Introduction
Dr. Daniel Strock was born in Flemington, New Jersey, September 6, 1851. After his 1877 graduation from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, he practiced medicine in that city for three years, residing in the 1700 block of North 2nd Street. He moved to Camden in 1880, shortly after the June census enumeration. He made his home in the 1880s and early 1890s at 818 Federal Street.
From 1889 to 1912 Dr. Strock served as attending physician at Cooper Hospital, and later served as its consulting surgeon in addition to his private consulting practice. By the 1920s he was also secretary of the Board of Managers of the Camden City Dispensary and a member of the Cooper Hospital Clinic.
Dr. Strock also served with the Sixth Regiment of the National Guard as lieutenant and assistant surgeon, eventually rising to the rank of major and surgeon of the regiment. He later transferred to the Third Regiment, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and surgeon of the Second Brigade. He remained with the New Jersey National Guard until 1900, when he resigned his commission.
By 1910 Dr. Strock had made his home at 326 Cooper Street. In the late 1900s and early 1910s Dr. Strock rented an apartment to Garrett Cowls and family. Son-in-law Joseph Hamilton would have a stage career that spanned at least four decades, and granddaughter Kathryn “Kay” Hamilton appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in movies.
At the time of the 1920 Census his widowed sister Mary Bush resided there with him. Dr. Strock passed away on July 11, 1927.
Mrs. Smith Attempts Suicide
Camden Post —
Despondent at Being Held to Bail at Court For Policy Dealing.
Mrs. Harriet Smith, wife of the late William or “Policy Bill” Smith, attempted suicide last night about 9.30 at her residence, 14 South Eighth street.
She went to Lehman’s drug store, Eighth and Market streets, and purchased a vial containing laudanum. A few minutes after she got home from the druggist’s groans were heard coming from her apartments. Officer Pedrick went into the house when Mrs. Smith told him that she had taken laudanum. Dr. Strock was called in and administered emetics, and she is now out of danger.
Mrs. Smith’s house a short time since was raided, and she furnished bail for her appearance at the October term of Court. Since that time she has had no way of supporting herself and six small children.
Camden’s Health Board Rounding Up the Physicians
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The Camden Board of Health has determined to prosecute all physicians who fail to file returns of births with the City Clerk, who is also Recorder of Vital Statistics, within thirty days. The first case occurred yesterday when Dr. Daniel Strock was summoned to appear before the District Court. The action was brought by President Hammond, of the board, under the law which compels the presiding officer to become the complainant. The doctors are indignant, while the health officers say that whenever they do their duty under such circumstances the same kind of indignation prevails. Solicitor Snyder says he will push the case against Dr. Strock.
Flames Wrecked Autos in Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Over Score of Machines Destroyed by Fire in Garage, Which Badly Damaged Church
Twenty-three Camden business and professional men mourn the loss of their automobiles as a result of a fire which yesterday morning destroyed the garage of J. G. Reeves, on North Seventh street just above Market. Evangelical Luthern [sic] Church, immediately adjoining, was badly damaged, and altogether the monetary loss amounts to about $100,000. Most of the machines were insured.
Just what caused the fire is not known. It was discovered by Albert Hildreth, a watchman, who no sooner saw the flames than he went to the fire headquarters in an automobile at topmost speed. When the fireman arrived they had not been in service many minutes before there was a terrific explosion that sent the walls down. Three of them were hurled across the street and severely bruised. They included Peter Carter, John Lennox and John Lutz, all connected with headquarters.
The explosion came presumably from stored gasoline.
Such headway did the blaze gain that it was necessary to call out the entire city department. For a time a number of dwellings nearby were threatened and the occupants began moving their household effects. The good work of the fire fighters prevented a serious conflagration, however. The force of the explosion blew a twenty-foot hole in the wall of the Lutheran Church.
The automobiles were valued at about $75,000, the balance of the loss being on the building and church. Some of those who lost their autos include: Lawyer Ephraim Tomlinson, Charles K. Parry, Mrs. Mary Baird Fox, Mrs. B. C. Reeves, Dr. Wm. Knowlton, Dr. Oscar Grumbrecht, Dr. A. H. Lippincott, Dr. Paul Mecray, Dr. Marvin Street, C. H. Haddon, Dr. Frank Horning, John T. Bottomley, John Croft, Dr. Daniel Strock, Joseph Deacon and J. S. Reeves.
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Philadelphia Inquirer —
On behalf of the Red Cross Dr. Daniel Strock, the president, yesterday presented Mayor Ellis for the city two complete Red Cross kits. One will be located at the City Hall and the other at No. 3 engine house.
12,000 Camden Pupils Members of Red Cross
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Children Have Paid in $3175 in Dues to Aid Relief Organization
Just what excellent work is being done by Camden’s public schools in connection with the Red Cross is indicated in the report of Superintendent Bryan, made yesterday, in which he shows that in twenty-six schools in the city there are 12,000 members who have paid $3175 in dues. This leaves a balance of but 4000 children who have not become affiliated with the organization and these are fast becoming members, so that very shortly virtually every boy and girl in the city attending school will be a member of the society. Dr. Bryan has suggested to Dr. Daniel Strock, president of the Camden County Chapter of the Red Cross, the following principals as a committee to further prosecute the work: Mrs. Margaret Thomson, Northeast School; Miss Dorothy Morris, Dudley School; Ralph Parker, Liberty School; Mrs. Mary Brown, High School; George B. Pine, Pensauken [sic]; Miss Emma Summerill, Collingswood; John Koerner, Audubon; and Helen A. Amelson, Helping Teacher.
South Jersey: A History 1624–1924
DANIEL STROCK—To this great healing fraternity, the medical profession, in which the physician has almost infinite opportunity for service and in which many of its practitioners can never be paid commensurately with the tasks that they perform, great honor is due. This profession is conceded to be the noblest one in which idealism and humanity have fullest sway. Among the members of this cult is Daniel Strock, consulting surgeon, who, for many years, has rendered service of incalculable value to the citizens of New Jersey.
The Strocks came from Holstein, Switzerland, in the middle of the seventeenth century and landed in Philadelphia, later settling in Central Pennsylvania. Daniel Strock was born in Flemington, New Jersey, September 6, 1851, the son of James Thomas Strock, who was a minister of a Methodist church in New Jersey and a member of New Jersey Conference, and Kaziah Frances (Lamb) Strock. He was ten years of age at the time of the outbreak of the Civil War; the major part of his life being spent between two great conflicts, the Civil War and the World War. He received his early education in the public schools of his native community, and after having prepared himself for professional studies he entered Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, an institution of international repute and recognition, which has developed generations of leading practitioners and specialists. Daniel Strock was graduated from this institution with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, in the class of 1877. For the subsequent three years he practiced in Philadelphia, where also he received his preliminary clinical and hospital experience. In 1880 he removed to Camden, New Jersey, where he has been practicing without interruption since that time, a period of more than forty years. During this time Dr. Strock has endeared himself to the citizens of Camden and the surrounding territory, winning golden opinions for himself, both as a man and as a surgeon. Recently he has been conducting a consultant practice only. He has cemented friendships with the representative citizens of Camden and the State and is a leader in his profession throughout New Jersey. During the early years of his practice in his adopted city he became connected with the principal hospital, the Cooper Hospital, which he served as attending physician from 1889 to 1912. He is now its consulting surgeon in addition to his private consulting practice. He is also secretary of the Board of Managers of the Camden City Dispensary and a member of the Cooper Hospital Clinic.
By his contributions to the medical and scientific press, Dr. Strock has extended his reputation in his profession. He has written on a variety of subjects, covering his wide experience in medical and surgical work, as well as in important investigation and research data. In October, 1908, he established “The Journal of the Camden County Medical Society,” the first county society medical journal to be established in New Jersey, and continued its publication until the press of duties in the epidemic of influenza in 1918 compelled the discontinuance of the Journal for the time being, and it was not resumed.
For many years he rendered important invaluable service to the National Guard of the State of New Jersey, and the State has given recognition of that service so freely contributed in the award of honors and distinctions. He was also associated with the Sixth Regiment of the National Guard as lieutenant and assistant surgeon, and, subsequently, was made major and surgeon of the same unit. He was afterwards transferred to the Third Regiment, with the same rank and, eventually, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and surgeon of the Second Brigade, with which unit he was honorably associated up to 1900, when he resigned his commission, after an association with the New Jersey National Guard for several years.
Dr. Strock has been chosen by his confreres in the medical profession for election as an officer of various societies. He was president during 1911–12 of the Medical Society of New Jersey, and president also of the Camden City Medical Society; the Camden County Medical Society and the New Jersey Sanitary Association. He is now serving as secretary of the Camden County Medical Society, as well as on the Board of Managers of the Camden City Dispensary. He is also chairman of the Camden County Chapter of the American Red Cross, and is a member of the American Medical Association and the Philadelphia Medical Club. In religious affiliation he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In February, 1921, Dr. Strock was tendered a complimentary dinner by his colleagues on the Cooper Hospital staff, and on May 9, 1923, was given a dinner by the Camden County Medical Society, in recognition of his services to that society.
Daniel Strock married, February 23, 1879, Amelia F. Ritzel, of Philadelphia, who died June 10, 1914.
326 Cooper Street
Named: 326 Cooper Street, February 7, 2004, Dr. Daniel Strock (1900s, 1927), Garrett Cowls, Joseph Hamilton, Kay Hamilton (1900s, and 1910s).
Cooper Hospital
Cooper Hospital