Andrew Palm was born April 30, 1835 in Lund, Sweden, where he received his education. On Oct. 5, 1855, he graduated from the mechanical engineering course at the University of Lund.

He held positions in Oslo and Gottenberg in the large shipyards for two years when he decided to go to the U.S. the "land of promise for a young man." After a long and tedious journey, by sailing vessel, he arrived in Boston, Mass. where the Kansas agitation was in its height. In 1858, he located in Bloomington, Kansas, a town about four miles from Lawrence, where he became associated with the firm of Hyde, Swain and Palm, in the saw and grist mill business.

The Missouri bushwhackers burned the mill, and Mr. Palm's home was destroyed by a Kansas cyclone. After this he came to Lawrence in 1862, where the firm of Wilder and Palm was organized to build a mill and factory for the manufacture of all kinds of farm implements and railroad plows and scrapers. They furnished these plows and scrapers to the Rock Island Railroad, between here and Chicago, to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe and the Union Pacific Railroads.

Mr. Palm went to Sweden and returned with 12 skilled workmen to build their eighty horsepower wind and gristmill. Much of the material, such as shingles which had been shipped in and the timbers, they had cut across the Kaw River and were burned by Quantrill in his raid upon Lawrence, Aug. 23, 1863.

Mr. Palm invented the first riding cultivator, farm wagon rub iron, barbwire lifter and many other farming aids. He gave to the public his inventions which would have enriched him individually as sole benefactor.

Mr. Palm was married in Lawrence, August 4, 1864, to Charlotte G. Peterson, also a native of Sweden. They had three children: William, Blenda and Annetta. Mr. Palm died on Nov., 5, 1906 in Lawrence and is buried in Oak hill Cemetery.

This picture was given to the Spencer Library by his daughter, Mrs. Blenda Palm Greenwood of Columbus, Wisconsin, May 3, 1934.