James Norris Ellis
James Norris Ellis was born in what is now Collingswood, New Jersey on June 4, 1881 which at the time of his birth was a part of Haddon Township. His parents were Aerson and Caroline K. Ellis. The family, which included older sister Ida, appears to have moved to Camden in the mid-1880s. The 1887 Camden City Directory shows the family at 742 Cherry Street, with Aerson Ellis then working as a laborer. The 1888–1889 edition shows the family at the same address. Aerson Ellis was by then working as a night watchman. The 1893–1894 Directory shows the family at 704 Spruce Street. They moved to 976 South 8th Street by the following year and stayed there for at least one year. The Ellis family is listed in the 1897 Camden City Directory at 745 Walnut Street. By 1899 they had moved to 753 Walnut Street, where they were still residing when the Census was taken in 1900. James Norris Ellis was then working as a day laborer.
James Norris Ellis married around 1901. His wife, Elizabeth was at least a dozen years his senior, and the couple never was blessed with children. The 1906 City Directory shows him working as a driver and living at 821 Mount Vernon Street. The 1910 Census shows the couple at the same address. He was then working as a laborer at an iron works. The couple was still living at that address when the 1914 City Directory was compiled. James Norris Ellis had been appointed to the Camden Fire Department by August of 1912. He served for four years, then went over to the police department, where he served for 17 years before retiring on pension in October of 1932.
In 1916 James Norris Ellis had been appointed to the Camden Police Department. James and Elizabeth Ellis were still living at 821 Mount Vernon Street. The 1920 Census shows that they had moved to 776 Walnut Street. They were still living at that address in April of 1930. By that time he had been promoted to the rank of detective. He retired from the police department on October 1, 1932.
During the 1930s Elizabeth Ellis passed away, and James Norris Ellis remarried. He was living with his second wife, Marie, at 1119 Princess Avenue when the 1940 Camden City Directory was compiled.
On January 13, 1937 James Norris Ellis’ father, Aerson Ellis, last a resident of 720 Berkley Street, passed away. His mother, Caroline K. Ellis, died on July 29, 1940. They were both buried at Harleigh Cemetery.
By 1942 James and Marie Ellis had moved to 1315 Princess Avenue. He had gone to work as a guard at Cooper Hospital. He was still employed at Cooper Hospital and living with his wife at the Princess Avenue address when the 1947 City Directory was compiled. James Ellis died on June 27, 1949.
Fireman Fred Hall Buried
Philadelphia Inquirer —
With fellow firemen acting as pall-bearers, the funeral of Fireman Fred Hall, who died Wednesday after several weeks of illness, took place yesterday from his home at 807 Mt. Vernon street, Camden. The services were in charge of Rev. William Brubaker, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. The pall-bearers were Firemen Martin Clark, J. N. Ellis, William Rose, George Hunt, Seth Monnell and John McTaggart, all connected with the company of which Hall was a member. In honor of him Nos. 1 and 2 firehouses were closed for two hours. Interment was made in Harleigh.
Brass Buttons Save Two From Being Shot
Philadelphia Inquirer —
But for their shining brass buttons Policemen Cornog and Ellis would have been shot by Alexander Jasienski, of 1043 Kaighn avenue, Camden, early yesterday while all three were looking for a burglar. The officers ran after a figure in the dark in the rear of the house.
The man raised a shotgun and was about to fire when a glimmer of light reflected on the policemen’s brass buttons. It was Jasienski, who thought the officers were burglars, while the bluecoats were under the impression Jasienski was the fugitive. In the meanwhile the burglar escaped.
Murphy and Pedigree To End Long Service With Camden Police
Camden Courier-Post —
Veterans at City Hall, Lauded by Superiors, Will Be Among 13 Cops and Firemen to Go on Pension Before First of Year
By William A. Gaffney
Sergeant Thomas J. Murphy, one of Camden’s best known and most efficient policemen, and Joseph “Si” Pedigree, police switchboard operator, are among the 13 members of the police and fire departments who have already retired from active duty on pension, or are to accept half-salary on retirement before the first of the year.
Nine men have turned in their “tools” within the past month and four other applications have been approved and will become effective in the next two months. Two other vacancies left by the deaths of Deputy Chief William W. Patterson and Policeman Fred Schaar, will make the entire number of the two departments 15 men less on January 1, 1933. None of the vacancies will be filled, according to Mayor Roy R. Stewart.
Although the actual reasons for the large number of men retiring is not known, it is reported through the police and fire departments that the men are anxious to have their applications approved before a rumored 5 percent pay cut is ordered.
Murphy Praised
Sergeant Murphy’s pension will become effective December 30. Both Acting Chief of Police John W. Golden and Captain Arthur Colsey, chief clerk of the police department, expressed regret at the veteran officer’s decision.
“Sergeant Murphy is one of the most efficient officers we have ever had in the police department,” the two officials said. “He is well-versed in the law and for many years has handled his position as desk sergeant at police headquarters with unerring judgment.”
He is 65 years old and resides at 545 Vine street. He was appointed on August 13, 1902. His son, Thomas J. Murphy, Jr., is also a policeman and is now covering the “beat” his father “worked” years ago.
Pedigree entered the city service as a fireman in 1900 and served in that department. He is also 65 and lives at 49 South Twenty-seventh street. He has worked on Sergeant Murphy’s shift as operator for the past 10 years.
Chief Pensioned
The pensioners’ list is headed by Thomas J. Nichols, chief of the fire department, whose application to retire will become effective on Dec. 1. He was appointed a fireman on Dec. 1, 1900, and will receive $163.30 each month.
Capt. Daniel W. Leach, also of the fire department, was pensioned on Sept. 15 at a monthly salary of $93.10. He is 68 and lives at 624 Bailey street. He was appointed Jan. 1, 1908.
Enginemen Harry V. Hankins and James McDermott also recently accepted pensions and will receive $83.30 each month. Hankins is 56 and lives at 424 Taylor avenue. He was appointed Jan. 1, 1908. McDermott is 64 and lives at 23 North Twenty-eighth street. He was appointed in 1906. Both men left the fire department Oct. 1.
Fireman Joseph T. Johnson, 60, of 1433 South Tenth street, who was appointed March 1, 1900, will retire on Dec. 1 at $83.30 a month.
Horner to Retire
Sergeant William C. Horner, of the police department, a member for 33 years, tops the list of veterans to bid adieu to the trials and troubles of a policeman. He will receive $90.65 a month.
Horner is well known in East Camden. He has worked nearly all of his 33 years as an officer in the third district and commanded that section for several years. He recently was made desk-sergeant at police headquarters and decided to “take the pension” after spending several months “booking” prisoners. He is 65 and lives at 2129 Forty-third street. His pension was granted and made effective Sept. 15.
Policeman Harry Bakely, 60, of 918 State street, a policeman for 24 years; Irving Varley, 56, of 1703 South Fourth street, a policeman for 25 years, and James M. Ellis, 52, of 776 Walnut street, a fireman for four years and a policeman for 17, all have accepted pensions effective Oct. 1.
Policemen William Bryant, 51, of 228 Cedar avenue, Woodlynne, and Samuel Hibbert, 55, of 730 Market street, will cease their official duties on Dec. 1 and Dec. 31, respectively. Bryant was appointed Jan. 1, 1908, and Hibbert July 10, 1911. All of the policemen retiring will receive $83.30 a month.
May Not Be Replaced
When asked if the men leaving the service would be replaced, Mayor Stewart said they would not.
“I don’t know what I will do later on,” the mayor said, “but as far as I know now, these men’s places in the police and fire departments will not be filled.
“I feel that under present conditions, the men now policing the city can do it almost as efficiently as with the added number, that is if we do not have any outbreaks of crime.
“Chief Nicholas will be replaced by an acting chief whose salary will not be advanced.”
World War I Draft Card
Named: James Norris Ellis, WWI Draft Registration Card, September 12, 1918, and Local Board No. 3, City of Camden, N.J..
World War II Draft Card
Named: James Norris Ellis, WWII Draft Registration Card, and 1315 Princess Avenue, Camden, N.J..