Introduction
Charles H. Hart was appointed to the Camden Fire Department to replace James Sutton as an extra man with Engine Company 1, who resigned April 2, 1870. He had previously worked as a brickmaker, and was making his home at 409 Walnut Street when appointed to the Fire Department.
Charles Hart was born in Delaware in November of 1846 to David and Mary Hart. His father was a brickmaker, and Charles would eventually learn that trade. The family had moved to Camden’s South Ward by the spring of 1850, and remained there for many years thereafter.
When the 1870 census was taken in July of 1870, Charles Hart, his wife, the former Anna Harvey, and two month-old son Harry M. were living with Charles Hart’s widowed mother Mary A. Hart at 409 Walnut Street. Also at home were Charles Hart’s siblings, George B. Hart, Elizabeth, Ida, and Maggie Hart.
Charles Hart’s older brother, George B. Hart, was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on April 19, 1871 to take the place of Cornelius M. Brown, who had resigned. George B. Hart served alongside brother with Engine Company 1 until he was removed from service on June 7, 1872.
Politically active, in March of 1876 Charles Hart was nominated for the post of janitor at City Hall. He lost the vote, which was held in City Council.
On March 20, 1877 Charles Hart was appointed to serve as a policeman in Camden by Mayor James Ayers, to begin serving on April 1, 1877. Charles Daubman was appointed Chief of Police. The other men who were appointed were Jonathan Watson, Andrew Baird, John T. Miller, Daniel Johntra, Robert Pine, William Smith from the Third Ward, William Hawkins, Isaac Ellis, John W. Campbell, John E. Anderson, John Brown, Mark Sheldon, Thomas Conway, John Furey and William Smith from the Eighth Ward. Charles Daubman and Robert Pine had previously served as members of the Camden Fire Department.
The 1878 City Directory shows Charles Hart living at 926 South 5th Street working as a policeman. The 1880 Census shows Charles and Anna Hart and their son Harry at the same address. He was then working as a coremaker. They were still at this address as late as 1888.
In the early 1880s Charles Hart began working as a fireman and later as engineer. By 1894 he was working as marine engineer, working aboard one of the ferry boats that crossed the Delaware back and forth in the years before the Delaware River Bridge (known today as the Benjamin Franklin Bridge) was built.
By 1890 the Hart family was living at 406 North Front Street. When the 1900 census was taken, Harry M. Hart, then 30, was still at home. He worked as a stationary engineer. The Harts were still at the Front Street address as late as January of 1920.
CAMDEN AND VICINITY.
Philadelphia Inquirer —
VACANCIES FILLED.—Within the past few days the Commissioners of the Camden Paid Fire Department have made the following changes:—James Sutton dismissed from Engine No. 1, and Charles Hart appointed to fill the vacancy; John Graham dismissed from Engine No. 2, and Joseph Nece appointed in his place; Robert Pine resigned from same engine, and Harry McKeen appointed in his place. The Paid Department is now in competent condition, with all the necessary equipments to give it efficiency, and the Commissioners are resolved to make it an acceptable department to the city.
TO BE RESUMED.—The Camden Woolen Mills, which were built about the commencement of the war, have been idle for several years, but it is said that their affairs will soon be arranged in such a way that they will resume operations. When in operation they employed some two hundred workmen.
THE SHAD SEASON.—The shad fishing season is now close at hand, and the parties in Camden who usually follow the business are making preparations to commence it in a few days on quite an extensive scale. They seem to think that indications are favorable for a pretty good run.
TEMPERANCE MATTERS.—Now that the business of the M. E. Conference is over, Rev. G. R. Snyder, the champion advocate of the cause of temperance in Camden, will renew his labors in that field with an earnestness and zeal which cannot fail to accomplish great good.
FRUITS OF INTEMPERANCE.—Yesterday Mayor Cox, of Camden, held four young men to answer at court the charge of riotous assault and battery. Another was committed for a further hearing. Others are implicated in the row and will be arrested.
Accidentally Asphyxiated
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Old Lady Turned on a Gas Tap and Was Smothered.
Mrs. Mary A. Hart, 79 years old, was asphyxiated by illuminating gas at the residence of her grandson, William D. Brown, 920 South Fifth street, Camden. She has been in failing health for the past two years, and frequently wandered unconsciously about her bedroom.
Early yesterday morning members of the family were aroused by the smell of gas, and found that Mrs. Hart had inadvertently turned on a stop in a pipe leading to a gas radiator. Her room was filled with gas, and she was found half way out of bed with her face buried in the bed clothing. She was dead.
Mrs. Hart had been a resident of Camden for over fifty years, and was a lifelong member of the Union M. E. Church. The funeral will take place from the residence of her son, Charles H. Hart, at 406 North Front street.
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