Zemira Palmer was born August 9, 1831 in the Province of
Upper Canada,
the son of Phebe Draper and George Palmer. After the death
of his father his
mother married Ebenezer Brown, and when she was given the
privilege of accompanying
her husband on the march of the Mormon Battalion, Zemira
asked to go with them.
Although he was not old enough to be a soldier he was given
permission by the officers in
charge to go provided he could carry a gun and all the other
necessary equipment.
His mother, knowing the need of a growing boy for extra
food, often purposely burned
the bread served to the officers so that they would cut
off the blackened crusts.
These she saved for Zemira who said they tasted better than
a piece of pie under
other circumstances. After the disbanding of the Battalion
in Los Angeles,
Zemira helped his parents pan gold in order to get an outfit
and enough
provisions to join the Saints in Utah. On December 1, 1851
Zemira married Sally Knight.
They were the parents of fourteen children,
- Alma Zemira,
- Emma,
- Newell,
- Lydia,
- Phebe,
- James,
- William,
- George,
- Asael,
- Jesse Milo,
- Mary,
- Martha,
- Joseph,
- Chloe.
In his later years he was called to live in the United Order
in
southern Utah where he served as one of the leaders.
He died at the age of 49 years in Orderville, Utah in the
year 1880.
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