ALLEN PALMER was born on April 20, 1891 in the Ellisburg section of Delaware Township (present-day Cherry Hill), New Jersey to John and Ida Palmer. By 1900 the family had moved to 26 North 21st Street in East Camden. Beside Allen the family included siblings William, Howard, George, and Leroy Palmer. An uncle, Allen I. Palmer, and his wife Mary also lived in East Camden, at 429 North 29th Street. Allen I. Palmer would work as a Camden Police officer from 1906 until his death in 1917, which was caused when he was thrown from his horse while on mounted police duty. The John and Ida Palmer family was living at 39 Marlton Avenue when the next Census was enumerated. The Scott family lived at 29 Marlton Avenue, their son Edward Y. Scott would grow up have a long career with Camden fire fighters.

Allen Palmer married shortly after the 1910 Census enumeration. The 1914 City Directory shows him living with his wife Margaret at 2263 Mickle Street, and working as a soapmaker. When Allen Palmer registered for the draft in June of 1917 he was living in East Camden at 2321 Howell Street with his wife Margaret and three children, ages 7, 3, and 18 months. Allen 

Palmer was then working as an automobile driver for a firm in Philadelphia. He was appointed to the Camden Fire department on March 6, 1918. Less than three weeks after his appointment, there was a small fire at his home at 2205 Sewell Street.

Allen Palmer and his wife had moved to 1027 Lois Avenue in Cramer Hill by 1927, however by 1929 they seem to have separated. He was living with his brother Howard at 32 Morse Street in East Camden. Fire Department records from 1931 show Allen Palmer at 1206 North 24th Street in Cramer Hill, staying with brother firefighter James Young. He moved to  2796 Stevens Street during the 1930s.

Allen Palmer's final post after 23 years with the Department was as an engineer at Engine Company 9 at North Twenty-seventh and Federal streets, not far from his home at 2796 Stevens Street.

When Allen Palmer retired from the Fire Department on August 1, 1941 it was with the intent to move to Florida. He was living in St. Petersburg in the spring of 1942 when he registered for the draft. He returned to New Jersey and lived in Audubon and lastly at 7510 Park Avenue in Pennsauken. Allen Palmer passed away at home on August 31, 1964. He was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Cinnaminson, New Jersey.