Lucian H. Palmer (March 12, 1855February 17, 1923) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

politician and businessman. He was the first African American elected to the Wisconsin Legislature. A Republican, he served one term in the Wisconsin State Assembly (from 1907 to 1909) representing Milwaukee County's 6th assembly district—downtown Milwaukee. His first name is sometimes spelled Lucien in historical documents.

Biography

Lucian Palmer was born in Huntsville, Alabama, in the years just before the American Civil War. At age seven, he was left without parents. Several years later, he moved with his older sister to Nashville, Tennessee, where he attended public schools. He worked and paid his way through Central Tennessee College, where he graduated in 1876. After graduating from college, he was hired at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Chicago, and later became manager of Lakeside Resort in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. He ran his own catering business from 1883 until the

Panic of 1893 The Panic of 1893 was an economic depression in the United States that began in 1893 and ended in 1897. It deeply affected every sector of the economy, and produced political upheaval that led to the political realignment of 1896 and the pres ...

. Afterward, he became a steward at the Milwaukee Yacht Club. He resigned to become superintendent and steward of the Wisconsin building at the

St. Louis World's Fair The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the St. Louis World's Fair, was an international exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, from April 30 to December 1, 1904. Local, state, and federal funds totaling $15 milli ...

, in 1904. Following the exposition, he returned to Milwaukee and was hired as steward of the Pasadena Flats. In 1906, he ran as a

Progressive Republican The Republican Party in the United States includes several factions, or wings. During the 19th century, Republican factions included the Half-Breeds, who supported civil service reform; the Radical Republicans, who advocated the immediate and to ...

for the Wisconsin State Assembly and won a shocking victory over incumbent Democrat

Thomas F. Ramsey Thomas F. Ramsey (December 12, 1858September 7, 1911) was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. Background Ramsey was born on December 12, 1858, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He worked as an insurance and real estate broker. He later worked ...

. Newspapers at the time marveled at the "peculiar incident" of the "first colored man to go to the state legislature". It was also noted that, at the time, Palmer represented the wealthiest district in the state. During his one term in the Assembly, Palmer served on the Assembly committees on public health and on federal relations. In the latter capacity, he fought for a resolution on the Brownsville affair, requesting a more thorough investigation of the events. The incident involved accusations against the African American United States Army soldiers in the 25th Infantry Regiment, stationed at Fort Brown, near Brownsville. After the initial investigation, President Theodore Roosevelt ordered 167 African American men of the regiment to be

dishonorably discharged A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve. Each country's military has different types of discharge. They are generally based on whether the persons completed their training and the ...

. A more thorough investigation did eventually occur, allowing several of the men to re-enlist. Although he sought renomination in 1908, the Republicans instead nominated

Chauncey W. Yockey Chauncey W. Yockey (March 28, 1877 – November 28, 1936) was an American lawyer and politician. Life Yockey was born in Waupun, Wisconsin on March 28, 1877, --2nd page of article/ref> the son of William Henry Yockey (1853–1917) and Ella ...

, who went on to lose the general election to

, who reclaimed his seat. Outside of politics, he was a trustee at St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church in Milwaukee, and a

Freemason Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...

. He died at his home in Milwaukee on February 17, 1923. The Wisconsin Assembly issued a resolution in his honor on February 27, 1923.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1906)

, colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;", General Election, November 6, 1906

References

External links

Lucian H. Palmer
at Wisconsin Historical Society
St. Mark AME Church
at Wisconsin Historical Society
St. Mark A.M.E. Church
{{DEFAULTSORT:Palmer, Lucian H. 1855 births 1923 deaths Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly 20th-century American legislators African-American state legislators in Wisconsin Politicians from Huntsville, Alabama Politicians from Milwaukee Walden University (Tennessee) alumni 20th-century African-American politicians African-American men in politics 20th-century Wisconsin politicians