Herbert William Baxter Sr.
HERBERT WILLIAM BAXTER SR. was born in Camden, New Jersey on January 29, in either 1885, 1886, or 1887 to John and Hannah Baxter. The 1900 Census and Social Security Administration indicate 1885, the local Draft Board 1886 in World War I, and to another draft board in 1942 he gave his birth year as 1887. 1885 is the most likely year. The 1895 New Jersey Census shows the family living in South Camden in the Third Ward.
When the Census was taken in 1900, Herbert Baxter, then 15, was living at the home of his cousin, Joseph Baxter, at 666 South 2nd Street. His father, by this time a widower, was also living at this location. Herbert Baxter married around 1905, and a daughter, Anna, was born in short order. The 1906 City Directory lists him at 1406 South 3rd Street. The 1910 Census shows Elizabeth and Herbert Baxter renting a house at 322 Atlantic Avenue. Twin sons, John and Herbert W. Baxter Jr. were born in 1911. Herbert Baxter Sr. was working then as a “general laborer.” The family was still at that address when he registered for the draft on September 12, 1918. He had by that time gone to work as an iron moulder at the Camden Iron Works.
By January 30, 1920, when the Census was enumerated, Herbert Baxter Sr. was appointed to the Camden Fire Department. The family had moved to 320 Liberty Street and were still there in April of 1930. Herbert Baxter Sr. was a member of the Camden Fire Department through at least 1930. All three Baxter children were still living at home at the time of the Census. By 1931 he had moved to 2791 Yorkship Road, and later moved to 940 Thurman Street.
By the spring of 1942, Herbert Baxter Sr. had retired from the Fire Department and had moved with his wife to Wildwood, New Jersey. Later in life he returned to Camden, passing away in February of 1969, survived by his son, Herbert W. Baxter Jr.
Herbert W. Baxter Jr. served with the Camden Fire Department from 1948 until his retirement in May of 1966. He was Chief Fire Marshall for the City of Camden at the time of his retirement.
World War I Draft Card
Herbert W. Baxter Sr. – World War I draft registration card
5 Firemen Hurt in Traffic Crash
Camden Courier-Post —
Five city firemen are in West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital today suffering from injuries when their apparatus collided with a truck at Ninth street and Ferry avenue while they were racing to a Yorkship Square fire late yesterday.
All are attached to Engine Company No. 8. They are:
Captain Charles Erickson, 43, of 579 Line street; bruises of the left leg and left hip.
Wallace Phifer, 37, of 1215 Atlantic avenue; possible fractured vertebrae.
Adam Mead, 32, of 1634 Sheridan street; admitted for observation.
Herbert Baxter, 45, of 320 Liberty street; cuts over the left eye and face, bruises on both knees.
Edward Menzis, 36, of 2402 Berwick street; possible fractured skull and cut over the right eye.
Fire Damage $5000
The fire to which they were hurrying damaged the apartment and drug store of V. I. Chestnut, 1200 Yorkship Square. The blaze was confined to the apartment upstairs, but water and smoke caused damage to the store and fixtures. Total loss was estimated at $5000.
The truck which hit the combination fire apparatus was operated by Joseph Scheurer, 22, of 1859 East Ontario street, Philadelphia, and owned by the Stores Realty Company, of 424 North Nineteenth street, Philadelphia.
Failed to Hear Siren
The fire truck driven by Phifer was speeding south on Ninth street while the machine driven by Scheurer was proceeding west on Ferry avenue. Scheurer said he did not hear the siren until he reached the intersection and that it was then too late to stop. The fire engine was turned around by the impact and the five occupants thrown to the street. Both trucks were damaged.
Scheurer was arrested by Detective Joseph Caputi and held in $1000 bail pending a hearing.
A short circuit in an electric heater caused the blaze in the Chestnut apartment. The fire was discovered by Marvin Chestnut, 8, who called to his father downstairs. It was extinguished with little difficulty.
World War II Draft Card
Herbert W. Baxter Sr. – World War II draft registration card
H. W. Baxter, Retired City Fireman
Camden Courier-Post —
Services for Herbert W. Baxter Sr., 84, a former city fireman will be tomorrow at 11 a.m. in the Edward P. Leonard Jr. Funeral Home, 35th Street and River Avenue, where friends may call tonight. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
A resident of 569 N. 32nd Street, Mr. Baxter was a member of the Fireman’s Benevolent Association.
Surviving are his wife Elizabeth; a daughter, Mrs. Ann McMullen of Camden; two sons, John W. of Collingswood and Herbert W. Jr. of Maple Shade; six grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.