The start of year 2025 marks 100th anniversary and fourth generation of family ownership for Palmer Abstract, Inc.


Fourth generation of family ownership 100 years later ... Palmer Abstract, Inc. of Waukon has much to celebrate as the new year gets underway. The year 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the business, founded by C.A. “Charlie” Palmer (left photo) January 1, 1925. This new year also marks the fourth generation of family ownership of the company, as Elizabeth Palmer Montet has now taken over the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) role from her father, Joe Palmer. C.A. Palmer’s great-granddaughter, Elizabeth, and his grandson, Joe, are pictured, left to right in the photo at right above, standing near the manual typewriter used by C.A. Palmer during his founding years in the business. That typewriter still remains as a part of the office decor at Palmer Abstract a century later. Submitted photos.

Second generation ... Irene and A.V. “Verle” Palmer represented the second generation of the Palmer family to own and operate Palmer Abstract, Inc. in Waukon. The husband and wife duo took over the business from A.V.’s father, business founder C.A. “Charlie” Palmer, in 1953, and after selling the business to their son, Joe Palmer, in 1986, now their granddaughter, Elizabeth Palmer Montet, has taken over ownership of the 100-year-old business as of the first of this year, marking its fourth generation of family ownership. Submitted photo.

by Brianne Grimstad

January 1, 2025 marked the 100th anniversary of Palmer Abstract, Inc. serving Allamakee County for abstracting and related needs. The year 2025 also is the beginning of the fourth generation of being owned by the same family, as Elizabeth Palmer Montet became the C.E.O. of the company, taking over from her dad, Joe Palmer.

The business was founded as Palmer Abstract Company by C.A. “Charlie” Palmer January 1, 1925, when he took ownership of the business and records of two of Allamakee County’s earliest abstractors, E.M. Hancock and S.R. Thompson. Prior to being an abstracter, Palmer was the Allamakee County Auditor from 1921 to 1925 and later a member of the 51st Session of the Iowa General Assembly. He operated Palmer Abstract Company until 1953, when he was appointed as the Postmaster for Waukon and sold the business to his son, A.V. “Verle” Palmer.

Verle Palmer operated out of an office space located above Waukon State Bank until 1956, when the business was moved to its current location at 19 First Avenue NW in Waukon, conveniently next to the Allamakee County Courthouse. Verle Palmer ran the business himself with some part-time help. In 1963, the business purchased the assets of Allamakee Title from Al Hummel (successor to E.D. Purdy), and Palmer Abstract Co. was then the owner of the records from the first three abstractors in Allamakee County.

The business added on to the building, as well as the staff. Staff included Verle, his wife Irene, and the couple’s three daughters, Elaine, Evonne and Patti, who all worked in the office at one time or another. In 1970, Verle and Irene’s son, Joe Palmer, came on staff. The business was incorporated in 1977 and also took the current operating name of Palmer Abstract, Inc.

To read the full article, pick up the Wednesday, January 15, 2025 print edition of The Standard or subscribe to our e-edition or print edition by clicking here.