George Lewis Cattell Sr.

GEORGE LEWIS CATTELL was born on September 28, 1881 in Gloucester City, New Jersey to Robert L. Cattell and his wife, the former Mary Ann Lewis. He was one of eight children, known brothers William and Edward preceding him. The known younger children were Robert E.T., Emma, and Lillian. Robert E.T and Edward had died prior to the 1900 Census. The family lived on King Street in Gloucester City when the Census was taken in 1880. They first appear in Camden's City Directories in 1884, living at 702 Spruce Street. Robert Cattell then worked at the Camden Iron forge, and most of his working life was centered around that trade.

The 1887 City Directory list the family at 709 Clinton Street, and the following h year has them at 723 Royden Street. 1891 and 1892 list the Cattels at 642 South 4th Street. They were at 322 Mount Vernon Street in 1892 and 1893, then moved to 295 Kaighn Avenue for 1894 and 1895. 1896 and 1897 Directories show them at 273 Kaighn Avenue.

The family is listed from 1897 to 1901 at 927 South 3rd Street in South Camden. Robert Cattell and family were at 650 Line Street in 1902 and 1903, and at 841 Newton Avenue in 1906 and 1906.

George L. Cattell married his wife Emma in late 1906 or early 1907. The 1907 City Directory shows him at 1116 Marion Street, 1908's addres is 824 South 8th Street, and the 1909 Directory has him at 629 Carman Street.

The 1910 Census shows that George Cattell had been married to his wife Emma for three years, that there was a seven month-old son, George Jr., and that his parents, Robert L. and Mary Cattell lived with him at 703 Clinton Street. George Cattell was then working as a pressman at a machine works. The family remained at this address into 1911.

The 1912 and 1914 Camden City Directories show George Cattell living at 427Line Street, still working as a pressman.

George L. Cattell's uncle, Benjamin F. Cattell, served as a member of the Camden Police Department in the 1900s and 1910s, and it may well have been through his influence that George Cattell secured his appointment to the Fire Department.

George Catell was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on July 30, 1915, and was still serving as late as 1929.

A daughter, Laura, was born in mid-1918. George L. Cattell registered for the draft on September 1918. The family was still living at 427 Line Street when the Census was taken in January of 1920. Shortly after the Census was taken the Cattells had moved to 514 Clinton Street. The April 1930 Census shows that George L. Cattell and family were still at that address. George L. Cattell was still working for the Camden Fire Department when the Census was enumerated. Living next door to the Cattells at Clinton Street was the family of William Bovell, his son William Bovell Jr, was taken prisoner by the Japanese in the Philippines in 1942 and died while a Prisoner of War. Brother firefighter George W. Attison lived around the corner the street at 511 Royden Street. Attison's step-son, William H. Deitz also became a Camden firefighter, rising to the rank of Captain before dying in the line of duty in 1961. Another neighor, Mary McClyment, who lived around the corner at 525 William Street, was notorious for a time in Camden during the 1930s. The Cattell family was still at 514 Clinton Street when the 1931 City Directory was compiled.

George Cattell passed away on May 11, 1931. He was buried at New Camden Cemetery.

Emma Cattell and her children were still at 514 Clinton Street as late as 1940. The 1943 Directory lists Emma at 514 Clinton Street. George L. Cattell Jr. was in an apartment at 224 Friends Avenue, and it appears that his mother may also have been living there as well. The Cattell's are not listed in Camden in the 1947 Directory. George L. Cattell Jr., last a resident of Clementon, passed in July of 2002.