The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-02-01
SAML ?. HILDRE7H DHAD.
Sudden Ending Of a Popular and
Valuable Citizen.
A SHOCK TO THE COMMUNITY.
Particulars Of the SudticH Death at
the Popular Cashier of the Com.
incrcinl Esank--A BriefSkcich
of His Life and Work.

Of His Life and Work.
Mr.. Samuel P. Hildreth, cashier OF the
Commercial Bank and one OF Wheel.
ing's best known and most highly es.
teemel citizens, died very suddenly
about Q o'clock last evening at the Office
Of his nephew, Dr.. Eugene Hildreth, Oh
Chapline street, where he had gone
short time before to be treated for what
no believed to DO indigestion and from
which he had been suffering all tho
afternoon. The cause Of his death was
heart failure.
On Mr.. HilJreth's return to the bank
after dinner yesterday no complained OF
Il pain ilo felt across bis breast and Ia
his stomach. This pain increased as the
afternoon wore OH, but Mr.. Hildreth did
not leave his work until after 1 o'clock.
Hc then went to Dr.. Hildreth's Office
aud Informed his nephew OF tho pain
he was su1ering, which by this time
had made him quite sick. DR..
llildreth prepared u cohch in his
private office, made his uncle lie down
and placed warm applications over the
spots where the distressed man indicated
the pain was the greatest. Dr.. Hildreth
then called his mother and asked her to
look after Mr.. Hildreth while he went
out to inform Mrs. Hildreth, at Mrs. Sen.
seny's bording house on North Main
street, that her husband would not be
home for supper.
Mr.. Hildreth agreed with his nephew
that II would be best for him 10 remain
quiet rather than attempt to 20 to sup
per.
DR.. Hildreth returned to his office
about six o'clock. His mother informed
him that Mr.. Hildreth was resting quiz
city and that she. thought he had gone
to sleep; she had turned the light down
so that it would not disturb him. DR..
Hildreth turned up the light in order to
better observe the condition OF his uncle
and was Mortified to see the
pallor Of death had settled on his fea.
lures. He at once sent for Dr.. Robert J.
Reed, but all aid was useless, for the
man WINS dead. The heart had suddenly
slopped-failcd,t to act, and the breath OF
life went out. There was no struggle,
nor heavy breathing to give warning to
her who watched, OF the visit OF the
grim destroyer; it was all over in the
twinkling OF an eye.
The news OF Mr.. Hildreth's death
caused q most decided sensation; it
spread rapidly to all the hotels and along
the principal thoroughfares, and to one
and all it came with a suddenness that
caused shock OF pain. Men who had
been in the Commercial Bank during
the day and transacted business with
him, and joked and laughed with
him, were Mortified when they
heard the news and would not
believe il till they had confirmed it. 1t
was the one principal topic o. conversa-
ton everywhere and on all sides were
heard expressions OF sorrow over the
loss Of good man, and sympathy for
the poor wife to whom the blow was an
awful one. The time intervening be-
tween that when she was told he would
not be home for supper on account Of
slight indisposition, and that when she
was informed of his death, was SO short
she was almost unable to realize the ter
rible thing that mad befallen her.
Samuel P. Hildrcth was born in this
city in 1884, and was accordingly in his
iifty.sixth year. H was son Of Ezekiel
Hitdreth and brother Of the late DR.. E.
A. Hildreth and the late Philander @.
Hildreth, with whom the deceased was
formerly connected in business, and
who died when quite a young man. Mr..
Hillreth was married in 1856 to Dora,
daughter Of the late Thomas H. List and
sister OF Capt. William List, President Of
the Commercial Bank.
Mr.. Hiidreth first engaged in business
with Stockton, Russell 4 Co., glass man
ufaeturers, whose glass house was where
the West Virginia China works now
stand. Later he became associated with
his brother Philander in financial way,
not actively, in the iron business, under
the firm name Of P. G. Hildreth 4 Bro;
this firm continued from 1865 to 1860.
Mr.. Hiidreth first became bank
cashier when the old Savings Bank of
Wheeling occupied the place where i.
Y. Blends shoe house is now, and he
has been engaged as such ever since,
over thirty years. making him the Oldest
bank cashier in the city in point Of SER
vice. The old Savings Bank later be-
came a National Bank and then became
the Commercial Bank.
In the fall Of 1887 Mr.. Hildreth moved
to Ontario, San Bernardo county, Cali
iornia, and became the President and
Cashier OF the Ontario State Bank. He
remained there only about two years,
returning here last August and resum-
ing his old place in the Commercial.
The deceased was popular with all
with whom he came in contact, and
countless friends will mourn his loss.
He was prominent in business, relig-
ious, social and the local political field,
and made friends in them all. His
death is decided loss to the conmu-
OltV. ...... H.. .... .....