DescriptionHarry Gibons Stiles (1856-1908) obituary in The Allentown Leader of Allentown, Pennsylvania on November 9, 1908, part 1.jpg	English: Harry Gibons Stiles (1856-1908) obituary in The Allentown Leader of Allentown, Pennsylvania on November 9, 1908, part 1
Date	9 November 1908
Source	The Allentown Leader of Allentown, Pennsylvania on November 9, 1908
Author	AnonymousUnknown author
Other versions	This file has an extracted image: Harry Gibons Stiles (1856-1908) portrait.jpg. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120855067/the-allentown-leader/

Death Suddenly Claims Mayor Harry G. Stiles. Stricken at His Desk Saturday Afternoon at 3 O'clock and Died On Sunday Morning. Apoplexy Overtakes City's Chief Executive With Fearful Swiftness. Never Recovered Consciousness Messenger of Death Finds Mayor. By His Post of Duty Had Won Many Political Honors and Was Ambitious to Go to Congress. Public Funeral Thursday Councils Must Elect Temporary Mayor Until One Is Chosen by the People Next Spring. Allentown is again mourning the death of its Chief Executive. Mayor Stiles, apparently a well man, was stricken with apoplexy while sitting in his official chair at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon. He lost consciousness immediately, and died at 9:15 Sunday morning at his home at Ninth and Jackson Streets. Thus twice within two years has Allentown lost a mayor by death, the late Alfred J. Yost also having died while holding the office. Not In Robust Health. The death of Mayor Stiles was both dramatic and pathetic. No other mayor ever spent so much lime at his official duties and when death came it found him at his post. Two years ago Mr. Stiles submitted to a severe operation for appendicitis at St. Luke's Hospital. For months he recuperated and he was not a robust man when he entered the lists of mayor. The campaign last spring was very trying on his constitution, and immediately after the election he was taken sick at Atlantic City, whither he went to recuperate. His illness then for a time was alarming and he was brought home as soon as possible. After his inauguration, he seemed to improve and during the summer appeared in very fair health. He made good his promise to give all his attention to the duties of his office, and relinquished nearly all his law practice. He was avowedly in training for Congress. He had an intense ambition to become a member or the National House of Representatives, same as his father had intended to make the run as soon aa Berks would concede the succession to Lehigh County. The mayor took an active Interest in the late Presidential campaign, rather more than was good for his health, it seems. Immediately after election, however, he resumed city work as actively as ever. His Last Ordinance. On Friday afternoon the mayor was in exceptionally bright humor. Several reporters called to see if he had any news and he then and there signed the wire ordinance designed to protect the linemen and asked them to print it the next day. He also commissioned the reporters to look into the matter of getting a design for a Christmas present which the mayor designed one of his friends to have in the shape of a surprise during the holiday season. Death Very Dramatic. On Saturday tie mayor did city business with his usual energy. About 2:30, Hon. James L. Marsteller called to do some legal business with the mayor … Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Frey and child. It was just about 3 o'clock when the connection with the business in hand that he had a stroke, as he was sitting at the official desk. He slipped forward from his chair on one knee, in a moment he recovered himself and picked up his pencil, which had fallen to the floor. Somebody asked if anything were wrong. "No, I'm all right again," said the mayor and he resumed writing. A minute later, after he had written a line or two more, he had a second stroke, very severe. It affected his left side and his color became ghastly. An alarm was spread immediately. Fortunately Dr. C. J. Otto was at Keiper's drug store next door. He and Druggist H. L. Keiper administered restoratives, assisted by Chief Banning and Sergeant Kemmerer. Dr. I. F. Huebner, the mayor's personal physician,, also arrived quickly. The mayor made desperate efforts to talk and called for his wife, the chief and the sergeant in an indistinct voice. He was placed on a couch, where third stroke afflicted him, producing unconsciousness. Wife Sent For By Auto. Mrs. Stiles had gone to South Bethlehem to call on a sick friend, Mrs. Mary Frederick of 426 Cherokee Street. The mayor had known exactly where she went, but nobody else had any more definite idea of her whereabouts than that she had gone to South Bethlehem. An automobile was dispatched to find her and she was located in about 20 minutes. On this auto, that of Jesse Gery, was City Treasurer A. L. Reichenbach, who on reaching the home of Mrs. Frederick, informed Mrs. Stiles of what had happened. The mayor's wife was, almost overcome and the journey home was a sad one. By this time the mayor's condition was very serious and he was taken to his home in the ambulance. In addition to the doctors he was attended by a trained nurse, Miss Bittner. About 6 o'clock the mayor had a violent attack of retching and for a time Dr. Huebner held out a slight hope. About 7 o'clock a turn for the worse set in and nothing could be hoped for. During the night bulletins were issued that there was no hope. The death of Mayor Stiles vividly recalls to friends that his sister Blanche, wife of J. Norton Martin, died in exactly similar a manner last February a year ago. She was stricken while attending a performance at a theatre and died within 48 hours without regaining consciousness. Sketch Of His Career. Harry Gibons Stiles was the second son of Hon. John Dodson and Mary Amanda Stiles. He was born in Allentown, December 16, 1866, and was in his 52nd year. He began his studies in the public schools of Allentown and was graduated from High School in 1874, at the age of 17 years. For two years thereafter he pursued special branches in Muhlenberg College and then entered the law school of Harvard University, from which he was graduated in 1878, shortly after attaining his majority. He was also favored by association with his father in his professional studies and on April 14, 1879, he was admitted to practice at the bar of Lehigh County and shortly afterward became a member of the firm of John D. Stiles & Son. In 1884 he was nominated as a presidential elector, being the youngest man ever placed on the ticket for that position. In 1889 he was elected district attorney for a term of three years and acquitted himself with great ability. On the expiration of his term he resumed general law work. He enjoyed a large practice. He was frequently a delegate1 to state and county conventions and a forceful speaker before the public in political campaigns. In 1894 he was elected to the State Senate on the Democratic ticket by a majority of 367. In that year he was the only successful Democrat in Lehigh County. Mr. Stiles' father represented this district in Congress and his maternal grandfather, John S. Gibons, was a member of the Pennsylvania Senate. Last spring Mr. Stiles was elected mayor by over 700 plurality. lie was an active and able administrator. On September 27, 1889, he married Miss Annie Yheulon, a daughter of Joseph and Caroline Yheulon. She survives with his three brothers, Water Commissioner C. Fred Stiles, Clarence H. Stiles, the stationer, and John L. Stiles, all of this city, and one sister, Mamie, wife of Dr. Charles McKee of Aurora, Nebraska. A sister, Blanche, wife of J. Norton Martin, died February a year ago. Mayor Stiles was a member of Greenleaf Lodge No. 561, F. and A. M.; Lecha Wonk Tribe of Red Men; Allentown Castle, K.G.E.; Greenleaf Lodge No. 257, K. of P.; Franklin Chamber, O.K. of F.; Rescue Hook and Ladder Co. and the Lehigh County Bar Association. He was a former member of Allen Lodge, I.O.O.F., and was a past grand of that body. He was also a former member of Allentown Lodge of Elks. Expert In Politics. Mayor Stiles was an expert in politics and was a very energetic campaigner. As a state senator he set a pace in securing big appropriations for the Allentown Hospital and St. Luke's Hospital. One of his greatest legal feats was the conviction of Bill Keck, when he was district attorney, for the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Nibsch at Ironton. That was one of the most exciting murder cases in the history of the county. Mr. Stiles' plea to the jury was a notable one. Funeral Thursday. The family has decided upon a public funeral to be held at the home on South Ninth Street on Thursday at 2 p. m. The body will lie in state from 10 a. m. until the hour of the funeral in order that everybody may pay final respects. The services at 2 o'clock will be conducted by Rev. F. C. Seitz, pastor of St. John's Reformed Church. The members of Greenleaf Lodge of Masons will have charge of the obsequies. A guard of honor will furnished by the police department. Councils To Meet. Chairman John T. Kramer and Joseph Gersbach have called a special meeting of City Councils for tomorrow evening to take suitable action on the death of Mayor Stiles. Mayor Stiles was an active member of St. John's Reformed Church, where he was a regular attendant at services. He will be buried in the Stiles family plot in Fairview Cemetery, one pf the largest there. His father, mother, sister and nephew already lie burled there. Sister Notified. A message was sent Saturday afternoon to his only surviving sister, Mrs. Mamie Stiles McKee, at Aurora, Nebraska, notifying her of her brother's mortal sickness. She was also immediately informed of his death. She is now on the way East to attend the funeral. Other Western relatives were also notified and will probably be here. Alderman Bower presided at Mayor's Court this morning, disposing of the prisoners, none of whom was accused of anything grave. The City Hall and engine houses will be draped in mourning for 30 days. Court Informed. In Court this morning John T. Schwartz, one of the closest friends of Mr. Stiles, called the attention of Court to the death of the mayor, saying: "It is with profound sorrow that I announce the death of aft honored member of the Bar, the mayor of the city, Hon. Harry G. Stiles. I move that a note be made of his death by the clerk of the Courts and a minute of his, death recorded hi the minute book, and that during the hours of the funeral Court adjourn so that the Court and the members of the Bar may attend in a body." The motion was granted by the Court who appointed a committee to draft a suitable minute consisting of John L. Schwartz, Frank Jacobs and Hon. M. C. Henninger. They are to see that the draft is properly spread upon the minutes. A meeting of the Bar Association will be held at some suitable time in the near future. Third To Die In Office. Mayor Stiles is the third executive of the city to die In office. The first was Dr. Theodore L. Yeager, who died in 1878. He was succeeded by Herman Schuon, who was then the chairman of Select Council. The second death was that of Dr. A. J. Yost, in 1907. He was succeeded by Dr. C. D. Schaeffer, who was unanimously elected by Councils in joint convention. Another instance of the office of the executive being filled by a person other than the duly-elected mayor, was that during the term of Hon. E. S. Shimer, 1884-1886, when during his long illness; Chief of Police Preston J. Baker was named by Councils to fill the executive office until the mayor's recovery. It is very likely that the funeral of Mayor Stiles will be one of the largest ever held in this city. He had a vast throng of personal and political friends, all of whom intend to pay their last tribute. Filling The Vacancy. No action will be taken to fill the vacant mayoralty until after the funeral. The act provides, page 109 City Digest, as follows: "In case of a vacancy occurring in the office of mayor by death, resignation, removal or otherwise, a successor shall be elected for the unexpired term at the municipal election occurring at least one month after the happening of such vacancy, and pending the election, the City Councils shall, in joint convention, by vote of a majority of all the members elected, appoint some qualified person to serve as mayor until a successor shall" be elected and qualified according to law. In case of the temporary inability of the mayor to act, the Councils may in the manner aforesaid, appoint a person to act in his place until the mayor shall be able to resume the duties of his office." It is a question whether a Council man can serve as mayor as the state laws of 1874, under the head of Incompatible offices, say: "No member of Councils of any city shall be eligible to any office, employment or agency directly chosen by Councils, or either branch of them, during the term for which he shall have been elected." Some close friends of Mayor Stiles are earnestly in favor of having Select Councilman Joseph F. Gorman chosen mayor during the interregnum. Mr. Gorman was one of the mayor's closest friends politically and in Councils and knew a great deal of the aims and aspirations of the mayor to give a good administration and to enlist the city in the National Playground movement. Under the law a mayor must be elected by the people at the election next February. The mayor thus elected will not serve a full term of three years, but only the unexpired term of Mayor Stiles. Notice From Chief Huffort. Fire Chief Huffort sent the following; letter to the presidents of the fire companies comprising the Allentown Fire Department: "Dear Friends: It becomes my sad duty to inform you of the death of our dear mayor, who died Sunday morning after a short illness beginning Saturday afternoon. "You appreciate what a blow this is to his family and the community, and particularly to the Fire Department to which he was so favorably inclined. "As a mark of respect, I respectfully request that you assist in doing honor to his memory by draping your respective engine houses in mourning for a period of thirty days. "Should a public funeral be decided upon, and a conference with you become necessary, you will be promptly added. "This sad occurrence makes it necessary for us to postpone our supper in the interest of the poor fund of our city. Were it anything but with such a noble object, my depressed feelings would prompt me to suggest abandoning it altogether, but it is in the interests of the poor, a cause in which our mayor was vitally concerned, and for that reason we will continue it, postponing it only until the same days of next week as It was intended for this "Due notice of this change of date will be given to the holders of tickets through the columns of the daily press." (Signed) John V. Huffort, Chief Fire Department.

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1929. Public domain works must be out of copyright in both the United States and in the source country of the work in order to be hosted on the Commons. If the work is not a U.S. work, the file must have an additional copyright tag indicating the copyright status in the source country. Note: This tag should not be used for sound recordings.PD-1923Public domain in the United States//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Harry_Gibons_Stiles_(1856-1908)_obituary_in_The_Allentown_Leader_of_Allentown,_Pennsylvania_on_November_9,_1908,_part_1.jpg