Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


F. L. PALMER., 
 
a progressive and enterprising business man of Pomona, is a native of 
Stonington, Connecticut, dating his birth in 1852. His parents, Franklin A. and 
Arabella (Stoddard) Palmer, are both descendants of old colonial families of 
that State.  He was reared and schooled in New England, completing his education 
in Rhode Island. In 1869 he came to California and for several years was 
employed as an accountant in the United States Surveyor General's office in San 
Francisco. In 1874 he was appointed secretary of the San Joaquin and Kings River 
Canal and Irrigation Company, organized by some of the old-time capitalists of 
San Francisco,�J. Mora Moss (president), Isaac Friedlander, William C. Ralston, 
Nicholas Luning, Charles Lux, John Bensley, and Charles Webb Howard,�which 
responsible position he held until 1883. In June of that year he came to Pomona, 
where he was elected treasurer and agent of the Pomona Land and Water Company. 
In February, 1887, he was elected as the secretary and treasurer of the company, 
a position which he has held continuously since that date. Mr. Palmer has been 
one of the most active officers of that company, and much of its success is due 
to his enterprising and energetic management. He is also a successful 
horticulturist, owning twenty acres of land located at North Pomona, which he 
has placed under a high state of cultivation and improvement, and is producing a 
large variety of citrus and deciduous fruits, which are not excelled by any 
grown in the Pomona Valley. He is deeply interested in the future growth and 
prosperity of the valley, which is destined to become one of the richest 
fruit-growing sections of the State, and has devoted time and means in showing 
to the world the wonderful productions of the section in which he resides. He is 
the vice-president of the Pomona Bank, and is also secretary of the following 
incorporated companies doing business in the city of Pomona: Pomona City Water 
Works, Irrigation Company of Pomona, Palomares Irrigation Company, Del Monte 
Irrigation Company, and Ca�on Irrigation Company. He is also interested in many 
other enterprises that have been conducive to the growth and prosperity of the 
city. He is a strong supporter of schools and churches, and is a member and 
trustee of the Pilgrim Congregational Church of Pomona. In politics he is a 
stanch Republican, taking a great interest in the success of his party. He is 
always found allied with its best elements. In 1879 Mr. Palmer was united in 
marriage with Miss Martha Belcher, the daughter of F. P. Belcher, of Oakland. 
The names of the children are: Frank C., Frederick B., Donald Day and Roger 
Sherman.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 593
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler