Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 116

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774

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PALMER, George Thomas, M. D .- That the professional man, In spite of the exactions of his calling, may prove himself of inestimable worth to the community in which he resides, by taking an active part in its civic betterment, is demon- strated in the experience of Dr. George Thomas Palmer, to whom belongs the credit of having placed the health department of the city of Springfield upon a sonnd and efficient basis. Dr. Palmer was born here March 7, 1875, being the son of John Mayo and Ellen Clark (Robertson) Palmer, and grandson of Senator John M.

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Palmer. The latter, who became one of Illinois most eminent men, was horn in Scott County, Kentucky, but came to Illinois, where he was educated in Shurtleff College. At the heginning of the Civil War, he was made Colonel of the Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Regiment; later hecoming Major-General in charge of the Four- teenth Army Corps. Still later, lie was made Military Governor of Kentucky, and directed the affairs of that Commonwealth as only a man of his unusual executive ahiiity could have done. His incumbency of the gubernatoriai chair of Illinois, to which he was elected on the Repnh- lican tleket, was marked hy a brilliant and forceful administration, and he was equally vaiu- ahle in the United States Senate. Hls election as Senator was made on the Democratic plat- form, hut during the money troubles and free silver agitation, he cast his influence with the Gold Democrats. and ran on the ticket of that party for President. Dr. Palmer was equally fortunate in his maternal grandfather, Dr. Will- iam A. Robertson, who was a weil-known stu- dent, physlelan and philanthropist of Carlin- ville, Illinois. An enduring monument to his memory exists in Robertson Hall of Blackhurn Coliege, which he huilt.

John Mayo Palmer, father of Dr. Paimer, was horn in Carlinville, Illinois, March 10, 1848, and his wife was born in the same place. Mr. Palmer attended Blackhurn College and was graduated from the Harvard Law School with the degree of LL. B. For many years he was engaged in the practice of law with his father and the late William E. Shutt, hut in 1888, he went to Ta- coma, Washington, later to remove to Chicago, where he formed a partnership with ex-United States Senator James R. Doolittle, of Wisconsin, and Edgar B. Tolman, under the firm name of Doolittle, Palmer & Tolman. So distinguished was his career in Chicago, that he was made Corporation Counsei of Chicago under Mayor John P. Hopkins. Mr. Palmer, who was recog- nized hy his colleagues as one of the most bril- liant student lawyers of the State, died at Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1904.

Dr. Palmer passed his hoyhood in Springfield and in the State of Washington, attending suc- cessiveiy the public schools of Springfield, Wyman Institute at Upper Alton, Illinois, and Washing- ton Coliege, at Tacoma, Washington. In 1898, he was gradnated from the Medical Department of the Northwestern University. While still a hoy in Springfield, he edited an amateur paper, a paper at Wyman Institute, now the Western Military Academy ; was editor of the first school paper In the State of Washington. and has al- ways retained his interest in literary and jour- nalistic work. In connection with his brother, Robertson Paimer, and Herhert S. Hadley. now Governor of Missouri, he managed the North- western Law Review, and later hecame the first manager of the Bulletin of the Northwestern University Medical School. For eight years. he was editor and publisher of The Chicago Ciinic, having associated with him Dr. Marcus P. Hat-

field, Professor of Pediatrics in the Medical De- partment of the University of Illinois, and in the Chicago Clinical School.

On leaving medical school, Dr. Palmer engaged in the practice of medicine in Chicago, and, serving under Dr. Marcus P. Hatfield, became instructor in the disease of children in the Chi- cago Clinical School and founder of the Trinity Diet Kitchen for Infants, the first milk charity for infants to he established in the West. In 1903, he was made assistant secretary of the Iili- nois State Board of Health and upon his appoint- ment to that office, he returned to Springfield. In 1905, Dr. Palmer rendered valuable service when in charge of the yellow fever quarantine at Cairo, hut his desire to resume his profes- sional work, hrought ahout his resignation in 1907, and he entered the private practice in Springfield. In 1909, his public health service received public recognition and he was appointed head of the Health Department by Mayor John S. Schnepp, which office he now holds. During his administration, he has succeeded in com- pletely reorganizing the department and placing it in a position of efficiency said to be second to none other in the State, and with all of the im- provement in public service, the expenditures of the office were reduced almost $3,000 during the first year. He is now Trustee of the Orphanage of the Holy Child; Director and First Vice- President of the Iliini Country Club, and Is physician to the Springfield Hospital, the Old Ladles' Home for the Friendless. He has served as Secretary and Treasurer of the Sangamon County Medical Society and heiongs to the Iiii- nois State Medical Society, the American Medi- cal Association, the Chicago Medical Society, the Chicago Pediatric Society and the American Medical Editors' Association. He is a very prominent member of Christ Episcopal Church and is a member of the vestry of that organiza- tion.

Dr. Paimer is also a member of the committee chosen hy the Chicago Tuberculosis Institute to organlze a state-wide crusade against tubercu- losis, and is Chairman of the Committee on Puh- llc Hygiene of the Illinois State Conference of Charities and Corrections.

On June 22, 1898, Dr. Palmer was married at Alton, to Maude Gregg. Mrs. Palmer has heen exceedingiy active in civic and philanthropic work in Springfield, serving as President of the Springfield Woman's Clnh for the year 1909-1910.

PALMER, John McAuley, former soldier, Gov- ernor and United States Senator, was born in Scott County, Ky., September 13, 1817, the son of Louis D. and Ann Hansford (Tutt) Palmer, the former born in Northumberland County, Va., June 3, 1781, and the latter in Culpeper County, same State. Lonis D. Paliner was the third son of Isaac and Ann (McAuley) Palmer, hoth na- tives of Northnmherland County, the former horn November 1, and the latter in April, 1747, hoth of whom died in Christian County, Ky., within a few months of each other, heing then the oldest

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persons in that portion of the State. The mater- nal grandparents, Louis aud Isabella (Yancey) Tutt, were born about the year 1750, their ances- tors being early settlers of Virginia, the Tutts . from England and the Yanceys from Wales. The grandfather Palmer was a soldier of the Revolution, being enrolled as a "minute man" and the receiver of a pension in his later years.

In 1818, Mr. Paimer's parents removed to Christian County, Ky., where the family re- mained nntil 1831, and where the children re- ceived their rudimentary education, one of their early teachers being Isaae Boone, a relative of tbe famous Kentucky pioneer and explorer, Daniel Boone. In the year last named, the par- ents removed to Illinois, settling in Paddock's Prairie in the northern part of Madison County, about ten miles northeast of Alton, where the father built a iog house in which the family lived during the first year. The son John re- mained iu Kentucky with his grandparents for the first few months, but in October following joined his parents, crossing the Ohio River at Ford's Ferry, and proceeding through Illinois by way of Equality, Mt. Vernon and Carlyle to Ed- wardsville, some eight miles northwest of which his parents had located. Tbe youthful immi- grant aiways retained a vivid recollection of this journey through Sonthern Illinois, especially of his first sight of a prairie landscape in the vi- cinity of McLeansboro, Hamilton County, and which grew in interest as he advanced north- ward. Tbe Kentucky home being in the south- ern part of that State, dnring a period of much agitation on questions affecting land titles and the interpretation of conflicting laws, as weil as at a time when the siavery issue was of grow- ing interest, tbe impressions there received un- doubtedly exerted a deep influence upon the mind of the future citizen of Illinois.

The first summer after arriving in Iilinois was spent with his father in working on the new farm, during a part of the time being engaged in driving a team of four yoke of oxen, breaking the prairie sod with a twenty-four-inch plow. During one winter he and a younger brother de- voted their time to cutting saw-logs on govern- ment iand, thereby earning forty-eight dollars, to which their father added two dollars more, with expenses in reaching the Government Land Office, enabling John M. to purchase forty acres of iand in his own name, which later was deeded to the father. An accident which ocenrred about this time in the summer of 1834, is thus de- scribed in the "Autobiography of John M. Palmer" as published in "The Bench and Bar of Illinois," issued under the editorship of Gen. Palmer in 1899 :

"One evening, wbile my father and self and younger brothers were discussing the subject of education and matters of that kind, my father said to me, in reply to some expression of a wisb to obtain a good education : 'Very well, sir, you owe me four years of service yet; I wili give you that ; go and get an education.' I looked at him with an expression of surprise, no doubt,

and asked in an excited, trembling voice, 'When inay I go, sir?' He seemed amused and. said, 'Tomorrow morning, if you like.' I remember that I left the room to conceai my feelings. After recovering my composure, I returned to the room where my father was seated and sat for some time in silence, when he said with signs of emotion, 'I have no money to expend for your education, but a healthy boy, as you are, needs no help ; yon may go tomorrow morning. I give you your time. Do not disgrace me. May God bless you!' "

That this incident proved the starting point in the new career of the future lawyer, soldier and statesman, who, as he says in his autobi- ography, "had looked forward to tbe independ- ence of manhood with the eagerness of hope," and "had reveled in dreams of results to be ac- complished," is shown by the fact that, after an early breakfast the next morning, starting out on foot, without money and without extra clothes, bnt-as he again expresses it-"with my newly acquired fortune, 'my time,' with all of its hopes and possibilities," tbe afternoon fonnd him iu Upper Alton, wbere recently had been established a manual-labor school, which later became the nucleus of Shurtleff College. Here he immediately found employent in making and carrying mortar for a man engaged in plaster- ing a house, tbus earning euougb money to pay bis board, purchase some clothes and finally en- abling him, with a surpius of five dollars, to enter college. For a while he paid his board by working on Saturdays, later in company with an older brother, earning some money by clear -. ing a street of timber between Upper Alton and Middletown, a village between Upper and Lower Alton.

Fired by zeal for the independence of Texas from Mexico, in the summer of 1835 he enlisted in a band of "Revolutionists," but while on the way to take passage on a boat down the Mis- sissippi, was fortunately prevented from carry- ing out this pian by a demand made upon him for the payment of a small debt incurred in the purchase of some clothes. His vacations were occupied in various kinds of employment, at one time (1838) being engaged in the peddling of clocks for a Connecticut firm. It was during this period, while in Hancock Connty, he met for the first time Stephen A. Douglas, who was then conducting an unsuccessful campaign for Congress against the late John T. Stnart of Springfieid.

In the winter of 1838-39 he taught a three- montbs' schooi near Canton, Fulton County, and while thns employed began reading law, thus marking a new step in his career. In March following, after visiting his fatber, be went to Carlinville, where his older brother, Elihu, was pastor of a Baptist church, and there entered the office of John S. Greathonse as a student of law. Regarding this period (agaiu quoting from his autobiography) Gen. Palmer says: "I was aided in my studies by that great promoter of diligence, poverty." His admittance to the

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bar took place December 11, 1839, when he made a trip to Springfield for this purpose in compauy with his preceptor, Mr. Greathouse, there tak- ing au examination by Stephen A. Douglas and J. Young Scammon, and receiving his license from Judges Lockwood and Browne of the Su- preme Court. While during a period of nearly sixty years, Geu. Palmer enjoyed an extensive practice which brought him in close contact with the most distinguished members of the bar and jurists of Illinois, including such names as Abraham Llucolu, O. H. Browning, Stepheu T. Logan, John T. Stuart, Milton Hay, and Judges Lockwood, Reynolds, Breese, David Davis, and many others, it is nevertheless his publle and official life that will be of especial interest in this connection.

While still a student at law iu 1838 he was an unsuccessful candidate for County Clerk of Ma- coupin County, but in 1843 was elected Probate Justice of the Peace, serving in that capacity until 1847, when he was choseu Delegate to the Constitutional Couvention of that year, serving in that body as a member of the Committee on Education. During the same year he failed of reelection as Probate Justice, but in May, 1848, was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of his predecessor, and In November following was elected County Judge under the new Constitution which he had assisted iu fram- ing. Iu 1852 he came into greater prominence by election without opposition as State Senator to fill a vacancy, his political associations up to this time having been with the Democratic . party. On the adoption by Congress in May, 1854, of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, he took a pronounced attitude in opposition to that meas- ure; in Noveiuber of that year was reelected Senator for a full term as an Anti-Nebraska Democrat, and during the next session of the his first term to the United States Senate. In Legislature (1855) bore a prominent part in securing the election of Lyman Trumbull for 1856 he resigned his seat in the Senate and, on May 29th of that year, served as President of the State Convention held at Bloomington, which marked the organization of the Repub- lican party in Illinois. This event was com- memorated by a reunion of surviving members of that convention and citizens of the State, held at Bloomington, May 29, 1900-only a few months before Gen. Palmer's decease-in which he took a deep interest, delivering one of the principal addresses on that occasiou.

In 1859 Gen. Palmer was a candidate for Congress, but as the outcome of a vigorous cam- paign in a strongly Democratic district, was de- . feated by John A. McClernand, the Democratic nominee. Iu 1860, however, he was chosen Presidential Elector for the State-at-large on the Republicau ticket, casting his vote in the Electoral College for Mr. Lincoln.

Chronologically this brings us to the war period, in which Gen. Palmer bore a conspicu- ous part. After serving as a member from Illinois of the Peace Conference which assem-

bled in Washingtou on February 4, 1861, by in- vitation of the State of Virginia, in the hope of solving the issues presented by the secession movemeut-but which resulted in total failure- on May 9th following he was elected Colonel of the Fourteenth Illinois, organized at Jack- sonville, this being the second Illinois regiment organized under Presldeut Lincoln's second call. A few months later he was promoted to Briga- dier-General and, on November 29, 1862, to Major-General, serving until September 1, 1866, and taking part In some of the most note- ble battles of the war, including those of Stone River and Chickamauga. Not the least impor- tant part of his service, however, was rendered as Commander of the Department of Kentucky, to which he was assigned by order of President Lincoln in January, 1865, In which, during the last year of the war and the reconstruction period, he had to deal with a number of ques- tions arousing the animosity of the civil au- thorities of Kentucky, and resulting in indict- ments for alleged violation of State law. In all of these he showed his courage aud Inde- pendence, as well as his determination to pro- tect the rights of the colored classes. Most of these issues were solved, however, by the final adoption of the constitutional amendment abolishing slavery in all the States. During the latter part of his service he met Gen. Grant in Washington who offered to recommend hls appointment to a position in the regular army, which he declined.

Returning to his home in Carlinville after retirement from the army, he soon after en- tered into partnership for the practice of his profession with the late Milton Hay of Spring- field, removing to that city in April, 1867, which continued to be his home for the rest of his life. In November, 1868, he was the Republican can- didate for Governor, receiving a majority of 50,099 over J. R. Eden, his Democratic oppo- nent. During his administration he again il- lustrated his Independence by vetoing probably 'a larger number of bills than any of his pre- decessors-according to his own statement, the number amounting to 112. The reasons gener- ally given were bad policy, injustice or viola- tion of the Constitution, and, iu many cases, where bills were finally passed over his veto, his positiou was sustained by decisions of the Supreme Court.

In 1872 Gen. Palmer was one of a large num- ber of previous members of the Republican party in Illinois who supported the nomination of Horace Greeley for President on what was called the Liberal Republican Platform, and later acted in cooperation with the Democratic party. In 1888 he received the Democratic nominatlon for Governor as the opponent of Hon. Joseph W. Fifer, but was defeated. Two years later (1890) he was nominated by the Democratic State Convention for United States Senator, and after a sharp struggle in the ses- sion of the Legislature which followed-and in which three Farmers Alliance members held

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the balance of power-on the 154th ballot he was elected as successor of Charles B. Farwell. The first joint ballot was taken Jannary 20th and the last March 11th, Gen. Palmer then re- ceiving 103 votes to 101 for Cicero J. Lindley and one for Alson J. Streeter.

In 1896 Gen. Palmer received the vote of the "Sound Money" branch of the Democratic party for the Presidency, and while he falled to win a vote in the Electoral College, his de- votion to sound money principles was widely recognized. Retiring from his seat in the United States Senate in 1897, he resumed his law practice as head of the firm of Palmer, Shutt & Lester, but in declining health of his later years, devoted his last labors to the prep- aration of liis "Story of an Earnest Life," which was completed a few weeks hefore his death.

Gen. Palmer was married (first) on Decem- ber 20, 1842, to Miss Malinda Ann Neeley, with whom he spent the first year of their married life in a log house on the present site of the court honse in the city of Carlinville. Mrs. Paliner died May 9, 1885, having borne hier husband ten children of whom the three follow- ing survive : Elizabeth, widow of Dr. John Pitt Matthews, of Carlinville, Ill .; Harriet, wife of E. G. Crabb, of Corpus Christi, Tex .; and Jessie Palmer Weber, Librarian of the State Histori- cal Library. John Mayo Palmner, his eldest son, was his law partner and was with him during the Civil War.

April 4, 1888, the General married as his second wife, Mrs. Hannah M. Kimball, a dangh- ter of James L. Lamb, a former prominent citi- zen and business man of Springfield. The General's death occurred at his home in the city of Springfield, September 25, 1900, hls sec- ond wife still surviving him. Mr. Palmer was a member of the Baptist church.

Besides the last address of his life delivered at Bloomington, on May 29, 1900, in celebration of the forty-fourth anniversary of the conven- tion held in that city for the organization of the Republican party in Illinois In May, 1856, other memorable speeches and addresses of Gen. Palmer's later life included a speech before col- ored citizens on the seventh anniversary of the issne of Mr. Lincoln's Emancipation Proclama- tion ; an address, May 31, 1871, on the rehnter- ment of Gov. Bissell's remalus in Oak Ridge Cemetery ; the welcome to Gen. Grant, May 5, 1880; a speech in the Hall of Representatives in honor of Gen. John A. Logan, in February, 1887; an address at Snodgrass Hill on dedica- tion of Chickamauga Park, September 19, 1895; and an oration delivered at Galesburg, October 7, 1896, on the thirty-eighth anniversary of the Lincoln-Donglas debate in that city. A zealous supporter of the doctrine of "State Rights," he was always an earnest advocate of the rights of the citizen withont regard to "race. color or previons condition of servitnde."

PALMER, (Gen.) John McAuley. (Vol. I, p. 412.)

PALMER, Mrs. John M .- The lives of all great men are largely formed by their mothers and wives. Too much credit cannot be given to the women who, remaining in the shelter of thelr homes, exert the most powerful Infinence in the world, ever pointing npward and onward. The majority of our great statesmen frankly admlt their debt of gratitude to the women of their family, and Mrs. John M. Palmer, widow of the distinguished statesman for many years Senator from Illinois, is one who always in- spired her husband to deeds that resulted In good to liis conntry and distinction to himself and family.

Mrs. Palmer was born in Springfield, Ill., July 6, 1838, and is one of the most eminent of its danghters. She is a danghter of the late James L. and Snsan H. (Cranmer) Lamb. Mr. Lamb was born in Pennsylvania in November 1800, while his wife was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in August, 1803. He was a prominent man, engag- Ing in large enterprises as a merchant and packer, and he left a comfortable fortune at liis demise.

The educational advantages enjoyed by Mrs. Palmer were secured at Monticello Seminary, at Godfrey, Ill., where she was a favorite with teachers and classmates alike, and from which she returned home to become, on June 18, 1862, the bride of Legh R. Kimball. For three years she made him an excellent wife, and monrned his death May 30, 1865. Meanwhile John M. Palmer was playing an important part in Illl- nois affairs. He had been Governor of the great commonwealth and Mrs. Kimball learned to esteem the great statesman. When both were deprived by death of those they had se- lected as life partners, the distinguished man and the charming widow were mntnally at- tracted, and their admiration for each other resulted in their marriage, April 4, 1SSS. From then on Mrs. Palmer was her husband's con- stant inspiration. During the time he was Sen- ator she graced Washington society and she sustained him during his campaign for the Presidency. During his last days she was his comfort and delight, and when he died, Sep- tember 25, 1900, It was in their beautiful home in Springfield, which her loving care had made so pleasant for him. She now resides at 1104 South Sixth Street, snstalned by her memories of him and his devotion to her.

Mrs. Palmer is a consistent member of the Baptist Church, In which she has long been an active worker, and she is loved for her sympa- thetle nature, as well as for her many graces of character, her wide experience and her knowledge of men and events. The people of Springfield are prond of her and her long as- soclations with the capital city where she was born and which has ever been her home.

PANGLE, Sylvester .- Many of the farmers of today are specializing in gardening, having proven that this branch of agricultural Industry Is one productive of satisfactory results. San-

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gamou County land is so fertile and valuable that much of it Is divided up iuto small tracts, which are devoted to the growing of small fruits and vegetables. One of the men who is successfully eugaged In this line of work is Sylvester Pangle of Woodside Township, owner of eleven acres of as good land as can be found in the entire county. He was horn in Bates County, Mo., December 14, 1857, a son of Joseph K. and Sarah (Robertson) Pangle, natives of Virginia and Effingham County, Ill., respectively.

Joseph K. Pangle, who was a cabinet-maker by trade, migrated to Illinois at a very early day, settling near Springfield. Later the family moved to Bates County, Mo., where the father continued working at his trade, and manufac- tured some fine handmade furniture. Owing to the disturbances occasioned by the war, the family returned to Illinois, settling in Effing- ham County, where the father lived for twenty- five years, at the expiration of which period he moved to Springfield, and there his death occurred. There were seven children in his family, four of whom survive: McClelland, a tile manufacturer, resides in Sangamon County ; Mrs. W. Y. Sanford, lives in Danville, Ill., her husband being connected with the Frank San- ford Furniture Company ; Mrs. George Sum- mersgill, whose husband is also connected with the above mentioned concern, and Sylvester.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 116

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 774

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774