Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-05-05
POTTER PALMER DEAD.

| tOlIsr falUer, Ior nearly nall
century one oi Chicsgo's most piomi-
uert business men, died last night at
bis residence on Lske Shore drive.
The exact cause OF Mr.. Palmer's
death has not yet been de- ,rmiped.
He had been suffering for several
weeks with nervous disorder, but as
be was able to be about the house his
condition was not thought to be
serious. When he retired Saturday
night he was feeling, If anything, better
than for several days. During the
| Digt t, however, he seemed to lose all
bis energy sDd 10 the morning was
unable to leave bis room. He grad
nslly grew weaker during the day and
at 5 40 p. 10. he suffered sudden COL
lapse, from which he expired. The
physicians who we're attending Mr..
Palmer are puzzled as to the ultimate
cause OF bis death, for he apparel t'y
hsd DO organic trouble. Mrs Palmer
sud their two soos-Honore and Pot
tar Palmer. jr.-were with Mr.. Palmer
whgn be died.
Potter Palmer bad long been recog-
nied as ohe OF the leading spirits OF the
great young metropolis OF the West
Lake most OF the rich men OF Chicago,
ne began life poor and built his i'm
menss fortune FROM the foundation up.
he was bora in Rsnsselserville, n. Y
10 1926, bis ietber being farmer
While ct ii r COY ne became q clerk in
.ttore, a0d lelt that to lake a minor
pos'tlOn IN b4uk It DInhsm, Y. Y
d. Went iuso toe n.Ics, 70 business
4. O.eida ecu I. AGi later bsd .. store
ia L0ekDort. y. \ He " the grett
o p9ssibilitips - Chicago, and bsiore the
civil wsr IS sDii-5tG q 4 store there which
gr, " at tle leadiog dry goods esta5.
IS msl t in the city. The firm later
ecame Field, Palmer & Letter, aud ell
hree of the pslt made millions.
usrsbsli Field to-day disputes with
John Wsusmaker the distinction Of be-
* the Rret test drv goods merchant iD
be world. Levi u. Lsier Is one of the
Wealtbiest men iD the country, his
family Is prominent socially on two
Continents and ais daughter is Vicereiae
Of IOdia, Lady CurzoD. Potter Palmer,
the most noted of the trio, retired from
the mercantile business in 1867, having
already made fortune, which he 10.
vested in real estate. The great fire OF
1871 burned up most OF his estate, but
ne had faith In Cbicsgo's future and
rebuilt bis stores and houses, erecting
the Palmer House. then one OF the flo.
sat hotels la the country. He soon re-
covered from the blow dealt by the fire.
4od his foriuDe has for many years
amounted to millions.
la 1870 he married Miss Bertha
donOre, - The wea thy Kentucky Hon.
IRE family, hef pother hsving been o
Miss Carr, dc cendsnt OF the we'll
known Carr family VI Maryland. Mrs.
Palmer, though long one Of the best.
known society women Ia CnioSgo, fret
came into national prominence when
she was appointed chairman OF tbe
Board OF Lady Managers of the Worlds
Fair at Chicago. Her husband gave
5000. 900 to aid in erecting the Wo-
mans Building, which was the first
time women had ever been prominently
represented at an exposition. She
managed this department Of the great
fair with so much tact and ability that
she wss soon numbered smorg the
most prominent American women.
Since thst time she has added to her
prestige by social copquests in Paris
aud Rome, having resolved the deco
ration of the Legion of Honor during
the Paris Exposition OF 1900. Her sis-
ter is the wife of Gen. Fred Grant, who
was Minister to Austria during Harri.
sons administration aud who is now 10
command Of a brigade OF American
troops in the Philippines. Mics Grant
married a Russian noblemsn, Prince
CsntacOzsne. Mr.. Palmer leaves two
sons, Potter Palmer, ir., and Houore
Palmer, both born in the '70s. The
Psimers lived in a superb house on the
Lake Shore Drive, In Chicago, and also
maintained establishments at Newport
and Paris.