Introduction
George W. Spicks was born to German-born parents in Philadelphia PA on February 13, 1861. He married at the age of 20 and soon moved to New Jersey. He had moved to the 2000 block in what was then Stockton Township, present-day East Camden, by 1887. Originally a tailor by trade, the 1887–1888 Camden City Directory shows him following that profession. The following year, however, he is listed as a bartender. The 1890–1891 City Directory indicates that he may have had an interest in the Junction Hotel at 21st and Federal Streets. The 1900 Census shows him living at 2034 Federal Street with his wife Fredericka and three children, Emma, Harry, and Florence. Two other children had not survived, and sadly, young Harry Spicks would not be alive when the 1910 Census was taken.
By 1910 he had acquired the saloon at 2046 Federal Street, the southwest corner of Federal Street and Marlton Avenue. The Spicks family lived at and operated this saloon through at least 1921. The 1920 Census shows George and Fredericka Spicks, their daughters Florence and Emma, and Emma’s husband Frank Steinbach.
By the end of 1923 George W. Spicks had gotten out of the saloon business. He was living with his daughter Emma and her husband Frank at 55 South 28th Street in East Camden when he took a vacation to Havana, Cuba. He returned to the USA by way of New Orleans in December of that year. George W. Spicks was still living on South 28th Street as late as 1930, but had moved across the street to 62 South 28th. This was the home of his other daughter, Florence and her husband Charles Windstein. By 1935 he had moved to 52 South 28th, with his daughter Emma and son-in-law Frank Steinbach. George W. Spicks died at home on January 5, 1947.
Photo
George W. Spicks
Camden City Directories
1890–1891
Camden City Directories
City directory listings for George W. Spicks, 1887–1891
Entries
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ | Address ↕ | Occupation ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1887–1888 | George Spicks | 2007 Federal | tailor |
| 1888–1889 | George Spicks | 2007 Federal | bartender |
| 1890–1891 | George W Spicks | Federal corner 21st | Junction Hotel |
Stockton Liquor Licenses
Philadelphia Inquirer —
A Big Batch Granted and Remonstrances Turned Down.
At a meeting of Stockton’s Town Council last night the following retail liquor licenses were granted: Frederick Feil, John Hoosey, Louis Everly, Jacob Walz, Charles Voigt, John G. Schramm, William Cronmiller, Moritz Gratz, George Doerfuss, Joseph R. Diehm, C. L. Diltz, Thomas O’Hara, George W. Sterling, Charles Kleemann, Thomas Tracy, G. B. Fox, Dora Andrews, George W. Spicks, Catharine Brown, William Deimeller, Jacob Bendinger, August Munich, John Costello, John J. Trost, G. Eisener, Fred Wolfinger, Mrs. Rugart, H. G. Vennell, Andrew Zane. J. Grunert was granted a wholesale license. The applications of Eseker Meeks and B. L. Buenzle were refused.
Eleven remonstrances had been filed by the Reform Association against saloon-keepers, but President Dudley said they had not been legally signed.
Social Notice
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Justice Ristine, Constable Renner, George W. Spicks, Charles Kleemann and William Godfrey have been spending the past few days at South Atlantic.
Stockton's Town Council
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Number of Liquor Licenses Were Granted Last Night.
At a meeting of Stockton’s Town Council last night the annual report of the town treasurer showed a balance on hand of $15,522.83. An ordinance was passed for the issuance of $10,000 bonds for general school improvements.
The following liquor licenses were granted: First ward, John G. Schramm, Walter W. Sellard, Monty Gratz, John Hoosey, George Doerfuss, Louis Everly, Joseph Diehm, C. L. Dietz, Jacob Walz, B. L. Buenzle, Captain Morris Hall.
Second ward, Gottlieb Jung, George W. Sterling, Charles Kleemann, Isaac Adams, George W. Spicks, Mrs. Andrews, Frederic Wolfinger, John J. Trost, Jacob Bendinger, August Muench, John Costello, Gotthard Elsner.
Third ward, Harry G. Vennell, Charles L. Zoeller, John Gallagher.
The application of Thomas Tracy and Frederick Lechleimer were refused, and the application of Mrs. Sell was laid over.
Stockton Liquor Licenses
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Town Council Grants a Number of Applications
At a meeting of Stockton Town Council last night the following retail liquor licenses were granted: John Hoosey, Geo. Doerfuss, Dorothy Feil, John G. Schramm, Louis Everly, B. L. Buenzle, Jacob Bauck, Valentine Doerr, B. J. Lyons, Thomas Tracey, Isaac H. Adams, George W. Sterling, Charles Kleeman, William Demuller, Gotthard Eisner, Jacob Bendinger, George W. Spieke, August Muench, John Costello, Dora Andrews, John Hafner, Charles T. Zoller, John J. Gallagher, Harry G. Vennel, Charles Mangold, Merritt Hall, John J. Trost, Frederick Wolfinger, Jacob Woly. C. L. Dietz and Frank Grunert were granted wholesale licenses.
Census Records
George Spicks family census records, 1900–1930 – S.S. Suriname passenger manifest, December 23, 1923
Schimpf Funeral Set for Saturday
Camden Courier-Post —
Established Bottling Company Here in 1893; Fraternal and Finance Leader
Funeral services for John Schimpf, 60, veteran Camden bottler, who died Tuesday, will be held at 1 p. m., Saturday, at 804–806 North Twenty-seventh street. Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers will include Mayor Frederick von Nieda, Albert Reich, Julius Schrieber, Fred Geissler, William Molt, Theodore Koerner, William Schmidt, John Blaufuss, John Kauderer, George Spicks, Arthur Oehlschlager, Charles Goeltz, George Cadwalader, George Stiefel, Gottlieb Mayer.
Mr. Schimpf, proprietor of the Crescent Bottling Company, was born in Dreihausen, Germany, and came to this country at the age of 15. After working in North Dakota in a lumber camp and as a government stage coach driver, he moved to Camden. He established his bottling company in 1893.
He was one of the founders of the East End Trust Company. He was a director of that institution and also of several building and loan associations. He was a member of the Germania Maennerchor, Mozart Lodge of Masons, Red Men, Elks and several other organizations.
He is survived by a son, Louis, of Camden, and a sister, Anna, in Germany.