Introduction
FREDERICK GEORGE DELKER was born on December 21, 1879 in Philadelphia to Fred J. and Barbara Delker. When the Census was taken in 1880 the family lived at 3349 Market Street, the elder Delker then working as a pharmacist. There were four older children at home at that time, Thomas, Gertie, Emma, and Sadie. The Mr. and Mrs. Delker were both German-born, and had come to Philadelphia from Schulkill County PA, where they were living in 1870.
F. George Delker came to the Camden area and was known as a prizefighter for a time. He was associated with the Camden Public Safety Committee during World War I, and served with the Home Guards.
By 1942 F. George Delker had retired and was living in Philadelphia.
Camden — The Public Safety Committee
excerpted from Camden County in the Great War
CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR. 157
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
AT the outbreak of the war it was obvious that each community in the country must protect itself against plots to overthrow the American Government, to blow up munition plants, such had been done at Eddystone, Pa., when hundreds were killed and injured, and to suppress all attempts at disorder on the part of pro-German sympathizers, and the result was that public safety committees were appointed in each State with sub-committees in each municipality. This State was organized by Governor Walter E. Edge, who called a meeting of seven hundred mayors of cities in the State on March 28, 1917. The governors of the States of the Union had previously held a conference with the War Department at Washington. These committeees [sic] later became known as Councils of Defense. There was a National Council of Defense and a council in each State and one in each city.
On March 27, 1917, Mayor Ellis named the Camden Public Safety Committee with a membership of two hundred and seventy-five members, and the first meeting took place in the old Lyon Tabernacle at Twelfth and Federal streets on the following evening at which time the following officers were elected: Mayor Charles H. Ellis, president; Dr. H. H. Grace, Judge Frank T. Lloyd and County Clerk Francis F. Patterson, vice presidents; Charles M. Curry secretary; Charles A. Reynolds, treasurer. Camden was the first city in the State to organize a public safety committee and plans were discussed at the initial meeting for the organization of a home guard of four hundred and fifty men. On March 30, 1917, City Council appropriated $1,000 for the immediate use of
158 CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR.
the committee to protect the city. The members of the committee were as follows:
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Mayor Charles H. Ellis, President
Francis F. Patterson, Jr., First V-Pres. Charles M. Curry, Secretary
Hon. Frank T. Lloyd, Second V-Pres. Charles A. Reynolds, Treasurer
Dr. H. H. Grace, Third V-Pres. David Baird, Jr., Asst. Treasurer
David Baird, Sr. George L. Bender Arthur R. Gemberling
Ralph W. E. Donges Wm. D. Sayrs, Jr. Joseph H. Forsyth
Joshua C. Heines W. W. Penn W. Penn Corson
Charles S. Boyer Harry M. Knight John Prentice
Dr. Daniel Strock B. M. Hedrick James H. Long
A. R. F. Smith Wm. D. Brown E. G. C. Bleakly
Upton S. Jefferys Mrs. Joseph Kohns Francis B. Wallen
FINANCE COMMITTEE
David Baird, Sr. Joseph H. Forsyth Very Rev. B. J. Mulligan
F. Wayland Ayer David B. Jester James V. Moran
Fithian S. Simmons John Prentice Theodore T. Kauel
R. R. Draper A. R. Frome W. H. Pratt
Herbert N. Munger D. G. Royal Arthur R. Gemberling
Edmund E. Read Wm. J. Cooper Frank Starr
Francis B. Walton Samuel Croft Dr. C. T. Branch
George A. Frey George M. Andrews Wm. Casselman
David A. Henderson James Buckelew E. G. C. Bleakly
NATIONAL GUARD
Ralph W. E. Donges Edgar A. Freeman Walter T. Pratt
J. Hartley Hoeven K. J. Kelleher William T. Read
J. Milton Burdge James H. Long T. D. Weaver
T. G. Coulter J. M. Pennock C. A. Wolverton
H. H. Etter Wm. R. Powell William C. Story
Dr. Joel W. Fithian
RELIEF COMMITTEE
George L. Bender Rev. H. F. Gravatt B. M. Hedrick
David Baird, Jr. L. B. Reader James R. Hawitt
W. Penn Corson R. P. Carson Dr. Paul N. Litchfield
H. J. Dudley Dr. Harry Jarrett
INDUSTRIAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE
Charles S. Boyer Theodore T. Kauel J. H. Downey
Frank E. Van Hart T. Lynn Truscott Ralph D. Baker
Belford G. Royal Arthur C. Aisle John T. Roldan
Kessler Webster Samuel L. Clarke Raymond L. Warren
INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE
William D. Sayrs, Jr. Sig. Schornagle Joseph S. Kerbaugh
Rev. Zed H. Copp David Dunn Antonio Mocci
W. Butler William A. Frost T. Harry Rowland
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. 161
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE—Continued
Robert J. D. Field L. T. Derousse E. B. McClong
George H. Cummins Wm. D. Vatsman George A. Tatara
Alex. Jasienski A. M. Simmons Malcolm B. Webster
William C. French
HOME GUARDS
Joshua C. Heines John Conrad Benjamin Abrams
George E. Kappell Fred W. Gercke J. Blair Cuthbert
F. E. Himmelein F. George Delker Rev. I. R. Showell
Thomas Mason Rev. Jas. R. White John J. Bingham
James P. Lennon George J. Schneider George A. Fogarty
Frank C. Sayrs William Weber Chas. W. Markiett
Rev. C. H. Hemingway William F. Bolzau Joseph A. Tully
William D. Brown George Arnold Francis G. Bailey
RED CROSS AND PROFESSIONAL MEN AND WOMEN COMMITTEE
Dr. Daniel Strock Miss Elizabeth C. Reese Albert S. Woodruff
Dr. C. F. Hadley Dr. Paul M. Meeray Mrs. E. S. Woodward
Rev. John R. Heines Dr. C. P. Tuttle Dr. Lettie Allen Ward
Rev. R. E. Bresill
AUTOMOBILE COMMITTEE
A. R. F. Smith R. D. Clow, Jr. William C. Davis
Fredk Von Neida Geo. H. Gomersall W. L. Sweeten
C. J. Roberts George Bradley J. Sidney Mather
James E. Tatem George Blake Chas. W. Austermukl
A. W. Young George Bachman William W. Moyer
PUBLICITY COMMITTEE
Upton S. Jefferys Daniel M. Hassett Daniel P. McConnell
Frank S. Albright Charles Schuck James L. Polk
Frank Sheridan Clayton Moore William R. Jefferys
Benj. W. Bender John Zehner John J. Tischner
John D. Courter Charles J. Hisags
PUBLIC WELFARE COMMITTEE
Rev. Charles Bowden William D. Brown Fredk Von Neida
George W. Whyte A. L. Sayers Rev. J. R. Read
John T. Rodan Dr. Grant E. Kirk Christian D. Fisher
John F. Bell A. J. Ogden A. Lincoln Michener
R. S. Carney Charles A. Wolverton
CITY GARDENS COMMITTEE
B. M. Hedrick Asa J. Roberts William Durham
Zed H. Copp M. F. Middleton, Jr. George L. Bender
Charles H. Ellis A. B. Sparks Dr. H. L. Rose
David Jester J. Hartley Bowen George Molineaux
E. G. C. Bleakly Richard S. Carney Ray R. Zimmerman
Hon. Frank T. Lloyd Charles H. Hayes H. R. Kuchner
Dr. James E. Bryan W. D. Sayrs, Jr.
World War I Draft Card
World War I Draft Registration Card — Frederick George Delker. Registered September 12, 1918. Address: 411 Adlers Arlington, Camden NJ. Occupation: Manager, US Shipping Board. Born December 21, 1879.
4 Bitten by Dogs, One Former Pugilist
Camden Courier-Post —
Four persons, including a former Camden boxer, were among victims of dog bites recorded over the weekend. George Delker, 54, of 29 South Forty-second Street, the former boxer was attacked at Pennsville while romping on the beach with a pet spaniel. Delker was treated by a physician for lacerations of the left foot.
At Cooper Hospital three persons received treatment. They are Jonas Cooper, 24, of 1163 Lawrence Street; bit on left arm; Lawrence Repetto, 2, of 117 Main Street, bit on leg, and a physician John Garrity, 17, of 205 Byron Street, bit on leg.
Former Boxer to Wed East Camden Woman
Camden Courier-Post —
George Delker, former Camden boxer, will be married today to Mrs. Joanna Schoener at the German Lutheran Church, Thirty-sixth Street near Federal.
Mrs. Schoener, who is a widow, lives at 29 South Forty-second Street; where the couple will reside, Rev. Charles G. Bauer will perform the ceremony.
World War II Draft Card
World War II Draft Registration Card — Frederick George Delker. Registered April 27, 1942. Address: 2107 W. Tioga St., Philadelphia PA. Occupation: Retired. Age 62. Height 5′7″, weight 168 lbs., brown eyes, gray hair.