Introduction
JAMES ROACH was born in Pennsylvania in February of 1857 to William and Eliza Roach. His father worked as a ship carpenter. Besides James the family included older siblings Samuel and Georgianna. The family came to Camden after the Census of 1870 was taken, and settled in South Camden.
The 1878 Camden City Directory shows living at 311 Atlantic Avenue and working as a bricklayer. His older brother Samuel had gotten involved in local politics and was a constable when the Directory was compiled. The 1880 Census shows James H. Roach, his older brother Samuel and his parents all still living at 311 Atlantic Avenue. James H. Roach was still at this address in 1882, when City Directory also shows he was working as a bricklayer for Isaac Budd.
On April 26, 1882 James Roach married Clara Buzine, daughter of Camden Fire Department member Samuel S. Buzine, who in time would rise to the position of Assistant Chief of the entire department. In the spring of 1884 James Roach was appointed to the Camden Fire Department to serve as an extra man with Engine Company 1, taking the place of James H. Brown. When the Fire Department reorganized on July 1, 1885 James Roach was one of the eighteen extra men who were laid off.
City Directories show that James Roach lived at 1320 South 3rd Street from 1883 through 1885, at 284 Sycamore in 1887 and in 1888, and at 292 Sycamore from 1890 through 1896. He worked as a bricklayer throughout the 1880s and most of the 1890s. The 1897 and 1898–1899 Camden City Directories lists James H. Roach at 1103 Baring Street.
The 1899 Camden City Directory shows that James and Clara Roach had moved to 1006 South 4th Street, and that James Roach was working as a policeman. When the Census was taken the following year, the Roach family, which included children Mary, 15; James, 12; and Emma, 8 was still at 1006 South 4th Street. By 1907 they had moved to 1008 South 4th Street.
The 1910 Census shows James Roach at 1008 South 4th Street. He was then working as a constable. In July of that year he was appointed by the Bridge Committee of the Camden County Board of Freeholders to the position of bridge tender at the State Street Bridge.
The 1918–1919 City Directory lists James and Clara Roach at 507 Chestnut Street. He was still working as bridgetender. James Roach appears to have left Camden shortly after the Directory was compiled. By April of 1930 James and Clara Roach had moved to Somerdale, where he worked as a janitor in a public school as late as 1930.
As stated above, James Roach’s father-in-law was Assistant Chief Samuel S. Buzine of the Camden Fire Department. His brothers-in-law through his marriage into the Buzine family were Camden Fire Department members William Buzine and Joseph Ernest, and Camden policeman Edward Hyde, who served as Chief of Police in the early 1920s. Clara Buzine Roach’s uncle, Lewis Buzine, was also a Camden Fire Department member.
Police Appointments
Camden Daily Courier —
Five New Men Named to Fill Vacancies Made Last Week.
Mayor Hatch last night appointed the following new policemen:
George Nowrey and James Roach, Sixth ward, to succeed Thomas Brothers and Alfred Haydon.
John Reader, Seventh ward, to succeed John Anderson.
Harry Hope, Third ward, to succeed Alfred Myers.
Hugh Boyle, Ninth ward, to succeed Edward Cooper.
These men went on duty to day.
The Recorder's Court
Camden Daily Courier —
He Metes Out Justice to a Number of Violators of the Law.
The Recorder this morning had a miscellaneous crowd before him.
Archie Robinson, recently from Philadelphia, was charged by his wife, Wilhelmina Robinson, with disorderly conduct while drunk. She said he choked her and slapped her little daughter in the face. Archie was before the Recorder a couple of weeks ago, when sentence was suspended. This time he drew twenty days.
William Dugan, of Philadelphia, came to Camden yesterday with a bottle, from which he drank so much that he fell into the hands of Officer Roche. As he had never been arrested before he was allowed to go.
Henry Johnson, said he was from Chicago on his way to New York and stopped over to see a daughter at Collingswood. He drank too much, and as he had considerable money on him Officer Butts sent him in. As he was new in Camden he was also allowed to go.
Katie Green was found by Officer Weaver, lying on a lot on Division street, unable to take care of herself. She was sent to the hall. She told the Recorder she was going to Scotland in four weeks, so his honor gave her thirty days to keep her out of bad company until she was ready to sail.
George Ritter, living on Haddon avenue, was picked up by Officer John Miller in the lower part of the Fourth ward. He said he had money to burn and the officer sent him to the hall to get matches. This morning he wasn’t so free with his cash and sentence was suspended.
Harry Watson and Alfred Porter were arrested by Policeman Curtis for disorderly conduct at Cooper’s Point. Each drew ten days.
Knight Wood, of Philadelphia, for indecent conduct on a Kaighn avenue ferry boat, was sent to Camden jail for ten days. He will stop in Camden jail for ten days.
Declined to Ride at Ninety-three
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Mr. and Mrs. James Roach, of 1008 South Fourth street, Camden, celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of their wedding Friday night. One of the guests was Mr. Roach’s mother, who is 93 years old. She walked from her home, several blocks distant, refusing to go in either an automobile or a cab. In reply to her son’s questions, she laughingly said that she had walked all through her young days and did not propose to ride until she had to.
Four Generations in the Buzine Family
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Four generations were represented recently at a family reunion held by Assistant Fire Chief and Mrs. Samuel Buzine, at their home, 765 Spruce street, Camden. It was an exceedingly pleasing occasion, all of their descendants being present to participate in the festivities. They are shown in the above picture. Reading from right to left, they are: Top row—Harry Prevost, Miss Emma Roach, William Sofield, Mrs. William Sofield, Fireman William Buzine, Miss Edna Hyde, Police Captain Edward Hyde, Fireman Joseph Ernest; middle row—Mrs. Stella Prevost, Constable James Roach, Mrs. James Roach, Chief and Mrs. Buzine, Mrs. Joseph Ernest, Mrs. Edward Hyde; third row—Master Samuel Prevost, Miss Marion Hyde, William Sofield, Miss Margaret Hyde, Miss Radie Ernest and Master Hastings Ernest. Although Chief Buzine is getting along in years, he is still hale and hearty and has fought the flames along with the youngest for over forty years.
Camden News Notes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Each of the six playgrounds have been provided with flags and poles, interesting exercises being held yesterday in connection with the flag raisings.
Advocates of the purchase of Pyne Point Park are pointing out the benefit it is having this season of the year in providing breathing space for thousands.
There was plenty of excitement at the meeting of the Bridge Committee of the Board of Freeholders yesterday over the selection of a man to care for the State Street Bridge. James Roach, of the Fifth Ward, won out.
Mayor Ellis was at his desk yesterday after an absence of nearly two weeks, during which time he was seriously ill with ptomaine poisoning. At one period of his illness his condition was such that grave fears for his recovery were entertained. He said yesterday that he was feeling comparatively good, although he had lost about thirty pounds.
Maddened by the heat, a bull ran with tremendous force against the glass of Toone & Hollinshead, Broadway and Kaighn avenue, yesterday. There was a great crash that aroused the neighborhood as the horns of the animal went through the window, doing about $100 damage.