The age-herald., 1900-09-26
GENERAL PALMERT
 DIED SUDDENLY
Passed Away at His. Home Early
 Yesterday Morning.
HEART FAILURE THE CAUSE
Was in Apparent Good Health, and Was Out Few Hours Before. the End Came-Sketoh
 of His Life

Springfield, H.. September 25.-Gen. John M Palmer. ex-United States Senator from Illinois, died at his residence in this city at a. m. His death was caused by heart failure.
 He was an honorary pall-bearer at Gen eral McClernands funeral last Saturday
 Last night General Palmer was on the street viewing the State Fair illuminAti tions until late hour, apparently we'll
 General Palmer complained early yester- day of pain in his chest. He slept easy until last night, and about 8 o'clock this morning Mrs. Palmer called a physician, who did not think the generals condition alarming. The general awoke about o'clock this morning still complaining. He talked to his wife short time and then fell into doze and expired soon after ward.
 Sketch of His Life
 Gen. John McCauley Palmer was born September 1S, 1Sl7, at Eagle Creek. Scott County, Kentucky, and came from one of the best families of the nation. Ills father was soldier during the War of 1Si2 sub sequent to which he removed to Christian County, Kentucky, where General Palmer received common school education.
 In 1881 the family removed to Alton, Ill. In 1894 the subject of this sketch entered Alton College. but not being supplied with sufficient funds. withdrew shortly after wards and took service in a cooper shop. Later on he became a peddler and stlil later a school teacher near Canton. III. In 1888 he began to study law and was admit ted to the bar at Carlinville. H., in 1889.
 After settling at Carlinville, General Pal mer was nominated as Democratic candi- date for county clerk but was defeated. He supported Van Buren for President in 1S4O, and in 1S43 was elected a probate judge, He was elected to the State Constitutional Con yention in ISi7, was county judge from 1S49 to 1851, and State Senator from 1852 to 1854. In the latter year he opposed the Ne braska bill, and not being able to fpll0w his party OH the slavery question, resigned his seat in the Senate. In 1856 he was pres ident of the first Illinois Republican State Convention and a delegate to the national convention the same year. 4.fa.i
 In 1860 he was an elector on the Lincoln ticket, and Q year later was made colonel of the Fourteenth Illinois Regiment, and was breveted brigadier general of colun- teers the latter part of 1861. In August, ts62 he organized the One Hundred and Twenty second Illinois Regiment, and in September was placed in command of the first division of the army of the Mississippi and ordered to join Buell.. --t
 For gallantry and skill at Stone river he was made major general of volunteers, and in 1885 was put in charge of the Freed mans Bureau" From 1868 to 1872 he was Governor of Illinois by election of the Re- publicans. ss- -r
 In 1872 he allied himself with the Demo- cratic party. leaving the Republicans be- cause General Sheridan used Federal troops to guard Chicago at the time of the great fire without consulting the Governor. In 1890 he was elected United States Senator from Illinois as 8 Democrat by the marrow margin of one vote. In 1896 he headed the gold Democratic ticket for President and made many speeches over the country
 General Palmer delivered an address in Birmingham at O'Brin's opera house dur ing the campaign of 1896 and made a good impression. He was a fine-ooking man of pleasing address and had a vigorous, con vincng way of talking that made him many friends. Some weeks since he an nounced himself for Mckinley, being op- posed to MT. Bryan because of the silver views of the latter.
 For some time General Palmer has not been in good circumstances, according to reports, and a movement was inaugurated a few months ago to secure him a pension.
 Notwithstanding his political changes, General Palmer was a very popular man all over the United States, and to him was always conceded honesty and sincerity af purpose.