Introduction
Augustus F. Werner was born around 1870. The 1920 Census says he was born in Texas, of German-speaking parents who had come from the Lorraine region of what was then France. He met and married his wife Annie around 1891. While his obituary states that he first came to Camden in 1882, his first two children were born in Pennsylvania: Alma was born in September of 1894, and William was born in October of 1896. Shortly after William was born, the Werner family moved to Camden, NJ. When the census was taken in 1900, Augustus Werner was working as a day laborer. The family resided at 446 South 2nd Street, the corner of South 2nd and Berkley Street.
By 1910 the family had moved to a rented house at 822 Market Street. Three other children had joined the family: daughters Anna and Ruth, and son Erwin. Augustus Werner had started his moving business by this time. Alma Werner was working as an “inspectress” at a department store, while William Werner was working as an errand boy.
Tragedy struck the Werner family in January of 1917 when young Erwin Werner died after falling down while playing with friends in the street. The family then lived at 513 Mt. Vernon Street.
When the census was taken in 1920, Augustus Werner had bought the house at 523 Berkley Street. He conducted his moving and storage business from an office in the adjacent lot. Only daughter Ruth was still living with Mr. and Mrs. Werner by then. Alma Werner by this time had married. She and her husband Charles Aceto had moved to 441 Line Street. Charles Aceto was then working as a machinist in a shipyard. He would go on to a long business career in Camden, in renting automobiles and in parking, among other things. William Werner had also married. He and wife Jennie lived at 528 South 4th Street with sons William Jr. and Walter. William was working as a teamster for Augustus in the family business.
Augustus Werner died in his office, of a fatal heart attack, on October 28, 1939 or possibly 1940. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery. His wife Anna Werner was still living at the Berkley Street address as late as 1959.
Portrait
Augustus Werner
Boy Refuses to Name Lad Who Hit Him; Dies
Camden Post-Telegram or Camden Courier —
Camden Lad Says Injury Was Due to ‘Accident During Play’
The name of the schoolmate who caused his death was locked behind the lips of seven-year-old Irwin Werner, when he died at the Cooper Hospital, Camden, today, of a brain clot. He had steadfastly refused to reveal the name of the boy who knocked him down in a game, fatally injuring him.
“There’s no use telling,” he said. “It was only an accident.”
The boy, who lived at 513 Mount Vernon street, Camden, was admitted to the hospital January 18, complaining of pains in his head. Physicians were unable to diagnose the case until, pressed for particulars, the boy explained that he had struck his head on a pavement when knocked down in play. More than that he would not tell.
Mourn Lad’s Tragic Death
Camden Post-Telegram or Camden Courier —
The death of 7-year-old Irvin Werner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Werner, of 513 Mt. Vernon street, is being mourned by scores of friends and neighbors who knew the lad for his gentleness. Irvin died yesterday at ten o’clock in the Cooper Hospital from the effects of blood poisoning. He had been in the institution only a short time. Arrangements for the funeral are being completed.
Photos
August & Anna Werner
Ruth & Alma Werner, 1910s. Alma Werner, on right, is not wearing a wedding ring in this photo, which was probably taken around 1916–1917. She would marry Charles Aceto some time after June 5, 1917, when he registered for the draft.
Named: 521 Berkley Street, 1910s, 1920s, and Werner Moving & Storage.
Named: A. Werner, Piano and Furniture Moving, By Padded Motor Vans, and 521 Berkley Street.
521 Berkley Street, 1930s – Werner Moving & Storage
August Werner in front of his home and business, 521 Berkley Street, 1930s
August & Anna Werner with daughter Alma Werner Aceto, 521 Berkley Street, 1930s
521 Berkley Street, 1930s
Werner Moving & Storage truck, also known as Werner’s Storage Warehouse, in front of the T. C. Tiedeken & Brother truck body shop in the 400 block of Van Hook Street, 1930s
August Werner, 1930s
521 Berkley Street, 1941.
“My Grandmother – Jennie Long Werner – this picture was taken in 1941 in front of Werner’s Moving & Storage on Berkeley Street. The little girl on the left is my Mother, Anna Werner Miller; the girl on the right is my Aunt Evelyn Werner Camp.” – Floyd Miller, April 2005
“It looks like William Werner had erected a new warehouse and office building for his business during the time when the above photo and the one at left were taken.” – Phil Cohen, August 2005
Ruth Werner in front of the family business, Werner Moving & Storage, 1930s–1940s