Introduction
August Joseph Hiller Sr. was well-known especially in Camden’s German community, in the 1880s, 1890s, and 1900s. He was active in the affairs of the Camden Liedertafel, the Turn Verein, and Ss. Peter & Paul Roman Catholic Church.
August Hiller was born in Philadelphia in 1858. He came to Camden in the 1870s. He married Theresa Lotzpeich in the late 1870s or early in 1880. By that year he had established a bakery at 427 Kaighn Avenue, which was also his home. He had two employees who boarded with him there, and a domestic. His wife gave birth to a son, August J. Hiller Jr. on November 30, 1880. August Hiller lived and conducted his bakery business at 427 Kaighn Avenue until his death in 1910.
August Hiller’s wagon was struck by a train at South 7th and Spruce Streets in 1895. He survived the crash and was able to resume his everyday activities.
August Hiller passed away on November 16, 1910. His widow moved away from the Kaighn Avenue address the following year. August Hiller was buried at Calvary Cemetery. His widow joined him in 1933.
Photos
August Hiller
August Hiller
Corner Stone Laying
Camden Post —
The Services at Saints Peter and Paul on Sunday Next.
The corner stone of the Roman Catholic church of Saints Peter and Paul, Fourth and Division streets, will be laid on Sunday afternoon. The demonstration promises to be one of unusual interest. Besides the ceremonies at the church there will be a parade of the various Catholic Societies of this city and vicinity. E. H. Wieland, the chief marshal of the parade, has appointed as his aids Messrs. Aug. Hiller, Anthony J. Oberst, J. Diller and T. Fearon, and has ordered that they shall be mounted, wear black silk chapeaus with ostrich plumes, and silk regalias, the chief in white, the aids in dark colors. The aids are to report at Fourth and Division streets at 1.30 p. m. sharp, and the organizations intending to take part at 2 p. m.
The following is the route of the parade: Form on Fourth below Pine, proceed down Fourth to Kaighn avenue, to Broadway, to Pine, to Fourth, to Spruce, to Sixth, and after the Benediction countermarch down Spruce to Fourth and dismiss.
Baker’s Horse Killed by Train
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Yesterday afternoon August Hiller, a baker, left his horse standing at Seventh and Spruce streets. The animal strayed away, walked in front of a train on the West Jersey Railroad and was killed. The wagon was demolished.
Liedertafel Ball
Camden Post —
The Rain Somewhat Marred a Heretofore Lively Occasion.
Rain shooting at a slant from a leaden sky is enough to dissipate the hopes of any one anticipating a good time.
Such was the state of the weather last evening when the hands of every clock in kitchen and parlor pointed to the hour when the merry makers of the city assembled to while away the hours tripping the light fantastic.
It was the night of the Liedertafel ball at Armory Hall. Anton Oberst’s orchestra supplied the music, and from 9 o’clock in the evening until 6 o’clock Tuesday morning, March 1st, their instruments were kept busy furnishing the musical accompaniment for tripping toes.
Everybody who could dance did so; those who couldn’t looked on and laughed with delight.
Mr. John Lock and his stately daughter Lizzie led the grand march, numbering about one hundred couples. Twenty-two dances were tripped through, beginning with the Leidertafel waltz and ending with a galop. At midnight there was a general unmasking, which revealed the identity of faces hidden by gauze and muslin.
Joseph Schaeffer and Leon Streisman, the former made up as a German comedian and the latter as a rosy cheeked female of the same nationality, made a big hit. Both spin silk in an up town mill.
The members of the Maennerchor marched into the ball with South street noses and kazoo instruments. They serenaded everybody in the line of march and sang patriotic songs around the tables in the refreshment rooms.
Chief Dodd and six policemen were on hand to preserve order.
Everything passed of auspiciously. Charles Schultz was Master of Ceremonies; August Weber, Conductor; John Lock, Wm. Maier, Anton Oberst, Jacob Seibert and August Hiller, Assistant Conductors.
J. Vissel, President; A. Weber, Secretary; John Heileman, Treasurer; Anton Oberst, J. Lock, Wm. Maier and Jacob Seibert constituted the Committee of Arrangements.
Freeholder Richard Mason furnished the piano, which acted in concert with the other musical instruments.
Baker Hiller Injured
Camden Daily Courier —
His Wagon Struck by a Train at Seventh and Spruce.
He is Thrown Out and the Wagon Damaged, But the Horse Escapes—Taken to Cooper Hospital.
August Hiller, the well known baker of 427 Kaighn avenue, while driving his wagon was struck by a train on the West Jersey Railroad shortly after noon.
He was driving along Spruce street and upon reaching Seventh street, probably did not hear the bell which generally rings and as the houses are built up near the railroad, he could not very well see up and down the track. As he got upon the track along whizzed the train, striking the front wheels of the wagon immediately beneath where Hiller sat.
He was thrown out and striking his head on the cobbles, received a scalp wound and concussion of the brain. The top of the wagon was completely demolished and pies and bread were scattered over the ground, but the horse escaped without injury.
Hiller was taken to the Cooper Hospital in a critical condition. It is said that this is the third time that he has been struck and the second time in this same place.
Merry Dancers in Gay Costumes
Camden Post-Telegram —
Twelfth Annual Masquerade Ball of the Camden Turn Verein.
The Camden Turn Verein held its twelfth annual masquerade ball last evening and Turner Hall was filled with a merry crowd of dancers in fancy costumes.
Martin Hartmann, master of ceremonies, and Mrs. Frederick Banzhof led the grand march. John Maier, August Hiller, Louis Hartmann, Ferdinand Zuber, Claus Ecks and William Uber were the floor managers, while the committee of arrangements consisted of Anthony J. Oberst, chairman; Francis T. Steinebach, secretary; John F. Rieger, treasurer; John Schmidt, William Bartlet, John Maier and Martin Hartmann.
The Turn Verein officers are: President, William Bartlet; vice president, Francis T. Steinebach; secretary, Anthony J. Oberst; treasurer, Bernhard F. Schroeder.
Among those present were Mr. and Mrs. William Bartelt, Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Schroeder, Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Korfhage, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Schradin, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Holler, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Kobus, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Foulon, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Adam Schlorer, Mr. and Mrs. George Kadisch, Mr. and Mrs. George Brehm, Herman Fuchs, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore G. Maier, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lutz, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Schlorer, Mr. and Mrs. Frank X. Braun, Mr. and Mrs. George Kruck, Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Walz, Mr. and Mrs. John G. Colsey, Mr. and Mrs. John Graef, Mr. and Mrs. August Freitag, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Ladewig, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Fred Banzhof, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Baier, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schneider, Mr. and Mrs. Maynard Dalbey, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Maehler, August Weber, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Kohlenberg, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Haehner, Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Ahrens, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ruff, Mr. and Mrs. Harry C. Halbert, Mr. and Mrs. George K. Knauf, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Guenther, Mr. and Mrs. George Kroecker, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Leopold, Mr. and Mrs. Edward McCabe, Mr. and Mrs. Adam T. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Gustav Schwoeri and Mr. and Mrs. George Lotz.
Pedestrian Saved Child’s Life
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Crashing into a wagon driven by August Hiller, Jr., a trolley car at Broadway and Kaighn avenue, Camden, yesterday came within a few inches of passing over John Kissinger, 10 years old, who was hurled from the vehicle by the impact. When the boy was just about disappearing beneath the car an unknown pedestrian risked his life by leaping and pulling the youngster away. Hiller and Kissinger escaped with bruises.
Obituary
Camden Post-Telegram —
August J. Hiller, aged 60 years, a baker, of 427 Kaighn avenue, one of the best known Germans down-town, died last night after a brief illness from pneumonia. He is survived by a widow and a son, August J. Hiller, Jr.
Mr. Hiller was out for a walk on Sunday and stopped to talk for a moment with Reserve Brothers at Broadway and Kaighn avenue. While chatting with Brothers he was seized with a chill and he went home, got in bed and sent for the family physician.
The latter diagnosed the case as pneumonia and at once used everything known to the medical profession to combat the disease, but he grew gradually worse until the end. Mr. Hiller has a host of friends who will sincerely mourn his loss.
Calvary Cemetery
August Hiller gravestone at Calvary Cemetery