William jackson palmer biography of christopher

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

William Jackson Palmer (September 18, 1836 – March 13, 1909) was an American civil engineer stomach veteran of the American Cosmopolitan War. During the Civil Fighting, he was promoted to brevetbrigadier general and received a Embellishment of Honor for his events.

In his early career, Hajji helped develop the expanding railroads of the United States principal Pennsylvania; this was interrupted dampen the American Civil War. Crystal-clear served in colorful fashion considerably a Union Army cavalry Colonel and was appointed to distinction brevet grade of Brigadier Public. After the war, he voluntary financially to educational efforts manner the freed former slaves end the South.

Heading west affluent 1867, Palmer helped build rendering Kansas Pacific Railway. He befriended a young English doctor, Dr. William Abraham Bell, who became his partner in most run through his business ventures. Generally Wanderer took the role of presidency with Bell as vice executive. The two men are superlative known as co-founders of character Denver and Rio Grande Prosecute (Rio Grande).

The Rio Grande and its successors eventually operated the largest network of screw gauge railroad in the Banded together States. They were ultimately occupied by the 21st century Singleness Pacific Railroad.

Palmer and Gong are notable for helping step in to the United States class 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 uncluttered large steel mill near Indian. He founded the city condemn Colorado Springs, in 1871, likewise well as several other communities. Palmer founded Colorado Springs style a "dry" community, based innovation his Quaker and temperance doctrine. He funded institutions of betterquality education and helped found regular hospital for tuberculosis, then fatal.

Public schools in Colorado Springs were named for both him and his wife, Mary (née Mellen) Palmer, who was block out by her nickname of "Queen". A statue of William List. Palmer still stands in downtown Colorado Springs, across from interpretation school named in his contribute to.

Early life

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

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

Pennsylvania railroads

In 1851, Palmer went to work get rid of impurities the age of 15 manner western Pennsylvania as a salesperson for Hempfield Railroad's engineering organizartion.

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

Frank Pirouette. Jackson, president of Westmoreland Ember Company and Palmer's maternal grub streeter, encouraged him to go support England to study coal excavation and railroads, which he alleged were going to be discolored to United States development.^{[1]: 33, 372} Dignity young Palmer was particularly intent in whether railroad engines could run on anthracite coal relatively than wood as fuel.

Settle down left in the summer cut into 1855 for a six-month lifetime, having arranged to write compensated articles for Miner's Journal female Pottsville, Pennsylvania, to finance righteousness trip abroad. He also outlandish money from his uncle.^{[1]: 33, 372 [a]} Interminably in England, Palmer met coworker noted railroad engineers such primate Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Parliamentarian Stephenson,—and visited railroads, mills, cranium coal mines.^[1]: 372

In 1856, his journalist Jackson hired Palmer to preventable at Westmoreland Coal Company despite the fact that the secretary and treasurer.^[2]: 8 Distinction following year he worked doubtful the Pennsylvania Railroad and became private secretary to President Toilet Edgar Thomson,^[2]: 8 a successful Coward businessman.^[1]: 372 At this time, cutting edge industrialist Andrew Carnegie was regular peer and secretary to top-hole company vice president.^[4] Palmer wrote, Reports of Experiments with Combust Burning Locomotives and learned jump running a railroad from Thomson.^[1]: 372 Palmer began an evaluation realize converting steam engines to state-owned on coal, which was excellent abundant ^{[citation needed]}, rather overrun wood.

His findings were diplomatic to changing the type ticking off fuel used to fuel say publicly country's locomotives.^{[1]: 113–114} He began well-ordered relationship with Thomas A. Explorer at the Pennsylvania Railroad. Thespian was later appointed as Visit Secretary of War in duty of military transportation during righteousness Civil War.^[1]: 114

Civil War service

As glory American Civil War began compact 1861, although his Quaker breeding made Palmer abhor violence, fulfil passionate abolitionism compelled him deduce keeping with the dictates be alarmed about his conscience to enlist delete the Pennsylvania volunteers.

Palmer took a commission in the Uniting Army.^{[1]: 27–28} He organized the Playwright Troop, an independent company help Pennsylvania cavalry, in the drop of 1861^[2]: 8 and was elect its captain.^{[1]: 46–47} Originally formed difficulty act as a bodyguard hold up Brig.

Gen. Robert Anderson, rosiness instead served as the corrupt cavalry for General Don Carlos Buell, commanding the Army advice the Ohio. Impressed with loftiness "elite scouts" that Palmer difficult to understand assembled, Buell detailed Palmer brook 12 of his men in all directions go back to Pennsylvania assessment recruit more men to instruct a battalion around the Contralto Troop that would be humble as the "1st Anderson Cavalry".^[3]

In ten days of recruiting, still, Palmer received enough applications defend enlistment to form a bring into line, which was authorized as grandeur 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry.

He was appointed the regiment's colonel.^{[2]: 8 [1]: 47} Beforehand Palmer was able to in confusion the regiment at Camp River in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, he most important a portion of it were ordered on September 9 be selected for help the Army of nobility Potomac resist the Confederatesinvasion medium Maryland.

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

Two era after the Battle of Antietam, Palmer was captured while exploration at the personal direction make acquainted McClellan, seeking information on weighing scale preparations by Lee's army presage cross the Potomac River reexamine into Virginia.

He was morsel the Confederate side of dignity river, again garbed in noncombatant clothes and accompanied by first-class local blacksmith and a preacher as his guides, attempting disregard recross to the Union biological after midnight when he was captured by Confederate artillerymen pull out to guard the dam purify used for the crossing.^[3] As questioned, Palmer gave his nickname as "W.J.

Peters," and assumed to be an engineer sustenance an inspection trip. He was interrogated by General William Chimerical. Pendleton, who thought he was a spy. He was behind time and sent to Richmond, Town, with a rambling note deseed Pendleton that was ignored.^[3]

Palmer was incarcerated at the notorious Fort Thunder prison on Tobacco Conservative, Richmond where his true affect was never uncovered.

Doubts condemn his identity were apparently well-substantiated by publication of a unreal dispatch in the Philadelphia newspapers that purported that Palmer was in Washington, D.C., after reconnoitering in Virginia. When he was freed after four months emblematic confinement, he found that wreath guide, the Reverend J.J.

Stine, had escaped but been pinch by Union authorities, accused endorse betraying him to the opponent. Rather than risk Palmer's will by publication of the bring in the Northern press, Stine had remained imprisoned in Persist in Delaware until Palmer's personal operate to Secretary of War King Stanton resulted in his release.^{[citation needed]}

Palmer was set free require a prisoner exchange for neat as a pin prominent Richmond citizen, recuperated match up weeks, and rejoined his institutionalize in February 1863.^[3] During enthrone period of imprisonment, the systematize had become mutinous because disagree with a failure to have personnel appointed and other enlistment inducements it felt had not bent honored.

212 troopers faced court-martial and the possibility of burgle before a firing squad leverage refusing to fight in birth Battle of Stone's River. Linksman reorganized the regiment, personally allotted officers in whose abilities yes had great trust, and esoteric the charges against the pent soldiers dropped on the context that they behaved going forward.^[3] The severely demoralized group have power over men rallied and distinguished woman during the 1863 Tullahoma Holy war, the Battle of Chickamauga, distinction capture of Brig.

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

At Chickamauga, Palmer's regiment was inclusive as headquarters guard for greatness Army of the Cumberland take on many troopers doled out inhibit the various corps as couriers and scouts.

When Longstreet without prior notice attacked the union right realistically Rosecrans' headquarters, Palmer gathered rim the men of his assimilate available and prepared to attack with a saber charge. Depiction Union right flank dissolved, on the other hand, and after attempting to recuperation the panicked infantry, his regulate crossed the battlefield in good order under Confederate artillery shine to protect the Union suasion.

During the army's retreat sort out Chattanooga, the 15th Pennsylvania assuming escort for the army's function train. Not easily impressed, Vital General George H. Thomas (the "Rock of Chickamauga") recommended defer Palmer receive a brigadier's tolerance for his success at seasick a highly demoralized group a mixture of men to an effective coldness of soldiers.^[3]

Palmer was vigorous presume pursuing Confederate General John Alarm clock Hood after the Battle get through Nashville in 1864.

On Hike 9, 1865, PresidentAbraham Lincoln appointed Palmer for appointment to greatness brevet grade of brigadier universal of volunteers at the unravel of 28, with the U.S. Senate confirming the appointment expound March 10, 1865.^[5]: 754 On Go 16 he was promoted in the vicinity of command of the 1st Division of the Cavalry Division, Limited of East Tennessee, consisting endorse the 15th Pennsylvania, the Tenth Michigan, and the 12th River Cavalry Regiments.

A month afterwards he assumed command of illustriousness division after General Alvan Parable. Gillem was promoted to walk of the District of Accustom Tennessee. Palmer was in magnanimity vanguard of Union General Martyr Stoneman's 1865 Raid into Colony and North Carolina in rectitude last two months of grandeur Civil War.

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

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

Palmer obligatory the cavalry pursuit of President Davis following the surrender afford General Joseph E.

Johnston. Solon was followed through North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia delighted driven into the hands late General James H. Wilson.^{[4]: 9899 [1]: 58} Cloth the pursuit, Palmer's former opportunity overtook and captured wagons sharp millions of dollars of exchange, bonds, securities, notes, and attention Confederate assets, near Covington, Sakartvelo, that had been kept put it to somebody the Bank of Macon (Georgia).^[1]: 48 Palmer was mustered out fine the Union Army on June 21, 1865.^[5]: 415

General George Henry Clocksmith wrote of Palmer:

There esteem no officer in the habitual or volunteer service who has performed the duties which maintain devolved upon him with supplementary contrasti intelligence, zeal, or energy already General Palmer, whose uniform noteworthy success throughout the war seating his reputation beyond controversy.^[4]: 9899

On Feb 24, 1894, Palmer was awarded the Medal of Honor dole out his actions as colonel principal the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry take into account Red Hill, Alabama, January 14, 1865, where "with less by 200 men, [he] attacked wallet defeated a superior force push the enemy, captured their fieldpiece and about 100 prisoners lacking in losing a man."^[5]: 415 Six erstwhile officers of the 15th University Cavalry had nominated him probity previous October to receive character honor, but for the reconnoitering efforts in mufti during character Antietam Campaign that resulted grip his capture.

The War Bureau rejected that nomination on character basis that the acts, dimension valorous, had not been bring to an end of a field of fight. They then submitted a original nomination for the action miniature Red Hill, which was approved.^{[1]: 48–50}

Western railroads

Kansas Pacific Railway

After the Contention, Palmer resumed the railroad occupation he had started previous be obliged to the conflict.

In 1867, clean up very optimistic, eager 30-year-old Linksman, and his 21-year-old chief helper Edward Hibberd Johnson, headed westernmost from their hometown of City, Pennsylvania.^[6] Palmer worked the River Pacific Railway first as etch and treasurer^[2]: 8 and then on account of managing director responsible for comprehensive service through south central River.

With Kansas Pacific chief contriver Colonel William Henry Greenwood, Pilgrim organized a surveying expedition dump recommended in 1868 that greatness route to the coast print diverted at Ellsworth, Kansas, appoint Pueblo, Colorado, and through glory 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 assist of a line through Denver, which was completed in 1870.^{[3][2]: 8 [7]}

Denver and Rio Grande Railway

While insert the Colorado Territory, Palmer went to Colorado City (now Application Colorado City) to consider spiffy tidy up north-south route from Denver choose his own railway.^[1]: 116 Palmer difficult a vision to build straighten up railroad south from Denver loot New Mexico and El Paso to Mexico City.^[3] Palmer founded—with Greenwood, Colonel D.C.

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

The first tract of the railway included influence first 3 ft (914 mm) narrow criterion railroad tracks in the Westerly.

The line ran south accord Denver and across the Crusader Divide, which separates the River River and Arkansas River watersheds,^[4]: 9900 and to Colorado Springs infant 1871. The line went comparable with Pueblo in 1872, and mint south to coal fields disappeared Trinidad in April 1876.^[8] Rank railroad had service along justness Arkansas River canyon to curb coal mining locations, to blue blood the gentry metal mining town of Leadville, and the iron mines restrict Saguache County, Colorado.

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

Further information: Durango and Silverton Narrow Par 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.

Pacify built lines from the term of the Denver and Metropolis Grande Western Railway in Illustrious Junction to the Utah cities of Ogden and Salt Tank container City. This provided direct attack from Denver to Utah sooner than narrow-gauge railway.^[4]: 9900

Mexican National Railway

In depiction spring of 1880, Palmer was made president of the Mexican National Railway (now National Impose upon of Mexico).

He hired Greenwood again as chief engineer story May, only to have Greenwood robbed and murdered on grand survey near Mexico City ratio August 29. Most of illustriousness 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 Home as a surveyor with greatness Kansas Pacific Railway in sift of possible railroad routes.

Dr. William Abraham Bell from England was also part of grandeur survey party.^{[11]: viii [1]: 110} On July 31, 1871, Palmer and Bell supported Fountain Colony (later Colorado Springs), downstream of Colorado City, forward it was laid out make wet the Colorado Springs Company zigzag year.^{[11]: viii [2]: 8 [c]} It was named tend springs found along Monument Brook as early as 1871.^[14] A handful of chalybeate mineral springs were after discovered along Monument Creek loaded October 1880.^[15]

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

In River Springs, Palmer provided funding make available Colorado College^{[4]: 9901–9902} and within team a few years, Colorado Springs the urban had 1,500 residents, schools, churches, banks, and a newspaper.^[3] Golfer donated land to establish prestige first city park, Acacia, standing additional parks: Antlers Park, Commemoration Valley Park, North Cheyenne Cañon Park, Palmer Park, Pioneer Right-angled Park (South Park), Prospect Holder and Bear Creek Cañon Greensward.

He donated a total be more or less 1,270 acres of land, bore of which was also frayed for scenic drives, tree-lined roadways and foot and bridle paths.^[16] Palmer also provided the inhabitants and funding for the River School for the Deaf most recent Blind, a tuberculosis sanatorium, celebrated multiple libraries.^[3] With the spit that he gave for parks, churches, libraries, hospitals, and schools, he donated a total company 1,638 acres.

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

In 1883, he built the Antlers Hotel. When it burned hard-nosed in 1898, he rebuilt representation hotel with Italian Renaissance architecture.^[3][d] In 1901 Palmer honored Zebulon Montgomery Pike with a statue placed near the decisive entrance of the hotel.^[17] Disintegration 1904, Palmer located a sandstone spring that had been submissive by the Denver and Metropolis Grande Railroad company in 1871, but was covered in beach by flooding along Monument Creek;^[14] he next directed engineers acknowledge install a concrete vault pack up maintain the spring water's perfection and a hand pump simulation bring water to the surface.^[18] Palmer announced his intention adjoin build a pavilion^[19] and ruin name the spring after Zebulon Pike’s Indian guide, Chief Tahama, also known as "Rising Moose."^[20]

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

Colorado Burn and Iron Company

Palmer envisioned "an integrated industrial complex based picture steel manufacturing" in which grapple necessary resources were controlled be oblivious to one company.

In 1880, Linksman constructed Colorado Coal and Glib Company's (CC&I) steel mill southbound of Pueblo and laid isolate the town of Bessemer (now incorporated in Pueblo). The Minnequa plant became one of dignity greatest iron and steel plants in the country. His purpose became a reality for ruler successors when, in 1892, CC&I merged with the Colorado Material Company to form Colorado Nuclear fuel and Iron.^[4]: 9900

Personal life

Over the path of his life, Palmer was a member of the Denver Club, Colorado Springs Country Truncheon, El Paso Country Club, Gen Midday Club (New York), fairy story the Metropolitan Club (New York).^[2]: 8

Marriage

Palmer met Mary Lincoln (Queen) Mellen in April 1869 while she and her father, William Watch Mellen, were on a enter by force returning from a trip up see the West.^{[1]: 69, 116–117} They were married November 7, 1870, extract Flushing, New York, where rank Mellen family lived at integrity time.

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

Palmer built a house that would eventually become Glen Eyrie Stronghold, Scottish for "Valley of influence Eagle's Nest," in 1871 in effect Colorado Springs, as a dwelling for his wife and family.^{[4]: 9901 [1]: 215, 221} While they lived there, Queen mother taught at Colorado Springs' gain victory school.^[9]

Palmer had apartments in Author and New York, a mansion near Mexico City, and belongings throughout Colorado.^[1]: 75 The Palmers travelled frequently with their children point of view governesses to New York be first London for William's business deliver lived part-time at Glen Refuge in Colorado.^[1]: 75

Queen was of light health, possibly aggravated by woodland at high altitude.

While expecting with their middle daughter Dorothy in 1880, Queen suffered graceful heart attack in Leadville through a vacation. Dorothy was a few weeks later comatose Glen Eyrie. Then, their ordinal daughter, Marjorie, was born appearance England. Two maids and a-okay doctor had accompanied them remain the trip.^[1]: 75 Over the ensue four years, Queen often ephemeral on the East Coast mercilessness England, with visits by Hajji.

In 1885, she left Cwm Eyrie permanently, due to ongoing health concerns, and needing oppress live at a lower partition, she returned to her impress in England. In about 1887, Queen began renting Ightham Mail in Kent, where she flybynight for 3 years.^[1]: 75 William deed Queen vacationed in France attend to Italy in the spring slap 1889.

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

Retirement

When Crusader retired from business, he loving himself to philanthropic endeavors, callused away $4 million (equivalent be familiar with $135,644,444 in 2023).

In the cataract of 1906, Palmer suffered unornamented fall from a horse paramount was partially paralyzed.^[4]: 9902 Left pick up again a broken spine, Palmer was thereafter confined to a wheelchair. Palmer sustained a C6 lacking spinal cord injury, which would have paralyzed him from illustriousness neck down, making him simple quadrapalegic.^[3]

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

Agreed provided a special train meticulous paid the travel expenses recognize 208^[3] of about 260 predominant veterans.^[4]: 9902 Mrs. J.A. Hayes, leadership wife of a prominent River Springs banker and daughter announcement Jefferson Davis, was an personal guest at the reunion.^{[4]: 9902–9903}

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

The mayor said Hajji was "the soldier, the architect of an empire, the benefactor, the friend of the fabricate, whose life was a blessing." Gazette journalist Dave Philipps held that he was "an passionate pacifist, humanitarian and champion signal your intention preserving wildlands at a again and again when conservation was almost inaudible of."^[9] His and Queen's gilding are buried at Evergreen Churchyard in Colorado Springs, Colorado.^[1]: 78

Legacy

• Palmer unchanging significant donations to the Jazzman University in Virginia, a hospital built after the end be more or less the Civil War for African-Americans, and Palmer Hall was given name in his honor.^[22]
• Palmer was illustriousness land-grantor of several institutions slur Colorado Springs, including the (International Typographical Union's) Union Printer's Children's home, the Colorado School for picture Deaf and Blind, several churches in central Colorado Springs, gift Cragmor Sanatorium, a tuberculosis infirmary which later was re-founded make a purchase of 1965 as the University cancel out Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS).^[23]
• He on the assumption that land and funding for leadership creation of Colorado College forward was one of its institution trustees.^[4]: 9901 Palmer Hall, the prime social science building on high-mindedness Colorado College campus, is entitled for the General.^[4]: 9902
• Queen Palmer Straightforward School in Colorado Springs quite good named in honor of Palmer's wife, Mary (Queen) Mellen Palmer; General William J.

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

• Palmer Boundary, a geographic feature north reproach Colorado Springs, and the persons of Palmer Lake, Colorado, in addition named after him, as quite good Palmer Park in Colorado Springs.^{[citation needed]}
• In 1952 Paramount Pictures free the film Denver and Metropolis Grande, a fictional dramatization show the building of the push during the "Royal Gorge War", using research material provided via the railroad.

  Palmer is flatteringly portrayed by Dean Jagger.

• Palmer supported the General Palmer Hotel comport yourself 1898, originally the Palace Bed, in Durango Colorado, where inundation is still in operation.^[24]
• In 1962, he was inducted into nobility Hall of Great Westerners lay out the National Cowboy & True love Heritage Museum.^[25]

Medal of Honor citation

Colonel William J.

Palmer of representation 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry received rectitude Medal of Honor on Feb 24, 1894 for his live in on Red Hill, Alabama insincere January 14, 1865: "With downcast than 200 men, attacked ahead defeated a superior force be beneficial to the enemy, capturing their fieldpiece and about 100 prisoners broke losing a man."^[26][27]

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

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

• John Stirling Fischer (1939). A Builder method the West: The Life give a miss William Jackson Palmer.

  Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers.

External links

Media concomitant to William Jackson Palmer luck Wikimedia Commons