Introduction
John C. Voll Jr. was born in Camden NJ on November 23, 1900 to John C. Voll and his wife, the former Mary Winters. The family, which included older brother Francis “Frank” Voll, was living at 542 South 3rd Street in the summer before his birth. They had moved to 731 Cedar Street in North Camden when the 1906 City Directory was compiled. The elder Voll had worked as a flagman for the Pennsylvania Railroad, but by 1906 was working as a boilermaker. By 1910 John C. Voll Sr. had divorced, and was an inspector with the railroad. He and his sons Frank and John Jr. were living at 531 Mount Vernon Street. By 1914 they had moved to 527 South 6th Street.
Later that year they moved to 1143 Federal Street. When John C. Voll Jr. registered for the draft on September 12, 1918 he was living with his father and brother at 740 North 24th Street in the Cramer Hill section of Camden NJ. John C. Voll Jr. was then working as a railroad car repairman for the Pennsylvania Railroad at the Pavonia switching yards, where his brother was a blacksmith and his father a watchman.
The 1924 Camden City Directory shows that he and his wife Anna lived at 220 Penn Street. The 1929 directory reveals that they were living at 613 North 8th Street in north Camden. Fire Department records from 1931 give an address of 1109 North 26th Street in the Cramer Hill section of Camden. By the summer of 1933 he had moved to 1230 North 19th Street.
The 1940 census shows John and Anna Voll at 1142 North 24th Street with their five children, Charles F., John C. III, Joseph X., Raymond, and Mary. John C. Voll Sr., then 78, was living with them as well. The 1947 Directory shows the family had remained in Cramer Hill, at 2737 Garfield Avenue.
Sadly, son Joseph Xavier Voll died while serving with the United States Navy during World War II.
John C. Voll Jr. remained a Camden City fire fighter for 40 years, retiring on December 1, 1965. During the late 1970s John C. Voll Jr. was still living at 2737 Garfield Avenue in Cramer Hill. He remained a Camden resident until his passing in April of 1979.
John C. Voll’s oldest son, Charles F. Voll, served in the United States Army during World War II. After coming home to Camden he was appointed to the police department, where he worked for over 20 years.
John C. Voll’s first cousin, once removed, was John Kean Voll, who also was a career Camden Fire Department member, serving from January 1, 1921 to August 15, 1963.
Samuel M. Subers, who was married to John C. Voll Jr.’s aunt, Christine Voll Subers, served with the Camden Fire Department in the mid-1870s.
Camden Boy Shot By His Companion
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Harold Woodin Victim of Accident While Playing With John Voll
As a result of not knowing a revolver was loaded, Harold S. Woodin, aged 15 years, of 632 Clinton street, Camden, was accidently shot in the side by John C. Voll, aged 14 years, of 1143 Federal street, yesterday afternoon. Woodin was taken to Cooper Hospital where it was stated he had not been seriously hurt. The boys were in the cellar at the Woodin home and were playing with a revolver. Voll pointed the weapon at his companion who laughingly dared him to shoot. Voll did and both boys were surprised when the explosion came. Voll was not locked up.
Engine Company 9
John Voll, Edward Peraria, Howard Gick, Captain Eli Hunt and George Townsend, firefighters from Engine Company 9, based on Twenty-seventh Street, take a moment together following a fire on a rainy night in December 1928, seen here in the first row from left to right. The blaze involved the offices of Leon E. Todd at 2623 Westfield Avenue. Todd was a realtor who helped develop Medford Lakes.
Firemen's Auto Injures 4
Camden Courier-Post —
A Camden city fireman’s automobile figured in two successive accidents that injured four persons last night. The fireman is John C. Voll, 33, of 1230 North Nineteenth Street, attached to Company Number 9, Twenty-seventh and Federal Streets. Voll was treated at Cooper Hospital for severe cuts on the face and mouth.
His machine collided at Eighteenth Street and River Road about 11 p.m. with the car of Steve Liperi, 23, of 408 West Third Street, Palmyra, injuring Liperi’s mother-in-law.
Liperi told police Voll’s car came at him in a zig-zag manner a block until it struck a pole at Seventeenth Street and River Road, went on the sidewalk and struck two women. One of these, Mrs. Lydia Ramsey, 32, of 2108 Howell Street, was treated at Cooper Hospital for severe cuts on the leg. The other, Miss Pauline Comfort, 22, of 1238 Liberty Street, was treated at West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital for severe bruises.
Liperi and his wife, Grace, 19, were unhurt, but her mother, Mrs. Mary Mancuso, 45, of 885 Velde Avenue, Delair, suffered cuts and bruises. No charges were made by either driver.
Engine 11's 1956 American LaFrance Pumper
Engine 11’s new pumper. From left: John Letts, John C. Voll, Captain Charles Patterson, James Troutman. Photo by Bob Bartosz.
Engine 11’s new pumper. The car at right belonged to John C. Voll. Photo by Bob Bartosz.
Camden Fire Department First Annual Retirement Dinner
Named: William T. Cahill, Alfred R. Pierce, Edward V. Michalak
Keith Kauffman, Rev. W.A. Gwynne, Edward R. MacDowell
Howard W. Ways, George L. Boone, Isaac Muns, John C. Voll, John T. Clemmens, Harrison B. Pike, Albert A. Weller
Austin E. Marks, Edward Y. Scott, and John W. Yates.
Camden Fire Department Service Records
Camden Fire Department service records: badge receipt and personnel record card for John C. Voll Jr., badge No. 127 — the second card shows the same record before its assignment history was filled in.