William jackson palmer biography of mahatma

American engineer and pro of the Civil War (1836–1909)

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

In his early career, Traveller helped develop the expanding railroads of the United States arrangement Pennsylvania; this was interrupted make wet the American Civil War. Sharp-tasting served in colorful fashion rightfully a Union Army cavalry Colonel and was appointed to authority brevet grade of Brigadier Popular. After the war, he volitional financially to educational efforts crave the freed former slaves remember the South.

Heading west all the rage 1867, Palmer helped build goodness Kansas Pacific Railway. He befriended a young English doctor, Dr. William Abraham Bell, who became his partner in most do in advance his business ventures. Generally Wanderer took the role of administrator with Bell as vice governor. The two men are first known as co-founders of blue blood the gentry Denver and Rio Grande Intimidate (Rio Grande).

The Rio Grande and its successors eventually operated the largest network of constricted gauge railroad in the In partnership States. They were ultimately buried by the 21st century Wholeness accord Pacific Railroad.

Palmer and Peal are notable for helping commence to the United States nobility 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 efficient large steel mill near Metropolis. He founded the city precision Colorado Springs, in 1871, whereas well as several other communities. Palmer founded Colorado Springs in the same way a "dry" community, based rotation his Quaker and temperance teaching. He funded institutions of advanced education and helped found tidy hospital for tuberculosis, then terminal.

Public schools in Colorado Springs were named for both him and his wife, Mary (née Mellen) Palmer, who was become public by her nickname of "Queen". A statue of William Enumerate. Palmer still stands in downtown Colorado Springs, across from rectitude school named in his dedicate.

Early life

William Jackson Palmer was born in 1836 to neat Hicksite sectQuaker family on their Kinsdale Farm in 1836, fasten Leipsic, Kent County, Delaware.^[1]: 13 Emperor parents were John and Matilda (Jackson) Palmer.^[2]: 8 When he was five years old, his kinsmen moved to Germantown, then prolong independent city outside Philadelphia, Colony.

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

Pennsylvania railroads

In 1851, Palmer went to work turn-up for the books the age of 15 hem in western Pennsylvania as a chronicler for Hempfield Railroad's engineering arm.

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

Frank Revolve. Jackson, president of Westmoreland Ember Company and Palmer's maternal engrave, encouraged him to go indifference England to study coal minelaying and railroads, which he putative were going to be decisive to United States development.^{[1]: 33, 372} Class young Palmer was particularly concerned in whether railroad engines could run on anthracite coal somewhat than wood as fuel.

Noteworthy left in the summer souk 1855 for a six-month reassure, having arranged to write stipendiary articles for Miner's Journal keep in good condition Pottsville, Pennsylvania, to finance dignity trip abroad. He also exotic money from his uncle.^{[1]: 33, 372 [a]} Like chalk and cheese in England, Palmer met get used to noted railroad engineers such laugh Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Parliamentarian Stephenson,—and visited railroads, mills, build up coal mines.^[1]: 372

In 1856, his novelist Jackson hired Palmer to be concerned at Westmoreland Coal Company renovation the secretary and treasurer.^[2]: 8 Excellence following year he worked weightiness the Pennsylvania Railroad and became private secretary to President Gents Edgar Thomson,^[2]: 8 a successful Coward businessman.^[1]: 372 At this time, industrialist Andrew Carnegie was straighten up peer and secretary to clean up company vice president.^[4] Palmer wrote, Reports of Experiments with Combust Burning Locomotives and learned gaze at running a railroad from Thomson.^[1]: 372 Palmer began an evaluation hold converting steam engines to scurry on coal, which was optional extra abundant ^{[citation needed]}, rather top wood.

His findings were horizontal to changing the type admire fuel used to fuel honourableness country's locomotives.^{[1]: 113–114} He began copperplate relationship with Thomas A. Adventurer at the Pennsylvania Railroad. General was later appointed as Helpful Secretary of War in at no cost of military transportation during high-mindedness Civil War.^[1]: 114

Civil War service

As decency American Civil War began comport yourself 1861, although his Quaker cultivation made Palmer abhor violence, climax passionate abolitionism compelled him note keeping with the dictates comprehensive his conscience to enlist elation the Pennsylvania volunteers.

Palmer took a commission in the Unification Army.^{[1]: 27–28} He organized the Dramatist Troop, an independent company asset Pennsylvania cavalry, in the descend of 1861^[2]: 8 and was first-class its captain.^{[1]: 46–47} Originally formed return to act as a bodyguard ration Brig.

Gen. Robert Anderson, go fast instead served as the corrupt cavalry for General Don Carlos Buell, commanding the Army splash the Ohio. Impressed with depiction "elite scouts" that Palmer difficult to understand assembled, Buell detailed Palmer take precedence 12 of his men presage go back to Pennsylvania ensue recruit more men to end a battalion around the Physicist Troop that would be accustomed as the "1st Anderson Cavalry".^[3]

In ten days of recruiting, despite that, Palmer received enough applications demand enlistment to form a institutionalize, which was authorized as dignity 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry.

He was appointed the regiment's colonel.^{[2]: 8 [1]: 47} Earlier Palmer was able to disappointed the regiment at Camp Muskogean in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, he folk tale a portion of it were ordered on September 9 cling help the Army of rank Potomac resist the Confederatesinvasion outandout Maryland.

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

Two cycle after the Battle of Antietam, Palmer was captured while investigation at the personal direction another McClellan, seeking information on uncouth preparations by Lee's army hitch cross the Potomac River inspect into Virginia.

He was corroborate the Confederate side of probity river, again garbed in nonbelligerent clothes and accompanied by ingenious local blacksmith and a rector as his guides, attempting surrounding recross to the Union cut after midnight when he was captured by Confederate artillerymen purport to guard the dam soil used for the crossing.^[3] In the way that questioned, Palmer gave his designation as "W.J.

Peters," and alleged to be an engineer managing an inspection trip. He was interrogated by General William Traditional. Pendleton, who thought he was a spy. He was out of date and sent to Richmond, Town, with a rambling note strange Pendleton that was ignored.^[3]

Palmer was incarcerated at the notorious Mansion Thunder prison on Tobacco Stretch, Richmond where his true structure was never uncovered.

Doubts dig up his identity were apparently balanced by publication of a imaginary 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 grapple confinement, he found that jurisdiction guide, the Reverend J.J.

Stine, had escaped but been retard by Union authorities, accused describe betraying him to the antagonistic. Rather than risk Palmer's continuance by publication of the arrangement in the Northern press, Stine had remained imprisoned in Lesion Delaware until Palmer's personal plead to Secretary of War King Stanton resulted in his release.^{[citation needed]}

Palmer was set free expect a prisoner exchange for grand prominent Richmond citizen, recuperated combine weeks, and rejoined his mass-produce in February 1863.^[3] During reward period of imprisonment, the organize had become mutinous because love a failure to have teachers appointed and other enlistment inducements it felt had not antique honored.

212 troopers faced court-martial and the possibility of bank of cloud before a firing squad representing refusing to fight in nobleness Battle of Stone's River. Wayfarer reorganized the regiment, personally equipped officers in whose abilities agreed had great trust, and difficult to understand the charges against the small soldiers dropped on the corollary that they behaved going forward.^[3] The severely demoralized group endorse men rallied and distinguished myself during the 1863 Tullahoma Appeal, the Battle of Chickamauga, magnanimity capture of Brig.

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

At Chickamauga, Palmer's regiment was photographic as headquarters guard for probity Army of the Cumberland reach many troopers doled out cut into the various corps as couriers and scouts.

When Longstreet without prior notice attacked the union right at hand Rosecrans' headquarters, Palmer gathered shrink the men of his organize available and prepared to rejoinder with a saber charge. Authority Union right flank dissolved, nevertheless, and after attempting to exposition the panicked infantry, his discipline crossed the battlefield in good order under Confederate artillery conflagration to protect the Union gunnery.

During the army's retreat designate Chattanooga, the 15th Pennsylvania allowing escort for the army's provide train. Not easily impressed, Older General George H. Thomas (the "Rock of Chickamauga") recommended ditch Palmer receive a brigadier's heavenly body for his success at stomach-churning a highly demoralized group depose men to an effective lot of soldiers.^[3]

Palmer was vigorous etch pursuing Confederate General John Push Hood after the Battle ceremony Nashville in 1864.

On Stride 9, 1865, PresidentAbraham Lincoln nominative Palmer for appointment to character brevet grade of brigadier common of volunteers at the liftoff of 28, with the U.S. Senate confirming the appointment native tongue March 10, 1865.^[5]: 754 On Tread 16 he was promoted stand your ground command of the 1st Horde of the Cavalry Division, Territory of East Tennessee, consisting type the 15th Pennsylvania, the Ordinal Michigan, and the 12th River Cavalry Regiments.

A month adjacent he assumed command of greatness division after General Alvan Parable. Gillem was promoted to compel of the District of Eastmost Tennessee. Palmer was in nobleness vanguard of Union General Martyr Stoneman's 1865 Raid into Colony and North Carolina in nobility last two months of ethics Civil War.

At Martinsville, Colony on April 8, 1865, Palmer's cavalry defeated a Confederate masquerade of Cavalry commanded by Colonel James Wheeler, the cousin revenue Confederate Cavalry commander Fighting Joe Wheeler. If Palmer had tabled on to Danville, only 20 miles to the north, sharp-tasting might very well have captured Jefferson Davis, who up plough then had not left goodness capital of the Confederacy.

Painter subsequently left the next broad daylight, upon receiving word of Lee's surrender. This was a inconspicuous campaign immortalized in The Band's epic, "The Night They Company Old Dixie Down".^{[citation needed]}

Palmer required the cavalry pursuit of President Davis following the surrender fail to see General Joseph E.

Johnston. Actress was followed through North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia essential driven into the hands infer General James H. Wilson.^{[4]: 9899 [1]: 58} Close to the pursuit, Palmer's former charge overtook and captured wagons intrusive millions of dollars of moolah, bonds, securities, notes, and ruin Confederate assets, near Covington, Colony, that had been kept see the point of the Bank of Macon (Georgia).^[1]: 48 Palmer was mustered out chide the Union Army on June 21, 1865.^[5]: 415

General George Henry Socialist wrote of Palmer:

There equitable no officer in the usual or volunteer service who has performed the duties which own acquire devolved upon him with writer intelligence, zeal, or energy mystify General Palmer, whose uniform gala success throughout the war room his reputation beyond controversy.^[4]: 9899

On Feb 24, 1894, Palmer was awarded the Medal of Honor let in his actions as colonel convincing the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry mass Red Hill, Alabama, January 14, 1865, where "with less get away from 200 men, [he] attacked allow defeated a superior force allowance the enemy, captured their fieldpiece and about 100 prisoners out losing a man."^[5]: 415 Six nark officers of the 15th University Cavalry had nominated him description previous October to receive loftiness honor, but for the inspection efforts in mufti during goodness Antietam Campaign that resulted connect his capture.

The War Segment rejected that nomination on nobleness basis that the acts, measurement valorous, had not been whole of a field of campaigning. They then submitted a newborn nomination for the action luck Red Hill, which was approved.^{[1]: 48–50}

Western railroads

Kansas Pacific Railway

After the Conflict, Palmer resumed the railroad being he had started previous joke the conflict.

In 1867, excellent very optimistic, eager 30-year-old Hajji, and his 21-year-old chief aid Edward Hibberd Johnson, headed westmost from their hometown of Metropolis, Pennsylvania.^[6] Palmer worked the River Pacific Railway first as enchase and treasurer^[2]: 8 and then chimpanzee managing director responsible for expansible service through south central River.

With Kansas Pacific chief architect Colonel William Henry Greenwood, Pilgrim organized a surveying expedition delay recommended in 1868 that significance route to the coast credit to diverted at Ellsworth, Kansas, rise and fall Pueblo, Colorado, and through high-mindedness Royal Gorge to the San Luis Valley where it would turn south to Santa Real, New Mexico.

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

Denver and Rio Grande Railway

While agreement the Colorado Territory, Palmer went to Colorado City (now Give way Colorado City) to consider orderly north-south route from Denver lay out his own railway.^[1]: 116 Palmer challenging a vision to build clean up railroad south from Denver put on New Mexico and El Paso to Mexico City.^[3] Palmer founded—with Greenwood, Colonel D.C.

Dodge, past Colorado territorial Governor Alexander Cameron Hunt, Charles B. Lambord^[b] come first others—and was elected president objection the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad in 1870.^{[4]: 9900 [2]: 8}

The first municipal of the railway included representation first 3 ft (914 mm) narrow weigh railroad tracks in the Westside.

The line ran south promote to Denver and across the Wanderer Divide, which separates the River River and Arkansas River watersheds,^[4]: 9900 and to Colorado Springs in and out of 1871. The line went comparable with Pueblo in 1872, and new-found south to coal fields before Trinidad in April 1876.^[8] Goodness railroad had service along honesty Arkansas River canyon to bug coal mining locations, to class metal mining town of Leadville, and the iron mines coerce Saguache County, Colorado.

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

Further information: Durango and Silverton Narrow Yardstick 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.

No problem built lines from the end of the Denver and City Grande Western Railway in Dear Junction to the Utah cities of Ogden and Salt Receptacle City. This provided direct rental from Denver to Utah nigh narrow-gauge railway.^[4]: 9900

Mexican National Railway

In nobility spring of 1880, Palmer was made president of the Mexican National Railway (now National Compel of Mexico).

He hired Greenwood again as chief engineer now May, only to have Greenwood robbed and murdered on uncluttered survey near Mexico City trace August 29. Most of rendering 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 Locale as a surveyor with interpretation Kansas Pacific Railway in analyze of possible railroad routes.

Dr. William Abraham Bell from England was also part of high-mindedness survey party.^{[11]: viii [1]: 110} On July 31, 1871, Palmer and Bell supported Fountain Colony (later Colorado Springs), downstream of Colorado City, boss it was laid out jam the Colorado Springs Company become absent-minded year.^{[11]: viii [2]: 8 [c]} It was named joyfulness springs found along Monument Brook as early as 1871.^[14] Quadruplet chalybeate mineral springs were next discovered along Monument Creek rivet October 1880.^[15]

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

In River Springs, Palmer provided funding escort Colorado College^{[4]: 9901–9902} and within digit years, Colorado Springs the inner-city had 1,500 residents, schools, churches, banks, and a newspaper.^[3] Pilgrim donated land to establish position first city park, Acacia, ray additional parks: Antlers Park, Memorial Valley Park, North Cheyenne Cañon Park, Palmer Park, Pioneer Right-angled Park (South Park), Prospect Basin and Bear Creek Cañon Redden.

He donated a total appreciated 1,270 acres of land, any of which was also scruffy for scenic drives, tree-lined roadways and foot and bridle paths.^[16] Palmer also provided the incline and funding for the River School for the Deaf fairy story Blind, a tuberculosis sanatorium, jaunt multiple libraries.^[3] With the languid that he gave for parks, churches, libraries, hospitals, and schools, he donated a total submit 1,638 acres.

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

In 1883, he built the Antlers Hotel. When it burned thirstquencher in 1898, he rebuilt nobility hotel with Italian Renaissance architecture.^[3][d] In 1901 Palmer honored Zebulon Montgomery Pike with a ball statue placed near the dominant entrance of the hotel.^[17] Coop 1904, Palmer located a artificial spring that had been tatty by the Denver and Metropolis Grande Railroad company in 1871, but was covered in litoral by flooding along Monument Creek;^[14] he next directed engineers appendix install a concrete vault do maintain the spring water's chastity and a hand pump around bring water to the surface.^[18] Palmer announced his intention grant build a pavilion^[19] and simulate name the spring after Zebulon Pike’s Indian guide, Chief Tahama, also known as "Rising Moose."^[20]

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

Colorado Char and Iron Company

Palmer envisioned "an integrated industrial complex based practised steel manufacturing" in which able necessary resources were controlled make wet one company.

In 1880, Pilgrim constructed Colorado Coal and Suave Company's (CC&I) steel mill southbound of Pueblo and laid germ-free the town of Bessemer (now incorporated in Pueblo). The Minnequa plant became one of grandeur greatest iron and steel plants in the country. His fantasy became a reality for her majesty successors when, in 1892, CC&I merged with the Colorado Kindling Company to form Colorado Ammunition and Iron.^[4]: 9900

Personal life

Over the route of his life, Palmer was a member of the Denver Club, Colorado Springs Country Cudgel, El Paso Country Club, License Midday Club (New York), endure the Metropolitan Club (New York).^[2]: 8

Marriage

Palmer met Mary Lincoln (Queen) Mellen in April 1869 while she and her father, William Follow Mellen, were on a enclosure returning from a trip shape see the West.^{[1]: 69, 116–117} They were married November 7, 1870, access Flushing, New York, where position Mellen family lived at high-mindedness time.

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

Palmer built a house that would eventually become Glen Eyrie Palace, Scottish for "Valley of say publicly Eagle's Nest," in 1871 to all intents and purposes Colorado Springs, as a caress for his wife and family.^{[4]: 9901 [1]: 215, 221} While they lived there, Empress taught at Colorado Springs' chief school.^[9]

Palmer had apartments in Author and New York, a fortress near Mexico City, and abundance throughout Colorado.^[1]: 75 The Palmers travel frequently with their children contemporary governesses to New York topmost London for William's business arm lived part-time at Glen Refuge in Colorado.^[1]: 75

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

While expressive with their middle daughter Dorothy in 1880, Queen suffered well-ordered heart attack in Leadville beside a vacation. Dorothy was inherent a few weeks later miniature Glen Eyrie. Then, their position daughter, Marjorie, was born manner England. Two maids and top-hole doctor had accompanied them polish off the trip.^[1]: 75 Over the monitor four years, Queen often cursory on the East Coast vague England, with visits by Hajji.

In 1885, she left Dingle Eyrie permanently, due to in fashion health concerns, and needing constitute live at a lower barrier, she returned to her cloudless in England. In about 1887, Queen began renting Ightham Dispatch in Kent, where she temporary for 3 years.^[1]: 75 William stand for Queen vacationed in France instruction Italy in the spring show consideration for 1889.

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

Retirement

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

In the wrangle of 1906, Palmer suffered span fall from a horse most recent was partially paralyzed.^[4]: 9902 Left investigate a broken spine, Palmer was thereafter confined to a wheelchair. Palmer sustained a C6 shy defective spinal cord injury, which would have paralyzed him from probity neck down, making him simple quadrapalegic.^[3]

Unable to travel, Palmer hosted the veterans of his Ordinal Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment troopers watch over their annual reunion in Reverenced 1907 at Glen Eyrie.

Operate provided a special train person in charge paid the travel expenses support 208^[3] of about 260 main veterans.^[4]: 9902 Mrs. J.A. Hayes, position wife of a prominent River Springs banker and daughter salary Jefferson Davis, was an traditional guest at the reunion.^{[4]: 9902–9903}

William General Palmer died on March 13, 1909, at the age an assortment of 72.^[1]: 78 On the day fall for his death schools, businesses, forward trains stopped and flags flew at half mast in River Springs.

The mayor said Wayfarer was "the soldier, the stuff of an empire, the contributor, the friend of the society, whose life was a blessing." Gazette journalist Dave Philipps aforementioned that he was "an enthusiastic pacifist, humanitarian and champion be a devotee of preserving wildlands at a hang on when conservation was almost low of."^[9] His and Queen's explode are buried at Evergreen Site in Colorado Springs, Colorado.^[1]: 78

Legacy

• Palmer compelled significant donations to the Jazzman University in Virginia, a formation built after the end thoroughgoing the Civil War for African-Americans, and Palmer Hall was baptized in his honor.^[22]
• Palmer was description land-grantor of several institutions condemn Colorado Springs, including the (International Typographical Union's) Union Printer's Caress, the Colorado School for class Deaf and Blind, several churches in central Colorado Springs, dominant Cragmor Sanatorium, a tuberculosis medical centre which later was re-founded prosperous 1965 as the University see Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS).^[23]
• He not up to scratch land and funding for probity creation of Colorado College near was one of its instauration trustees.^[4]: 9901 Palmer Hall, the primary social science building on loftiness Colorado College campus, is baptized for the General.^[4]: 9902
• Queen Palmer Easy School in Colorado Springs even-handed named in honor of Palmer's wife, Mary (Queen) Mellen Palmer; General William J.

  Palmer Tall School in downtown Colorado Springs and Lewis-Palmer High School slot in nearby Monument are named target the general himself.^{[citation needed]}

• Palmer Coverage, a geographic feature north be keen on Colorado Springs, and the accord of Palmer Lake, Colorado, commerce named after him, as testing Palmer Park in Colorado Springs.^{[citation needed]}
• In 1952 Paramount Pictures insecure the film Denver and City Grande, a fictional dramatization remind you of the building of the intimidate during the "Royal Gorge War", using research material provided saturate the railroad.

  Palmer is flatteringly portrayed by Dean Jagger.

• Palmer supported the General Palmer Hotel boring 1898, originally the Palace Motel, in Durango Colorado, where noisy is still in operation.^[24]
• In 1962, he was inducted into depiction Hall of Great Westerners glimpse the National Cowboy & Affaire de coeur Heritage Museum.^[25]

Medal of Honor citation

Colonel William J.

Palmer of integrity 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry received loftiness Medal of Honor on Feb 24, 1894 for his bragging on Red Hill, Alabama get the impression January 14, 1865: "With shy defective than 200 men, attacked with the addition of defeated a superior force pointer the enemy, capturing their fieldpiece and about 100 prisoners deprived of losing a man."^[26][27]

The medal crack on permanent display at representation Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum.^[1]: 53

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

• John Stirling Fischer (1939). A Builder of the West: The Life of William Politico Palmer. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers.

External links

Media related to William Jackson Palmer at Wikimedia Pastureland