Frederick W.S. Morse
Frederick William Sheppard Morse was born in New Jersey on February 18, 1880 to Captain William and Annie Morse. His father had been born in Germany and over time become a sea captain after coming to America in 1870; his mother had been born in Nova Scotia. The family appears in the 1881–1882 City Directory at 625 Line Street. By the end of 1881 they had moved to what is now North 28th Street in East Camden, then the town of Stockton. City Directories prior to 1894 did not give street numbers outside of Camden’s city limits, and the names changed through the 1880s and 1890s, but in all probability William Morse and family had moved into a newly built frame house at what is now 200 North 28th Street. The 1894 City Directory shows William Morse, waterman, at 200 North 28th Street in what was then the Town of Stockton. The June 1900 Census shows the Morse family living in a home that they owned at 200 North 28th Street, which had become part of Camden in 1899. Frederick Morse had was recently married, he and wife Mary had been joined in marriage only two months previously, according to the Census. The Census states that Frederick Morse worked as a clothing cutter.
Frederick Morse was active in fraternal organizations, as a member of Black Hawk Tribe No. 78, Improved Order of Red Men and Camden Lodge 293, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He probably was also active politically, which resulted in his being appointed to the Camden Fire Department on December 4, 1904. By June of 1909 he was stationed with Ladder Company 3, a short walk away at North 27th and Federal Streets. Frederick Morse was promoted to Lieutenant on March 5, 1913. He was still a member of the Fire Department later in the year, when the 1914 City Directory was compiled, however, by September of 1918 he had left the Department and had taken a position with the Camden Board of Education as the custodian of the Alfred Cramer School at South 28th and Mickle Streets, where he remained in service through at least 1946.
Frederick and Mary S. Morse were not blessed with children. Captain William Morse passed during the 1920s. Annie Morse stayed with her son and daughter-in-law until her passing in 1933.
Frederick Morse retired from work with Camden’s Board of Education in 1954. The Morse family was still residing at 200 North 28th Street in Camden when Frederick Morse passed away on June 2, 1957. He was survived by his wife and daughter Helen.
George Christy Group
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Youngest Sachem About to Retire
George Christy will retire as Sachem of Black Hawk Tribe, No. 78, Order of Red Men, of the East Side, Camden, at next Thursday’s sleep.
At the seventeenth anniversary of the tribe at the last sleep several of the big chiefs congratulated Mr. Christy on being the youngest Sachem in New Jersey. He responded in a few remarks, declaring that he expected to strive until he reached the top notch of the order.
Another young and enthusiastic member of Black Hawk Tribe is Frederick Morse. He is generally selected to conduct social events connected with the order.
George Christy Group
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden Red Men Elect
Black Hawk Tribe, No. 78, I. O. R. M., of the East Side, Camden, has elected these officers: Prophet, George Christy; Sachem, Allan Palmer; Senior Sagamore, Charles Mangold; Junior Sagamore, Frederick Morse; Guard of Forest, Charles Christy; Guard of Wagwam, Frank Eckle.
Joseph T. Daly Group
Camden Evening Courier —
Men Selected from Every Ward Throughout the City.
EIGHT TO GO TO THE NEW HOUSE
On account of the illness of its chairman, Dr. Frank Neall Robinson, the fire committee of City Council last night met at Dr. Robinson’s residence, 518 Linden street. The principal object of the meeting was to recommend names for additional appointments in the Fire Department.
Among the sixteen fortunate ones were Rollo Jones and Charles Cook, of the First ward; James White and Harry Anderson, Second ward; Ephraim Davis, Tenth ward; Samuel Sheer and E. Finley, Third ward; Martin Carrigan, Fourth ward; Joseph Daly, Fifth ward; Joseph Ernest, Sixth ward; William Buzine, Seventh ward; William Munson, Charles Sturgis, Eighth ward; William Whitzell, Ninth ward; Joseph Till, Jr., East Camden.
William Miller, Eighth ward; John H. Vickers and F. Morse, Twelfth ward.
Joseph T. Daly Group
Camden Post-Telegram —
Sixteen of the Men Will Not Go on Duty Until July Next.
TWO OTHERS TO FILL VACANCIES
City Council’s Fire Committee last night named 18 new firemen. Sixteen of these men will not go on duty until July 1, next, at which time the new fire house will be ready for service, while the other two, who were named to fill vacancies, will begin duty the first of next year.
It must not be inferred that the sixteen new men will all be assigned to the new company. Experienced men from the several houses, with one or two of the new ones, will make up Company No. 5, while the rest of the raw recruits will be apportioned among the several houses.
Rollo Jones, of the First ward, and William Miller, of the Eighth ward, are the men to go on duty January 1. They fill the vacancies caused by the retirement of John Ware and Samuel Peoples.
The others selected are: First ward—Charles Cook. Second ward—James White, Harry Anderson. Third ward—Samuel Sheer, Edward Finley. Fourth ward—Martin Carrigan. Fifth ward—Joseph Daly. Sixth ward—Joseph Ernest. Seventh ward—Seth Monnell, William Buzine. Eighth ward—Charles Sturgis. Ninth ward—S. T. Whitezell. Tenth ward—Ephraim T. Davis. Eleventh ward—J. Oscar Till. Twelfth ward—J. H. Vickers, Frederick Morse.
All the appointees must pass a physical examination which will be made by Dr. W. H. Iszard.
William Hertline, connected with headquarters, has been suspended pending a trial on a charge made by Chief Elfreth. The case will be heard on Monday night.
Camden Fire Department New Appointees
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Made Necessary by the Erection of a New Engine House
The Fire Committee of Camden City Council have appointed the following firemen: Charles Cook, James White, Harry Anderson, Samuel Sheer, Edward Finley, Martin Carrigan, Joseph Daly, Joseph Ernest, Seth Morrell, William Buzine, Charles Sturgis, Samuel T. Whitezell, Ephraim T. Davis, J. Oscar Till, J. H. Vickers, Frederick Morse, Rollo Jones and William Miller. Jones and Miller will go on duty at once, and the others on January 1, by which time it is expected the new fire house at Twelfth and Federal streets, will be completed.
The new men will be distributed among the older companies. The new company will be made up of experienced men from the other companies.
Harry Green Group
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Spreading of the City’s Department Necessitates the Appointment of More Firemen
Camden City Council’s Fire Committee last night appointed additional firemen, the increased force being necessary by reason of the spreading of the department. The following are the new firemen: Charles Cook, First ward; James White and Harry Anderson, Second ward; Edward Finley, Third Ward; Martin Corrigan, Fourth ward; James Willis, Fifth ward; Harry Green, Sixth ward; Seth Monnell and Edward Buzine, Seventh ward; Charles Sturgis and William Miller, Eighth ward; Samuel Witzel, Ninth ward; Ephraim Davis, Tenth ward; J. O. Till, Eleventh ward; J. H. Vickers and Fred Morse, Twelfth ward.
Ladder Company 3, c. 1905
W. Scott Franklin Group
Camden Post-Telegram —
3 ARE HURT AS CAR HIT FIRE TRUCK
Members of East Side Hook and Ladder Company Narrowly Escape Death in Collision This A. M.
TILLERMAN KELLY IS WORST INJURED
Three firemen of the East Camden fire house, located at Twenty-seventh street and Westfield avenue, had a marvelous escape from fatal injury about 8.15 o’clock this morning, when a big eight-wheeled trolley car of the New York and Trenton line smashed into hook and ladder truck No. 3 directly in front of the fire house.
Fortunately, however, no fatality resulted, the three victims of the crash escaping with cuts and bruises of the limbs, head and body. The firemen injured are as follows:
EDWARD KELLY, tillerman of truck; badly bruised and lacerated about the head and particularly the hips and back. He also sustained a severe internal shock. His back it is feared is sprained to the core.
FRANK MORSE, assistant driver of truck; bruised and cut on an elbow and side.
SCOTT FRANKLIN, driver of truck; light injuries of an arm.
Kelly and Morse had their injuries attended to by Dr. H. H. Sherk, whose office is in the immediate vicinity. Franklin’s wounds did not require medical treatment. Tillerman Kelly was the most seriously injured of the three firemen and after having his wounds dressed at Dr. Sherk’s office was taken to his home at 2823 Pleasant avenue in the ambulance.
The hook and ladder truck was struck by the trolley car just as the team was being taken into the fire house at Twenty-seventh street and Westfield avenue after morning practice.
It was one of the long, heavy and ponderous New York and Trenton trolleys that caused the damage. The car, according to witnesses, was coming into the city at a fast clip and smashed into the rear of the truck near the rear, as the driver of the fire apparatus was making desperate efforts to clear the tracks and get safely in the fire house.
The motorman of the car, however, was unable to stop the trolley in time to avert a collision and with a ripping crash the big eight-wheeler smashed into the rear of the fire truck, upsetting the apparatus and horses as if they were parts of a toy machine and sending the three members of the crew hurtling through the air with a violence that appeared to mean mortal injury to one of the unfortunate firemen at least.
He was Tillerman Edward Kelly, who was hurled into the front vestibule of the trolley car with a force that knocked him senseless. Morse and Franklin landed in the street dazed and sore, luckily managing to escape being caught beneath the overturned truck or getting entangled with the flying hoofs of the frantic horses which were prevented from running away in their frenzy by firemen rushing at their heads and holding them fast until their fright had abated.
The three firemen were also quickly cared for by their comrades, and the ambulance phoned for to take them to a hospital, but the injured men declined to go to any institution and were treated at the office of Dr. Sherk.
The hook and ladder truck was considerably damaged by the collision. The side of the apparatus at the point of collision with the trolley car was torn to splinters and one of the two long ladders had a big slice snapped off and ruined. The wrecked truck was sent to the shops for repairs and will be out of commission for a day or two.
The front vestibule of the trolley car was also badly smashed in the collision, the terrific and sudden jar, the roar of the crash and the jangling of broken glass causing an uproar of excitement among the many passengers, a number of whom leaped off the platforms almost before the trolley had recoiled from the shock of the terrific impact.
This is the second accident of a like nature during the past year to East Side firemen. Several months ago Fireman Eddie Weston and J. H. Vickers were thrown from their apparatus when the carriage attempted to turn out of the path of a trolley car near the Public Library. Weston is still unable to do duty having been confined in the Homeopathic Hospital for several months after the accident.
Ladder Company 3
Philadelphia Inquirer —
TROLLEY HIT LADDER TRUCK
Three Camden Firemen Narrowly Escaped Being Killed
Three Camden firemen narrowly escaped death yesterday when a Camden and Trenton trolley car crashed into the hook and ladder of Truck Company No. 3. Edward Kelly, the tillerman, was badly injured about the head and back, while Frank Morse and Scott Franklin received lacerations. They were treated by Dr. H. H. Sherk.
It was just after morning practice, while the team was being taken back to the fire house, that the accident occurred. The driver attempted to cross Westfield avenue at Twenty-seventh street in front of the car. The motorman applied the brakes, but was unable to avert the collision. The apparatus was badly damaged, but the horses escaped injury.
William Hertline Group
Bridgeton Evening News —
Hertline suspended from Camden Fire Department
To take the place of William Hertline, who was suspended as a member of the Camden Fire Department for disobeying orders of the chief, Frederick Morse was yesterday appointed lieutenant of No. 1 Hose Company, in the East Side, and John Lennox was made lieutenant of No. 7 Engine Company, Eleventh street and Kaighn avenue. Sylvester McGrath was appointed to fill the vacancy in the department.
Lawyer F.A. Rex Is Laid to Rest
Camden Post-Telegram —
The funeral of Lawyer Frederick A. Rex, who died last Monday at a sanitarium in South Jersey, took place today from the parlors of Funeral Director Martin J. O’Brien, 611 Market Street.
Members of Camden Lodge of Elks held services last night. The services today were conducted by Reverend J.W. Ohl, rector of the P.E. Church at Collingswood. The body was interred in Colestown Cemetery.
The pallbearers were Harry Blackburn, F.L. Vinton, Frederick Morse, John Schlorer, Harry Mayer, Harry Stains, James Thoirs, members of Camden Lodge of Elks. The remains rested in a polished oak casket with silver handles and name plate. The casket was adorned by many floral tributes.
Mrs. Annie Morse
Camden Courier-Post —
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday for Mrs. Annie Morse, widow of the late Captain William Morse, who died Monday in her 88th year.
The services will be at the home of a son, Frederick Morse, 200 North Twenty-eighth Street. Burial will be in Arlington Cemetery.
Mrs. Morse has been a resident of East Camden for more than 55 years and was widely known in the section. Besides her son, a grandchild and great-grandchild survive.
World War I Draft Card
Frederick W.S. Morse — World War I Draft Card
World War II Draft Card
Frederick W.S. Morse — World War II Draft Card