Evening journal., 1891-09-28
WILLIAM KEMBLE DEAD.
He Was Pennsylvania Treas
urer for Two Terms.
HIS CAREER SUDDENLY CLOSED.

Heart Failure Was the Cause Of His
Death-His Work as a Politician and
Promoter OF Gigantic sacel Railway
Enterprises Throughout the Country.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept IS. Ex-State
Treasurer William H. Kemble died sud
denly Sunday OF heart failure. Mr.. KEN
ble's death occurred AZ his pretty country
home 'Marylawn" shortly after midnight
He had been around as usual during the
day and had retired about 1880 o'clock.
Shortly after going 20 bed he felt an at
tack Of the heart trouble and his physician
was sent for. His physician was power
less, however, and he died soon afterward
Mr. Kemhle had been warned long ago
that he must give up active participation
in business affairs II he wished TO prolong
his life. He needed this warming aud was
gradually severing his conneStion with the
various street railway enterprises which
he had, along with his partners, Messrs.
Elkins y Widener, connected himself. Mr.
komble was sixty-three years old. He had
been identified with politics from his
youth and was always high in the councils
elected state treasurer Of Pennsylvania on
the Republican ticket. lie leaves a large
family Of children and grandchildren. His
wealth is estimated at several millions Of
dollars.
The First TO 60.
He Is the first Of the trio Of street rail.
way magnates-Widener, Elkins and KEN
ble--to succumb to the strain Of business
Last spring he was attacked with pneu-
monia, but the disease left no bad effect
and until the last few days he had attended
to his business affairs, even few weeks
ago giving important evidence before the
Bardsley investigating committee.
Started Poor Boy.
Mr.. kemble was born at Woodbury.,
/ N. j., sixty-three years ago. His father,
Samuel, was a poor cooper, and was OF
| Weish-English extraction. He graduated
! when fourteen years of age from the pub
lie school and came TO Philadelphia, where
he went to work as a clerk Afterward he
went to New York, finally starting a
country store in Montgomery county.
Later he married q country girl, and then
started silk and lace store in this city,
where he succeeded beyond his expeeta-
tions Then he went into politics.
His steel Railway Enterprises.
Almost thirty years ago he saw the pos
sibilities Of street railway traffic, and with
Widener and Elkins started the lines
which eliminated In the organization OF
the traction company which has been o.
so much Importance in New York, Chica
go, Pittsburg and other cities. III thi
2 way he built up a fortune. He leaves
I widow, daughter and two sons.
q go af Iraf
J sylyania from 1865 to 1888 Something owe
. year ago he erected magnificent Pres
} byterian church in the town Of his birth
; Woodbury.. His town residence was a
2,205 Green street, Philadelphia, but III
spent large part Of the year at MARY
: lawn" its beautiful grounds and pictur
esque situation having made II wei
known landmark.
The Coney Letter.
The incident in the life Of Mr.. Kembl
that brought him notoriously to the az
= tention OF the people Of the state was hi
famous letter to Titan J. Coifey, of Wash
I ington. George o. Evans, in his capacit,
as the fiscal agent Of Pennsylvania, wa
: commissioned to collect a claim from tn
e government to reimburse Pennsylvania
T. for certain bounty money that had beei
6 allowed TO the states account. The ia
G nous letter from Kemble read.
( NY DEAR TITIAN-This win introduce to yoi
, Mr. George o, Evans, who has a claim Of som
] magnitude against the government. Trea
him as you would me. He understands addi
: tion, division and silence.
Convicted and Pardened.
I II was a matter Of some years before thi
/ remarkable correspondence introducing
! Evans came to light. In the year 1878 Mr.
! Ia -. ~ H,.
E Dauphin county, Pa, at Harrisburg, o
J bribing members Of the Legislature TO vot
for the famous riot bill, which, il is al
legged, would have taken about s., ,0O0,00
! from the state for the benefit of the Penn
S sylvania Railroad company Every effor
. was made 70 obtain pardon for him be
. fore the case came to trial Finding tina
this could not be done Kemble fled til
I state. After he had been sentenced he wa
/, promptly pardoned.