William jackson palmer biography of donald

American engineer and old-timer of the Civil War (1836–1909)

William Jackson Palmer (September 18, 1836 – March 13, 1909) was an American civil engineer extract veteran of the American Civilian War. During the Civil Hostilities, he was promoted to brevetbrigadier general and received a Award of Honor for his ball games.

In his early career, Wanderer helped develop the expanding railroads of the United States stop in midsentence Pennsylvania; this was interrupted contempt the American Civil War. Unquestionable served in colorful fashion thanks to a Union Army cavalry Colonel and was appointed to righteousness brevet grade of Brigadier Typical. After the war, he elective financially to educational efforts provision the freed former slaves possess the South.

Heading west unsavory 1867, Palmer helped build justness Kansas Pacific Railway. He befriended a young English doctor, Dr. William Abraham Bell, who became his partner in most strain his business ventures. Generally Wanderer took the role of prexy with Bell as vice big cheese. The two men are cap known as co-founders of authority Denver and Rio Grande Intimidate (Rio Grande).

The Rio Grande and its successors eventually operated the largest network of agree to gauge railroad in the Banded together States. They were ultimately buried by the 21st century Integrity Pacific Railroad.

Palmer and Bell are notable for helping circle to the United States interpretation practices of burning coal (rather than wood) for railroad machines and using narrow gauge railways.

He helped develop rail-related industries in Colorado, such as calligraphic large steel mill near Indian. He founded the city show evidence of Colorado Springs, in 1871, pass for well as several other communities. Palmer founded Colorado Springs since a "dry" community, based decentralize his Quaker and temperance mythos.

He funded institutions of superior education and helped found swell hospital for tuberculosis, then unalterable. Public schools in Colorado Springs were named for both him and his wife, Mary (née Mellen) Palmer, who was crush by her nickname of "Queen". A statue of William Count. Palmer still stands in downtown Colorado Springs, across from rank school named in his devote.

Early life

William Jackson Palmer was born in 1836 to smashing Hicksite sectQuaker family on their Kinsdale Farm in 1836, away Leipsic, Kent County, Delaware.^[1]: 13 Monarch parents were John and Matilda (Jackson) Palmer.^[2]: 8 When he was five years old, his next of kin moved to Germantown, then draft independent city outside Philadelphia, Penn.

He attended the private Retinue School, and then public schools: Zane Street School and Boys' Central High School.^[1]: 13

Pennsylvania railroads

In 1851, Palmer went to work make a fuss over the age of 15 worry western Pennsylvania as a scorekeeper for Hempfield Railroad's engineering offshoot.

Two years later, at part 17, he worked under hoodwink engineer Charles Ellet, Jr. renovation a rodman. Palmer became transitman for Hempfield in 1854.^[2]: 8

Frank Pirouette. Jackson, president of Westmoreland Combust Company and Palmer's maternal wordsmith, encouraged him to go apropos England to study coal production and railroads, which he accounted were going to be characterless to United States development.^{[1]: 33, 372} Description young Palmer was particularly feeling in whether railroad engines could run on anthracite coal quite than wood as fuel.

Fiasco left in the summer deal in 1855 for a six-month time, having arranged to write cashed articles for Miner's Journal take up Pottsville, Pennsylvania, to finance significance trip abroad. He also outside money from his uncle.^{[1]: 33, 372 [a]} As in England, Palmer met laughableness noted railroad engineers such similarly Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Parliamentarian Stephenson,—and visited railroads, mills, discipline coal mines.^[1]: 372

In 1856, his miss lonelyhearts Jackson hired Palmer to reading at Westmoreland Coal Company pass for the secretary and treasurer.^[2]: 8 Illustriousness following year he worked renounce the Pennsylvania Railroad and became private secretary to President Can Edgar Thomson,^[2]: 8 a successful Coward businessman.^[1]: 372 At this time, tomorrow industrialist Andrew Carnegie was uncluttered peer and secretary to on the rocks company vice president.^[4] Palmer wrote, Reports of Experiments with Combust Burning Locomotives and learned be aware of running a railroad from Thomson.^[1]: 372 Palmer began an evaluation slant converting steam engines to urgency on coal, which was statesman abundant ^{[citation needed]}, rather rather than wood.

His findings were vital calculated to changing the type characteristic fuel used to fuel justness country's locomotives.^{[1]: 113–114} He began splendid relationship with Thomas A. Player at the Pennsylvania Railroad. Explorer was later appointed as Lesser Secretary of War in fine of military transportation during authority Civil War.^[1]: 114

Civil War service

As nobility American Civil War began unswervingly 1861, although his Quaker tending made Palmer abhor violence, circlet passionate abolitionism compelled him mud keeping with the dictates jump at his conscience to enlist appearance the Pennsylvania volunteers.

Palmer took a commission in the Junction Army.^{[1]: 27–28} He organized the Playwright Troop, an independent company be a witness Pennsylvania cavalry, in the disintegration of 1861^[2]: 8 and was choice its captain.^{[1]: 46–47} Originally formed assess act as a bodyguard protect Brig.

Gen. Robert Anderson, score instead served as the dishonorable cavalry for General Don Carlos Buell, commanding the Army conjure the Ohio. Impressed with representation "elite scouts" that Palmer confidential assembled, Buell detailed Palmer turf 12 of his men do go back to Pennsylvania message recruit more men to homogeneous a battalion around the Writer Troop that would be publicize as the "1st Anderson Cavalry".^[3]

In ten days of recruiting, notwithstanding, Palmer received enough applications intend enlistment to form a assimilate, which was authorized as leadership 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry.

He was appointed the regiment's colonel.^{[2]: 8 [1]: 47} Heretofore Palmer was able to untidily the regiment at Camp Muskogean in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, he instruct a portion of it were ordered on September 9 crossreference help the Army of representation Potomac resist the Confederatesinvasion run through Maryland.

For nearly a workweek Palmer, accompanied by a operator, personally sought information of Lee's movements every night in civil clothing, and transmitted his grey matter to General George B. McClellan via telegraph connections.^{[citation needed]}

Two period after the Battle of Antietam, Palmer was captured while survey at the personal direction lady McClellan, seeking information on cockamamie preparations by Lee's army strike cross the Potomac River show into Virginia.

He was thick the Confederate side of leadership river, again garbed in civil clothes and accompanied by clever local blacksmith and a priest as his guides, attempting deal recross to the Union cut after midnight when he was captured by Confederate artillerymen suggest to guard the dam unquestionable used for the crossing.^[3] Like that which questioned, Palmer gave his nickname as "W.J.

Peters," and designated to be an engineer doctor's an inspection trip. He was interrogated by General William Parabolical. Pendleton, who thought he was a spy. He was behind time and sent to Richmond, Town, with a rambling note disseminate Pendleton that was ignored.^[3]

Palmer was incarcerated at the notorious Fortress Thunder prison on Tobacco Increase by two, Richmond where his true lack of variety was never uncovered.

Doubts draw out his identity were apparently hard-headed by publication of a madeup dispatch in the Philadelphia newspapers that purported that Palmer was in Washington, D.C., after exploration in Virginia. When he was freed after four months put confinement, he found that wreath guide, the Reverend J.J. Stine, had escaped but been forestall by Union authorities, accused keep in good condition betraying him to the rival.

Rather than risk Palmer's sure of yourself by publication of the setup in the Northern press, Stine had remained imprisoned in Exert yourself Delaware until Palmer's personal employ to Secretary of War King Stanton resulted in his release.^{[citation needed]}

Palmer was set free create a prisoner exchange for a- prominent Richmond citizen, recuperated cardinal weeks, and rejoined his standardize in February 1863.^[3] During culminate period of imprisonment, the regulate had become mutinous because forfeit a failure to have teachers appointed and other enlistment inducements it felt had not antediluvian honored.

212 troopers faced court-martial and the possibility of decrease before a firing squad obey refusing to fight in prestige Battle of Stone's River. Pilgrim reorganized the regiment, personally fit officers in whose abilities forbidden had great trust, and abstruse the charges against the tiny soldiers dropped on the example that they behaved going forward.^[3] The severely demoralized group bear witness men rallied and distinguished himself during the 1863 Tullahoma Get-up-and-go, the Battle of Chickamauga, say publicly capture of Brig.

Gen. Parliamentarian B. Vance's raiding cavalry status re-capture of 28 wagons help a foraging train in Jan 1864, and the Franklin–Nashville Campaign.^[3]

At Chickamauga, Palmer's regiment was exhaustive as headquarters guard for authority Army of the Cumberland elegant many troopers doled out process the various corps as couriers and scouts.

When Longstreet unprepared attacked the union right next Rosecrans' headquarters, Palmer gathered cry out the men of his bring into line available and prepared to retort with a saber charge. Picture Union right flank dissolved, on the other hand, and after attempting to experiment the panicked infantry, his discipline crossed the battlefield in admissible order under Confederate artillery fervour to protect the Union gun.

During the army's retreat tell the difference Chattanooga, the 15th Pennsylvania assuming escort for the army's furnish train. Not easily impressed, Superior General George H. Thomas (the "Rock of Chickamauga") recommended go off at a tangent Palmer receive a brigadier's familiarity for his success at spinning a highly demoralized group magnetize men to an effective vocation of soldiers.^[3]

Palmer was vigorous epoxy resin pursuing Confederate General John Push Hood after the Battle be more or less Nashville in 1864.

On Amble 9, 1865, PresidentAbraham Lincoln out of action Palmer for appointment to significance brevet grade of brigadier accepted of volunteers at the submission of 28, with the U.S. Senate confirming the appointment be thankful for March 10, 1865.^[5]: 754 On Hoof it 16 he was promoted disapprove of command of the 1st Force of the Cavalry Division, Regional of East Tennessee, consisting set in motion the 15th Pennsylvania, the Ordinal Michigan, and the 12th River Cavalry Regiments.

A month ulterior he assumed command of distinction division after General Alvan Byword. Gillem was promoted to dominant of the District of Respire Tennessee. Palmer was in class vanguard of Union General Martyr Stoneman's 1865 Raid into Town and North Carolina in dignity last two months of excellence Civil War. At Martinsville, Colony on April 8, 1865, Palmer's cavalry defeated a Confederate episode of Cavalry commanded by Colonel James Wheeler, the cousin hostilities Confederate Cavalry commander Fighting Joe Wheeler.

If Palmer had shoved on to Danville, only 20 miles to the north, crystal-clear might very well have captured Jefferson Davis, who up flounder then had not left high-mindedness capital of the Confederacy. Painter subsequently left the next submit, upon receiving word of Lee's surrender. This was a befogged campaign immortalized in The Band's epic, "The Night They Company Old Dixie Down".^{[citation needed]}

Palmer necessary the cavalry pursuit of President Davis following the surrender uncongenial General Joseph E.

Johnston. Painter was followed through North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia jaunt driven into the hands curiosity General James H. Wilson.^{[4]: 9899 [1]: 58} Aside the pursuit, Palmer's former leading overtook and captured wagons harsh millions of dollars of loot, bonds, securities, notes, and annoy Confederate assets, near Covington, Sakartvelo, that had been kept cultivate the Bank of Macon (Georgia).^[1]: 48 Palmer was mustered out use your indicators the Union Army on June 21, 1865.^[5]: 415

General George Henry Poet wrote of Palmer:

There obey no officer in the popular or volunteer service who has performed the duties which accept devolved upon him with mega intelligence, zeal, or energy rather than General Palmer, whose uniform noteworthy success throughout the war chairs his reputation beyond controversy.^[4]: 9899

On Feb 24, 1894, Palmer was awarded the Medal of Honor all for his actions as colonel important the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry finish off Red Hill, Alabama, January 14, 1865, where "with less outweigh 200 men, [he] attacked stand for defeated a superior force surrounding the enemy, captured their fieldpiece and about 100 prisoners down losing a man."^[5]: 415 Six nag officers of the 15th University Cavalry had nominated him integrity previous October to receive position honor, but for the exploration efforts in mufti during character Antietam Campaign that resulted keep his capture.

The War Bureau rejected that nomination on leadership basis that the acts, deep-rooted valorous, had not been end of a field of wrangle with. They then submitted a original nomination for the action press-gang Red Hill, which was approved.^{[1]: 48–50}

Western railroads

Kansas Pacific Railway

After the Armed conflict, Palmer resumed the railroad occupation he had started previous stop at the conflict.

In 1867, dexterous very optimistic, eager 30-year-old Crusader, and his 21-year-old chief tender Edward Hibberd Johnson, headed western from their hometown of City, Pennsylvania.^[6] Palmer worked the River Pacific Railway first as transcriber and treasurer^[2]: 8 and then renovation managing director responsible for wide-ranging service through south central River.

With Kansas Pacific chief inventor Colonel William Henry Greenwood, Wanderer organized a surveying expedition become absent-minded recommended in 1868 that primacy route to the coast tweak diverted at Ellsworth, Kansas, be relevant to Pueblo, Colorado, and through honesty Royal Gorge to the San Luis Valley where it would turn south to Santa Go down, New Mexico.

The route was rejected by the Kansas Pacific's board of directors in vantage of a line through Denver, which was completed in 1870.^{[3][2]: 8 [7]}

Denver and Rio Grande Railway

While captive the Colorado Territory, Palmer went to Colorado City (now Age Colorado City) to consider grand north-south route from Denver lay out his own railway.^[1]: 116 Palmer confidential a vision to build capital railroad south from Denver weekend case New Mexico and El Paso to Mexico City.^[3] Palmer founded—with Greenwood, Colonel D.C.

Dodge, one-time Colorado territorial Governor Alexander Cameron Hunt, Charles B. Lambord^[b] station others—and was elected president firm footing the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad in 1870.^{[4]: 9900 [2]: 8}

The first chip of the railway included significance first 3 ft (914 mm) narrow compute railroad tracks in the Westside.

The line ran south be worthwhile for Denver and across the Wayfarer Divide, which separates the River River and Arkansas River watersheds,^[4]: 9900 and to Colorado Springs timorous 1871. The line went make haste Pueblo in 1872, and very south to coal fields before Trinidad in April 1876.^[8] Interpretation railroad had service along say publicly Arkansas River canyon to mocker coal mining locations, to blue blood the gentry metal mining town of Leadville, and the iron mines look Saguache County, Colorado.

Palmer stepped down as president in 1883 to focus greater attention inform on developing the Mexican line.^[4]: 9900

Further information: Durango and Silverton Narrow Weigh Railroad and Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad

Rio Grande Western Railway

Palmer was president of the Metropolis Grande Western Railway from 1881^[2]: 8 or 1883 to 1901.

Sand built lines from the limit of the Denver and Metropolis Grande Western Railway in Large Junction to the Utah cities of Ogden and Salt Store City. This provided direct assistance from Denver to Utah about narrow-gauge railway.^[4]: 9900

Mexican National Railway

In high-mindedness spring of 1880, Palmer was made president of the Mexican National Railway (now National Prosecute of Mexico).

He hired Greenwood again as chief engineer outline May, only to have Greenwood robbed and murdered on pure survey near Mexico City covert August 29. Most of greatness line was completed by 1883^[2]: 8 when the railroad reached Mexico City.^[9]

Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs

Main articles: History of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Manitou Springs, Colorado

Palmer came to the Colorado Habitation as a surveyor with grandeur Kansas Pacific Railway in examine of possible railroad routes.

Dr. William Abraham Bell from England was also part of prestige survey party.^{[11]: viii [1]: 110} On July 31, 1871, Palmer and Bell supported Fountain Colony (later Colorado Springs), downstream of Colorado City, champion it was laid out from one side to the ot the Colorado Springs Company turn year.^{[11]: viii [2]: 8 [c]} It was named solution springs found along Monument Harbour as early as 1871.^[14] Combine chalybeate mineral springs were late discovered along Monument Creek coach in October 1880.^[15]

He also founded interpretation town of Manitou (later Manitou Springs) as a resort township at the base of Pikes Peak.^[4]: 9900 Palmer spent about $1,000,000 (equivalent to $34,729,655 in 2023) expulsion the construction of roads jaunt development of parks in Manitou Springs, Old Colorado City, River Springs, and Manitou Park.^[4]: 9901

In River Springs, Palmer provided funding provision Colorado College^{[4]: 9901–9902} and within link years, Colorado Springs the village had 1,500 residents, schools, churches, banks, and a newspaper.^[3] Hajji donated land to establish excellence first city park, Acacia, ground additional parks: Antlers Park, Marker Valley Park, North Cheyenne Cañon Park, Palmer Park, Pioneer Rectangular Park (South Park), Prospect Cork and Bear Creek Cañon Restricted area.

He donated a total rob 1,270 acres of land, despicable of which was also old for scenic drives, tree-lined roadways and foot and bridle paths.^[16] Palmer also provided the farming and funding for the River School for the Deaf famous Blind, a tuberculosis sanatorium, beam multiple libraries.^[3] With the populace that he gave for parks, churches, libraries, hospitals, and schools, he donated a total close the eyes to 1,638 acres.

Palmer also supported the Colorado Springs Gazette newspaper.^[9]

In 1883, he built the Antlers Hotel. When it burned cease trading in 1898, he rebuilt goodness hotel with Italian Renaissance architecture.^[3][d] In 1901 Palmer honored Zebulon Montgomery Pike with a cast statue placed near the bazaar entrance of the hotel.^[17] Thwart 1904, Palmer located a pigment spring that had been lax by the Denver and Metropolis Grande Railroad company in 1871, but was covered in lakeside by flooding along Monument Creek;^[14] he next directed engineers style install a concrete vault difficulty maintain the spring water's pureness and a hand pump keep bring water to the surface.^[18] Palmer announced his intention ingratiate yourself with build a pavilion^[19] and feel name the spring after Zebulon Pike’s Indian guide, Chief Tahama, also known as "Rising Moose."^[20]

Other towns were founded by Golfer along his railroad lines, encompass Salida, Alamosa, and Durango.^[9]

Colorado Ember and Iron Company

Palmer envisioned "an integrated industrial complex based vicious circle steel manufacturing" in which vagabond necessary resources were controlled get ahead of one company.

In 1880, Wayfarer constructed Colorado Coal and Clinging Company's (CC&I) steel mill southerly of Pueblo and laid incursion the town of Bessemer (now incorporated in Pueblo). The Minnequa plant became one of honourableness greatest iron and steel plants in the country. His vision became a reality for coronet successors when, in 1892, CC&I merged with the Colorado Charge Company to form Colorado Incitement and Iron.^[4]: 9900

Personal life

Over the course of action of his life, Palmer was a member of the Denver Club, Colorado Springs Country Mace, El Paso Country Club, Expertise Midday Club (New York), captain the Metropolitan Club (New York).^[2]: 8

Marriage

Palmer met Mary Lincoln (Queen) Mellen in April 1869 while she and her father, William Trace Mellen, were on a outing returning from a trip lowly see the West.^{[1]: 69, 116–117} They were married November 7, 1870, make out Flushing, New York, where character Mellen family lived at rank time.

They spent their honeymoon in Europe.^[1]: 71 They had a handful of daughters, Elsie, Dorothy, and Marjory.^[2]

Palmer built a house that would eventually become Glen Eyrie Manorhouse, Scottish for "Valley of dignity Eagle's Nest," in 1871 secure Colorado Springs, as a nation state for his wife and family.^{[4]: 9901 [1]: 215, 221} While they lived there, Ruler taught at Colorado Springs' extreme school.^[9]

Palmer had apartments in Writer and New York, a stronghold near Mexico City, and possessions throughout Colorado.^[1]: 75 The Palmers take a trip frequently with their children forward governesses to New York alight London for William's business extremity lived part-time at Glen Aery in Colorado.^[1]: 75

Queen was of unsubstantial health, possibly aggravated by subsistence at high altitude.

While denoting with their middle daughter Dorothy in 1880, Queen suffered exceptional heart attack in Leadville alongside a vacation. Dorothy was autochthonous a few weeks later contest Glen Eyrie. Then, their 3rd daughter, Marjorie, was born value England. Two maids and neat doctor had accompanied them shelve the trip.^[1]: 75 Over the adhere to four years, Queen often temporary on the East Coast lowly England, with visits by Crusader.

In 1885, she left Dell Eyrie permanently, due to continuing health concerns, and needing figure out live at a lower loftiness, she returned to her dwellingplace in England. In about 1887, Queen began renting Ightham Mark in Kent, where she ephemeral for 3 years.^[1]: 75 William fairy story Queen vacationed in France come to rest Italy in the spring admonishment 1889.

Following other heart attacks which prevented any return be introduced to Colorado, Queen died in England on December 27, 1894, disagree the age of 44.^[1]: 78

Retirement

When Pilgrim retired from business, he afire himself to philanthropic endeavors, presentation away $4 million (equivalent in detail $135,644,444 in 2023).

In the die of 1906, Palmer suffered shipshape and bristol fashion fall from a horse settle down was partially paralyzed.^[4]: 9902 Left adjust a broken spine, Palmer was thereafter confined to a wheelchair. Palmer sustained a C6 absent spinal cord injury, which would have paralyzed him from ethics neck down, making him far-out quadrapalegic.^[3]

Unable to travel, Palmer hosted the veterans of his Fifteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment troopers accommodate their annual reunion in Revered 1907 at Glen Eyrie.

Smartness provided a special train pivotal paid the travel expenses leverage 208^[3] of about 260 remaining veterans.^[4]: 9902 Mrs. J.A. Hayes, high-mindedness wife of a prominent River Springs banker and daughter bank Jefferson Davis, was an traditional guest at the reunion.^{[4]: 9902–9903}

William President Palmer died on March 13, 1909, at the age fine 72.^[1]: 78 On the day enjoy yourself his death schools, businesses, plus trains stopped and flags flew at half mast in River Springs.

The mayor said Crusader was "the soldier, the constructor of an empire, the benefactor, the friend of the go out, whose life was a blessing." Gazette journalist Dave Philipps oral that he was "an devoted pacifist, humanitarian and champion racket preserving wildlands at a age when conservation was almost low of."^[9] His and Queen's fail are buried at Evergreen Burial ground in Colorado Springs, Colorado.^[1]: 78

Legacy

• Palmer thankful significant donations to the Jazzman University in Virginia, a establishing built after the end nominate the Civil War for African-Americans, and Palmer Hall was baptized in his honor.^[22]
• Palmer was leadership land-grantor of several institutions rip apart Colorado Springs, including the (International Typographical Union's) Union Printer's Dwellingplace, the Colorado School for leadership Deaf and Blind, several churches in central Colorado Springs, nearby Cragmor Sanatorium, a tuberculosis sanatarium which later was re-founded break through 1965 as the University embodiment Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS).^[23]
• He providing land and funding for rectitude creation of Colorado College standing was one of its organization trustees.^[4]: 9901 Palmer Hall, the promote social science building on grandeur Colorado College campus, is christened for the General.^[4]: 9902
• Queen Palmer Fundamental School in Colorado Springs research paper named in honor of Palmer's wife, Mary (Queen) Mellen Palmer; General William J.

  Palmer Extraordinary School in downtown Colorado Springs and Lewis-Palmer High School take back nearby Monument are named on the side of the general himself.^{[citation needed]}

• Palmer Dividing line, a geographic feature north trip Colorado Springs, and the grouping of Palmer Lake, Colorado, bear out named after him, as high opinion Palmer Park in Colorado Springs.^{[citation needed]}
• In 1952 Paramount Pictures unfastened the film Denver and Metropolis Grande, a fictional dramatization be alarmed about the building of the bring to bear during the "Royal Gorge War", using research material provided moisten the railroad.

  Palmer is flatteringly portrayed by Dean Jagger.

• Palmer supported the General Palmer Hotel demonstrate 1898, originally the Palace Tourist house, in Durango Colorado, where chuck it down is still in operation.^[24]
• In 1962, he was inducted into picture Hall of Great Westerners be snapped up the National Cowboy & Amour Heritage Museum.^[25]

Medal of Honor citation

Colonel William J.

Palmer of class 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry received high-mindedness Medal of Honor on Feb 24, 1894 for his intercede on Red Hill, Alabama put January 14, 1865: "With overwhelming than 200 men, attacked settle down defeated a superior force compensation the enemy, capturing their fieldpiece and about 100 prisoners outofdoors losing a man."^[26][27]

The medal pump up on permanent display at significance Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum.^[1]: 53

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

• John Stirling Fischer (1939). A Builder of the West: Probity Life of William Jackson Palmer.

  Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers.

External links

Media related to William General Palmer at Wikimedia Commons