Introduction
CARL QUINTON was born in Cleveland, Ohio on August 10, 1893 to Mathias and Caroline “Lena” Quinton. The 1900 Census shows him as the third of seven children, coming after Henry, Louis, and Mattie; and before Lena, Paul, and Margaret. Both of his parents had been born in Germany, his mother coming to America as a small child, his father as a teenager. The Quintons were living at 182 Birch Street Rear in Cleveland, when the Census was enumerated.
His family came to New Jersey around 1902, and settled in Camden’s Eight Ward. Four more children would be born by 1910, Werner, Sylvia, Walter, and Elmer. The 1905 City directory shows the Quinton Family residing at 681 Ferry Avenue, with Mathias Quinton then working as a ship fitter, most likely at the recently opened New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard. By 1910 the family had moved to 687 Jefferson Avenue. This home would remain in the Quinton family into the 1960s.
Carl Quinton married his wife Elizabeth when he was 20 years old. The 1914 City Directory shows that his parents were still living at 687 Jefferson Avenue. Carl Quinton is not named in this directory, while brothers Henry and Louis were. Henry Quinton’s occupation is given as mariner, and it is quite possible that Carl Quinton was then serving with the United States Navy.
When he registered for the draft on June 5, 1917, Carl Quinton was working as a ship fitter at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard on Broadway in South Camden. His draft card shows that he and his wife and two children were living at 715 Central Avenue, and that he had served for one year in the United States Navy. On October 10, 1917, Carl Quinton was appointed to the Camden Fire Department. He served briefly with the Engine Company 3, however, the higher wages being paid at the shipyard lured him back to that line of work in January of 1918. Census records from 1930 indicate that he went back into the military again during World War I.
The 1920 Census, taken February 7, 1920 shows Carl and Elizabeth Quinton living at 1819 Van Buren Street with two daughters, Dorothy, 4 years and 6 months old, and Margaret, 7 months old. This indicates that one of the children in the family when he registered for the draft in June of 1917 had died. The Quinton home was across the Street from the Venella family at 1824 Van Buren, around the corner from John Asbert’s saloon at 673 Ferry Avenue, and the families of William J. Kelly at 675 Ferry Avenue, Alex Slowey at 1811 South 7th Street, Ernest Tartaglia at 666 Ferry Avenue, Nicholas Hetz at 660 Ferry Avenue, and Mikey Brown at 660 Ferry Avenue. The original Antioch Baptist Church building stood at 1811 Van Buren Street. By this time Carl Quinton had secured an appointment to the Camden Police Department. Brother Louis Quinton was living at 636 Viola Street and then owned a pool room. Louis Quinton later served with the Camden Fire Department, until being seriously injured while fighting a fire on Division Street on July 27, 1925. Louis Quinton was politically active with Mikey Brown and the Eight Ward Republican Club, aligned with David Baird Jr., which may have had much to do with the brother’s appointments.
Carl Quinton served on the Camden Police Department as a mounted officer through at least 1922. The 1924 City Directory shows that the family was still living at 1819 Van Buren Street, but that Carl Quinton had left the police department to work as an “agent” for the Yellow Cab Company at 434 Walnut Street, an operation whose principals were then-Camden County physician Dr. Frank Stem, and former Camden assistant city prosecutor Charles S. Straw.
The Quintons are not listed in the 1927 Camden City Directory. The 1929 Camden City Directory shows Carl Quinton and his wife Elizabeth living at 613 Ferry Avenue. No occupation is given. When the Census was taken the following year, Carl Quinton was still at the Ferry Avenue address. He was then operating a pool room.
When Carl Quinton registered for the draft in the spring of 1942, he gave his occupation as “pensioned.” He may have been receiving this pension as a result of an injury or injuries sustained while serving with the Camden police department. By this time he and his wife had moved to Water Street in Glendora, New Jersey.
Last a resident of Glassboro, New Jersey, Carl Quinton died in September of 1970.
World War I Draft Card
Carl Quinton – World War I Draft Card
High Wages Lure Firemen Away
Camden Post-Telegram —
Camden’s Fire Department is being depleted of its men who are lured away by the high wages in the shipyards. Yesterday two more tendered their resignations to take effect immediately. They are Carl Quinton and Joshua Hughes, connected with No. 3 Engine Company.
Boys Find Charred Body in Fire Ruins
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Dead Man’s Companion in Hospital Suffering From Burns
Special to The Inquirer.
One man was burned to death and another was burned about the hands and legs when the explosion of a lamp caused a fire in a barn which had been fitted up as a temporary dwelling in the rear of 751 Ferry avenue, Camden, early yesterday morning. Michael Errieski, 45 years old, the dead man, was ordered to the Morgue by Coroner Rhone, while Stephen Shumluski, 50 years old, the other occupant of the place, was taken to the Homeopathic Hospital. Two boys looking over the ruins discovered the charred body of Errieski two hours after the fire was extinguished.
The flames spread to the home of Ludwig Nijidis, a saloonkeeper at 751 Ferry avenue, causing a loss of about $500, while the homes of Frederick Smith, 755 Ferry avenue, and Mrs. S. J. Rouh, widow of the late Justice of the Peace Rouh, were damaged to the extent of about $300 each. Smith also lost the contents of a plumbing shop. At a time it was believed a horse belonging to Smith had been lost in the fire. Policeman Karl Quinton proved himself a hero by throwing a blanket over the animal’s head and dragging the horse to the street. He also aroused the family of Smith in the nick of time. The home of Mrs. Jennie Stevenson, 1848 Kossuth street, just north of where the fire started, was entirely gutted, causing a loss of about $1,500 to the 2½-story frame structure. Most of the loss is covered by insurance.
Made Crap Shooters Skip
Camden Post-Telegram —
On complaint being made in quite sarcastic style by a woman over the phone, Mounted Policeman Carl Quinton charged on a bunch of crap shooters, at Third and Kaighn Avenue, late on Saturday afternoon, sending them scurrying terror stricken in all directions. All the bone dalliers, at Third and Kaighn Avenue, late on Saturday afternoon escaped but left the dice and pot of coin behind.
Alarms of Fire Before and After Carrigan Funeral
Camden Evening Courier —
Just before Camden firemen were planning to leave headquarters yesterday to march to the home of Captain Martin B. Carrigan, who lost his life in the falling roof at the Economy Store fire, they were summoned to a three alarm fire at the stables of Hugh A. Greenan, 1736 South 7th Street.
When Engine Companies No. 7 and 8 reached their fire houses this morning after the Carrigan funeral, an alarm was received from the drugstore of W.J. Grobowski, 1250 Everett street.
The Grobowski fire had its origin in a pile of rubbish in the basement and was extinguished with a small loss.
Six Horses Saved in Sunday Blaze
Camden Evening Courier —
Nearly All of City’s Apparatus At Fire That Destroys Building
Fire, believed to have started through the drying of animal hair, destroyed the frame building of Hugh A. Greenan, 1736 South 7th Street, shortly before noon yesterday. The loss is estimated at $3,000.
When Fire Chief Peter B. Carter arrived at the scene, the building was doomed. Fearing for the safety of adjoining buildings and homes, Chief Carter sounded a second and then a general alarm. nearly every piece of the city’s fire apparatus was on the scene of the fire.
A man who resides near the rear of the building saw smoke issuing from the center of the buildings at 11:15 o’clock. An investigation showed hair, used in the manufacture of a patent plaster for building purposes, was ablaze. Another neighbor ran to a nearby fire box and sounded the alarm.
Both men joined in rescuing six horses that were in the stable adjoining the fire. Frank Clements, Policeman Carl Quinton and Samuel Ward arrived on the scene and succeeded in saving harness, two wagons and an automobile before the flames spread to the stables.
Hugh A. Greenan, owner of the buildings and business, said his loss, amounting to approximately $32000, was partly covered by insurance.
Hundreds of persons returning home from church were attracted to the fire scene and viewed the work of the firemen from beyond the fire lines. No one was injured, although falling timber from the building constantly hampered the progress of the fire fighters.
Chinese Are Held for Cafe Battle
Camden Evening Courier —
Carl Quinton – Camden Evening Courier – May 24, 1922
Jammed Against Pole
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Jammed against a telegraph pole when his horse became frightened and bolted, Mounted Policeman Carl Quinton, 29 years old, of 1819 Van Buren street, suffered lacerations and bruises of the legs. He was treated at the Homeopathic Hospital.
World War II Draft Card
Carl Quinton – World War II Draft Card
Camden Lions Club
Camden Daily Courier —
Contracts were let yesterday for the erection of an addition to the convent of the Sacred Heart Church, Broadway and Ferry avenue. The addition will provide sleeping quarters for the Sisters in charge of the school, and a community room.
Joseph W. Redding, 80 years old, died yesterday in the Homeopathic Hospital from ailments incident to advancing years. He lived at [?]19 South Seventh street. He is survived by a wife and several children. He was a veteran of the Civil War. The funeral will be held on Tuesday.
Delegates from the Camden Lions’ Club to the international convention at Hot Springs, Ark., left yesterday on a special train over the Baltimore & Ohio road. The delegation includes Frank S. Norcross, Albert E. Burling, Jerome Hurley, Wayland P. Cramer, Edgar Myers, Edwin J. Gorman, M. J. Lubanyik, and Daniel P. Connell [sic].
Jammed Against Pole
Jammed against a telegraph pole when his horse became frightened and bolted, Mounted Policeman Carl Quinton, 29 years old, of 1819 Van Buren street, suffered lacerations and bruises of the legs. He was treated at the Homeopathic Hospital.
Wade Locke and his wife, Mrs. Regina B. Locke, of 3[?]8 Erie street, are suing the Public Service Railway Company for $25,000.
Mrs. Locke and her daughter Martha were injured in falling from a trolley car. They claim that the accident was due to premature starting of the car. Mrs. Locke asks for $10,000 for personal injuries, and her husband asks $15,000 for loss of services and expenses in caring for his wife, daughter and baby born after the accident, which occurred two years ago.
Internally injured when struck by a trolley car while trying to evade an automobile several weeks ago, John Kaighn, 82 years old, of 830 Elm street, died yesterday in the Homeopathic Hospital.
When Frank Leonard, a government agent, looking for drug addicts and peddlers, approached Alice Murphy, 28 years old, of 740 Baxter street, the woman swallowed a package of cocaine; she then ran into her house with Leonard after her. On reaching the back yard he found the woman lying unconscious. She was sent to Cooper Hospital, where her condition was pronounced serious, although it was stated she will recover.
At Kaighn’s Point Ferry, Policeman Naylor found Benjamin Wilson, a negro, 36 years old, of 1025 Poplar street, Philadelphia, with a suitcase that looked suspicious. The negro is alleged to have opened the suitcase and taken a gallon and a quart gallon [sic] jug of moonshine and throw [sic] them at the officer. Wilson was taken before Recorder Stackhouse and sentenced to thirty days for disorderly conduct.
Charged with having cocaine in his possession, Nicholas Michioore, 27 years old, of Collingswood, was held for a further hearing by the Recorder. He was arrested by Agent Leonard and Policeman Fisher.
Home-brew is the bottom of most cases of neglect of children which come before the Camden County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, according to Mrs. Louise F. Walsh, secretary of the society.
“It is indeed a peculiar condition,” said Mrs. Walsh. “If anything it is actually worse that in [sic] the period prior to the enactment of the Volstead law. The home-made brands produce a condition of mind, or lack of it, that seems to border on insanity.
“In nearly all the cases which I am called on to investigate I find the father engaged in the manufacture of home-brew. He is so engrossed in this new work that the kiddies are overlooked. In most instances he resents interference and we are frequently compelled to take drastic steps to force the parent or parents to understand that the law will step in in vigorous fashion unles [sic] sthere [sic] is less home-brewing and more attention paid to the children.”