Introduction
DR. EMMA MILLER RICHARDSON was born June 5, 1861 in Gloucester City NJ to Peter and his wife, the former Mary Jones Ball. Her father was a carter. The family was living in Newton Township at the time of the 1870 Census. She was educated at Miss Padelford’s Private School in Camden, and apparently also in the Camden School system as well.
Emma Miller married Edward Augustus Richardson around 1877. Her husband, the son of William David Richardson and Celia Morrison, was a shoemaker, who went into shoe manufacturing with a factory at West and Clinton Streets in the 1880s. By 1880 the Millers were living in the 700 block of Chestnut Street in South Camden. Twin sons were there, George & William, born on February 7, 1878. Another son, Edward came in August of 1880.
While Edward A. Miller’s business seems to have prospered, the marriage did not. At some point the Millers divorced, a rare occurrence in those times. Rarer yet, Emma Miller Richardson went into the practice of medicine. She graduated from the N.J. Training School for Nurses in 1891, and the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1898. She initially was affiliated with the Polyclinic Hospital in Philadelphia, she also was appointed to the clinic at the Women’s Medical College, the clinic at the Camden Dispensary, and the Howard hospital.
The 1900 Census shows Dr. Richardson living with her three sons and practicing medicine at 751 Chestnut Street. By 1906 she had purchased a home at 581 Stevens Street. When the census was enumerated in 1910, son George was still living at home. A Josiah Seagraves, 38, was living there as well, providing clerical assistance to Dr. Richardson in her practice. Josiah Seagraves would remain in Dr. Richardson’s employ through 1930. By that time he was her chauffer.
At some point after she began her medical practice, Dr. Richardson founded the Mary J. Ball Day Nursery at 1743 Master Street in Camden’s Centerville neighborhood. Unfortunately, by 1921 Dr. Richardson, then 60, did not have the temperament for dealing with children, and she got into trouble with the law over her treatment of some children in her care. She surrendered the charter for the Day Nursery in the spring of 1922.
Dr. Richardson remained at 581 Stevens Street through 1924. She moved to 577 Stevens Street. By 1927 the house at 581 Stevens Street was the home of Clarence Fuhrman’s music school. Dr. Richardson apparently kept an interest in 581 Stevens Street, however, as a Dr. Frank M. Richardson was at that address in 1947.
When the Census was taken in 1930, Dr. Emma Richardson had moved, along with Josiah Seagraves, to 577 Stevens Street. A Henry Cleaver, 73 years old, also lived at that address, serving as a caretaker.
Dr. Emma Richardson passed away in 1952, survived by her three sons. She had been a member of the American Medical Association, the Camden County Medical Society, and the Camden City Medical Society.
581 Stevens Street
581 Stevens Street, Camden, circa 1900s–1920s.
Claphan Pays $6,000 for Mrs. Hartman’s House
Camden Daily Courier —
The Well-Known Colored Caterer Moving Into the Place To-day.
MRS. DR. RICHARDSON SENT FOR A POLICEMAN
The Hartman residence, 579 Stevens street, has been sold to a colored man. This was positively stated by Mrs. Mary Hartman, owner and occupant of the house. The contract price is $6,000 and the bargain was sealed yesterday by Arthur W. Claphan, who purchased the house, paying a portion of the contract price.
When the Hartmans were completing their moving this morning one of the moving wagons stopped in front of the house of Emma Richardson. Mrs. Richardson told the men who jumped off the wagon to leave her premises and take the wagon with them.
Mrs. Hartman, who heard the remark, cried: “Men, stand your ground. I’ve been up against worse in this neighborhood!”
Mrs. Richardson then sent for a policeman, but when the cop reached the scene he kept at a safe distance so as to keep out of the wrangle. The men pulled the horse down to the Hartmans’ premises shortly after the cop came along and this ended the incident.
Mrs. Hartman stated that she is going to reside temporarily at 565 Washington street.
“I will not live in a house in row again,” said she, “as I got all I wanted of that style of living through this porch controversy.
Mrs. Claphan was at the house bright and early this morning.
“How do you like the house?” asked a scribe.
“Great!” was her happy response.
“Going to stay?”
“Well, I guess. Didn’t we pay for it?”
“Is your husband going to conduct his business here?”
“Yes, sir. We have some of the things in already.”
“Have you any children?”
“No.”
“Going to invite your relatives to come see you?”
“We always have. Got plenty of them and I know they’d like to see the new house.”
Mrs. Claphan said further: “We do nobody any harm and undoubtedly shall enjoy the full benefit of our purchase.”
“Are you contemplating a house-warming or porch party?”
“Well, you see we haven’t time yet to arrange for anything like that.”
Mrs. Hartman stated that when the report got out that she was going to sell her house to a colored man, a person came and offered her $7,000 for it. She refused, informing the reporter with real feminine delight that she was willing to sacrifice $1,000 for sweet revenge.
Mrs. Hartman’s card was played primarily to get square for a suit brought against her in the Court of Chancery to take down a porch post she had erected six inches over on the next door property. The case was decided against Mrs. Hartman in both Chancery and the Supreme Court, and is now in the Court of Errors and Appeals.
As a result of the controversy Mrs. Hartman has not been in good grace with other of her neighbors.
Her husband is Harry Hartman, engineer on the Amboy Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Mrs. Hartman intimates that some of the animosity towards her was because she did not in the strict sense of the word go to church and take to society.
Inmates Rescued as Nursery Burns
Camden Post-Telegram —
INMATES RESCUED AS NURSERY BURNS
Firemen Save Dozen Sick Children Who Were in Quarantine Ward.
CARRIED TO SAFETY DOWN THE LADDERS
Twenty-three children, fourteen of whom were ill and confined in the quarantine ward, were rescued this morning when flames damaged the Mary J. Ball Home and Day Nursery at 1743 Master street. The fire was caused by a defective flue. The building, a three-story frame structure, was damaged to the extent of about $800.
The fire was discovered by the matron, Mrs. Mary McKeown, as she was passing along the second-story hall. Grabbing two small children in her arms she ran to the street yelling “Fire.” Two men were passing at the time but paid no attention to her cry. She handed the two children to a neighbor after telling him to send in the fire alarm.
Re-entering the house Mrs. McKeown called to the other children to rush into the rooms and each seized a younger person, as they are taught in the fire drill.
By this means nine of the children had been rescued when the firemen arrived.
In her efforts to save the children Mrs. McKeown was nearly overcome by the smoke, which filled the entire building from the cellar to the third floor.
On the third floor were eleven children quarantined with measles, while in the second story were three children suffering from chicken pox. The ages of those in the quarantined rooms ranged from 8 months to 10 years, and the firemen at once directed their efforts to save these.
Surrounded by the blinding smoke, Fireman Clark, of the Kaighn avenue house, rescued three children at one time, grasping them in his arms and dashing down the smoke-filled stairway.
Fireman Gondolf, of Engine Company No. 3, ascended a ladder and rescued five children from the third story. He was assisted by Captain Nicholas, of the same company. Firemen Fitzsimmons and Brown, of the Kaighn avenue house, as fast as the children reached the window, they were grabbed by Gondolf who passed them along to the fireman waiting below him. Lieutenant Haines and Fireman McDermott saved the others.
After the children had been removed, Matron McKeown reentered the building to see if any had been overlooked. Before she could descend the stairway she was nearly overcome by the smoke and was led to the street by the firemen. The latter were compelled to chop away part of the wall to get at the fire, which was of a stubborn nature.
Charles Sturgis, who lives opposite the Home, was among the first to open his doors to admit the children, and, by noon he and his family had arranged to provide for all of the little ones.
Mrs. Dr. Emma Richardson, on behalf of the Board of Managers, thanks the firemen for saving her charges.
Had the fire occurred at an earlier hour nothing could have prevented the loss of many lives.
The only person hurt was Eva Grey, a colored assistant to the matron. She jumped from a second-story window and sprained her right knee.
This afternoon the nursery managers were given the use of the old Homeopathic Hospital building as a temporary home for their little charges.
Mary J. Ball Home and Day Nursery
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The Mary J. Ball Home and Day Nursery yesterday elected the following board of trustees: William J. Cooper, William F. Rose, H. C. Sharp, Frank Vanhost, H. C. Dole, L. B. Reoder, Mrs. Stephen Pfeil, Mrs. J. W. F. Bleakly, Mrs. John W. Croft, Mrs. Rose Batters, Dr. Emma M. Richardson. Mrs. Pfeil was elected chairman of the executive committee.
Rule Issued in Nursery Fight
Philadelphia Inquirer —
As an echo of the factional fight between those interested in the Mary J. Ball Home and Day Nursery, Vice Chancellor Leaming, in Camden, yesterday granted a rule to show cause why the action of the Board of Trustees in dissolving the corporation and giving the property to Dr. Emma Richardson should not be set aside. The application was made by counsel for the Lady Board of Managers. The rule was made returnable next Monday.
Camden at a Glance
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Nine members of the Lady Board of Managers of the Mary Ball Nursery yesterday came to the rescue of Dr. Emma Richardson in the controversy with another faction and gave indorsement to her work.
The fund of the Citizens’ Relief Association was increased $26 yesterday, of which $10 was given by Lawyer S. Conrad Ott, who assisted in its organization over twenty years ago.
Vice Chancellor Wants Ball Home Continued
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Indications are that the factional troubles involving the Mary J. Ball Day Nursery in which a number of Camden society women and charity workers are interested with city officials have been settled. Before Vice Chancellor Leaming yesterday it was stated the women composing the Board of Managers had decided to comply with the suggestion of the Vice Chancellor of last Monday when he advised them to resign. Decision on the rule to show cause why the action of the trustees in giving the property back to Dr. Emma Richardson, the founder, should not be set aside was deferred until next Monday.
It was stated that the court has decided to appoint three disinterested citizens to act as a Reorganization Committee and to name ten members of the Board of Managers which is to be confirmed by the Board of Trustees. The Vice Chancellor said he wanted it understood that his sole aim is to preserve the institution and to place it on such a basis that its work may be continued. He said his problem would be to find three men who will assume the responsibility of creating order out of chaos.
(news brief — fire at Mary J. Ball Nursery)
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Sawdust caused a fire at the Mary J. Ball Nursery, 1743 Master street, where there are forty-one small inmates. These were herded together by Dr. Emma J. Richardson and the matron, while the firemen extinguished the blaze.
Mary J. Ball Day Nursery — 1743 Master Street
Warrant Issued for Dr. Emma Richardson
Camden Daily Courier —
EXTRA!
A warrant was issued this afternoon for the arrest of Dr. Emma M. Richardson, founder of the Mary J. Ball Home, charging her with cruelty to six of the children.
Bail was fixed at $1500 and was furnished by W. J. Cooper, president of the Board of Trustees of the Ball Home.
The warrant was signed by Judge John B. Kates in Court of Common Pleas at three o’clock this afternon [sic] when Grover Cleveland Richman, assistant attorney general of New Jersey, appeared in court and filed complaints made by Burdette C. Lewis, New Jersey Commissioner of Institutions and Agencies.
The criminal proceedings were instituted following the refusal of Judge Kates to issue an order removing the children now in the Mary J. Ball Home to another institution in this city.
Doctor Unable to Appear
Joseph Beck Tyler, counsel for Dr. Richardson, informed the court the woman physician would be unable to appear for several days because of ill health and he would enter bail immediately. He said she is sick in bed.
Judge Kates said because of press of business in Criminal Court, the hearing of the charges would not be heard at once.
The action on the part of the Attorney General’s office came as a complete surprise to persons interested in the proceedings involving the head of the home.
Mr. Richman informed the court Commissioner Lewis had made two charges of cruelty at the office of the Attorney General at Trenton.
One complaint charged that on or about January 15, 1921, “Dr. Emma M. Richardson did inflict severe corporal punishment on Amelia Ricco, an inmate of the Mary J. Ball Home, and did cruelly ill treat her by abusing her and beat her with a whip, or strap, known as a ‘cat-o’-nine-tails.’”
A similar complaint was brought on behalf of Amelia Ricco’s sister, Theresa. Dr. Richardson was charged with inflicting severe punishment on the child on November 15, 1921. It also is averred Dr. Richardson grabbed the girl by the hair with her hands and dragged her and threw her about a room of the home.
A second complaint was made in behalf of Peter Kopinsky, who escaped from the home with his four brothers and sisters. Dr. Richardson is charged with beating the boy with a broom handle in her own home on September 15, 1921. It further charges she provided improper food for him. The complaint charges the food the boy was compelled to eat was decayed and contained insects.
A third complaint was made in behalf of William, Arthur and Elmer Reed.
Judge Kates also issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Michael Kapinski, Joseph Ricco and William Reed, parents of the children named. They are charged with having neglected their children and were summoned to appear in court next Thursday.
WARD OF WOMAN DOCTOR ASSUMES HER SURNAME
Camden Courier-Post —
John Kopcinski, 22, of 577 Stevens street, ward of Dr. Emma M. Richardson, was permitted yesterday to change his name to Robert John Richardson by Judge Shay in Common Pleas Court.
In his petition Kopcinski said he had been supported and educated by Dr. Richardson 18 years. He said he was at a disadvantage using his own name and it often is mispelled.
Acknowledged
Thanks go out to Jackie R. Harrington, for her help in creating this web-page.