Introduction
CHARLES T. MURRAY was born in Camden around 1893 to Joseph H. and Georgie Murray. His father had worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad, in the ticket office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Ferry, and at the Camden Post-Telegram newspaper before opening up a undertaking business in 1900. Joseph H. Murray was an active member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Camden, at South 6th and Stevens Streets, was at one time the Sunday School superintendent, and was on the board of directors of the church for 50 years. Grandfather Wesley Murray was captain of the Weccacoe Hose Company, a volunteer fire-fighting organization that served Camden prior to the establishment of the paid Camden Fire Department in 1869.
After operating in three other locations, Joseph H. Murray finally opened his funeral home at 408 Cooper Street in Camden. Charles T. Murray attended the Cooper School on North 3rd Street near Linden, and graduated from the Camden Manual Training and High School on Haddon Avenue. After graduating from undertaking school, Charles T. Murray followed his father into the family business full time in 1912, and after serving with America’s armed forces during World War I, returned to Camden, and married Emeline McBurney. When his father retired in 1929, Charles T. Murray carried the business on, as Joseph H. Murray and Son.
A Republican in his politics, Charles T. Murray served at different times during the 1920s and 1930s as Camden County coroner, a post that was also held during these years by Camden-born funeral director Arthur H. Holl. Charles T. Murray held the post in 1926 and 1928, ran for election again in 1934, and again served from 1938 to 1940.
Possessing a fine baritone singing voice, Charles T. Murray was well known, and performed on radio with Charles L. Bowen. Socially he was a member of the Corporal Raymond C. Thoirs American Legion Post, Ionic Lodge No. 94, F. & A. M., and Camden Lodge 293 of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, among others.
Charles T. Murray had moved with his wife Emeline to 114 White Horse Pike in Haddon Heights NJ in the 1930s, and to 235 Bellevue Avenue in Haddonfield NJ by 1947, where he resided into the 1960s. By October of 1970 he had moved into to the Cooper River Apartments in Pennsauken NJ. He was still playing an active part in the business at the time, which was still located at 408 Cooper Street. By 1977 Charles T. Murray was no longer listed in the New Jersey Bell Telephone Directories for Camden County, and the Murray Funeral home was no longer in business in Camden. A business known as the Murray-Paradee Funeral Home appeared on Route 70 in Cherry Hill, in the building formerly occupied by the Schetter Funeral Home, by this time.
“Manual Training and High School, Haddon Ave., Camden, N. J.”
“Manual Training and High School, Haddon Ave., Camden, N. J.” – Postcard from around 1915
410, 408, & 406 Cooper Street
410, 408, & 406 Cooper Street – The Joseph H. Murray Funeral Home – 1978. The funeral home used both 410 and 408 Cooper Street for business purposes. In the 1990s, these buildings were razed to make way for the Judge Mitchell Cohen Federal Courthouse.
Isaac Shreve Dies, Veteran Policeman
Camden Courier-Post —
ISAAC SHREVE DIES, VETERAN POLICEMAN
Fatally Stricken With Apoplexy in Responding to ’False Alarm’
Nearly forty years a policeman, Isaac M. Shreve died last night “with his boots on.” He was fatally stricken while on duty. He was 68 years old.
The veteran bluecoat was stricken with apoplexy as he was about to step into the Third District auto patrol after a false-alarm call to Thirty-sixth and Federal streets, a short distance from his home.
With Policeman George Clark, driver of the machine, Shreve answered the call. When the officers arrived with the “wagon” they were informed that their services were not needed because the complainant had decided not to make a charge.
Shreve started to walk back to the machine when he suddenly toppled over unconscious. He was placed in the police auto and taken to Cooper Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Coroner Charles T. Murray issued a death certificate.
Shreve is survived by his wife, Jennie, and a son, Joseph, who is a policeman attached to the Third District. He lived at 17 South Thirty-sixth street.
Previous to being appointed a policeman Shreve served three years in the fire department. He was appointed a policeman by Mayor Pratt in 1886. In a political shakeup in 1886 he resigned from the force but was reappointed by the late Cooper B. Hatch in the “Committee of One Hundred” campaign days.
Although small in size, Shreve had a reputation for having “nerve.” He patrolled “beats” in South Camden for many years, but for the last eighteen years he was on duty in East Camden.
Twelve years ago he engaged in a pistol battle with a robber and was shot in the abdomen. For weeks he hovered between life and death but finally recovered.
Many years ago Shreve drove the old horse-drawn “ding-ding” in the First District. Previous to being assigned to the Third District auto patrol he served for several years as acting house sergeant at the East Camden station house.
Coroner Will Probe Woman’s Fatal Fall
Camden Courier-Post —
Coroner Charles Murray will conduct an inquest into the death of Mrs. Milly Hall, 65 years old, of 764 Cherry Street, who died in the Cooper Hospital last night. The probe will start this afternoon at 3 o’clock. According to Dr. H. E. Limas, he was called to the home yesterday afternoon and found Mrs. Hall in a serious condition. She told him that she had fallen down a stairway and struck her head against a radiator. The physician took her to the hospital where it was believed that she had a fractured skull. However, when X-ray plates revealed that there was no fracture, physicians were puzzled by the cause of her death and the inquest was ordered.
Flag Day Service Planned by Elks
Camden Courier-Post —
Elaborate Ceremonies Monday Night Will Be Open to Public
An elaborate Flag Day celebration to be open to the public and broadcast over the radio is planned by Camden Elks for Monday night.
Ceremonies will open at 7.30 p. m., in the lodge room, Seventh and Cooper Streets, with a musical program by the Elks Band, under direction of William H. Townsend. Presentation of the colors will be made by August F. Walters Chapter, Disabled American Veterans; Corp. Raymond C. Thoirs Post, American Legion, and Matthews-Purnell Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The invocation will be made by the lodge chaplain, D. Truman Stackhouse. An altar service will be held by officers headed by James MacMillan, exalted ruler. An organ solo of “America” by Charles L. Bowen, solos by Charles T. Murray, Mrs. C. Richard Allen and Albert B. Poland, will feature the musical program.
The history of the flag will be given by George S. Dunkelberger, a senior member of the lodge and chairman of the Flag Day committee. The program will be broadcast over WCAM by courtesy of Rud Preisendanz Jr., past exalted ruler and lessee of the station.
Elks to Observe Flag Day Tonight
Camden Courier-Post —
Uniformed Veterans to Join Lodge Members in Colorful Ceremonies
Arrangements are completed for the Flag Day celebration to be held tonight by the Camden Elks Lodge at Seventh and Cooper Streets.
The program will open at 7.30 p.m. Doors of the lodge room will be opened to the public at 7:15 p. m. The program will be broadcast over WCAM.
The Elks Band, led by William H. Townsend, will open the ceremonies. Presentation of the colors will be made by uniformed units of the August F. Walters Chapter, Disabled American Veterans; Corporal Raymond C. Thoirs Post, American Legion; Matthews-Purnell Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the lodge patrol.
D. T. Stackhouse, chaplain of the lodge, will make the invocation and an altar service will be held by James A. MacMillan, exalted ruler, and the other officers.
There will be musical selections by Charles L. Bowen, organist; Charles T. Murray, Albert B. Poland and Mrs. C. Richard Allen, vocalists.
George S. Dunkelberger, a senior member of the lodge, and chairman of the Flag Day committee, will give the history of the flag. A patriotic address will be given by Police Judge Garfield Pancoast, a past exalted ruler.
The radio program will be presented through courtesy of Rud Preisendanz Jr., past exalted ruler and lessee of the station.
Mrs. Murray Named To Y. W. C. A. Presidency
Camden Courier-Post —
Mrs. Charles T. Murray, of Haddon Heights, has been named to fill the un-expired term of Mrs. Guy C. Morrill, of Merchantville, as president of the board of the Camden Branch, Young Women’s Christian Association. Mrs. Morrill resigned from office last month.
Mrs. Murray is a former vice president of the board, and will now serve as president until February when election of officers will take place.
Mrs. Arthur J. Casselman, member of the board, has been recommended by the Camden group for membership on the committee for the new program for younger girls which the national Y. W. C. A. is organizing for activity in the Fall. The program will be developed along educational lines to particularly interest girls of college and high school ages.
Murray Refuses Bid for Assembly
Camden Courier-Post —
Charles T. Murray – Camden Courier-Post – May 8, 1934
Mrs. Selina Taylor, 92, Dies; Relatives Sought
Camden Courier-Post —
Mrs. Selina Taylor, 92, was found dead in a bed room yesterday on the second floor of 406 Vine Street, by William Pedrick. Mrs. Taylor had been living with the Pedrick family for the past four years.
Coroner Charles T. Murray issued a certificate of death due to a heart condition. Detective William Marter, investigating Mrs. Taylor’s death, said he is seeking two nieces, reported to be residents of South Camden. Marter said he did not know their names.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. tomorrow at the funeral home of Joseph H. Murray and son, 408 Cooper Street.
Joseph H. Murray, Undertaker, Dies
Camden Courier-Post —
Joseph H. Murray, Undertaker, Dies
Founder of Firm Succumbs at Age of 82 After Six-Week Illness
Joseph H. Murray, 82, Camden's oldest undertaker, died yesterday in his home at 408 Cooper street, of complications. He had been ill for six weeks. Members of his family were at the bedside when he died. He was the father of Coroner Charles T. Murray.
Mr. Murray was the oldest member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. He had been a member of the official board of the church for 50 years, and at one time was superintendent of the Sunday school.
Born in Camden on February 6, 1855, Mr. Murray became employed, after graduation from the Camden schools, by the Pennsylvania Railroad and later was in the ticket office at the Pennsylvania ferries.
Always deeply religious, Mr. Murray quit his post at the ferries because he felt that it was not right to work seven days a week. He then became associated with the old Camden Post-Telegram, now the Morning Post.
In 1900 he started in the undertaking business at 105 North Seventh street, later moving to 106 Broadway, then to 629 Market street and finally to the present Cooper street address, where he also made his home.
While Mr. Murray, in years gone by, had been a member of several organizations, he dropped all of those interests and centered on the one thing that was paramount in his life, his church work with the First M. E. He was well-known for his charitable work, although he did his missions of charity without any flare of publicity.
Mr. Murray retired from active business 10 years ago, and the business has since been carried on by his son, Coroner Murray, as Joseph H. Murray & Son. Coroner Murray entered his father's business in 1912, when he graduated from school.
Mr. Murray's father, Wesley Murray, was well known in Camden and at one time was captain of the old volunteer fire company, the Weccacoe Hose Company, which for many years had its headquarters on Arch street, east of Fifth street. That building was torn down when the present city hall was built.
In addition to Coroner Murray, Mr. Murray is survived by one other son, Carlton J. Murray, Camden florist; three daughters, Mrs. Sarah Dollar, of Camden; Mrs. Matilda Clark, of Sparrows Point, Md., and Mrs. Georgie Schwatka, of Baltimore, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Mr. Murray's wife, Georgie, died 18 years ago.
Funeral services will be held privately by the family tomorrow. Rev. James S. Pemberton, pastor of the First M. E. Church, will preach the sermon. Burial will be in Harleigh Cemetery.
First Methodist Episcopal Church
