The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-06-21
OBITUARY.

Elk Congressman Hester Clymer was
suddenly prostrated by stroke of apo
plexy at o'clock Wednesday evening
Of last week, at lis residence ON Perki-
omen avenue, Reading, and at once be-
came insensible. Doctors Davis and
Muhlenberg were summoned and did all
in their poRer for the relief of their
patient, but he remained in comatose
etate until Thursday morning att O'Clock
when he died without uttering word.
Mr., Clymer had been in his usual health
on Wednesday and there were no pre-
liminary symptoms of the attack. De-
ceased leaves wife but no children.
Hon. Hester Ciymer, was native OF
Berks county, where he was born December
3rd, 1927. He was graduate of Princeton
and was admitted to the bar in Reading in
1s47. In 1851 he changed his location to
siOn until 1856, when he returned to Read
ing, where he always afterwards resided.
Originally Wing, he early associated him
self with the Democratic party, and was IA
delegate to the Democratic National Com
vention of 1869. In the fall Of 1860 he was
chosen TO the State Senate 10 fill the unex.
pred term OF Mr.. Muhlenberg, who had
been elected TO Congress, and he continued
to represent Berks county in the Senate un
til March, 1865, when he resigned to accept
the Democratic nomination for Governor.
He bad been prominent candidate for the
Gubarnatorial nomination in 1868 and was
the highest candidate on the several ballots
but Judge Woodward was finally taken as
q compromise candidate. Mr.. Clymer en-
tered the State Serate when there were but
six Democrats in the body, including him
self, and he at once took the leadership Of
his party; q position he well maintained
even whom such men az Wallace were by
his side. He was always dgnifed aud
able in debate, courteous to the fellow. Sen
stors, and highly respected by all parties.
lie made most vigorous campaign for the
Governorship in 1866 against Governor
Geery, stumping every section of the State,
but he was defeated. In 1872 be was elect
ed to Congress, and re elected in 1874, '76,
and '78, where he was admittedly the
Democratic leader OF the Pennsylvania
delegation and one of the accepted Demo-
cratic leaders of the House. lie was the
most formidable competitor Of Mr. Wallace
in 1875 for the United States Senatorship, but
hnally submitted to the decided expression
in favor Of his competitor, and resisted the
efforts of some Democratic politicians to
prevent Wallace, from receiving the solid
Democratic vote. 1t was pretty generally
understood then that Clymer should have
the field in 1879, and it was given him, but
1t brought only the empty honor of nom
inatiou that did not give an election. In
1880 Mr.. Clymer was succeeded in Congress
from the Berks county district by Hon
Daniel Ermentrout, and after that time
praeticed his profession in Reading. Dur
ing hia last term in Congress Mr. Clymer
was married to Mrs. Won Schroeder, of st.
Louis; he leaves no children. His discus
sion with State Senator A X. Mcclure, in
February, 1881, on the repeal of the ton
mage tax on the traffic Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company, brought him promi-
'penuy before the people. The crownng
act OF his Congressional ifo was his pre-
sentation to Congress Of the special com
mittse's report touching the raseaities of
William W. Belknap, President Grants
Secretary Of War, which created a great
sensation throughout the land.
HIs rumored that Mr.. Clymer died
from the effects of an overdose of NOR
.pha, taken with suicidal intent on ae-
aouut of business troubles.