Introduction
George Henry Johnson was born on December 11, 1886 in New Jersey to George H. and Geneva Simpson Johnson. He was the second of two children, coming 23 months after older sister Estella. The family was living with Geneva’s widowed mother, Ellen M. Simpson, at 812 South 2nd Street, when the 1900 Census was enumerated. His father then worked as a driver.
George Johnson had gone out into the world by the time the 1910 Census was enumerated. According to the 1930 Census, he married at the age of 20. The 1910 Census shows him living with his wife, the former Ella Bell, and her parents at 110 Cedar Street in Pennsauken, New Jersey. George Johnson’s occupation is listed as mechanical dentist, this of course being an age where one did not have to be a doctor to practice dentistry. By 1914 he and his wife had moved to Camden. They lived with his parents at 823 Kaighn Avenue, where George Johnson continued to practice dentistry.
When he registered for the draft in September of 1918 George Johnson was living at 451 Henry Street in South Camden with his wife Ella, their children, and his parents. He was then working as a letter carrier out of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania post office. The 1920 Census, taken in January, shows him still living at the Henry Street address. Besides his wife and parents, the household included four children, George Marvin, Charles Gilbert, Harold, and Mary G. Johnson. The census taker listed his occupation as mechanical dentist. That occupation would change before the year ended, however.
George H. Johnson was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on November 22, 1920 and reported for duty with Engine Company 1 at 409 Pine Street on January 1, 1921. He spent his entire career as a fire fighter with Engine Company 1. George H. Johnson was one of the six Black fire fighters, the others being Walter W. Carter, Leroy Hatchett, Charles W. Cooke, Roscoe Tribbett and Benjamin Walters, who were hired when the Department was reintegrated. The following year three more were added – Byron Davis, Alfred E. Greene, and Louis Stevens.
The 1927 Camden City Directory lists George Johnson at 926 South 9th Street. Fire Department records from 1931 also show George Johnson living at 926 South 9th Street. He was still living at 926 South 9th Street and working as a fireman when his mother Geneva passed away on February 29, 1940. George Johnson retired from the Camden Fire Department on pension, February 1, 1942. He and wife Ella had moved to the newly constructed Clement T. Branch Village public housing project, and he was still living there as late as 1947. By that time he had taken a job as a guard with the Wickes Engineering & Construction Company, then located at South 12th Street and Ferry Avenue, across from Evergreen Cemetery.
A Camden resident to his last days, George H. Johnson passed away on July 13, 1975.
World War I Draft Card
World War I Draft Card. The registrar who filled in this card was C. Leonard Brehm, local politician and bar-owner.
Many Transfers of City Firemen
Camden Daily Courier —
Recent changes in the fire department announced have provided for the transfer of twenty men and the appointment of fourteen during the week to various fire houses in the city.
Sixteen of the men were transferred and given appointments to the two new companies formed to protect Fairview and Yorkship Village. The transfers and appointments went into effect Wednesday.
The following men received transfers and appointments to Engine Company 10, one of the new companies: Horace Calera, captain; William Miller, lieutenant; Harry Selby, engineer; Charles Gaul, stoker; Spencer Smith, H. Walton, Rocco Fanelli and H. Zanders, hosemen.
Truck Company 4, the other new company, at Ninth and Morgan Streets, received the following men: Mordecai Clark, captain; James McDermott, lieutenant; James Durkin, driver; Frank Burt, George C. Wade, Samuel Felton, William Reynolds and Harry Hallo-well.
Farrington and H. Bomgartel, new men, were appointed to Hook and Ladder Company 1, to fill the vacancies left by James McDermott and George C. Wade.
The following men received appointments to Engine Company 1: Walter Carter, George Henry Johnson, Lewis D. Stevens, Rocco Tribuett and Benjamin Walters. W. Scott Franklin was transferred from Company 5 to Engine Company 1 as lieutenant. George Gall was transferred from Company 1 to Company 5 as stoker. Joseph Daley, of Company 5, was transferred to Engine Company 2 to fill the vacancy left by Harry Selby, who was transferred to Company 10.
Anthony Valentine and David Smith were transferred to Company 3, in place of William Miller and Charles Gaul, who were transferred to Company 10.
J. Lumbago was transferred to Company 7, in place of David Smith. George Puroglove and John Hunt were transferred to Company 8. Robert Glcks was transferred from Hose and Chemical Company 2 to Company 9, in place of William Reynolds, who was transferred to Company 10.
Nelson Till was appointed to the place left vacant by Robert Glcks, of Hose and Chemical Company 2.
man Kreber was made lieutenant of Hose and Chemical Company 2.
Fire companies mentioned: Engine Company 10 – Ladder Company 4 – Engine Company 1 – Engine Company 2 – Engine Company 5 – Engine Company 7 – Engine Company 8 – Engine Company 9 – Hose & Chemical Company 2 (Engine Company 11)
World War II Draft Card
World War II Draft Card