# John Palmer

Robert john palmer (born January 18, 1849 – May 12, 1928) (there are multiple reported birth and death dates all within the same month) was a tailor and politician born into slavery in South Carolina. Palmer was a state representative from 1876 to 1878 and had a tailor shop opposite the post office on Main Street in Columbia, South Carolina.He had a daughter, Rosina C. Palmer, with Julia Simons in Columbia in the 1870s. He subsequently married Adelaide Perry and had eight children.He is the great-great-grandfather of stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle.He is buried in Randolph Cemetery along with eight other Reconstruction Era legislators.