Phoebe Jane Mason was born May 10, 1880 in Hardin County, Illinois. She was the last of eight children who blessed the union of John W. Mason and Julia (Mann) Mason. Phoebe was united in marriage with Joseph Marion ("Joe") Palmer in 1898. To this union of body and soul was, in the course of time, presented five daughters and three sons. They were: Julia Ray--born May 20, 1900, died 1968, married Marion Palmer (deceased); Virgil Owen--born April 16, 1902, married Elsie Palmer (deceased), married Sue Halter; Fanny Marian--born January 14, 1904, died 1964, married Clarence Couch; Zenia Belle--born January 22, 1906, died 1974, married Edward O'Dell (deceased); John Russell--born June 1, 1908, died 1972, married Mildred Council; Hazel Irene--born Sept. 7, 1909, died 1921; Hilda Christine--born Sept. 7, 1911, married Clifton Helton (deceased), married Daniel Crain; Eugene Wayland--born Oct. 3, 1913, died April 3, 1985, married Evelyn Hastings.
Phoebe was married three times: First: 1898-1914--Joseph Palmer (died in 1914). Second: 1918-? to James Ensley (death date not known). Third: 1922-1923--Robert Powell (death date not known). She had one child by this last union, Robert Purcell, who died at the age of one day. Phoebe died on September 1923 near Blodgett, Missouri and is buried at Sikeson, MO. She had three brothers and four sisters, their birth dates are not known.
Sadie--married Willie Palmer; Elizabeth--married John Shaw, Ruthy--married James "Jim" Boyd; Frances--married Tyne Buck; later married a Mr. Hartman; Timothy--(oldest boy) married Mattie Hastings, moved to New Mexico; both now deceased; John--married Laurie Irby; lived at Harrisburg, IL where he was killed during a windstorm; Isaaic--lived with his mother until he died at the age of 35. ----- Submitted by Christine (Palmer) Crain