Introduction
DANIEL A. CARTER was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on January 31, 1847 to Nathaniel Carter and the former Mary Beck.
Daniel A. Carter enlisted for a three year term in the United States Navy at Camden on February 6, 1862. He was discharged at Mound City, Illinois on February 5, 1865, having completed his service.
By the 1880s he was receiving a pension from the United States government for his Civil War naval service. On January 31, 1890 he was granted an increase in his allotment, which was reported in the local press on February 8.
Returning to Camden after the Civil War, Daniel A. Carter entered the world of commerce and to an extent, politics. He married Laura V. Horner in Camden on October 29, 1876. Six children were born of this marriage— Mabel in 1877, Frank B. in 1880, Helen V. in 1883, Eva M. in 1890, Laura in 1892, and Estella in 1895. Sadly, Frank and Eva died as babies and Helen did not see her ninth year. The Carters are listed in the 1878–1879 City Directory at 731 Federal Street. Daniel Carter then worked as a commission merchant. The family remained at that address through 1885. The 1880 Census shows them living at the home of Laura’s parents, Thomas and Lizzie Horner, 731 Federal Street. Also living at the Federal Street address was Laura’s brother, George Horner, who had been a member of the Camden Fire Department for several years in the 1870s.
Daniel A. Carter was elected Chief of the Camden Fire Department in 1882, replacing Samuel S. Elfreth. He served for three years, Elfreth being returned to office in 1885.
The 1887 and 1888 Camden City Directories shows Daniel A. Carter at 733 Federal Street. He was then working as a solicitor for the West Jersey Railroad, which by 1888 had become the Camden & Amboy Railroad. By 1894 Daniel A. Carter had moved to 737 Federal Street. He changed jobs three times in this period, directories giving his occupation as bookkeeper (1894), salesman (1896), and insurance (1898). The 1900 Census shows the Daniel Carter and family living with his in-laws at 737 Federal Street. He was still selling life insurance at the time of the Census. Also residing at that address was his brother-in-law, George Horner, then a Camden police officer.
Sadly, by 1903 Daniel A. Carter and his wife had separated. He was living in Philadelphia by 1906.
Ill health plagued Daniel Carter’s later years. He was admitted to the U.S. National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Dayton, Ohio on November 18, 1912. On November 5, 1918 he checked himself out, but was readmitted on November 29th. He again left the home on March 21, 1919. The 1920 Census shows that Daniel A. Carter was living and working as a librarian at the United States Naval Hospital in Philadelphia. However, he was readmitted to the Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers on August 20, 1920, where he remained, except for a 15-day period in February of 1921, until May 9, 1929.
It is not known at this time when and where Daniel A. Carter passed away. Records indicate that he did not die at the Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. He died on January 3, 1930 and was buried at Colestown Cemetery in Delaware Township (present-day Cherry Hill), New Jersey.
Entered on Their Duties
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Daniel A. Carter
Over the River
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Daniel A. Carter
Gamewell Fire Alarm System Criticized
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Daniel A. Carter
A Blaze in Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
A Supposed Incendiary Fire Causes the Destruction of Considerable Property.
A disastrous fire broke out about midnight Saturday on George street, below Front, Camden, and for a while threatened to destroy several valuable properties in that vicinity. The fire originated in a stable in the rear of the West Jersey Hotel, its origin being unknown. The horses and wagons were gotten out in safety but the buildings and their contents were entirely consumed, and from here the flames communicated to the large three story warehouse of Taylor Bros., which was also destroyed. The aggregated loss will amount to $22,300.
D.H. Lardman, whose property is in the rear of Market street, sustains a loss to building of $1000; insured for $700. His loss on stock will exceed $3,300, insurance not known. Taylor Bros.' losses will exceed $8,000; insured for $2000. This building was the property of the West Jersey Ferry Company, and was not insured. George Campbell, livery keeper, sustained a loss of $2000, insured in the North American Insurance Company for $1500. This building was owned by Samuel Cooper, and was valued at $2,000; no insurance. Mr. Vanderslice, expressman, estimates his losses at $2,500, with no insurance. The Penn Slate Mantle Works lose $500, with no insurance. The walls were standing in a dangerous condition yesterday, and Chief Daniel A. Carter ordered them taken down. In complying with the order, three firemen named Barney Harvey, Benjamin Kellum and Amos Middleton were severely injured by portions of it falling upon them. The residents on Market street complain of the inadequate supply of water for such a business thoroughfare.
Pensions Granted
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Daniel A. Carter
Camden’s Happy Contingent
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Named: Frank L. Vinton, Howard Pine, Richard Evans, Alfred Hugg, Thomas McDowell, James S. Henry, William Sexton, John Smith Jr., Charles Bosch, W.H. Fredericks, James M. Lane, Robert F. Smith, John A. Furey, Andrew Rabeau, D.B. Murphy, William J. Sewell, Francis Ford Patterson Jr., John H. Fort, U.G. Styron, Wallace Armstrong, Joseph W. Cooper, C.C. Reeve, Frank S. Heister, Fred Newton, and Daniel A. Carter.
Jersey Veterans Have a Gala Day
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Named: Thomas M.K. Lee Post 5, William B. Hatch Post 37, William P. Robeson Post 51, Sons of Veterans, Robert M. Hillman, R.L. Robinson, Daniel A. Carter, S.S. Weaver, Federal Street, Washington Park in Gloucester City, and John L. Westcott.
Camden News Notes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Daniel A. Carter
Millionaire Firemen Will Leave Hustling to Active Young Men
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Daniel A. Carter
Camden Justly Proud of Splendid Fire Department
Philadelphia Inquirer —
CAMDEN JUSTLY PROUD OF SPLENDID FIRE DEPARTMENT
HEADQUARTERS OF CAMDEN FIRE DEPARTMENT
Change From Volunteer to Paid “Laddies” Will Be Appropriately Celebrated Next Wednesday
It is probably unknown to the average citizen that Camden had a paid Fire Department some years before Philadelphia. It is just forty years since the gallant volunteer fire-fighters went out of service. To be exact, it was September 2, 1869, that Camden City Council provided to pay its firemen, and on December 10 of the same year they went into service. This event is to be fittingly celebrated next Wednesday in a demonstration in which the business men of the city, as well as the municipal departments, will participate.
It was not until March 15, 1810, that Camden boasted of even a volunteer fire company, and it was on that date that the Perseverance Fire Company was organized. In 1834 there were two such organizations which had been increased to six by 1851. For the most part these distinct aggregations of fire-fighters did not get along very well together and controversies were frequent.
U.S. National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers
Dayton, Ohio
Hampton, Virginia