A new article has been added at Newspaper Abstracts > United States > District of Columbia http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/index.php?action=displaycat&catid=323 Direct link to article: http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/link.php?id=32871 Submitted by: Susan Article Title: Washington Post Article Date: July 25 1888 Article Description: Obituary Article Text: Obituary Springfield, Ill, Jul 24: The Rev. John F. Brooks, a well known Presbyterian divine, died last evening, aged 87 years. Mr. Brooks was born in Oneida, NY. He came to Illinois in 1831 as an agent for the American Home Missionary Society. In 1840 he located in this city and took charge of an academy. This position he held for a few years and then opened a school for young women, which he conducted until very recently. He was one of the founders of the Illinois College at Jacksonville, and has been one of the trustees from the first. Brandon, Vt., July 24: Courtland Palmer, president of the Nineteenth Century Club of New York City, died yesterday in the 45th year of his age, at the Lake Dunmore House, Lake Dunmore, of peritonitis. He had been troubled with a kidney disease for several years. Mr. Palmer inherited one-fourth of his father's estate, valued at over $4,000,000, and had, in addition, a private fortune of about $250,000. By profession he was a lawyer. He made free thinking fashionable in New York by establishing the Nineteenth Century Club, of which he was the president and the animating spirit. The society met first in Delmonico's parlors, afterward at the American Art Association, and recently in the Metropolitan Opera House Assembly Rooms. Full dress was required of the symposiasts. Mr. Palmer aimed to provide in the Nineteenth Century Club a forum where prominent men of the most antagonistic beliefs could be persuaded to meet and exchange views, and nothing delighted him more than ! to bring Bob Ingersoll face to face with a Presbyterian minister, a Hebrew with a Roman Catholic clergyman, or a free trader with a protectionist. These elements frequently met with considerable sputtering, and it needed all Mr. Palmer's tact at times to prevent an explosion. About a year ago, Mr. Andrew Carnegie took exceptions to some of Mr. Palmer's socialistic utterances. Judge Barrett and Judge John Clinton Gray are among others who have departed from the club. Mr. Palmer expressed extreme socialistic views. Just before the Anarchists were hanged in Chicago, Mr. Palmer expressed sympathy for them. It was a misunderstanding over this that led to the Carnegie episode. When Henry George and Surglus E. Shevitch had their debate in Harry Miner's Eighth Avenue Theatre last October, Mr. Palmer sat on the red side of the dividing line. Mr. Palmer was often referred to as "the Millionaire Socialist," but he told a reporter not long ago that he was worth only $200,000. ! The body of Courtland Palmer will be cremated at Fresh Pond, L.I. Fun eral services will be held Thursday evening at Mr. Palmer's late residence. Robert G. Ingersoll will deliver an oration. The body arrived here tonight by special train from Vermont. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ DC-Old-News ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ NewspaperAbstracts.com - Finding our ancestors in the news! TM http://www.NewspaperAbstracts.com