Early Memories of Saugatuck, Michigan : 1830-1930
Author: Heath, May Francis
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Grand Rapids, Mich: 1930

HERBERT PALZER

One of the sturdy, staunch pioneers who came from the Vaterland to Allegan County in 1850 is Herbert Palzer, who came across the ocean from Germany at the age of twenty-four.

Two years later he came to the Flats where he resided until his death.

In 1862 he built the house now owned by James Brown; in 1857 he and Henry Ebmeyer owned and operated a shingle mill, and they cut the timber to make the shingles, where Koning's Hardware now stands as it was all solid woods at that end of town.

Mr. Palzer bought the tract east of town, sold the town house and built a home on the hill; this is the home where Jacob Palzer has lived sixty-four years.

Mrs. Palzer was Lizzie Richards and there were four children, three still living on parts of the old homestead, Jacob, Mrs. Mary Updyke and Mrs. Lizzie Heinze.

Mr Palzer set out the first peach orchard in this section in 1864.

Jake remembers seeing plenty of wild deer around their home and that it was all wooded, large beech and maple trees, with just a narrow rough street all the way to the village.

At the age of eight he went with his father to the Congregational church and heard a funeral sermon honoring Abraham Lincoln. Jake was married to Mary Helbach who passed away in 1928. He is the father of twin daughters, one of whom, Florence Kruger, lives at the old home.