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Margaret Hannah <I>Palmer</I> Preble

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Margaret Hannah Palmer Preble

Birth
Spring Brook, Erie County, New York, USA
Death
19 Aug 1920 (aged 68)
Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, California, USA
Burial
Mojave, Kern County, California, USA Add to Map
Plot
Section V, Plot 12
Memorial ID
View Source
History of Kern County, California
With Biographical Sketches
Wallace M. Morgan
Historic Record Company
Los Angeles, California
1914
Page 1192 and 1193

Mrs. Margaret H. Preble --- No one among the older residents of Mojave occupies a higher place in the esteem of the people than does Mrs. Preble , who since coming to this city during 1891 has won the friendship of everyone with whom she has maintained business or social relations. Not only is she a woman of gracious and attractive temperament and agreeable disposition but in addition she possesses exceptional mental qualities and has a broad education supplemented by the self-culture of later years. Shortly after her arrival here she was tendered the appointment of postmistress under President Harrison. So satisfactory was her service that she also received the appointment under President Cleveland and remained in the office for ten years altogether. Meanwhile, in order to increase the small income received from the office, she carried a stock of notions, confectionery and stationery, and also secured an appointment as manager of the long distance service of the Pacific Telegraph & Telephone Company. As there was no location suited to her needs she bought a lot on Main street and built the store which she has since occupied, and in addition she erected a modest cottage for a home, thus surrounding herself with the simple comforts that she found essential to the highest happiness.

From early life a resident of California, Mrs. Preble was born at Springbrook, Erie county, N.Y., being a daughter of Capt. A.J.W. and Phylancy (Gilson) Palmer, natives, respectively, of Erie county and Pembroke, Genesee county, N.Y. After some years of fairly prosperous activities as an architect and builder in New York state, Captain Palmer came to California in 1859 and settled at Sacramento. During the Civil war he served as captain of a company of militia from that city. For years he was employed as a bridge-builder or as superintendent of bridge-building for the Central Pacific Company and meantime he constructed the first snow-plow ever used on that railroad. For a time he had charge of the car department at San Diego. Upon leaving the California Southern & Central Pacific Railway Company he formed an alliance with the Santa Fe as manager of their car department and bridge building and continued in that capacity until his death in San Bernardino at the age of sixty-eight years. In that city also occurred the demise of his wife, who had been a resident of California ever since making the tedious trip from New York via Panama to San Francisco during 1863, some years before the building of the first railroad across the continent. They were the parents of six children, namely: Mrs. Margaret H. Preble; H.J., who died in Sacramento county; S.A., former mayor of Santa Cruz, this state; Mabel, who died in girlhood; Charles M., now living in Santa Cruz; and Mrs. Hettie A. Dunn, of Sacramento.

Graduated from the Sacramento high school at the age of seventeen years, Miss Margaret H. Palmer taught school for four years afterward in Sacramento. Three months after starting she was promoted to be principal of the intermediate department and continued in that post throughout the balance of her work as teacher. At Sacramento in 1874 she became the wife of Charles B. Preble, who was born in Massachusetts and died at Mojave January 5, 1899. For a time during the early part of his identification of the west he had been connected with a manufacturing business in San Francisco. After going to Barstow in 1885 he served as a clerk in the California Southern & Central Pacific office. During 1891 he came to Mojave as a clerk in the freight department of the Southern Pacific, which position he filled throughout his remaining years. In politics he favored Republican principles and his widow holds to the same political views, although when in charge of the postoffice her friends and supporters were not limited to that party, but included the entire population, irrespective of partisan affiliations. In religion she has adhered to the Congregational faith from childhood and has maintained a deep, generous interest in movements for the uplifting of humanity.

1870 United States Federal Census
about M H Palmer
Name: M H Palmer
Birth Year: abt 1852
Age in 1870: 18
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1870: Sacramento Ward 4, Sacramento, California
Race: White
Gender: Female
Value of real estate: View image
Post Office: Sacramento
Household Members: Name Age
A J W Palmer 39
P A Palmer 28
M H Palmer 18
James Palmer 15
Sylvester Palmer 13
Hetty Palmer 11

Maggie H . Preble
in the 1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Maggie H . Preble
Age: 27
Birth Year: abt 1853
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1880: San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Charles B. Preble
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Keeps House
Household Members:
Name Age
Charles B. Preble 33
Maggie H. Preble 27

1900 United States Federal Census Record
about Margaret Preble
Name: Margaret Preble
Home in 1900: Township 10, Kern, California
Age: 47
Estimated birth year: 1853
Birthplace: New York
Race: White
Relationship to head-of-house: Head
Occupation listed as postmaster.

Hannel M Prebst
in the 1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Hannel M Prebst
[Hannel M Prebet]
[Hannah M Prebel]
Age in 1910: 57
Birth Year: abt 1853
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1910: Township 10, Kern, California
Street: The Main Avenue Street Centenial
Race: White
Gender: Female
[Male]
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Native Tongue: English
Occupation: Confectionary
Industry: Own Store
Employer, Employee or Other: Employer
Home Owned or Rented: Own
Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
Farm or House: House
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Number of Children Born: 0
Number of Children Living: 0
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Hannel M Prebst 57

Hannah M Preble
in the 1920 United States Federal Census
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Name: Hannah M Preble
Age: 67
Birth Year: abt 1853
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1920: Santa Cruz Ward 1, Santa Cruz, California
Street: Buena Vista Ave
House Number: 19
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed
[Widow]
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Native Tongue: English
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: None
Home Owned or Rented: Own
Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Hannah M Preble 67

Sister to Charles Palmer who is also buried in this cemetery. Another brother, Sylvester A. Palmer, was at one time mayor of Santa Cruz. Fathers name is Asa J.W. Palmer.

Her post office and store was burned twice in town fires. She rebuilt and carried on.
History of Kern County, California
With Biographical Sketches
Wallace M. Morgan
Historic Record Company
Los Angeles, California
1914
Page 1192 and 1193

Mrs. Margaret H. Preble --- No one among the older residents of Mojave occupies a higher place in the esteem of the people than does Mrs. Preble , who since coming to this city during 1891 has won the friendship of everyone with whom she has maintained business or social relations. Not only is she a woman of gracious and attractive temperament and agreeable disposition but in addition she possesses exceptional mental qualities and has a broad education supplemented by the self-culture of later years. Shortly after her arrival here she was tendered the appointment of postmistress under President Harrison. So satisfactory was her service that she also received the appointment under President Cleveland and remained in the office for ten years altogether. Meanwhile, in order to increase the small income received from the office, she carried a stock of notions, confectionery and stationery, and also secured an appointment as manager of the long distance service of the Pacific Telegraph & Telephone Company. As there was no location suited to her needs she bought a lot on Main street and built the store which she has since occupied, and in addition she erected a modest cottage for a home, thus surrounding herself with the simple comforts that she found essential to the highest happiness.

From early life a resident of California, Mrs. Preble was born at Springbrook, Erie county, N.Y., being a daughter of Capt. A.J.W. and Phylancy (Gilson) Palmer, natives, respectively, of Erie county and Pembroke, Genesee county, N.Y. After some years of fairly prosperous activities as an architect and builder in New York state, Captain Palmer came to California in 1859 and settled at Sacramento. During the Civil war he served as captain of a company of militia from that city. For years he was employed as a bridge-builder or as superintendent of bridge-building for the Central Pacific Company and meantime he constructed the first snow-plow ever used on that railroad. For a time he had charge of the car department at San Diego. Upon leaving the California Southern & Central Pacific Railway Company he formed an alliance with the Santa Fe as manager of their car department and bridge building and continued in that capacity until his death in San Bernardino at the age of sixty-eight years. In that city also occurred the demise of his wife, who had been a resident of California ever since making the tedious trip from New York via Panama to San Francisco during 1863, some years before the building of the first railroad across the continent. They were the parents of six children, namely: Mrs. Margaret H. Preble; H.J., who died in Sacramento county; S.A., former mayor of Santa Cruz, this state; Mabel, who died in girlhood; Charles M., now living in Santa Cruz; and Mrs. Hettie A. Dunn, of Sacramento.

Graduated from the Sacramento high school at the age of seventeen years, Miss Margaret H. Palmer taught school for four years afterward in Sacramento. Three months after starting she was promoted to be principal of the intermediate department and continued in that post throughout the balance of her work as teacher. At Sacramento in 1874 she became the wife of Charles B. Preble, who was born in Massachusetts and died at Mojave January 5, 1899. For a time during the early part of his identification of the west he had been connected with a manufacturing business in San Francisco. After going to Barstow in 1885 he served as a clerk in the California Southern & Central Pacific office. During 1891 he came to Mojave as a clerk in the freight department of the Southern Pacific, which position he filled throughout his remaining years. In politics he favored Republican principles and his widow holds to the same political views, although when in charge of the postoffice her friends and supporters were not limited to that party, but included the entire population, irrespective of partisan affiliations. In religion she has adhered to the Congregational faith from childhood and has maintained a deep, generous interest in movements for the uplifting of humanity.

1870 United States Federal Census
about M H Palmer
Name: M H Palmer
Birth Year: abt 1852
Age in 1870: 18
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1870: Sacramento Ward 4, Sacramento, California
Race: White
Gender: Female
Value of real estate: View image
Post Office: Sacramento
Household Members: Name Age
A J W Palmer 39
P A Palmer 28
M H Palmer 18
James Palmer 15
Sylvester Palmer 13
Hetty Palmer 11

Maggie H . Preble
in the 1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Maggie H . Preble
Age: 27
Birth Year: abt 1853
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1880: San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Charles B. Preble
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Keeps House
Household Members:
Name Age
Charles B. Preble 33
Maggie H. Preble 27

1900 United States Federal Census Record
about Margaret Preble
Name: Margaret Preble
Home in 1900: Township 10, Kern, California
Age: 47
Estimated birth year: 1853
Birthplace: New York
Race: White
Relationship to head-of-house: Head
Occupation listed as postmaster.

Hannel M Prebst
in the 1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Hannel M Prebst
[Hannel M Prebet]
[Hannah M Prebel]
Age in 1910: 57
Birth Year: abt 1853
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1910: Township 10, Kern, California
Street: The Main Avenue Street Centenial
Race: White
Gender: Female
[Male]
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Native Tongue: English
Occupation: Confectionary
Industry: Own Store
Employer, Employee or Other: Employer
Home Owned or Rented: Own
Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
Farm or House: House
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Number of Children Born: 0
Number of Children Living: 0
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Hannel M Prebst 57

Hannah M Preble
in the 1920 United States Federal Census
Record Image VIEW
View blank form
Add alternate information
Report issue
Name: Hannah M Preble
Age: 67
Birth Year: abt 1853
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1920: Santa Cruz Ward 1, Santa Cruz, California
Street: Buena Vista Ave
House Number: 19
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed
[Widow]
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Native Tongue: English
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: None
Home Owned or Rented: Own
Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Hannah M Preble 67

Sister to Charles Palmer who is also buried in this cemetery. Another brother, Sylvester A. Palmer, was at one time mayor of Santa Cruz. Fathers name is Asa J.W. Palmer.

Her post office and store was burned twice in town fires. She rebuilt and carried on.


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