years they lived about two miles south on a ranch and from there they moved to the Taylor Ward, three miles south of Snowflake, to make their home. Again at Taylor they were comfortable and happy. While building a new home they lived in a lumber house. Here he built a store and had a good business. He had one of the biggest barns in town, a nice well, they put a pump in and soon their new 8 room brick home was finished, and well furnished. Some how most people enjoyed coming to their home. The members of the Apostles stopped there when coming to conference. They also had a fine orchard with many kinds of fruit, berries, grapes, & etc, and when it bore well was divided out with friends and relatives. Alma also did farming and cattle raising, and had many fine horses and cattle and took great pride in his animals. And all this time he carried on a profitable merchandising business up to near the time of his death. Here they lived and prospered and raised their family, two more daughters being born to them at Taylor, Rosetta, 25 December 1896, and Lula, 6 October 1899.
     In Alma’s early youth he acquired and was admired for honesty and fair dealing, and exemplified this by merchandising to all those with whom he had to deal with strict honesty. Many a widow or unfortunate person received a basket of groceries and many a child made happy by his generous helpings for their penny or egg, their eggs bought more candy at Alma’s store than anywhere else if Alma waited on them, and most of the children went directly to him. There are many instances, of his kind generosity. He was conservative, never wasteful, yet never extremely close with anyone but himself. There were opportunities for him to take advantage of others, but never did such a thing enter his mind. Men put their trust in him to take care of their money. At one time a man handed him a thousand dollars in gold, and asked him to take care of it for some time, and without taking any evidence to prove that it was his. He told Alma that his word was good enough for him. Once when teaching a daughter to help in the store, he put his hand on the scale and said, “You may let it register a little more, but never less when you are weighing out to a customer.” He was a successful merchant as he had been a sheep and cattle man and people felt they would get a square deal if he waited on them. The Indians found him to be fair, at first if the corn they had to sell came to $1.87 they put the nickels and pennies back and wanted him to make it $2.00. They said Indian no like little money, like big money. So Alma would take the little money and the next time they came they liked the little money too. They watched carefully and they could see that they were not cheated so they came there to trade when they would go no other place.
     Alma was a hard-working man, thrifty and resourceful and it is said he did much for others financially and spiritually. He was a good provider and much concerned for the welfare of his family. As he, with his wife had a great desire to see their children grow up fine, honest men and women, and good Latter-Day-Saints, and their children did grow up to love and revere their parents.
     Alma was also an active member of the Church. At Taylor, Alma was a member of the Bishopric around 1904-6, to Bishop Decker. In this position he was honored and respected very much. He expected his own family to be and to do the things he asked of others. They were expected to live and uphold the standards of the church. He was a member of the High Council in Snowflake Stake in 1887, and did many things to help in the work. He was an ardent tithe payer, always remembering to pay the Lord his share. Although he never filled a foreign mission, he preached the gospel by his everyday life, and sending money to missionaries. Truly in the spiritual field it seemed that one was not without the other in exercising their faith in times of sickness and in behalf of others. Many have been made to rejoice because of their great faith. Both in Taylor and Snowflake he was ever ready to donate to build chapels or any other thing to be done. Or do his share of labor if labor was needed. His share was usually more than the others who had as much as he. Alma did not talk much but if anyone had sickness, he was there to see what he could do to help. Or if one of his neighbors was in need of food or clothing he would give what was needed. Many unpaid bills were marked off the record as people could not pay.
     Alzada was looked up to as an example worthy to follow, by their friends, neighbors and relatives. Children were named for her, and young people confided in her. She was born a peacemaker, and was loved by all who knew her. Grand-children remember her cookie jar and apples. She seemed always to be taking care of some ones children, or preparing a meal for a crowd and in numerous ways sacrificing to make others happy. She was ill for many years, suffering from asthma and dropsy, being bedfast much of the time, and doctors said she could not live, but her faith lived on, and upon one occasion when her breath seemed to be leaving her, she said if the Elders would administer to her she would get well. The Elders came, and in their blessing promised her that she would get well, and in time resume her duties about home. She was immediately better, and the promise was fulfilled.
     Despite Alzada’s tender nature, she was calm and proficient in time of tragedy or danger. A daughter was thrown from a horse, and was as if dead, and all gathered around her, her mother told all to stand back and give her air, and she calmly adjusted the vertebrae in the girl’s neck, and she began to breathe. Numerous instances could be related where she was perfectly cool in time of danger. She was active in the Church. Her choice job was that of Relief Society teaching, both in Snowflake and in Taylor. She encouraged her children to take an active part,
     On May 11, 1924, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. This was a great day for them, with nearly all their descendants present. It was a glorious celebration. Many wonderful things were said of them at this time. Brother Decker said “As neighbors I revere you, as friends I honor you, and as associates I Love You.” President Samuel Smith said; “they are an ordinary couple, so ordinary that they are extraordinary.”
     In 1923 Alma became ill and for one year he suffered, so it was decided they would try the climate in Mesa. When the ground was dedicated for the Temple in Mesa he decided to move there so he could go with Alzada to do temple work and spend his last days serving in another field, and see it that would help him, so in October 1924 they moved to Mesa, but his health did not improve, he was sick most of the time.
     On the 25th January 1925, he passed away, at the age of 71 and a half years, having lived a fine and useful life, and his loss was mourned by many. For the first time in many years he was free from pain. He told Alzada she would not stay much longer and she probably didn’t wish to. They were having a nice home built at the time of his death, but it was not finished until a few months after Alma had passed on. Alzada spent as much time as possible in the Arizona Temple, she went to the temple, and gave all her time and money to that work. She continued her beautiful life of bringing joy and peace to others. In December 1935 she was in a car accident, she received injuries from which she died on January the 8th 1936 and thus ended another life well lived.
     Their lives were full of development, they overcame hardships, and made things much easier for the younger generation, and they left a light that will help guard others from pitfalls, and have earned a glorious reward. May God bless their memories by helping their children to follow in the footsteps of their noble parents, sown through the generations

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Phoebe DRAPER
John LOTHROP (aka John Lathrop or Lothropp)
Samuel LATHROP
Alma Zemira PALMER
Dora PALMER
George PALMER Jr.
Zemira PALMER

CHILDREN WITH ALZADA SOPHIA KARTCHNER