The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-28

came, leaving Mr.. Singerly apparently
in good health, apart from his slight
cold.
The physicians say they had fire.
quently cautioned Mr.. Singerly that his
heart was weak as a result of excessive
smoking, and of late his custom was to
take dry smoke" Yesterday, how
ever, his cigar was lighted, and it is
thought that the smoke brought on the
coughing spell, the severity of which
ruptured a vessel of the heart.
Mr.. Singerly leaves a daughter, Mrs
E. Stngerly Balch, who is at present
touring Europe.
william M Singerly was proprietor
of the Record Publishing company;
president of the Chestnut Street Ma
tional bank. and the Chestnut Street
Savings Fund and Trust company,
which recently collapsed; and president
of the Slngerly pulp and paper mill. He
was a member of the Paramount park
commission, and until lately the treas
urer, and a trustee of the Philadelphia
Commercial museum.
He was born in this city on December
27, 1882, and, with the exception of a
brief period in his early manhood, when
he conducted a commission business in
Chicago, has lived here ever since. His
father, Joseph Singerly, was one of the
OriginatOrs of the street railway system
of Philadelphia, and William returned
here to assume the management of the
Germantown Passenger Railway COM
pany In 1877, he bought the Record,
then a comparatively feeble journal, and
brought it to its present standard of
excellence.
In 1887, upon the retirement of Cover
nor Pattison from office, Mr.. Singerly
took an active part in establishing the
Chestnut Street National bank, of which
the ex-governor became the first presi-
dent. Upon Mr.. Pattison being called
for q second time to the gOVernOrShip
of Pennsylvania, Mr.. Singerly succeed
ed him as president of the bank, and
also became president of the Chestnut
Street Trust and Savings Fund COM
pany.
In seeking relaxation from the cares
of business, Mr.. Singerly had for many
years taken a keen interest in farming
and stock raising. His herds Of HoI-
stein cattle at his large farm at
Gwynedd, in Montgomery county, were
famous for years, and he was also own
er of the Elkton stock farm, near Elk
ton, Cecil county.
Mr.. Singerly was always an active
Democrat. In 1894 he was unanimously
made the Democratic candidate for
governor of Pennsylvania, speaking in
nearly every county in the state. In all
he made over 70 speeches in UNFOLDING
the cause of Democracy. The natural
Republican majority of Pennsylvania
was too great to be overcome, however
and his competitor, General Hastings,
carried off the prize.
During the last national campaign he
supported the Palmer and Buckner
ticket, making number or speeches. IN
its behalf in Pennsylvania, Delaware
and Maryland, and organizing local
association in aid of the movement He
also took an active part in forming the
Pennsylvania Bankers association
Financial misfortune overlook Mr..
Singerly during the last few months of
his life, when on December % last, the
Chestnut Street National bank and the
trust company were compelled to close
their doors. MessrS. Earle and Cook
were made assignees of the trust COM
pany and managers of a plan looking to
the liquidation of the affairs of both
| institutions Mr.. Singerly promptly
set he possessed. including his interest
! in the Record. Since then a receiver
has been appointed for the bank, and
| the affairs of it and the trust company
are in process of settlement.