John M. Palmatier

John M. Palmatier, at present chief engineer of the Wagner Palace Car Works, on Broadway, Buffalo, was born in the year 1848 at Esperance, Schoharie Co., N.Y., a son of Isaac R. and Lydia A. (Purtell) Palmatier. The father was born in the same town in 1818, and was a brickmason by trade. The mother was born in 1825, in New Rochelle, Westchester Co., New York.

Our subject began his seafaring life as first assistant engineer on the Ocean King, a wrecker in New York harbor and vicinity, and in 1886 he was made chief engineer of the same steamer. Subsequently he was chief engineer on the steamyacht Sappho, and also of the Elfrieda, but in the meantime he was for thirteen years with the New York Central Railroad Company, serving his time as machinist, locomotive fireman and engineer on that railroad. In 1886 he was made chief engineer of the Wagner Palace Company, of Buffalo, N.Y., which position he still retains. He keeps his engineer's papers renewed from time to time, but has sailed in no other capacity than above stated.

Mr. Palmatier was married in 1871, to Mary L. Everett, of Chatham, Columbiana Co., N.Y., and they have two daughters: Eva L., born February 14, 1876, and Carrie L., born September 6, 1879.

Mr. Palmatier is a member of the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association No. 1, Buffalo, N.Y., and of the National Association of Stationary Engineers. Fraternally, he affiliates with the I.O.O.F., Northern Light No. 729, and of Mt. Zion Encampment No. 17, also of Iowa, Rebekah degree No. 118, and has taken a very active part in Odd Fellowship for 25 years. In addition to the above, he is a member of the A.O.U.W., Washington Lodge No. 83, and is a past master workman.

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Volume I

This version of Volume II is based, with permission, on the work of the great volunteers at the Marine Captains Biographies site. To them goes the credit for reorganizing the content into some coherent order. The biographies in the original volume are in essentially random order.

Some of the transcription work was also done by Brendon Baillod, who maintains an excellent guide to Great Lakes Shipwreck Research.