Introduction
Colonel George Lawrence Selby was born June 14, 1879 in Camden, New Jersey to William Henry Selby and his wife the former Emma Dunn Gibbon. He was the third of nine children born to the Selbys, coming after brother William H. (1875–1876) and sister Elizabeth M. (1877–1882). He was followed by Harry (1879–1923), Mabel (1884–1948), Mary E. (1997–1953), Walter W. (1891–1974), John G. (1895–1969) and Dorothy (19800-1974). His father was active in Republican politics and served with the Camden Police Department for 14 years, and later with the Water Department. Both George and younger brother Harry Selby were somewhat active politically and involved in the early 1900s with Company C, Third Regiment, New Jersey National Guard. George L. Selby was still active with the Guard when the United States went to war in 1917 and served heroically at the Battle of the Argonne Forest, and served the public for many years after his return at war’s end.
He married Catherine Malloy around 1902. Five children were born to the Selbys between 1903 and 1912. As stated above, he had remained in the National Guard, and by the time America entered World War I in April of 1917, he had risen to the rank of Captain. He went overseas as the Captain of Company G, 114th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division. He was promoted to Major for his heroic actions during the Battle of the Argonne Forest, and to Colonel in the New Jersey National Guard after war’s end. Among the troops he led in Company G were Sergeant James E. Reynolds of Camden NJ, Corporals William S. Hey and Charles Albert Mathews of Camden, Privates Townsend C. Young and Frederick H. Baynes, of Gloucester City, Private Walter Tucker of Haddonfield, and Private Samuel J. Reichard of Camden.
Colonel Selby returned to Camden after the war, and was given a hero’s welcome. He was appointed adjutant of the New Jersey National Guard by General Winfield S. Price, who later became Mayor of Camden. Colonel Selby also worked as the Republican registrar at the County Board of Elections during the 1920s, when he was succeeded by William Sayrs, a former Camden city commissioner.
On December 13, 1929 Colonel Selby was appointed Deputy Warden of Trenton State Prison in Trenton NJ by Colonel Edward R. Stone. During this time the Selby family lived at 1409 Third Street in Trenton NJ. He held that post until 1943, when he was transferred to Leesburg State Prison in Leesburg NJ, where he served in a similar capacity.
Colonel Selby for many years was the marshal of Camden’s Memorial and Armistice Day parades. He was a member of the Raymond C. Thoirs Post 47 of the American legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Elks Lodge in Camden.
George L. Selby passed away at the age of 70 at his home at Leesburg NJ on May 17, 1950. After services at the Harry Leonard Funeral Home at 2850 Federal Street in Camden, he was buried with full military honors at Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly NJ on May 22, 1950, where he now rests next to his wife Catherine, who joined him in March of 1960.
George Selby’s brother, Harry Selby, was a member of the Camden Fire Department from 1908 until his tragic death in 1923.
Father William H. Selby Honored
Camden Post-Telegram —
Long Engineer In Water Bureau
For fourteen years in the Police Department and later an employe in the Water Department, for thirteen years, William H. Selby died yesterday at his residence, 323 Beckett street, aged 74 years, after a two years illness with apoplexy.
Mr. Selby was first appointed to the police force by Mayor Pratt, May 15, 1886. He resigned on June 15, 1893, during the time Harry Paul was police commissioner. He was reappointed to the force March 31, 1894, by Mayor John L. Westcott, and resigned when Cooper B. Hatch became Mayor in 1895.
Later Mr. Selby became connected with the Water Department as an extra engineer. He held this position until taken ill.
Many years ago Mr. Selby was in business in the old Federal street market, his associates of that day having nearly all passed away.
Major George L. Selby, of Argonne Forest fame is a son of the deceased, as are also Harry. Selby, Walter W. Selby and John G. Selby. He has three daughters, Mrs. M. G. Kremir, Mrs. Harry L. Stokes and Mrs. Charles E. Graham. His wife, Mrs. Emma D. Selby, also survives.
Mr. Selby was a member of Massasoit Tribe of Red Men and the Third Ward Republican Club.
Funeral services will be held at the family residence on Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock, with interment in Harleigh Cemetery, under the direction of undertakers Joseph H. Murray & Son. Rev. Mr. Stron, pastor of the Wiley M. E. Church, will conduct the services.
Memorial Services Held
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Memorial service. Emma Hyland, George L. Selby, John Hyland, George Kleinheinz
Brother Harry Selby Dies in Fire
Camden Post-Telegram —
Writes To Wife Before Using Gun
Suffering from injuries sustained many years ago in the performance of duty, Harry Selby, a city fireman, committed suicide this morning at his engine house, Ninth and Morgan streets.
Selby was engineer at the Morgan street house. He shot himself in the head while lying on his cot in his room.
No one heard the shot and it is the belief of his colleagues that he used the gun while the gong was ringing at 6 o’clock this morning to awaken the members of the company.
Selby did not appear when the rest of his colleagues began their duties and when the door of his room was opened he was found on the bed with blood flowing from a wound in his right temple and a revolver in his hand.
The pillow barrel was still warm and the flowing blood was in such a condition of freshness that it is believed the shot had just been fired.
It is presumed that Selby waited for the gong to strike in order that the noise of the shot should be drowned out. Unconscious, Selby was hurried to the Homeopathic Hospital where he died a few minutes after 7 o’clock.
Before ending his life, Engineer Selby wrote a note to his wife in which he stated that he could not stand the pain of injuries sustained years ago. He stated that he had been unable to sleep all night and that he deemed it best to end it all. Selby asked his wife to care for their children and to forgive him for his act. The note was evidently written some time this morning.
Selby was 44 years old and lived with his wife and three small children at 326 Beckett street. The children are 2, 4, and 6 years old.
Selby was injured fourteen years ago when the hose wagon on which he was riding collided with a pillar of the elevated railroad at Haddon avenue and Line street. Three of the men on the wagon were injured and one of the horses killed.
Selby suffered injuries at the head and was hurt internally and since then was in constant pain.
Selby became a fireman on January 1, 1908, and for several years was was driver for the now discarded Deputy Chief Engine. In 1919, he made a stoker and in 1920 was advanced to the position of engineer. He was a brother of Major George Selby.
National Guard Activities
Trenton Times —
Harry A. Richards, George Selby
Spanish War Veterans Install 1928 Officers
Camden Courier-Post —
Mayor Price was among the speakers last night at the annual installation of officers of General John A Mather Camp, No. 39, United Spanish War Veterans, held at 114th Regiment Armory, Haddon Avenue and Mickle Street.
Other speakers were Colonel George L. Selby, in charge of the permanent registration bureau, Senator Clifford R. Powell, Burlington County, and Postmaster Charles H. Ellis.
Mayor Price said plans will be made for the erection of an All-Wars Memorial building, similar to that in Atlantic City.
Officers installed were: Robert Riley, commander; Harry Rose, senior vice commander; Harry Todd, junior vice commander; Edward Bearint, adjutant; John J. Doyle, quartermaster; John Buel, guard; Lenny B. Orr, chaplain; Edward Daves, instructor; Edward Phifer, color bearer; PO.C. McCormack and Frank Tomlin, trustees; John Pierce, sergeant major.
Republican Dinner
Camden Courier-Post —
Republican political dinner
Political News
Camden Courier-Post —
Victor J. Scharle, Emma Hyland
Republican Congressional Dinner
Camden Courier-Post —
Other Officers Chosen
When the Camden County Republican Executive Committee reorganized last night Walter S. Keown was elected chairman without opposition.
He succeeds former State Senator Joseph F. Wallworth, who was Republican county chairman six years, and a member 12 years. At a dinner preceding the executive session a silver set and a vase were presented to Wallworth by the committee. The retiring members of the committee received bronze elephants as emblems of the party.
At the executive session Mrs. Elizabeth Grotty Verga was re-elected vice chairman; Harry C. Sharp, treasurer; William D. Sayrs, assistant treasurer; Howard B. Dyer, secretary, and Mrs. Laura Silbers and Mrs. Lottie Stinson assistant secretaries Harold W. Bennett, Edward R. Diebert, Bernard Bertman, Scott Cherchesky, Carl Kisselman and Frank Voigt were chosen solicitors.
Wallworth Reviews Work
Upon retiring as chairman Senator Wallworth said:
“During the six years I acted as your chairman considerable political history has been made in our county. The Republican party was on the rocks and loyalty seemed to have drifted away when Frank Patterson, Al Matthews, Penn Corson and Senator Baird begged me to take the chairmanship.
In doing so I quickly discovered I had undertaken one of the hardest up hill battles of my life.”
When Keown took over the gavel he pointed out to the committee members they were political leaders of their districts. He said it was their duty to find out the cause of unrest.
“In some of your districts the trouble is your tax rates are too high,” said the chairman. “High tax rates are an evil and it is your duty to find the cause and remedy the situation. When there is a spirit of satisfaction in your district there is satisfaction throughout the county.”
Wolverton Favors Plan
Congressman Charles A. Wolverton complimented the new chairman on his advice. Sharp and Sayrs, who have been identified with the committee more than 20 years, were also speakers.
Keown then turned the gavel over to Mrs. Verga, who thanked the committee for her reelection. She introduced Mrs. Silbers and Mrs. Stinson, who urged loyalty and work on the part of the women members of the committee.
Keown was nominated by Daniel Silbers, Pennsauken township. Colonel George L. Selby nominated Sharp and Dyer. All of the officers received a unanimous vote.
Ten new members took seats from the five boroughs recently created out of Clementon township. Among them was Clinton L. Bardo, president of New York Shipbuilding Corp., who was elected from the new borough of Pine Valley last Tuesday. Twelve members of last year’s committee retired, either as a result of the primary election or not being candidates.
Appointed Deputy Warden of Trenton State Prison
Trenton Times —
Colonel Edward B. Stone, Principal Keeper of New Jersey State Prison has announced the appointment of Lieutenant Colonel George L. Selby as his Chief Deputy.
Colonel Selby has had thirty years’ experience in the Army and National Guard and has proven ability, both as an executive and administrator. He served with unusual distinction in Colonel Stone’s command on the battle fields of France and with the American Expeditionary force where he had wide experience with military prisoners. As Lieutenant Colonel of 114th Infantry, his work brought unusual favorable comment from Regular Army and National Guard officers.
“Although a strict disciplinarian, he is highly esteemed by the men who have served under him for his squareness and fairness,” said Colonel Stone. He is a prominent citizen of Camden, where he was born and has lived all his life. In civilian life he was connected with the publishing house of American Bible Society.
Colonel Selby will start his new duties December 16. He succeeds Michael H. Brown, who will continue in the capacity of deputy.
Local Police Heads Greeted at State Prison
Camden Courier-Post —
Headed by Major Charles V. Dickinson, local police officials made a tour of Inspection yesterday of the state prison at Trenton. Photo shows Colonel George L. Selby, chief deputy warden at the prison, greeting Major Dickinson and his companions at the prison gates. Left to right, those in the photo are: Patrolman John Stevenson, Lieutenant Herbert Anderson, Captain Arthur Colsey, Major Dickinson, Lieutenant George Frost, Colonel Selby, Lieutenants George Ward, Ralph Bakley and Walter Welch. The police officials were the guests of Colonel Selby at luncheon before the tour.
Armistice Parade Route is Changed
Camden Courier-Post —
Officials Announce 90 Organizations Will Be in March
A change in the route of march of the Armistice Day parade, was announced last night, at a meeting of the committee in the office of Director of Public Welfare David S. Rhone.
The proposed route is Third and Cooper Streets; to Broadway, to Kaighn Avenue, west on Kaighn Avenue to Fourth Street, thence to the city line and disband.
The parade will start promptly at 1:45 p. m. The grand marshal will be Colonel George L. Selby. The route of march is approximately two miles and shorter than any previous year.
There will be 90 organizations in the line of march. Included in these will be 18 American Legion Posts; 13 Veterans of Foreign War Posts; 18 National Guard units; five Naval Reserve units and 21 other organizations. Martial music will be provided by 15 bands.
All members of the police and fire departments who are war veterans, will be excused from duly and will participate in the parade as a unit.
Announcement was made by Jack Weinberg, chairman of the prize committee that two additional cups have been donated by the Retail Division of the Chamber of Commerce. This makes a total of 14 to be awarded. The last two will be given to veteran organizations outside the city of Camden.
More than 1700 school children from the sixth grade to the high school will take part in exercises to be held at the Convention Hall in the morning, it was announced by Dr. Leon N. Neulen, superintendent of schools.
The children will parade under the direction of their teachers.
Roxie Allen Freed, Will Re-Enter Ring
Camden Courier-Post —
Former Camden Boxer· Paroled After Serving Two of Four-Year Sentence
Roxie Allen came home yesterday, sans the rough and reckless spirit of the youthful ring warrior who went to state prison more than two years ago.
He left behind him the “number” by which he was known in the “Big House” at Trenton and returned as Rocco Auletto. Also discarded with the number was the care-free air that was a chief characteristic of the colorful battler around whom flocked thousands of sport fans in this city a few years ago.
The transformation in Roxie seems to be complete. none the less eager to spend his vast store of energy he now is serious to a depth that surprises those who greeted a solemn man in place of the precocious boy they saw “go up the river.”
Allen, who was sentenced to serve four years on March 25, 1931, on holdup charges, was granted a parole Thursday by the Court of Pardons. He was one of 92 who bade farewell to Col. Edward B. Stone, warden, and Col. George L. Selby, chief deputy warden. The court granted 114 paroles of 612 applicants. Seventeen will be freed in September.
Roxie, who is 24, was greeted by Mike DeLeece, his manager, when Allen fought in the ring as a welterweight.
Allen with four others was convicted in Atlantic county common pleas court on charges of holding up a craps game in a Vineland pool room.
DeLeece said Allen is anxious to re-enter the ring. he will be ready to go back in the ring within two weeks,” DeLeece stated. Allen weighs about 160 pounds, is browned by outdoor work as a trusty and has kept in ring training, participating in bouts within the prison. Previous to serving at Trenton, Allen was at the Bordentown State Prison Farm.
Another boxer, Jackie Hindle, who served as a Camden policeman, was reported paroled yesterday. This could not be confirmed last night.
Colonel George L. Selby Dies
Camden Courier-Post —
Col. George L. Selby, 70, Camden soldier and War I hero who was promoted from captain to major on the battlefield in France, died at 6 a. m. today in his home at Leesburg.
Colonel Selby, who was chief deputy of the state prison farm in Leesburg, a post he had held for seven years, collapsed in the bathroom. His wife, Mrs. Catherine B. Selby, heard him fall and rushed into the room. She called a physician, who pronounced him dead.
Mrs. John A. Del Duca, Camden, his daughter, said she had visited her parents on Sunday and Colonel Selby appeared to be in the best of health and spirits.
Colonel Selby, prior to being named to the post at the prison farm, was chief deputy warden at the state prison, Trenton. He was named to that office by the then warden of the penitentiary, Col. Edward B. Stone, on Dec. 13, 1929. At Colonel Selby’s retirement, his appointment to the prison post, was a Republican registrar at the Camden County Board of Elections. In that post he was succeeded by William B. Sayrs, a former Camden city commissioner. Col. Stone and Mr. Sayrs are both deceased.
Colonel Selby had a long and distinguished military career. He enlisted as a private in Company C, Sixth Infantry, New Jersey National Guard, and went to Mexico as a 2nd Captain in Company. G of the 114th Infantry.
He received a divisional citation in France, the Croix-de-Guerre, awarded by Marshal Petain, 17th French Cross, French Army; the Distinguished Service Medal, state of New Jersey, which was given to him by Governor A. Harry Moore at the annual regimental exercises of Co. 11-13, Infantry at Camp Moore, Sea Girt, July 15, 1927.
Colonel Selby was the first of three Camden men to receive the state’s highest military honor and was honored along with John J. Pershing in France. Colonel Selby went to Camden with the old Third Regiment of the National Guard as a captain, went overseas after extensive training.
He was highly regarded by the men in his command, since he was always in the van of operations, showing the leadership which brought him honors in the Argonne where he was advanced to the majority in recognition of legislatility.
Given Nickname
His men in his command. Major Pershing gave the sobriquet of “The Fighting Irishman,” which clung to him through the war.
After the war, when Colonel Selby came back to Camden, where he was born, he was given a hero’s welcome. The whole town turned out to do him honor.
In 1921 when the New Jersey National Guard was reorganized, Colonel Selby became adjutant of the 114th Infantry and retained that position until 1929 when Gen. Winfield S. Price, later mayor of Camden, and the Republican organization general Price who also worked as a New York Shipbuilding Corp. truck private, was in charge of administration.
Was Parade Marshal
Down through the years, numbering 14, fellow citizens of his native son to his country, and for many years he was the marshal of Memorial and Armistice Day parades in the city.
During his military career he held numerous ranks from his start as a buck private. As a major he commanded several units on the battlefields in France. He served on courts martial in LeHavre, France.
Colonel Selby was a member of Col. Raymond C. Thoirs Post 47, Camden, American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Camden Lodge of Elks.
Leave Two Sons
In addition to his widow and daughter, Colonel Selby is survived by two sons, George Harry H. Selby, with the army in Seattle, and Edward Selby, railroad clerk in the Camden County Board of Elections when it arose, became. He entered the army and rose to captain. He is living at 1409 Third Street. Trenton. Herbert, also served in the army in War II as a sergeant.
Also surviving Colonel Selby are two brothers, John and Walter, both of Camden; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Stokes, Camden and Mrs. Lucinda Bennett, California, and six grandchildren.
Funeral Services
Camden Courier-Post —
Congressman Wolverton will head a group of honorary pallbearers at services Monday for Col. George L. Selby, 70, Camden soldier and War I hero. The services wil be held at 10 a. m. in a funeral home at 2850 Federal street.
Other honorary pallbearers will include former Governor Harold G. Hoffman, Major General Ulio, Gen. Clifford Blumel, Lt. Gen. Winfield S. Price, former Camden mayor; Capt. William Doyle, George W. Page, warden at the state prison; Col. Mark O. Kemberling, William Lagay, former warden, and the Rev. Frederick J. Halloran, pastor of Sacred Heart RC Church, Trenton, past national chaplain of the American Legion.
Actual pallbearers will be Hugh Morrison, Orris Robinson, Martin Riley, Lester Throckmorton, wardens from the state prison, and Ephraim Cox and Milner Wright, wardens from the prison farm at Leesburg.
The Rev. Charles Bratten DuBell, former rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Camden, and former chaplain of the 114th Infantry and the 1st and 29th Division in War I, will officiate.
Burial will be in the National cemetery, Beverly, where military funeral friends may call at the funeral home tomorrow night.
Colonel Selby died Wednesday in his home at Leesburg where he was a chief deputy of the state prison farm.
Military Burial
Camden Courier-Post —
Services for Col. George L. Selby, 72, Camden soldier and War I hero, will be held Monday at 10 a. m. in the funeral home at 2850 Federal street.
The Rev. Charles Bratten Du Bell, former rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Camden, and former chaplain of the 114th Infantry and of the 1st and 29th Divisions in War I, will officiate.
Burial will be in the National cemetery, Beverly, with military rites. Friends may call at the funeral home Sunday after 7 p. m.
Colonel Selby died Wednesday in his home at Leesburg, where he was chief deputy of the state prison farm.
Final Resting Place
Colonel George L. Selby and his wife Catherine rest together at Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, New Jersey, Plot P26. He was buried with full military honors on May 22, 1950. Catherine joined him in March of 1960.