Camden People - Edwin Farnham

EDWIN FARNHAM was a somewhat eccentric character who lived in Camden in the 1880s and 1890s. He was born to Thomas Allen Farnham and his wife, the former Chloe Eliza Abbott, on May 17, 1846 in Hamton, Connecticut. Thomas Allen Farnham was a watchmaker, and by 1870 had moved his family to Gloucester Ciy, New Jersey. The Farnham family, whichincluded younger siblings Abbott, Frank, and Alice, was still in Gloucester City when the Census was taken in 1880. By this time Edwin Farnham was working as a gold penmaker, a trade he followed on and off throughout his life.

By 1882 the family had moved to Camden, New Jersey, taking up residence at 129 Mount Vernon Street. Edwin Farnham remained at that address through 1892. His father, Thomas Allen Farnham, died on January 1, 1892. Edwin Farnham then oved to 143 Mount Vernon Street, whee he is listed in the 1893 City Directory. The 1894 and 1895 Directories show him at 1003 Broadway, working as a messenger. By 1897 he had moved to 520 Kaighn Avenue, and later moved to 510 Kaighn Avenue, where he is listed in Directories from 1906 through 1909.

His odd behavior was, as reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer in April of 1884, "known to almost evey man, woman,and child in Camden and Gloucester City" in his heyday.