Introduction
John C. Edwards was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to James and Elizabeth Edwards. Dates according to census records differ. The 1870 and 1880 Censuses state he was born in 1847, while the 1900 Census shows a birth date of May 1845, which on appearance seems to be correct. The family came to New Jersey in the 1850s and settled in Newton Township, most likely in the area which later comprised Camden’s Seventh Ward, on or near Newton Avenue east of Broadway.
The 1860 Census shows John C. Edwards living with his mother Elizabeth and brother Henry in Newton Township, which was annexed to Camden the following year. Also living in the Edwards home was 65 year-old Mary Suling, who may have been Elizabeth Edwards’ mother. At the time of the Census the Edwards family lived two doors away from the William Streeper family. William Streeper’s son John W. Streeper, who was about the same age as John C. Edwards, later served as a member of the Camden Fire Department.
John C. Edwards served as a member of the United States Marine Corps during the Civil War from June 5, 1863 to June 5, 1864. He returned to Camden upon receiving his discharge. The 1870 Census shows John C. Edwards living with his mother Elizabeth and brother Henry “Harry” Edwards in Camden’s South Ward. Older brother James may have been killed at the battle of Antietam while fighting with the Union Army, however, the evidence is not conclusive.
Henry Edwards married Martha “Mattie” Myres in Camden at the Second Baptist Church by Reverend W.W. Dalby on December 31, 1872. Elizabeth Edwards died in 1873 and was buried at what is now called Old Camden Cemetery. On September 7, 1873 at the Second Baptist Church, Reverend Dalby married John C. Edwards to Martha Ann Stillwell. Martha Ann bore their first child, son James, in 1874.
The 1878–1879 Camden City Directory shows John C. Edwards living on French’s Court and working as a laborer. The Directory for 1879–1880 lists him at 414 Liberty Street, working as an iron moulder.
The Census of 1880 shows John C. Edwards and his wife Martha living at 600 Mount Vernon Street with their children James Simeon, John S., and Lydia Edwards. The family lived at 571 Mount Vernon Street from 1881 through 1885. When the 1887–1888 City Directory was published they had moved across the railroad tracks that ran down South 7th Street to a house at 815 Division Street, where they stayed until 1890. John C. Edwards worked at the Camden Iron Works during this time. He was active in politics in what was then Camden’s Seventh Ward and served as an extra man with the Camden Fire Department in 1884 and 1885. He replaced Charles Alcott when appointed in 1884, and left when eighteen of the extra men were dropped when the Fire Department was reorganized on July 1, 1885.
John C. Edwards’ brother Henry passed away in 1885. He was buried at Old Camden Cemetery with his mother.
Tragedy struck the Edwards family in 1886. Their home lay along the railroad tracks that ran down South 7th Street, and sadly, John S. Edwards, like so many boys his age, took the trains for granted. On the morning of September 8, 1886 he tried to race across the tracks at Walnut Street. He was struck by the train and thrown about ten feet from the crossing. He was carried to the butcher shop of Julius Bobst at 700 Walnut Street. Dr. William Warnock, who had his home and office at 751 Kaighn Avenue, was called for help, and found the boy badly hurt. Two hours later Dr. Dowling Benjamin performed an amputation on young Edwards’ right foot. His injuries were so severe however that he passed away the following morning at 7:30 AM the following day. John S. Edwards was buried at Evergreen Cemetery.
John C. Edwards remained at 815 Division Street into 1890, when the 1890 Veterans census was enumerated. The 1890–1891 City Directory shows the family at 704 Cherry Street, and John C. Edwards was working as a laborer. The family moved to 631 Spruce Street in 1891, where they remained into 1896. The 1897 and 1898 Directories show the Edwards family at 738 Cherry Street. The 1899 Directory has them at 928 South 6th Street.
When the 1900 Census was enumerated, John C. Edwards and family were living at 414 Evans Street in South Camden. Son James S. Edwards and his wife Emma were also living at that address. John C. Edwards was still working as an iron moulder, while his son worked as a machinist. The first grandchild, Lottie Edwards, was born later that year, three more were born during the ensuing decade, Russell, Lewis, and Bessie Edwards. By the end of 1901 John C. Edwards had moved to 424 South 7th Street.
On January 13, 1902 John C. Edwards, while working for the R.D. Wood & Sons Company at the Camden Iron Works, was killed in an industrial accident. The Philadelphia Inquirer and the West Jersey Press state that he was 56 years old at the time of his death, while the Camden Daily Courier reported his age as 51. John C. Edwards was buried by his son John S. Edwards at Evergreen Cemetery with his son. His wife Martha Ann joined them many years later.
A School Boy Mangled
Camden Courier-Post — September 8, 9 & 11, 1886
Courtesy of Jim Bessing, the great-nephew of John S. Edwards.
A School Boy Mangled
Camden Courier-Post —
John Edwards Struck by a Train and Badly Hurt.
John Edwards, a ten-year-old boy, living on Division street above Eighth, was struck by an outgoing freight train on the West Jersey railroad at Seventh and Walnut streets, about half-past eight o’clock this morning, while on his way to school. How the accident occurred is hardly known, but it is said that the boy attempted to pass in front of the approaching train, and not being quick enough was struck and thrown about ten feet from the crossing. The lad was picked up and carried into the butcher shop at Seventh and Walnut streets, and was afterwards taken home, when it was found necessary to amputate the right foot, which was horribly mangled. Besides this, the boy had several bruises about the body and one very bad one on the side of the head. It is doubtful whether or not the boy can survive. The amputation was performed by Dr. Benjamin.
Young Edwards Dies.
John Edwards, the lad who was struck by a train on the West Jersey railroad at Seventh and Walnut streets, yesterday, died from his injuries at half past seven o’clock this morning. Coroner Davis took charge of the body and will hold an inquest at the court house on Friday morning.
Young Edwards’ Sad Death
Evidence Taken in the Recent Railroad Accident.
The Employes Exonerated From All Blame, But the Company Censured for Not Providing Safety Gates At the Crossing.
At quarter past two yesterday afternoon Coroner Davis commenced calling the names of the jurors who had been summoned to hold the inquisition in the case of John C. Edwards, the lad who was killed by a train on the West Jersey railroad, at Seventh and Walnut streets, on Monday last. After this had been finished the examination of witnesses was commenced. The first one called was Dr. Warnock, who was the first physician to attend the boy. The doctor testified as follows:
“I was called about eight or nine o’clock on Monday morning to attend the boy Edwards. He was then lying on a lounge in the butcher shop at Seventh and Walnut streets. His right leg was
Nearly Cut Off,
hanging only by a few threads of skin. His collar bone, shoulder blade, and one rib on the left side were broken, and he being bruised about the head and body. The skull was not fractured, although there were several bad cuts on his head, which possibly caused the convulsions. The mangled foot was amputated two hours after the accident.”
Warned of His Danger.
The next witness was Charles Steelman, a bright, intelligent lad who warned Edwards of his danger when he attempted to cross the track. In the course of his testimony he said, “I saw the train coming down the track and called to Edwards, ‘here comes the cars, lookout,’ when he responded, ‘you mind your mush,’ and a moment later he was struck by the train.”
Thomas Gause Woodfield, a lad, and James Spence, residing at Eighth and Walnut streets, testified to seeing the boy struck.
Ex-Policeman William H. Griffin, residing at 816 Walnut street, who is in charge of the signal bells, testified that the bells were ringing all the time the accident occured [sic]. Nearly all the witnesses testified to either hearing the bells ringing or the whistle blow.
Train Men Testify.
George Baxter, engineer of train 35, engine No. 17; H. H. Hope, the fireman; J. A. Connell, conductor, all of whom were in the cab of the engine, testified that they saw the boy on the north-bound track, but as the engine was closer to the unfortunate lad than a locomotive length, it was impossible for them to see if it struck him or not. Conductor Connell said that he was almost sure that the train had run over the boy, and turning around to Engineer Baxter, said, “George, that boy is under the wheels.” He then went back on the train and asked the flag[?] if they had struck the boy. He said he thought they had. The train, which was quite a distance down the road by this time, was backed, and the conductor went in the butcher shop where the boy was, and ordered a doctor. On cross-examination Mr. Connell said the train consisted of sixteen cars, whose weight would average at least 20,000 pounds to a car, all of which passed over the boy.
Mrs. Abbott, the nurse who took care of young Edwards, said he told her he “did not hear any bells.”
The Company Censured.
The case was given to the jury, who returned the following verdict: “That John S. Edwards came to his death by an accident on the West Jersey railroad on the eighth day of September, and we, the coroner’s jury, exonerate the employes from all blame and censure the company for not having safety gates at the Walnut street crossing.”
Searching for Sunken Treasure
The tug Startle sailed down the Delaware river Wednesday night with a corps of divers provided with armor for deep-water diving. They will make an effort to locate the English sloop-of-war De Braak, which was sunk off Cape Henlopen on June 28, 1798, with a vast amount of treasure on board, which has been estimated as high as $10,000,000. The specie was taken from three Spanish galleons captured in the West Indies. When the sloop neared the shore a heavy gale was blowing, and the pilot ordered sail taken in. Captain Drew became indignant at this, and ordered the [cut off at the crop edge]
In the Political Whirl
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden in a Lively Congressional Contest.
ANTI-GRATZ WORKERS ENCOURAGED
Campaign Jottings of Interest Gathered at the City and State Committee Headquarters of Both Parties.
There was widespread interest in the Republican delegate election in Camden county last night. Delegates were chosen to the Congressional District Convention, which meets at Bridgeton on Thursday next. Hon. Thomas H. Dudley and Christopher Bergen were the rival candidates, and the latter’s friends claim to have carried every ward in the city.
During the voting at the Fourth ward polls Policeman Ikey Scheeve got into an altercation with two men named Richmond and Walters. It is alleged that he used a blackjack without provocation. The two men who were assaulted immediately engaged the services of a lawyer, who will cause Sheeve’s arrest to-day on the charge of assault and battery. Following are the delegates elected in Camden city and in the various townships:
First Ward—W. Baily, Isaac Githens, George Barrett, Frank Welch and Howland Croft.
Second Ward—J. Willard Somers, Frank C. Somers, John Wells, W. H. Day and Samuel Bakely.
Third Ward—Dilwyn Pettit, J. Milton Powell, David Freeman, Sr., George Denny and Albion Lane.
Fourth Ward—Everett Ackley, Samuel M. Gall, William Ireton, Joseph Brown and Howard Lee.
Fifth Ward—Christopher J. Mines, Jr., Frederick Parker, John H. Miller, David Rankin and Samuel Roach.
Sixth Ward—A. R. Dease, James Brown, Isaac Robinson, John Brother and James Hewitt.
Seventh Ward—John C. Edwards, M. D. Cornish, William K. Price, Reuben Gaskill and John W. Everman.
Eighth Ward—Samuel H. Mourey, William H. Smith, Herman Helmbold, E. Thompson and Thomas Watson.
Stockton township was carried by Dudley, and W. Harrison Livermore carried Woodbury. Centre, Delaware and Haddon townships of Camden county were carried by Bergen.
The Congressional district includes Camden, Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem and Cape May counties. The indications are that Congressman Hires will be renominated.
Crushed to Death Under 8,500 Pounds
Camden Daily Courier —
A Workman at the Camden Iron Works Meets a Frightful Fate.
John S. Edwards, a rammer at the Camden Iron Works, was crushed to death about half-past one o’clock this afternoon by a flask weighing about 8,500 pounds falling upon him. Edwards was working in what is known as “the pit,” in one of the shops, at the time. Poised above him was the dangling flask. Suddenly, without warning, something snapped and down came the nearly 9,000 pounds weight upon his body, crushing it to jelly. Death was immediate. The body was removed to the morgue and subsequently to his home at Seventh and Blaine. He was fifty-one years of age.
Edwards Death Notice
Philadelphia Inquirer —
EDWARDS — Suddenly, on January 13, 1902. John C. Edwards, in his 56th year. Funeral on Friday afternoon, at 2 o’clock, from 424 South Seventh street, Camden, N. J. Employes of R. D. Wood & Sons invited. Interment at Evergreen Cemetery. Remains can be viewed on Thursday evening.