John Wells Palmer was born on September 8, 1840, in Fayston, Vermont, to Jonathan and Laura Palmer. His father was a farmer who owned $2,400 of real estate and $513 of personal property by 1860. He grew up and attended school in Fayston, and by 1860, he was working as a farm laborer.
He enlisted in the Union army on November 28, 1863, and he mustered in as a private in Company C of the 1st Vermont Cavalry on December 25. The regiment took part in the Battle of Cold Harbor, the Shenandoah Valley campaign, and the Appomattox campaign. In September 1864, he declared that “I dont wanto fight no three years so I shant vote for Lincoln.” Instead, his “vote will go for Mcl [George B. McClellan] or FreeMount [John C. Frémont].” He mustered out on August 9, 1865.
He settled in Waitsfield, Vermont, after the war, and he married Ida Jones on March 24, 1866. Their son Byron was born on January 18, 1867. He worked as a farmer, and by 1870, he owned $2,000 of real estate and $400 of personal property. His wife died on March 17, 1873. He remained in Waitsfield for the rest of his life, and he died there on March 31, 1932.