Introduction
Elmer G. Van Name
ELMER GARFIELD VAN NAME was born in Camden, New Jersey on March 29, 1888, the son of Clarence B. and Xema (Smith) Van Name. After attending public schools in Camden and preparing with tutors as a special student at Temple University, he earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the Temple University Law School in 1912. Admitted to the New Jersey bar that same year, he left his position as a title examiner with the West Jersey Title and Guaranty Company to build a private practice, and was admitted as a counselor-at-law in the February term of 1915.
Van Name specialized in the law of real property and served as counsel for four building and loan associations. He was attorney-in-fact for the Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland and president of Bankers’ Mortgage Investment Company, with offices at 622 Federal Street, Camden.
Van Name served as president of the South Jersey Law School and professor of the law of real property. The institution evolved over time into the Rutgers – Camden campus. He was treasurer of the Camden County Bar Association from 1918, and a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Politically he supported the Republican Party; his religious affiliation was with the Haddonfield Methodist Episcopal Church.
On March 29, 1916, at 320 Line Street, Camden, he married Emily Osler Paul, daughter of Henry and Emily (Osler) Paul. They had three children: David Engelbert, born February 9, 1917; Xenia Elizabeth, born January 8, 1920; and Emily Paul, born September 11, 1921, who died January 21, 1923.
Signature
Signature of Elmer G. Van Name
South Jersey: A History 1624–1924
ELMER GARFIELD VAN NAME — Among the well-known members of the legal profession in South Jersey is Elmer Garfield Van Name, who since 1912 has been actively engaged in practice in Camden, New Jersey. Mr. Van Name is the descendant of an old and honored family of Dutch extraction, which is of record from the fourteenth century, and which has given to this country many citizens of sterling worth.
Born in Camden, New Jersey, March 29, 1888, Mr. Van Name is a son of Clarence B. and Xema (Smith) Van Name, the former of whom is engaged in business as a clerk and salesman (see Van Name VIII). After attending the public schools of Camden and preparing for college with the aid of tutors and as a special student in the college department of Temple University, he matriculated in the Temple University Law School, from which he was graduated in 1912 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to the bar of the State of New Jersey in the same year, and left his position as a title examiner in the employ of the West Jersey Title and Guaranty Company, of Camden, New Jersey. At this time he began building up a general practice of his own, and in the February term, 1915, was admitted a counselor-at-law in New Jersey. He has specialized in the law of real property, is counsel for four building and loan associations, attorney-in-fact for the Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland, and president of Bankers’ Mortgage Investment Company. In addition to his responsibilities in connection with the corporations already mentioned, Mr. Van Name has built up an extensive practice; his office being situated at No. 622 Federal Street, Camden. He is president of South Jersey Law School and professor of the law of real property.
Mr. Van Name is well known in fraternal circles, being a member of Sigma Pi, an intercollegiate fraternity, and of the Sigma Pi Club, of Philadelphia; of New Jersey Lodge, No. 1, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; of Haddonfield Lodge, No. 130, Free and Accepted Masons; Damascus Chapter, No. 56, Royal Arch Masons; Crusade Commandery, No. 23, Knights Templar; and Crescent Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Netherlands Society of Philadelphia, of the New Jersey Society of Pennsylvania; the Sons of the Revolution, of New Jersey; Camden Chamber of Commerce; Haddonfield Civic Association; Temple University Association; Craftsmen’s Association; Camden County Historical Society; Haddonfield Historical Society; Young Men’s Christian Association; Keystone Automobile Club, and associate member of the Camden Real Estate Board. Mr. Van Name is president of the Francis Hopkinson Chapter of the Sons of the Revolution of New Jersey. He keeps in close touch with the developments of his profession through membership in the Camden County Bar Association, of which he has been treasurer since 1918; with the New Jersey State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. Politically, he gives his support to the Republican Party. His religious affiliation is with the Haddonfield Methodist Episcopal Church.
On March 29, 1916, at No. 320 Line Street, Camden, New Jersey, Elmer Garfield Van Name married Emily Osler Paul, daughter of Henry and Emily (Osler) Paul. Mr. and Mrs. Van Name are the parents of three children: David Engelbert, born February 9, 1917; Xenia Elizabeth, born January 8, 1920; and Emily Paul, who was born September 11, 1921, and died January 21, 1923.
South Jersey Law School
South Jersey Law School – 224 Federal Street
Dean of South Jersey Law School
Judge M’Devitt Calls Prohibition Breeder of Crime
Camden Courier-Post —
Raps Gangs
JUDGE HARRY S. M’DEVITT — The president judge of Philadelphia Common Pleas Court described the Lindbergh kidnaping as the “greatest example of gang cowardice” in an address at a dinner to the graduating classes of the South Jersey Law School and the College of South Jersey at Log Cabin Lodge, Medford.
Speaks at Dinner in Honor of South Jersey Law Graduates
‘GANGSTERS COWARDS’
Though all crime cannot be blamed on the Eighteenth Amendment, it has encouraged the breaking of other laws, Judge Harry S. McDevitt, president judge of the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, declared last night in an address at the sixth annual dinner in honor of the graduating classes of the South Jersey Law School and the College of South Jersey.
The dinner, followed by a dance, was held in Log Cabin Lodge, Medford. More than 200 attended.
Judge McDevitt, who started his 11th year on the bench yesterday, said: “Gangsters all are cowards. The greatest example of gangster cowardice was the Lindbergh kidnaping and it shows just how bad conditions are when we must deal with the underworld. If people tried to correct the evils of crime, they could, but they won’t try.”
Crime on Increase
Pointing to the increase of crime, he declared that Philadelphia has more gangsters today than at any time in its history and that 26 cents of every $1 spent in Philadelphia went for crime prevention and prosecution.
He declared that almost 50,000 persons walking the streets of New York have criminal records.
“Fifteen million young people in the United States are becoming gangsters because they lack religious education and proper home training and influence. There are more firearms sold in the United States today than in all the other countries of the world,” he said.
Other speakers were Judge Samuel M. Shay, of Camden county Common Pleas Court; Arthur E. Armitage, registrar of the law school; Floyd Bradley, of the character and fitness committee of the school; Senator S. Rusling Leap, Salem county; Elmer G. Van Name, president, and Edward M. Platt, associate dean, of the law school; Charles M. Maurer, dean of the College of South Jersey, and A. Charles Mitchell, of Merchantville, a member of the graduating law class, who was toastmaster.
Named: Samuel M. Shay, Charles M. Maurer, and Elmer G. Van Name.