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| Page content last modified: | March 20, 2008, corrected the dwelling # and page # in the 1850 Palmer census transcription; added text regarding Emma's death certificate.
March 7, 2008, new tombstone photographs, text regarding Emma's death and burial, corrected her birth location. |
| MAJORVILLE CEMETERY HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS |
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Charles Wesley Duff, son of  Joshua G. Duff and Martha Louisa Cartwright, was born in Fountain Green Township, Hancock County, Illinois, on February 24, 1856. He married Emma Palmer around 1887 or '88, based on the 1900 and 1910 census entries. In the 1930 census it was reported that Emma was 34 when she first married; this indicates the marriage took place several years prior to 1887.
Emma Maria Palmer was born in Illinois on November 15, 1847, the daughter of Emma was a little over 8 years older than Charles. Both families had been in Fountain Green Township for many years - there's little question that he knew she was older. But note Emma's age as reported in the censuses for all the years of their married life - two or three years younger than Charles. Then in the 1930 census, her age was accurate. This seems to be an example of a lady who was publicly avoiding the then more prevalent stigma of being married to a younger man. Emma was a primary supporter of the Majorville Cemetery Association, established for care of the cemetery in perpetuity.
Charles died from diabetes in Macon County, Missouri (adjacent to the south of Adair County), in 1922, and his remains were returned to Hancock County for burial at Majorville. Subsequently Emma married John M. Hunt. They were residents of Gibbs according to the obituary of Emma's sister, Helen, who died in 1926. (We tend to think Mr. Hunt was not one of the local Hunts.) From The News of Fountain Green, March 2, 1927: Mrs. Emma Hunt, who stays with her aged brother, Saxon Palmer, received word Saturday night that her husband had passed away Friday. Emma died January 13, 1943, in Gibbs. Mrs. A. J. Davidson or Danielson (the surname is partially obscured by a heavy ink smudge) was the informant for Emma's death certificate. We have not determined whether or not she was a relative. She reported that Emma's parents were Peter Palmer and Phoebe (no maiden name), and that both Peter and Phoebe were born in New York. She gave Emma's full name as Emma "Marion" Palmer, gave the same date of birth that is on Emma's tombstone, did not know where Emma was born. According to the death certificate Emma's remains were returned for burial at Majorville. |
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enumerated November 19, 1850, dwelling #2430 Peter Palmer,53, male, farmer, value of real estate 600, born NY
enumerated July 28, 1860, dwelling #3590 Peter Palmer, 63, male, farmer, value of real estate 3000, value of personal estate 800, |
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enumerated July 28, 1860, dwelling #3558 Joshua Duff, 40, male, farmer, value of real estate 1000, value of personal estate 700, born KY
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enumerated June 8, 1870, dwelling #209 (immediately preceding the household of William Wallace Palmer) Palmer, Peter, 73, male, white, farmer, value of real estate, value of personal estate, born NY, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
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enumerated June 4, 1870, dwelling #97 Duff, Joshua, 50, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 4000, value of personal estate 1200, born KY, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
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enumerated June 31, 1880, dwelling #173 Palmer, Saxton L, white, male, 43, single, farmer, born NY, both parents born NY
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enumerated June 18 and 21, 1880, dwelling #158 Duff, Josh G, male, white, 59, married, farmer, born KY, father born SC, mother born KY
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enumerated June 2, 1900, dwelling #39 Duff, Charles W, head, white, male, Feb 1856, 44, married for 12 years, born IL, father born Ky, mother born IL, school teacher, could read, write and speak English, rented his home Emma, wife, white, female, Nov 1857, 42, married for 12 years, mother of 0 children, born IL, both parents born NY, could read, write and speak English |
enumerated April 16, 1910, dwelling #50 Duff, Charles W, head, male, white, 55, married (1st) for 22 years, born IL, father born KY, mother born NY, spoke English, occupation - none, could read and write, rented his home Emma M, wife, female, white, 52, married (1st) for 22 years, mother of 0 children, born IL, both parents born NY, spoke English, could read and write |
enumerated January 2, 1920, dwelling #13 Duff, Charles, head, renter, male, white, 63, married, could read and write, born IL, father born KY, mother born NY, spoke English, occupation - none Emma, wife, female, white, 61, married, could read and write, born IL, both parents born NY, spoke English, houskeeper [sic], home |
enumerated April 7-8, 1930, dwelling #40 Palmer, Louis S, head, owned his home, did not own a radio, lived on a farm, male, white, 94, single, could read and write, born NY, both parents born NY Emma M, sister, female, white, 82, widow, age at first marriage - 34, could read and write, born IL, both parents born NY |
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By 1900 Charles and Emma had moved to Gibbs, Adair County, Missouri, where Charles had a teaching position. They were residents in Gibbs in 1910 and 1920. Adair County is highlighted on the map at left.