Frank H. Powell
FRANK H. POWELL was born in New Jersey to Edward Smith Powell and his wife, the former Jane Beideman, in March of 1868, according to the 1900 Census. He was the youngest of the 12 Powell children. His father was a farmer, working a farm in the late 1870s and early 1880s near what were then the outskirts of Camden near North 6th and State Streets.
Frank Powell married around 1898. A resident of the town of Stockton, which in 1899 was united with Camden bringing what is now known as East Camden and Cramer Hill into the city, Frank H. Powell was active in politics and civil affairs at an early age. In the early 1890s he served as a special officer at Stockton Park, a resort area located on the site of the modern day McGuire Gardens public housing project. He briefly kept a saloon in the 1890s and in November of 1899 was considered for a position with the Camden Fire Department, but was not selected at that time.
The 1898 Camden City Directory shows Frank Powell at Franklin Avenue (modern day 34th Street) near Harrison Avenue in what was then Stockton, now known as Camden’s Cramer Hill neighborhood. The 1900 Census shows Frank Powell working as a bricklayer and living in an unnumbered house on Bergen Avenue near Farragut Avenue in the same area with his wife Maggie. His 83 year-old widowed mother also lived there.
On November 20, 1903 Frank H. Powell was appointed to the Camden Fire Department as a replacement for Joseph Oscar Till Sr., who had died seven days previously. Frank H. Powell would serve with the Camden Fire Department through at least the end of 1926.
The 1906 City Directory shows Frank Powell living at 1039 North 34th Street. He was still at that address when, on May 23, 1908 a tornado hit Camden, causing flooding throughout the city and doing extensive damage to homes and businesses along the north bank of the Cooper River and in the vicinity of the 1500 through 1700 blocks of Federal Street and elsewhere. The roof on Frank Powell’s house was blown clear of the building.
The 1910 Census shows the Powells at 900 North 28th Street, the corner of North 28th Street and Hayes Avenue. There had been five children born, but only sons Melvin and George had lived to that time.
The 1914 City Directory and the 1920 Census shows the Powell family had moved around the corner to a house at 2827 Concord Avenue. Frank and Maggie Powell were still at that address when the 1927 Camden City Directory was compiled. Frank H. Powell retired from the Fire Department not long afterwards. By the time the 1929 City Directory was compiled, Frank H. and Maggie Powell had left Camden.
Fire Department records from 1931 show that Frank H. Powell was alive and collecting his pension. His mailing address was c/o Lemuel D. Horner, 3521 Westfield Avenue, Camden New Jersey. Horner was a prominent funeral director; his wife was Frank Powell’s cousin.
Want to Be Firemen
Philadelphia Inquirer —
WANT TO BE FIREMEN
There'll Be Trouble in Finding Places for All Hands
To-morrow night's session of the Fire Commissioners of Camden promises to be a lively one. Two firemen for the Second ward and four each for the Eleventh and Twelfth wards will be appointed. In the Second ward the candidates are John Vanhart, W. Scott Franklin and Edgar Bolton. Vanhart has been agreed upon by both factions. Franklin has the support of Freeholder Whyte and a large following, while Bolton is recommended by Mayor Hatch and Councilman McGill. Bolton's appointment was expected at the last meeting of the Commissioners. Afterwards it was found that typewritten resolutions purporting to be signed by the same committee of the Second ward club which indorsed Bolton was sent to the Commissioners prior to the meeting urging the appointment of Franklin. The resolutions had the seal of the club attached. This caused the appointment to hang fire. It is now claimed by Bolton's friends that the club did not indorse Franklin, as he is not a member. It is alleged that the signatures purporting to be those of the committee were not authorized.
In the Eleventh ward Councilmen Longacre and Arnold have not yet settled their differences. Councilman Longacre insists on the appointment of Robert Gick, Joseph Till, Edward Kelly and Christian Stark. Councilman Arnold claims the right to name Frank Powell and Lewis H. Sasse notwithstanding the fact that at a conference he agreed upon the names presented by Councilman Longacre. In the Twelfth ward Councilman Leas, the City and Ward Committeeman, and the Union Republican Club favor the naming of Samuel Collins, William Madison, John F. Renner and Josiah Pedigree.
Camden Democrats on the Watch
Philadelphia Inquirer —
CAMDEN DEMOCRATS ON THE WATCH
They Hope to Make a Hit at the Spring Election Two Weeks Hence
Camden Democrats will make an active campaign during the next two weeks in the hope of carrying some of their Councilmanic candidates through at the municipal election on March 13. A campaign committee of five will be in charge of affairs, both factions in the party being represented in the committee, which is composed of County Detective John S. Smith, chairman of the City Committee; former State Senator George Pfeiffer, Jr., chairman of the County Committee; State Committeeman Harry B. Paul, former Judge Howard Carrow and City Recorder Joseph E. Nowrey.
The Democrats could not secure control of City Council if they elected their candidates in every ward, but if they carry three or four wards it would do much to strengthen the party for next fall's contest. The fight will be made in wards where dissension exists in the Republican ranks.
The saloonkeepers of Camden are still smarting under the turndown they received in their efforts to have the license fee cut down from $500 to $300 and the subsequent indictment of many of their number for Sunday liquor selling. The liquor dealers are now organized as they have never been before. The Camden Liquor Dealers' Association is a close corporation and keeps its secrets well. It has leaked out that they propose to cut the Republican candidates, as they blame the Republican leaders for most of their troubles. The association has been raising a “pot” to aid the election of the Democratic candidates for City Council. The saloonkeepers are very reticent about discussing this subject, as they depend upon the Republican Excise Commissioners for their licenses.
The Democrats held their primary election last evening and named the following candidates for City Council: First ward, John H. Irwin; Second ward, former State Senator and County Chairman George Pfeiffer; Third ward, James Noone; Fourth ward, Lewis Holl; Fifth ward, George Horneff; Sixth ward, Ben Meloney; Seventh ward, William Hollman; Eighth ward, William Jennings; Ninth ward, Frank H. Powell; Tenth ward, Abel Lewis; Eleventh ward, William Petzell; Twelfth ward, Thomas H. Cook.
Frank Powell Made a Fireman
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Joseph Till – Frank H. Powell
Camden News Notes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Group Disbanded 25 Years Ago; Old Members to Meet at Dinner
Camden Courier-Post —
A reunion-dinner of members of the old Aquinas Club, disbanded nearly 25 years ago, will be held during the latter part of June, Pasquale Iarossi, committee chairman, announced.
With Iarossi, widely-known North Camden barber, as the active worker in plans for the reunion, nearly 40 of the old members have signified their intentions of attending.
The dinner reunion will be held at Tom Kenney’s restaurant at 531 Market street. Other members who expect to join in the reunion, are asked to communicate with Iarossi at Third and Elm streets.
Some of the charter members who have been reached and are expected to attend the reunion dinner are:
Tom Kenney, former Freeholder Samuel D. Payne, Police Sergeant Herbert Bott, William H. White, former secretary-treasurer of the Camden Housing Authority, Charles (Homo) Marion.
Deputy Fire Chief William Harring, Freeholder John Daly, Pat and Louis Iarossi, Edward Bihn, Frank Cavallo, Joseph German, William Easterbrook, Walter Stevens, Carl Glendening, Herbert Schaefer, Bert Morris, Phillip Gorman, Joseph Loeffler, Pete Walker, Joseph Wells, Joseph Jones, Benjamin Taylor.
William (Chick) Simon, James Daly, Frank Bott, Hartley Pike, William Sayres, William Floagus, Dan McConnell, Walter McEntee, Sam Molineaux, William McCormick, Samuel Harring, Dan Market, Gerald Garner, John Molineaux, William Kistner, Alex Urban, William Brandt, H. Hambach, Roy Breitenstein, John Plum, Charles Berry, George Demellion, and L. Harter.