Introduction
Elwood Paul Martz Sr. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 19, 1890. He was living at the Girard College for underprivileged boys when the Census was taken in 1900.
The Martz family moved to Camden around 1910. Elwood Martz married his wife Catherine around 1911, and a son, Elwood Jr., was born in 1914. The City Directory for that year shows him living at 1009 Segal Street in North Camden. The family lived at 1065 Segal Street when Elwood Martz Sr. registered for the draft.
Elwood Martz Sr. was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on July 1, 1922 and reported for duty on August 1, 1922. He was living at 1013 Segal Street when the 1924 Camden City Directory was compiled. Brother firefighter James Young lived next door at 1011 Segal Street. By 1927 Elwood Martz had moved to 925 Howard Street. The 1929 Camden City Directory lists Elwood Martz at 339 Erie Street. When the census was taken in April of 1930 Elwood Martz, wife Catherine, and children Elwood Jr., William, and Anna were still living at 339 Erie Street. The family had moved to 101 State Street in the early 1930s and were still living at that address in 1943.
Elwood Martz Jr. served as an auxiliary fireman in Camden in the 1940s. He was one of the first 50 to serve, after completing the seven-week training course in the spring of 1941.
Elwood Martz Sr. served with Engine Company 6 at Front and Linden Streets until April of 1943 when he was assigned to the Fire Marshal’s office. Elwood Martz Sr. had moved to 213 North 3rd Street by the time the 1947 Camden City Directory was being put together. Promoted to Deputy Fire Marshal, he continued to serve the City of Camden until September of 1955 when, having reached the mandatory retirement age, he left on pension. Elwood Martz Sr. was still living at 213 North 3rd Street when he retired, and was still at that address as late as the fall of 1970. He was still a resident of Camden when he passed away on February 23, 1975, survived by his wife and sons.
World War I Draft Card
Elwood P. Martz — World War I Draft Card
First Ward G.O.P. Fights Move to Give Ecky’s Job to Lehman
Camden Courier-Post —
First Ward G.O.P. Fights Move To Give Ecky’s Job to Lehman
By DAN McCONNELL
First ward Republican workers opposed to the political dictation of former U. S. Senator David Baird are forming an organization to prevent the discharge of Harry F. Ecky, permanent registration registrar, and the appointment of William H. Lehman, Baird lieutenant, to the job.
This was revealed yesterday by Robert Brennan, First ward county committeeman.
Brennan made known that ward and precinct workers and more than 20 other Republicans, many former Baird adherents, met at his home, 103 State street, on Saturday night, when a “Stop Bill Lehman” movement was launched.
The movement, Brennan said,
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was spontaneous and was not inaugurated by him.
“Several friends called at my home Sunday afternoon to ask if it was true that Dave Baird intended to fire Harry Ecky and give Bill Lehman the job,” Brennan said. “I finally decided to hold a meeting Sunday night and quite a crowd gathered.
“Because of the interest we decided to hold a larger meeting later in the week. Those who attended the meeting are opposed to Baird and everything he stands for.
Those who spoke against the attempt to get Ecky’s job were William Heidican, William Hernessy, Richard Phillips, Fred Barth, Herbert Brennan, Elwood Martz and Frank Garrison. The latter was secretary of the meeting.
Brennan said members of the group will carry the fight against Ecky’s removal and the appointment of Lehman to every ward in the city, if necessary.
Battle Planned
“If Baird tries to go through with his scheme we will hire a hall, stage a parade and hold a mass meeting and invite every anti-Baird Republican in the city and county to attend,” Brennan added.
“Bill Lehman never did anything to help other Republicans get jobs. Since he has held his job at head-
quarters the only thing he has ever done is to get those seeking jobs to fill out cards and file them. The cards stayed in the file and nobody got jobs.“
Surrogate Frank B. Hanna, Republican State committeeman, last week charged Baird sought to oust Ecky as registration commissioner by obtaining the appointment of Myer Sakin, Camden attorney, to the Camden County Board of Elections.
Hanna lauded Ecky as one of the most efficient court house officeholders. The surrogate endorsed George H. Walton, of Haddonfield, a Camden attorney, for the election board appointment, succeeding another Haddonfield man and attorney William A. Early King. The Haddonfield Republican Club has endorsed Walton.
World War II Draft Card
Elwood P. Martz — World War II Draft Card
Camden Fire Department Personnel Record
Elwood P. Martz — Camden Fire Department Personnel Record
Elwood Martz, 84, 33 Years Fireman, Marshal for City
Camden Courier-Post —
Services for Elwood P. (Ike) Martz, a retired Camden deputy fire marshal, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Harry Leonard Funeral Home, 2850 Federal St., Camden.
Friends may call Wednesday evening at the funeral home. Burial will be in New Camden Cemetery.
Mr. Martz, 84, of 213 N. 3rd St., Camden, died Sunday in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Camden.
He retired from the Camden Fire Department in 1955 after working there for 33 years, the last 13 of which he spent in the fire marshal’s office.
He was a member of the Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association Local 5, the Police and Firemen’s Association, and the International Association of Firefighters.
Surviving are his wife, Anna; a daughter, Anna, Camden; two sons, Elwood P. Jr., Gloucester City and William, Camden; three sisters; five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
MARTZ
On February 23, 1975. Elwood P. (Ike). Husband of Anna May (nee Kenney), of Camden, N.J. Age 84 years. Also survived by 2 sons, Elwood P. Jr. of Gloucester City and William of Camden. 1 daughter, Anna of Camden. 3 sisters, Mrs. Laura Tessier, Mrs. Edith Schrumm, both of Camden, and Mrs. Ellen McIntosh of Riverside. 5 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Mr. Martz was a retired deputy fire marshal of the Camden Fire Dept. Relatives and friends of the family, also the members of FMBA Local #5, The Police & Firemen’s Assoc. and the International Assoc. of Firefighters, are invited to attend the funeral service on Thursday, 11 a.m. at the Harry Leonard Funeral Home, Edward P. Leonard Jr., Director, 2850 Federal St., Camden, N.J. Interment New Camden Cemetery. Friends may call Wednesday evening.