Introduction
DANIEL BROMLEY was appointed to the Camden Fire Department as an extra man with Engine Company 1 on April 5, 1882. He replaced Solomon Clark. Daniel Bromley served for two years, then was replaced in turn by John Collins. Daniel Bromley was the first of three brothers to serve with the Camden Fire Department. He was followed by his brothers Joseph Bromley and Wilson Bromley.
Daniel Bromley was born in New Jersey in October of 1855 to Joseph Bromley and his wife Anna Eliza. Joseph Bromley supported his family working as a boilermaker. The family was living in Camden’s South Ward by 1860. When the Census was taken there were four children at home, Joseph Jr., Wilson, Daniel, and Emma. The Bromley’s were still in the South Ward in April of 1870, sadly, Emma had died, but another daughter, Elizabeth, had been born around 1862.
The 1878–1879 Camden City Directory shows Daniel Bromley living with his parents and brother Joseph Jr. at 639 Spruce Street in South Camden. Older brother Wilson had moved out and was living at 248 Pine Street. The 1879–1880 Directory shows Daniel Bromley living at 638 Division Street. Joseph Bromley is also listed, the directory, however, does not mention if it is the father or the son, however the 1880 Census indicates that both were living at the Division Street address.
Daniel Bromley married in late 1878 or early 1879. The June 1880 Census shows Daniel Bromley, his wife Emma, and their 10 month old son Charles living at 425 Walnut Street. Their next-door neighbors at 427 Walnut Street were the John Guthridge family; sons William Guthridge, Thomas Guthridge, and Richard Guthridge all worked in various government positions in the ensuing years.
The 1881–1882 Camden City Directory shows Daniel Bromley at 616 Division Street, and his parents at 638 Division Street. The 1883–1884 Directory shows Daniel Bromley at 636 Division Street and his parents at 638. Daniel Bromley worked at the John H. Dialogue shipyard in these years. The 1884–1885 Directory shows Daniel Bromley and his parents and brother Joseph at 571 Division Street. By the next year Daniel Bromley was living at 569 Division Street, next door to his parents at 571 Division Street.
The 1887–1888 and 1888–1889 Directories show Daniel Bromley at 518 Division Street. He was working as a laborer in 1887. The 1888–1889 edition gives his occupation as transfer clerk for the West Jersey Railroad. His parents had by this time moved to 827 South 6th Street.
The 1890–1891 Directory shows Daniel Bromley living at 507 Line Street. He was working with his father at the R.D. Wood Foundry. He was living at 620 Line Street in 1891 and at 642 Line Street in 1893.
The 1897 City Directory seems to indicate that Daniel Bromley and his wife may have parted ways. Daniel Bromley was working as a mail agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad and was living at 827 South 6th Street with his parents. Emma Bromley is listed at 405 Taylor Avenue as “widow of Daniel.”
Daniel Bromley was still residing with his parents at 827 South 6th Street when the Census was taken in 1900 and still working as a mail agent. He moved to 1503 South 10th Street at some point after the Census, the home of his brother-in-law, Alvin Wilke.
On September 1, 1904 Daniel Bromley died at home. He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery.
Daniel Bromley was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Camden Mutual Association, and of Sioux Tribe No. 25 of the Improved Order of Red Men. James P. Shinn and George Adam Tenner, who were appointed to the Camden Fire Department at the same time Daniel Bromley was, were also members of Sioux Tribe No. 25. George Reeser Prowell, in his History of Camden County, New Jersey, published in 1886, wrote the following about this organization:
Sioux Tribe, No. 25, was instituted in Wildey Hall, March 23, 1871, by Great Sachem John E. Cheeseman, with members of Sioux Tribe, Philadelphia, who presented them with a set of tomahawks, still in use. The officers were: S., Silas Letchford; S. S., John A. Parker; J. S., John Fox; C. of N., F. W. Wilson; K. of W., David C. Vannote; Prophet, Theodore L. Parker. The Past Sachems are Silas Letchford, James Broughton, Aaron Hand, William T. Mears, William F. Mason, Samuel H. Deal, Sr., John H. Mason, W. E. Campbell, Charles H. Hagelman, Henry F. Snyder, George A. Tenner, Isaac King, Theodore L. Parker, David B. Peterson, John B. Wright, William Hagelman, James Barton, Edward B. Chew, George W. Kleaver, J.P.R. Carney, James C. Mason, Edward A. Martin and John Barrett. The officers for 1886 are: S., James G. Smith; S. S., Franklin H. Drake; J.S., Daniel England; P., J.P. R. Carney; C. of R., John P. Wright; Assistant C. of R., David B. Peterson. The tribe has a membership of two hundred and ninety-three, and a reserve fund of $455.76.
Camden’s New Firemen.
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The fire commissioners of Camden have made the following appointments, and the men will go on duty next Saturday: Engine No. 1—Foreman, G. Rudolph Tenner; extra men, James McCracken, Daniel Bromley, John S. Kelly, Michael McCaffery, James H. Brown, Thomas McKenna, James Shinn, Smith Moore, William Irelan. Engine No. 2—Foreman, William Bassett; extra men, John Hill, James Read, Robert Miller, William Marsh, George Moffett, John J. Logan, Isaac M. Shreve, Samuel Welsh, Lewis Ferrell, Logan Bates, Isaac Collings, Harry Miles, John W. Elliott, William Turner, Charles Holl, John J. Hibbs, John Seybold, Wm. Suders, Edward Swope, James McCann.
Camden News Notes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
** Annie Smith, aged 67 years; of 308 Mechanic street, dropped dead at her home yesterday. Coroner Lippincott gave a certificate of death from heart disease.
** Daniel Bromley, aged 50 years, for many years transfer mail agent at the Pennsylvania Railroad terminal, died yesterday at his home, 1500 South Tenth Street.
** A. G. McCausland, superintendent of the Atlantic City Railroad, has purchased the residence of the late David M. Chambers, at 521 Cooper Street.
** Benjamin Eppinger, aged 12 years, of 1159 Federal Street, met with serious injuries yesterday by being jolted from a brewery wagon at Twelfth and Federal streets. The wheels of the wagon passed over the boy’s legs, fracturing them.
Bromley.
Philadelphia Inquirer —
BROMLEY.—On September 1, 1904, DANIEL N BROMLEY, aged 49 years. The relatives and friends of the family and Sioux Tribe, No. 25, Imp O R M, of Camden, N J; Camden Mutual Association, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and U S R M S M B Association, are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, on Sunday afternoon, September 4, at 2 o’clock, from the residence of his brother-in-law, Alvin Wilke, 1503 S 10th st, Camden, N J.
Remains can be viewed on Saturday evening, from 7.30 to 9.30.
Interment at Evergreen Cemetery.
Eagles Honor Dead Brothers
Camden Post-Telegram —
Fully 200 members attended the annual memorial services of Camden Aerie, No. 65, Fraternal Order of Eagles, at the lodge headquarters, on Market street above Tenth, yesterday afternoon. Very interesting and impressive services were held.
The big lodge room was heavily draped in black by Funeral Director George Blake. Around the neck of the big eagle which adorns the room was a handsome wreath of immortelles. From it glowed twelve incandescent lamps.
As the name of each departed brother was called by the secretary and no answer being made a light was extinguished.
The program was as follows: Hymn, “Rock of Ages,” Herold, Eagle Quartette: Messrs. Harry J. Weiss, Thomas J. Atkinson, Brothers Julius R. Schoof and Anthony Oberst; opening announcement, by the Worthy President William J. Jann; prayer, by the Worthy Chaplain William Petzelt; baritone solo, “The Holy City,” Stephen Adams, Brother Julius R. Schaaf; remarks, by the Past Worthy President James F. Cleary; cornet solo, “A Dream of Paradise,” H. Gray, James F. Cleary; roll-call of our honored dead, by the Worthy Secretary Charles F. Sattler; tenor solo, “The Palms,” J. Faure, Mr. Harry J. Weiss; oration, by Brother Frank S. Deveeaux; part song, “The Lost Chord,” Arthur Sullivan, Eagle Quartette; hymn, “Nearer My God to Thee,” by the entire audience; benediction, by the Worthy Chaplain.
The services were held in memory of the following deceased members: Alfred Kemble, died June 16th, 1901; William Dennelier, died October 4th, 1902; Conrad Brill, Jr., died June 16th, 1903; Frank Burt, died March 10th, 1904; Dr. P. W. Beale, died June 7th, 1904; Jacob Hess, died August 16th, 1904; Daniel W. Bromley, died September 1, 1904; Frederick Johnson, died December 3d, 1904; William H. Cole, died December 21st, 1904; Harry B. Middleton, died April 7th, 1905; J. S. B. Chandler.
“Their virtues are treasured; their faults are forgotten.”
“Life leaps the grave, the sleeper shall rise. Hope never ends and the soul never dies.”
At the annual ball of Trenton Aerie last week a large delegation from Camden Aerie was in attendance and through Worthy President Jann presented to the Trenton lodge a bronze spread eagle about six feet in height.
Eagles at Their Memorial Service
Camden Daily Courier —
The memorial service of Camden Aerie, No. 65, F. O. E., was held at the clubhouse on Market street above Tenth, yesterday afternoon and the program of ceremonies was one of the most touching and befitting ever held by the Eagles in this city in honor and memory of their departed brothers. Since its organization twelve Eagles of Camden Aerie have flown to eternity’s silent shore, as follows: Alfred Kemble, died June 16, 1901; William Denneler, died October 4, 1902; Conrad Brill, Jr., died June 16, 1903; Charles Beale, died October 29, 1903; Frank Burt, died March 10, 1904; Dr. P. W. Beale, died June 7, 1904; Jacob Hess, died August 16, 1904; Daniel W. Bromley, died September 1, 1904; Frederick Johnson, died December 3, 1904; William H. Cole, died December 21, 1904; Harry B. Middleton, died April 7, 1905; J. S. B. Candler.
The beautiful program commemorating the dead was rendered in the presence of an assemblage that overflowed the large auditorium, and was as follows: Hymn, “Rock of Ages,” Herold, Eagle Quartet, Messrs. Harry J. Weiss, Thomas J. Atkinson, Brothers Julius R. Schaaf and Anthony J. Oberst; opening announcement, by the Worthy President, William F. Jann; prayer, by the Worthy Chaplain, William Petzelt; baritone solo, “The Holy City,” Stephen Adams, Brothers Julius R. Schaaf; remarks, by the Past Worthy President, James Cleary; cornet solo, “A Dream of Paradise,” H. Gray, Brother Frank Rouh; roll call of our honored dead, by the Worthy Secretary; tenor solo, “The Palms,” J. Faure, Harry J. Weiss; oration, by Brother Frank S. Deveraux; part song, “The Lost Chord,” Arthur Sullivan, Eagle Quartet; hymn, “Nearer My God to Thee,” by the entire audience; benediction, by the Worthy Chaplain.