NOTE : Charles A. Clymer moved to Denison from Chester, Illinois, and stayed. Originally called Karl Kleiman, he changed his name to Charles Clymer after arrival in Texas. He married Annie Ellen "Nellie" Shuell at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Denison in 1883. Their sons were John Raymond "Ray" Clymer Sr., Albert Andrew Clymer Sr., William E. "Will" Clymer, and Charles G. "Chick" Clymer.

CHRONOLOGY

July 16, 1832 ~ William Kleiman arrived in New York from Bremen, Germany. ("New York Passsenger Lists 1820-1957").

1877  ~ Two brothers in their twenties, Andrew and Karl Kleiman, arrive in Denison on an MKT train from St. Louis with a load of mules to sell. They were sons of a German immigrant living in Chester, Illinois, on the east side of the Mississippi, below St. Louis. They got the mules off the train, and Karl Kleiman stood at the tracks and looked west up Main Street—a big broad street with lots of activity. The next day he said to his brother, "I'm not going back. We'll sell the mules, we'll give the money to Dad, you can take it back up to Illinois." [Source: M. David Bryant Jr., “Denison's Heritage & Denison Heritage Inc.,” talk at Denison Rotary Club, MKT Depot, Oct 31, 1996.]

1878 ~ Karl Kleiman is an employee at the White Elephant Saloon in the 100 block of North Rusk.

1880 ~ Karl Kleiman is an employee of a livery stable.

1883 ~ Karl Kleiman is married at St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

1885 ~ Karl Kleiman has a small real estate business at 117 South Rusk Avenue.

1887-1888  ~ White Elephant Billiard Saloon, 301 West Main Street at Rusk Avenue. Proprietors: Wood, Meadows & Co. The principals are: Drew B. Wood, who rooms at 314 West Main Street; Joe P. Meadows, who lives 15 miles northwest of the city limits; and James A. Meadows, who lives at 509 West Crawford Street. George Campbell (colored) works at the White Elephant Saloon; he lives in the home of Edward Campbell (colored), who works coal shute, MK&T Railway; lives at 322 East Day Street.

1887–1888 ~ White Elephant Club Room, over northwest corner of West Main Street and North Rusk Avenue. Proprietors are Clymer & Hughes. The principals are Charles A. Clymer, who lives at 892 West Morton Street at the corner of Chandler Avenue; and Enoch Hughes, who lives at 418 West Chestnut Street.

1887–1888  ~ White Elephant Livery Stable, 121 North Rusk Avenue at the corner or West Woodard Street. Jeremiah H. "Jerry" Nolan, proprietor. He lives at 403 North Burnet at the corner of West Sears Street. James D. Nolan is a clerk there. Richard Brown is a hostler there.

1887–1888 ~ White Elephant Restaurant, 501 West Main Street.

1891–1892 ~ Clymer, Hughes & Co. (Charles A. Clymer, Enoch Hughes, Joe P. Meadows), proprietors of the White Elephant club rooms, northwest corner of West Main and Rusk Avenue. Charles A. Clymer lives at 929 Morton at the corner of Chandler Avenue. Enoch Hughes lives at 624 West Owings Street. Joseph P. Meadows lives at 820 West Bond Street.

1891–1892 ~ John Shuell works at White Elephant club rooms. Lives at 302 East Shepherd Street.

1891–1892 ~ J. Harvey Thompson works at the White Elephant club rooms. He rooms over 202 West Main Street.

1891–1892 ~ Theodore Tobin works at the White Elephant club rooms. He resides at 117 West Woodard Street.

1891–1892 ~ Cutler & Meadows owns the “White Elephant” saloon, 301 West Main Street at the corner of Rusk Avenue. Partners are James A. Meadows, who lives at 509 West Crawford Street; and Wyatt T. Cutler, residing at 331 West Bond Street at the corner of Burnett Avenue.

1891–1892 ~ The firm of Cutler Brothers owns Cutlers’ Saloon, 230 West Main Street at the corner of South Rusk Avenue. Proprietors are Thomas Cutler, who lives at 109 West Morton Street; and Wyatt T. Cutler, who lives at 331 West Bond.

1891–1892 ~ The White Elephant Restaurant, 303 West Main Street, is owned by Elmore P. Foster, proprietor. He lives at 423 West Woodard Street. Clarence Foster is a clerk at the White Elephant Restaurant. He lives with E. P. Foster.

[NOTE: G. P. Foster owned the building that later became the Denison Poultry & Egg Company.]

1899–1900 ~ George S. Smith (Williams & Smith), residence at 722 West Crawford Street. Married.

1899–1900 ~ Williams & Smith (Tom J. Williams, George S. Smith, proprietors), harness & saddlery, 116 South Rusk Avenue.

1899–1900 ~ Tom J. Williams (Williams & Smith), residence at 317 West Crawford Street. Married.

1899–1900 ~ John N. Wright, harness maker, T. E. Horan (buggies, wagons, and carriages, manufacturer and wholesale dealer in fine harness and saddlery, 416 West Main Street); residence at 1006 West Crawford Street. Married.

1901–1902 ~ Smith & Clymer (George S. Smith, Charles A. Clymer, proprietors), harness, saddle, saddlery hardware, 116 South Rusk Avenue.

1901–1902 ~ Charles A. Clymer (Smith & Clymer), residence 929 West Morton Street.

1901–1902 ~ George S. Smith (Smith & Clymer), residence 722 West Crawford Street.

1901–1902 ~ John Wright, harnessmaker at Smith & Clymer, residence at 1006 West Crawford Street.

1917 ~ Nellie Clymer (widow of Charles), residence 929 W. Morton.

1917 ~ Clymer, Charles G. ["Chick"?], clerk at Charles Clymer & Son [real estate, 117 S. Rusk Avenue], and wife Hattie, board at 923 W. Morton. [Note: No one listed at that address in street listing; misprint? 929?]

1917 ~ Clymer, J[ohn]. Ray[mond, Sr.], clerk, Charles Clymer & Son [real estate, 117 S. Rusk Avenue], and wife Mavis [White Clymer], residence 927 W. Walker.

1917 ~ Clymer, William E. (Emma), manager, Charles Clymer & Son [real estate, 117 S. Rusk Avenue], residence 521-1/2 W. Gandy.

1917 ~ Clymer, Charles & Son; William E. Clymer, manager' real estate, 117 S. Rusk Avenue. [Source: Denison City Directory]

September 29, 1918 ~ William E. "Will" Clymer, son of Charles A. Clymer, dies at age 33, 8 months, 24 days. [Source: City of Denison Death Records, Book 4, page 17] Family lore says he died of influenza. His wife and children moved to Fort Worth.

August 24, 1927 ~ Mavis White Clymer, daughter of William R. and Mattie Platt White, dies at age 34, 8 months, 7 days [Source: City of Denison Death Records, Book 4, page 21]

January 16, 1955 ~ Albert Andrew Clymer, son of Charles A. Clymer, dies at age 52, 4 months, 18 days [Source: City of Denison Death Records, Book 12, page 216]

 

House #1. Charles Clymer House, 929 West Morton Street. Source: "Industrial Denison" (1909), p. 32. Robinson, Frank M., comp. Industrial Denison. [N.p.]: Means-Moore Co., [ca. 1909].

 

 House #2. 931 West Morton Street. Home of Charles C. Clymer and Annie Ellen Shuell Clymer. Located on north side of street, this is south side of house after snow storm. Photo in collection of Mavis Anne Bryant.