William Beverly Palmore was born on February 24, 1844 in Fayette County, Tennessee, United States. He was the son of William Pledge and Elizabeth Ann (Hobson) Palmore. When William was only six weeks old his father died, and the boy's early years were a struggle with poverty, suffering, and heartache. When he was fourteen his mother, hoping to improve their living conditions, moved the family to a farm near Malta Bend in Saline County, Mo.
William Beverly Palmore was educated in the country schools of Missouri.
When William Beverly Palmore was seventeen years of age he joined the Confederate army, serving under General Marmaduke until his surrender at Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1865. During much of his service he was standard bearer, but though he was exposed to the enemy's fire constantly, he came through the war without wounds or injuries. Upon being mustered out, he returned to Missouri and entered into business at Waverly, a few miles from the farm at Malta Bend. Here he was converted, joined the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and began to teach in the Sunday school. This experience, coupled with his early religious training, convinced him that he ought to give his life to the ministry. Knowing that he must educate himself for the work, he went in the early seventies to Nashville, Tennessee, and entered the new Vanderbilt University. Returning to Missouri upon the completion of his theological education, he was admitted to the Southwest Missouri Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and after being licensed to preach, served churches in Kansas City, Springfield, Independence, Marshall, Jefferson City, and the Boonville District.
In 1890 he purchased the St. Louis Christian Advocate and became the editor and manager. Successful in the pastorate, he was even more successful as an editor, becoming recognized as one of the leaders of his denomination. William Beverly Palmore was a member of the Ecumenical Methodist Conferences in Washington (1891) and London (1901). He was also a member of four General Conferences of Episcopal church. In 1908 he was nominated for vice-president of the United States on the Prohibition ticket, but declined to be a candidate.
He was for some time president of the board of Central College for Women, Lexington, Missouri, Lands in West Virginia which he inherited, though poor and infertile from the point of view of agriculture, turned out to be rich in coal. This wealth he used for the advancement of his church, establishing the Palmore Institute at Kobe, Japan, and the Collegio Palmore at Chihuahua, Mexico. In addition, he aided many individual boys and girls in securing education. He died, in Richmond, Virginia, at the home of a niece on July 5, 1914. William Beverly Palmore left to the church all the property he possessed.
William Beverly Palmore was prominent due to his service as minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church S. He was also known as the editor of the St. Louis Christian Advocate for twenty years. He also founded several educational institutions in several countries, including Japan, with the aim to achieve for others the opportunity to study.
William Beverly Palmore was unmarried.
