The Biographical Dictionary of America/Clymer, Hiester

CLYMER, Hiester, representative, was born in Caernarvon township, Berks county. Pa., Nov. 3, 1827; son of Edward Tilghman and Maria Catharine (Hiester) Clymer; grandson of Col. Daniel Cunyngham Clymer; great-grandson of William and Anna (Roberdeau) Clymer; and great² grandson of Richard Clymer, a merchant and shipbuilder of Philadelphia, who came from Bristol, England, in 1705. Hiester prepared for college at Reading. Pa., and was graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1847. He was admitted to the bar of Berks county, April 6, 1849; in 1851 went to Pottsville, Pa., where he practised for five years, and in is.j6 returned to Reading. He was a member of the board of revenue commissioners in 1860, a delegate to the Democratic national convention in the same year, and also in 1868; was elected to the state senate to fill a vacancy in 1860; was elected for the full term in 1861 and was re-elected in 1864. In March, 1866, he was nominated as candidate for governor of Pennsylvania and at once resigned his seat in the senate. He was defeated by John W. Geary after receiving a larger number of votes than had ever before been given to any Democratic candidate for the office. He was a member of the state board of public charities in 1870; and president of the Democratic state convention in 1872. He was a representative in the 43d, 44th, 45th and 48th congresses, 1873-81. He was married in 1856, to Elizabeth Mary, daughter of Matthew Brooke. He died in Reading, Pa., June 12, 1884.