Introduction
Charles Elfreth was born in Camden in May of 1849 at 109 North 2nd Street in Camden NJ. He was the third son of Samuel D. and Martha Elfreth, coming after older brothers Jeremiah and Samuel Elfreth. His father was a prosperous blacksmith in Camden. Samuel D. Elfreth had become a volunteer with the old Perseverance Fire Company upon moving to Camden in the 1820s.
Older brother Samuel S. Elfreth joined the Camden Fire Department in 1865, when it was still an all-volunteer force, and served until the volunteers were disbanded in 1869. Before his career ended, he would served as Chief of the Camden Fire Department on three different occasions, from 1879 to 1882, from 1885 to 1888, and from 1891 until his retirement in 1912.
When the census was taken in 1870, Charles and Samuel S. Elfreth were living with their mother and father. Both sons were working as sash and blind makers. In 1871 Samuel S. Elfreth was appointed a member of the paid fire department, serving as an extra hoseman in Engine Company No. 2.
Charles Elfreth married Mary A. Bruden in Camden County on March 6, 1872.
On January 17, 1872 Charles Elfreth was appointed driver of the Hook & Ladder Company, known today as Ladder Company 1. H replaced William B. Gordon Jr., who had been dismissed from that position the previous day. Charles Elfreth was discharged from his duties on May 8, 1872.
On March 26, 1877 Charles Elfreth again followed his brother into Camden’s professional fire service. He did not, however, make a career of firefighting as his older brother had, and by the latter half of 1878 had returned to other pursuits. The 1878–1879 City Directory shows him working as a carpenter and living at 103 South 5th Street. He had moved to 222 Bridge Avenue by 1881, according to the City Directory for that year, and remained at that address through the beginning of 1892.
Charles Elfreth began working for the Pennsylvania Railroad by the end of 1882. He remained a P.R.R. employee for the rest of his working days.
Charles Elfreth had moved to Burlington County by the time the 1893–1894 City Directory was compiled. The 1900 Census shows Charles Elfreth, wife Mary and son Benjamin living on Main Street in Chester Township (present-day Maple Shade), New Jersey. The family had moved back to Camden by 1906, when they wee then living at 431 South 5th Street. The 1910 Census lists the Elfreth family at 933 Cooper Street. The family at that time consisted of Charles and Mary Elfreth, their divorced daughter Martha, son Benjamin, and his wife Anna. By 1914 they had moved to 819 Cooper Street, where Charles Elfreth would live out his days, passing away on January 23, 1922.
Over the River
Philadelphia Inquirer —
A LARGE FUNERAL—RESIGNATION AND APPOINTMENTS—THE TAXES—DEPREDATIONS—THE LATE HON. STEVENSON LESLIE—ORDERED INTO CAMP.
...The funeral of Joseph Bosch yesterday afternoon was attended by quite a large concourse of friends and citizens. He was one of the men drowned at Atlantic City on the 23d instant. The members of Kane Arctic Lodge, No. 115, I. O. O. F., and Mohawk Tribe of Red Men attended the funeral in a body. He was buried in the Camden Cemetery.
...John Gray, Jr., Thomas Grapevine, Henry Fray, Bernard Dennis and Elwood Cline have resigned from the Fire Department of Camden, and Daniel Sparks, Charles Elfreth, Joseph Neice, William Osler and Isaac Randolph have been appointed in their places.
...A. C. Jackson, tax collector, is making out the bills for the amount of taxes assessed against property owners in Camden for the coming year, and will have them delivered in a few days.
...Parties of half-grown boys have been in the habit, for a few days past, of depredating on the farmers along the river shore, above Camden, destroying and carrying away their truck. Application for protection has been made to Sheriff Fredericks against these raiders, as they often are sufficient in numbers to overcome the farmers who protest against their conduct.
...In honor of the late Hon. Stevenson Leslie, of the New Jersey Legislature, the members of Battery B, N. G. S. M., of Camden, have passed the following:—“Resolved, That in the death of our comrade we feel that we have lost a good and efficient member, one who was always ready and willing to advance the interests of the company, and whose place in our ranks cannot easily be supplied; That as a mark of respect the hall of the battery be draped in mourning for the space of thirty days.”
...The Second Brigade, National Guard State of New Jersey, has been ordered into camp at Cape May on the 1[?]th proximo, for one week.
Extra Firemen Appointed
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The Commissioners of the Camden Paid Fire Department, in addition to the regular, have appointed the following extra men on the force: Amadon Middleton, Charles Benton, George Tracey, John Stephens, Elijah Moorehouse, Francis Miller, Joseph B. Green, Jr., Charles Sawyer, Charles M. Lane, Christian Tenner, John Toy, Jacob App, William Deith, Amos Osler, Archie Clark, H. Sharp, Richard Cooper, James Hunt, Charles H. Reed, Richard Deitz, Benjamin Marshall, P. Brown, John Grav [sic], Isaac O. Randolph, Josiah Davis, Francis Boardman, Charles Elfreth, Alexander Watson, Howard Cuney, Francis Tamer. Nine of the above were members of the Fire Department a few years ago, under the now newly appointed Chief, R. S., Bender.
Camden Notes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Thrown to the ground when his dog vigorously tugged on the chain with which he was leading the animal, Assistant Tax Receiver Charles Elfreth sustained a sprained ankle.
Death Notice of Charles Elfreth
Philadelphia Inquirer —
ELFRETH.—Jan. 23, CHARLES, husband of Mary A. Elfreth, aged 72. Funeral services Thurs., 2 P. M., at his late residence, 819 Cooper st., Camden, N. J. Int. private, Harleigh Cem. Friends may call Wed., 7 to 9 P. M.
Board of Education Visiting Committees, Grand Army of the Republic, Military Companies and Camden Fire Department
Chew’s Camden City Directory — 1872
Colored, Third District—Messrs. McDowell, Moore, Fewsmith.
Liberty, Fourth District—Messrs. Kennedy, De La Cour, McDowell.
Centreville, Fifth District--Litzenburg, England, Ridge.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
GRAND ENCAMPMENT OF NEW JERSEY.
G. C., Richard H. Lee, Camden.
S. V. C., Samuel J. Hopkins, Morristown.
J. V. C., Ira W. Corey Trenton.
A. A. G., Joseph C. Lee, Camden.
A. Q. G., William M. Palmer, Camden.
A. S. G., G. W. Terriberry, M. D. Paterson,
Chaplain, R. W. Martin, Elizabeth.
Council of Administration, Jas F. Rusling, Trenton; Wm. Ward, Newark; Geo. M. Joy, Toms’ River; Chas. F. Hopkins, Boonton; R. B. Seymour, Jersey City.
Delegates to National Encampment, Wm. Ward, Newark; Jos. C. Nicholls, Camden.
Alternates, Wilson S. Smith, Elizabeth; Samuel Curtis, Manahawkin.
POST NO. 6.
P. C., John H. Austin, M. D.
S. V. C., Wm. T. Mead.
J. V. C., A. E. Lovell.
Surgeon, James A. Armstrong, M. D.
Officer of the Day, Benjamin Carlin.
Officer of the Guard, James V. Gibson.
Quartermaster, Edmund May.
Adjutant, Benjamin H. Connelly.
Chaplain, J. Louden.
Quartermaster Sargeant, Alexander Lynch.
Trustees, Thomas M. K. Lee, Jr., Joseph C Nicholls, Jos. B. Fox.
Delegates, Samuel M. Gaul, Edmund May, Wm. T. Mead.
FIELD OFFICERS, SIXTH REGIMENT NATIONAL GUARDS.
Colonel—James M. Scovel.
Lieut.-Colonel—William Hempsing.
Major—Richard H. Lee.
STAFF OFFICERS.
Acting Adjutant—Edward Furlong.
Quartermaster—William M. Palmer.
Paymaster—Richard Wilkins.
Surgeon—H. Genet Taylor.
Assistant Surgeon—J. B. Mulford.
Chaplain—Rev. W. H. Jeffreys.
MILITARY COMPANIES.
Company B, National Guards, New Jersey State Militia, meets at Armory, Front and Market; open every evening.
Company C, Sixth Regiment, New Jersey State Militia, meets at Armory, Front and Market street, on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
Company D, National Guards, New Jersey State Militia, meets at West and Clinton street.
Company E, National Guards, New Jersey State Militia, meets at Weccacoe Engine House; open every evening.
Battery B, National Guards, New Jersey State Militia, meets at Weccacoe Hose House, Benson street above Fifth.
CAMDEN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The affairs of this Department are now controlled by a Board of Fire Commissioners, consisting of Thomas A. Wilson, President, John Read, Jehu Osler, Jonathan Kirkbride, Rudolphus Bingham.
Two second class Amoskeag Engines, two 2 wheel hose carts, one 4 wheel hose carriage and one hook and ladder truck constitutes the apparatus of the city.
No. 1 engine and hose cart is located at No. 409 Pine street, first fire district; No. 2, engine, cart and extra carriage and hook and ladder truck, located at Fifth and Plum street, in the second fire district. The apparatus and company in the first district is under the immediate charge of William J. Mines, Assistant Marshal; and those of the second district is under the immediate charge of William Shearman, Assistant Marshal, while the Chief Fire Marshal, Robert S. Bender, has a general supervisory care of the entire Department.
Members of the Department are as follows: engineer of No. 1, Reuben G. Turner; driver, George Libeck; stoker, Thomas McLaughlin. Extra men—No. 1, Benjamin Cavanaugh; No. 2, William Deiths; No. 3, George Hornuff; No. 4, Stephen Thomas; No. 5, Edward H. Mead; No. 6, Charles H. Hart; No. 7, George B. Hart; No. 8, Alexander Peacock; No. 9, Samuel S. Buzine; No. 10 William Cox.
Engineer of No. 2, William Osler; driver, Jacob W. Kellum; stoker, Henry Grosscup. Extra men—No. 11, Isaac Middleton; No. 12, Andrew Rabeau; No. 13 Edward Cline; No. 14, William Davis; No. 15, Joseph Neice; No. 16, J. Kelley Brown; No. 17, William Allcott; No. 18 Jacob App; No. 19, William H. Schwaab; No. 20, William Henry McKeen.
Tillerman of hook and ladder Company, Edward J. Dodamead; driver, ——. Extra men—No. 21 Charles M. Baldwin; No. 22, Edward Shaw; No. 23, Josiah Davis; No. 24, William C. Lee; No. 25, James M. Lane; No. 26, James Cassidy; No. 27, Edward T. James; No. 28, Thomas W. McCowan; No. 29, Charles Elfreth; No. 30, Theodore Verlander