The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-26
Awokc ut O'Clock Yesterday Morn
and Passed Away in an Hour.
BRIEF SKETCH OF HIS CAREER
PEDDLER, COOPER, TEACHER, LAW
YER. JUDGE, LEGISLATOR,
Gallant Soldier of the Civil War,
United States Senator and Candf-
date for the Presidency i'm 1896.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,. Sept. 25.-Gen. John
Nj. Palmer, ex-United States senator from
Illinois, died at his residence in this city
at a. m. of heart failure. He was an
honorary pallbearer at General McCier-
nands funeral on Sunday. Last night
General Palmer was on the street viewing
the state fair Examinations until a late
hour, apparently we'll He complained
early to-day of a pain in his chest. lie
slept uneasy last night. and about O'Clock
this morning Mrs. Palmer called physi-
clan, who did not think the generals
health alarming. The general awoke about
Z o'clock this morning still complaining.
He talked to,his wife for short time. then
fell into a doze and expired soon after
ward.
President Mckinley tonight sent mess
age of sympathy to Senator S. N. Cullom
here asking Mr.. Cullom TO convey to the
members of the Palmer family his sin
cere sympathy.
John McAuley Palmer was born on Eagle
creek, Scott county, Kentucky, on Sept 10,
1917. Soon after his father. soldier of the
war of 1872. removed to Christian county.
Kentucky. There young John received
common school education and lived until
man, removed to Illinois, settling about ten
miles from Alton. In 1884 John and his
brother Elihu entered Alton College, which
was organized on the manual labor system.
but the lack of money compelled him TO
withdraw. He worked for time in a coop
er's shop, then became a peddler and in
1893 became teacher in a district school
near Canton. In the same year he began
H. ro1 to tar-
linsville and in December 1889, he was adj
mitted to the bar. Less than two months
after settling in Carlinsville he became the
Democratic candidate for county clerk, but
was defeated. In 1910 he supported Van
Buren, for President. In 1874 he was elected
probate judge. In 1s47 he was elected to the
state constitutional convention. and at the
same time was defeated for reelection as
probate Judge The successful candidate
for this latter Office resigned in 1SiS and
Mr.. Palmer was elected to fill the vacancy.
From 1S49 TO 1851 he was county judge and
from 1852 to 1854 he was state senator In
the latter year he opposed the Nebraska
bill. and as he could not follow his party
on the slavery question he resigned his
seat in the Senate. He went before the
people on the new issue i'm 1856 and was re-
turned to the Senate. In 1856 he was presi-
dent of the first Illinois Republican state
convention Having changed his political
views he again resigned his seat in the Sen
ate and took no active part In the Fremont
campaign Mr.. Palmer was a Republican
candidate for Congress. but was defeated
In 1860 he was an elector on the Lincoln
ticket. In 1861 he was a delegate to the
peace convention and favored the compro-
mise measures adopted by that body.
In April, 1861, Mr.. Palmer was elected
colonel of the Fourteenth Illinois Regi-
ment He accompanied Fremont on his
Springfield campaign and in October he was
made brigadier general of volunteers and
accompanied Pope on his New Madrid cam
paign, being present at the capture of that
place and Island No. 10. In May, 1862 he
became i'll and was ordered home, where he
remained until August. when he organized
the e-hundred-and-twent Illinois
Regiment. In September he was given
command of the First Brigade of the First
Division of the Army of the Mississippi and
ordered to join Buel. For gallantry and
skill at Stone River, where he led a divi-
sion, he was made major general of vol
unteers. He was at Chickamauga, and led
the tourteentn corps In the Atlanta cam
paign from May to September, 1864. General
Palmer was assigned TO the military adj
ministrtaion of Kentucky in February, 1865,
and for a time had charge of the Freed
mems Bureau in that State.
From 1868 to 1872 he was Governor of ILL.,
nois, having been elected by the Repub-
licans. Since 1872 he was a Democrat He
left the Republican party because General
Sheridan used federal troops to guard Chi
cago at the time of the great fire without
consulting the Governor. General Palmer
declared that unless Sheridan's men were
withdrawn he would drive them out with
the state militia. President Grant then or
dered Sheridan to withdraw his troops.
General Palmer was elected United States
senator in 1891 on the 153d ballot. two Popu-
lists breaking the long deadlock by voting
for him. He served until March 3, 1887 AT
the Gold Democratic convention, in Indian
apois, in 1896. he was nominated for Pres
ident.
General Palmer's first wife died many
years ago. April 4. 1883, he married Mrs.
Hannah l.. Kimball, daughter of the late
James l.. Lamb, of Springfield. Mrs. Palm
er is as widely known in the charities and
benevolent enterprises of Springfield as her
husband was in politics.