OBITUARY – Clem Williamson
East Liverpool Tribune
DEATH ENDS THE SAD STORY OF CLEM WILLIAMSON’S LIFE
Weakened by overwork and loss of sleep a victim of blood poisoning, Clem Williamson, a young married man died at his home in Lawrenceville, Chester, early last evening (November 17,1903) after a short illness. For thirty-six hours previous to his death his life had been almost despaired of by the attending physicians. Williamson himself realized his condition.
Blood poisoning in this case was contracted in a very unusual manner, Williamson had been in the employ of the Chester tin mill recently, and has worked as many as three consecutive shifts repeatedly during the past two months. A week ago a little pimple appeared on his chin, which though it troubled him somewhat, caused him no uneasiness. Quite naturally he would scratch it and in this way he poisoned his system. Particles of tin of a poisonous nature supposed to have clung to his finger tips, may have been responsible in part for the tragedy last night.
Inflammation set in and the harmless looking eruption became so serious that Williamson was forced to quit work and seek medical aid. His whole face swelled rapidly and he suffered unspeakable agony. During the last few days he could neither eat nor sleep. Dr. Charles Campbell of Chester was summoned and, at his request for consultation, Dr. W. N. Bailey and Dr. Howard Davis were called. All realized that his chances for recovery were very slight. They hardly expected him to live later than Tuesday morning. His indomitable will may account for the fact that the end did not come until last evening.
Williamson is about 22 years of age and is survived by his wife and a little baby two months old. He came to Chester from Sistersville. All his life he seems to have labored and struggled under an ill-star. His reverses have been many and of a serious character. As a result of many misfortunes, he became heavily in debt. To meet his obligations and to provide for his young wife and child was his only ambition. That he might do this he worked almost incessantly, but in vain. In fact his laudable zeal to free himself from debt, his overwork, rendered him unable to battle hopefully for his life. The funeral arrangements had not been made last night.