Introduction
Edmund Grapewine Pike served as a Camden Police officer and was a member of several civic organizations in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The Crescent Wheelmen
Philadelphia Inquirer —
THE (CAMDEN) CRESCENT WHEELMEN’S third annual ball proved one of the social events of the season in our sister city across the Delaware. The ball was profusely decorated with greens and flags of all nations, together with Japanese parasols and fans, and presented a very beautiful appearance. The attendance was large and the grand march, which took place at 10 o’clock, was participated in by over eighty couples, who followed the leading couple through an elaborate variation of the military and snake figures, following which the dance for hours held full sway. Those in charge of the most successful affair were: Grand conductor, Edward Holloway; assistant, Walter R. Stanton; floor manager, S. P. McCord; assistants, Edmund Pike, Samuel Easton, John Hurley, Samuel Hurff, U. G. Lee, John H. Scott; committee of arrangements, A. J. Larkin; chairman, Frank S. Albright; secretary, Casper Walter; treasurer, U. G. Lee; Geo. Petri, S. P. McCord, Charles S. Toy, Edmund Zike, Edward Holloway, Harry C. Willetts, Wilford Wilkinson; reception committee, Harry Marsh, Joseph Haines, Samuel Ladd, Thomas Wagner, William Holman, William Bowen, Albert Petri.
SIDNEY P. M’CORD DIES AT READING, PA. AFTER LONG ILLNESS
Camden Courier-Post —
Lodge Rites to Be Held Here Sunday Night for Retired Comptroller
Sidney P. McCord, 75, retired Camden City comptroller, died yesterday in a Reading, Pa., hospital. He had been ill more than a year and lived on his farm at Elverson, Pa., since his retirement last May after serving the city 36 years.
Services will be held Sunday night by Camden Lodge of Elks and Ionic Lodge No. 94, FAM, in the funeral home of Joseph H. Murray and Son, 408 Cooper street. Another service will be held Monday at Elverson where burial will take place. Mr. McCord was a member of the Last Man’s Club of the local lodge of Elks.
Mr. McCord’s four sons were with him for some days, taking turns at giving him blood transfusions. Merritt, the eldest, gave him some blood shortly before the end.
Born Aug. 14, 1869, Mr. McCord lived most of his life in Camden’s Ninth ward. His most recent home here was at 432 South Sixth street. Known as one of the outstanding [the scan does not show the next word] lic official. He ran unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate in the first city commission election.
Joined City Staff in 1907
Mr. McCord joined the city’s staff Nov. 25, 1907, as assistant to the late Colonel Hufty, then comptroller. He became comptroller July 1, 1911.
A widower, Mr. McCord is survived by four sons, Heber, Camden detective; Merritt, of Moorestown, with the Camden Trust Co.; Sydney P., Jr., Camden attorney, and Charles W., a teacher, of Mercersburg, Pa.; two daughters, Mrs. William Hartman, of Elverson, Pa., and Mrs. Mary Acton, of Georgia. Seven grandchildren also survive.
City Comptroller Lang, who succeeded Mr. McCord, expressed sorrow over his passing.
“During my seven years as a member of the city sinking fund commission and the five years I have had the honor to be president, I really learned what an able official and fine gentleman Mr. McCord was,” Lang said. “I also learned to appreciate his ability as a municipal comptroller. The people of Camden placed their trust in him. The city has lost a faithful public servant. I like, thousands of others, lost a dear friend.”
No city official, in the memory of many old timers, was held more in respect and esteemed by his own department employes than “Sid” McCord. Advancing years slowed his gait but mentally he continued as the alert and efficient “watchdog of the Camden City treasury.”
Mr. McCord regarded his position as a sacred trust and was justly proud of the fact that during his long regime the city never defaulted in meeting its obligations.
Even after he had waged an unsuccessful campaign for election as a city commissioner in opposition to a non-partisan group of candidates he was not relieved of his position. “Sid” McCord was never a politician and never pretended to be. He was a friend of every employe in both the old and present city halls.
Kept Sinking Fund Job
When he decided to apply for a pension he asked Mayor Brunner, director of revenue of finance, if he could retain his unsalaried job as secretary of the city sinking fund commission. Brunner granted that request.
Mr. McCord was born in Reading, Pa., and with his parents made his home here when he was six years old. When he started out to make his own living he never had any idea he would some day be considered a financial genius. He learned the trade of plasterer and worked at it for several years.
Went to Alaska
Back in 1898 Mr. McCord along with the late Edmund Pike, later to become one of the city’s best-liked policemen, started for Alaska to seek their respective pots of gold. Reaching Dawson City they staked their claims along with hundreds of other gold prospectors. Their total haul of gold netted them only $400. After that experience McCord and Pike started the long trek back to Camden.
It was Mr. McCord who tossed out the archaic municipal accounting system in use when he became comptroller and brought the system up to date, changing it from a cash to a revenue and expense basis showing how the city stands financially on any account and at any time.
Called by Death
SIDNEY P. McCORD
Police Department Changes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
There were a number of changes in Camden’s Police Department yesterday, by Mayor Ellis. He appointed Sergeant John Golden successor to Captain Hugh Boyle, recently placed on the pension list. Patrolman Howard Smith was made a city detective, and Hall Officer James Clay was made a hall sergeant. Motorcycle Policemen Jefferson Kay and Charles Laib were appointed traffic sergeants, while Patrolmen Edmund Pike and Albert Cornog were made traffic policemen. Patrolman Robert Abbott was appointed a sergeant. Mayor Ellis has received the resignations of G. M. Beringer and Myers Baker as members of the City Plan Commission, the first getting out because of pressing business and the other because of going to Camp Dix.
Policemen Retire on Pension Fund
Camden Daily Courier —
George Johnson Has Unique Record Of Not Having An Arrest In 20 Years
PENSION SERGEANT REED
Thomas S. Reed, police sergeant at headquarters, went on the pension list today after 21 years’ continuous service. Policeman George Johnson, of the Third District, will be pensioned on May 15. Johnson had the record of never having made an arrest in 20 years.
It was announced at headquarters today that some general changes will be made as a result of the retirement of the two bluecoats. Traffic Policeman Edmund Pike has been promoted to sergeant by Mayor Ellis and placed at headquarters to succeed Sergeant Reed. Mounted Policeman Walter Welsh has been promoted sergeant.
Reed Appointed Twice.
Sergeant Reed was first appointed on the force by Mayor Pratt on January 6, 189[?]. He resigned and was a special officer for the Camden, Gloucester and Woodbury Railway. Later he was in the revenue service. He was appointed again on the force by Mayor Hatch in 1899. On January 6, 1914, he was promoted street sergeant by Mayor Ellis. Two years later he was placed at police headquarters.
Johnson Without an Arrest.
Patrolman Johnson has always had a beat in the North and South Rosedale sections, where he was held in the highest esteem. He was always on the job, residents of that section say. The fact he never made an arrest failed to mar his record. He was appointed on the force by Mayor Hatch.
In announcing his plans for the future Johnson said today he will make his home in the future with his brother Samuel, a contractor, at Rio Grande Bridge.