The Elbert County tribune., 1909-03-18

Colorado Springs.--Gen. William
Jackson Palmer, often termed the first
Citizen of Colorado, founder of Colo.
srado Springs. soldier. empire builder
and philanthropist. died at his home In
Glen Eyrie at 1880 o'clock Saturday
afternoon, after, being unconscious for
more than twenty-four hours.
Death was due to the fracture of
his spine by fall while horseback
riding near his home in October. 1906.
and although the general displayed
wonderful vitality before he finally
succumbed. he was subject to frequent
relapses which alarmed his family and
friends.
Last year he was strong enough to
make trip to Europe. where 1t was
, hoped that change OF climate and treat
gnent by British specialists might
strengthen lin and prolong his life
After thorough test it was found
that the change was not beneficial
and he. returned to Colorado to pass
his few remaining days In the homo
he had built in the state he had loved
and served so we'll
During last week he had failed rap
idly. but his previous rallies had filled
bis family with hope that he might
again regain strength. All this week.
however. his strength has failed and
he frequently slept heavily for hours.
He was able to take an automobile
ride Wednesday but on his return took
to his bed for the last time.
When he fell asleep about noon Fri
day no especial concern was felt. but
after. time his breathing became
labored. he seemed to be comatose and
1t was found that he was unconscious.
Dr. w II. Swan. wns hastily called.
aud soon saw that the end was near.
He remained with the dying man all
night and until the end Col. D. C.
Dodge OF Denver, a former railroad as
sociate and close friend Of the gen
eral. was summoned, and, with Mrs.
Dodge, arrived at the Palmer home
Saturday morning.
There were also at the bedside of
General Palmer at his death. his three
daughters. Mrs. Elsie Myers. and the
Misses Dorothy and Marjorie Palmer
Mrs. Myers husband, Leopold Hamil-
ton Myers. his sister. Miss Sylvia Ny
ers. DR.. w. F. Slocum. president OF
Colorado college. and Miss Jacobeit.
who had nursed the general for many
years, General Palmer was seventy.
two years old last September.
News Of the death of the founder Of
Colorado Springs spread rapidly
throughout the city and universal re-
gret was expressed.
william J. Palmer was born near
I.eipsic. Kent county. Dell. September
II, 1886. His parents. John and Ma
tiida Jackson Palmer, sent him dur
ing his early boyhcod to Friends
school, after which he attended a
grammar school and high school In
Philadelphia From his seventeenth
to his twenty-first years he was a
member OF the Hempfield railroad en-
cheering corps. but he left this occu-
patton upon coming Of age, and spent
year in Europe In travel and study.
Returning, he became secretary and
treasurer OF the Westmoreland Coal
Company of Pennsylvania. which po-
sition he held for a year. He then ac-
cepted position as. private secretary
to j. Edgar Thompson. president and
controlling power of the great Penn
sylyania railroad. 1t was under this
+, master mind that General Palmer first
received the training which fitted him
for the great work of his life in the
far West
At the outbreak of the Civil War.
General Palmer recruited organized
and was made captain of the Ander-
son troop OF cavalry. and thus entered
upon a military career which is one
OF the most brilliant recorded of this
memorable conflict. His record be.
gins soon after the battle OF Bull Run,
when he was. assigned to special duty
under Gen Robert Anderson. when
the latter took command In Kentucky.
Gen. w. T.. Sherman accepted Pal
nier's troop of cavalry when General
Anderson retired, and under Ander-
sons successor. General Buell.. ths
Palmer troop saw active service in the
Nashville and Shiloh campaigns. A
year later at the request of General
Rosecrans, General Palmer. then Cap
tain Palmer. was authorized by Gov
srnor Curtin of Pennsylvania to or
ganize the Fifteenth Pennsylvania
cavalry. Hardly had this work been
completed when Palmer was sent to
head off the Confederate invasion in
the Cumberland valley of MARYLAND
which was accomplished at the battle
Of Antietam in September. 1862.
On the day following that historic
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