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SUVCW Dept. of Wisconsin Commanders: George W. Palmer 1916-1917 |
"Dedicated Volunteer"By PCinC Steve Michaels
George was born on Valentine's Day 1874 in Auburn, Indiana, the second oldest of four siblings. His parents, Hiram H. and Mary E. Daly Palmer had come from Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively and settled in Indiana. During the Civil War, Hiram served in Co. A, 100th Indiana Infantry. He participated in the battles of Vicksburg, Jackson, Colliersville, Stockdale No. 4, Holly Springs, Corinth, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, Marietta, Atlanta Campaign, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, the last battle of Atlanta, Sherman's March to the Sea, Savannah, Goldsboro and Cumberland Gap. He received a scalp wound in the charge at Missionary Ridge, and was also slightly wounded in the left shoulder, and was hospitalized at Memphis for one month. He was also in the hospital at Grand Junction, Tenn., for three months, suffering from typhoid fever. He was a faithful, brave and active soldier, and earned a promotion to duty sergeant, serving for about two months on Gen. Grant's staff at Washington, at the close of the war. He mustered out as a corporal and took part in the Grand Review at Washington. In 1892, at age 18, George enlisted in Co. D, 15th U.S. Infantry, serving one year at Fort Sheridan, Ill. He then became an engineer on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway and later, the California & Pacific Railroad, headquartered in St. Paul. He was an active member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and became keenly aware of the benefits of the Order's fraternal insurance. His younger brother was a brakeman for the Santa Fe Railroad and died in a railroad accident in 1908 at age 20. By 1920, George had become a motor salesman. George married Lulu May Follett in 1896 and they had four children: Helen I. (1897-1936), Ruth Cordela (1900-1999), Marion Lucinda (1906-08), and Eleanor May (1911-1963). Interestingly, it seems Palmer tried his hand at minor league baseball. In 1908, Palmer already had a reputation as a catcher and heavy hitter when he played for the Eau Claire Tigers. Eau Claire's Michael Griffin Camp #35 was chartered in April 1909. Two years later, it supplied more delegates to the Dept. Encampment, held in Green Bay, than any other Camp. The Eau Claire Leader lauded the Camp for supplying the Department with both a Commander (Dr. J.E. Waldron) and an Inspector (Palmer). Both Waldron and Palmer were active in planning the city's Memorial Day observances. Palmer was elected Camp Senior Vice Commander in 1914 and served as Camp #35's Commander in 1915, when Commander-in-Chief Charles F. Sherman appointed him an Aide. After stepping down as Camp Commander, he was elected Camp Secretary/Treasurer. Palmer was elected a Nat. Encampment Delegate in 1912 and 1913. He was also elected Dept Junior Vice Commander in 1913, and Dept. Senior Vice Commander in 1915. In 1916, our Department consisted of 1900 members in 65 Camps. The Order was growing and several new Camps had been organized in the last year. Palmer assisted in organizing Marshfield's W.H. Upham Camp. The Sons had succeeded in raising $760 toward the $1000 for a cottage at the Waupaca Veterans' Home. On October 2nd, the R.B. Hayes Camp #6 was mustered in Elkhorn with 16 members. On May 22, 1917, Black River Falls Camp #4 was mustered with 24 members. Congress declared war on April 6, 1917. Fraternal organizations, including the Sons of Veterans, cooperated with the government's campaign to "sell the war to the American people." Fifteen percent of our Department's membership went into active military service. Overall, 25-30% of all military and naval servicemen were sons or grandsons of Civil War veterans. Palmer, who had served in the war with Spain, served on the Officers' Reserve staff. Palmer presided over the 1917 Dept. Encampment in Kenosha. Membership stood at about 1,850 members in 64 Camps and the Department had $200 in cash and property on hand. After his term, while his youngest daughter was still in school, he became active in the Parent-Teachers Welfare Association, serving as its president. The post-war depression took its toll, however, and George filed for bankruptcy in April 1921. His petition was granted a year later. He and his wife moved to Bloomington and then, Rock Island, Ill., living in relative obscurity. He changed his name to Walford George Palmer and took a job as an insurance agent. Mrs. Palmer passed away in March 1942. George died on January 23, 1950. They were both buried in Eau Claire's Forest Hill Cemetery.
Information Sources: |
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Department of Wisconsin
Maintained by: Dept. Signals Officer
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Eau Claire's George W. Palmer was elected at the 1916 Dept. Encampment in Ripon. During the previous seven years, he had vigorously supported the Order.