John Munter
John I. Munter, 68, was a pioneer milk dealer in North Camden. For more than 30 years he lived with his family at the southwest corner of Third and York Streets. An avid baseball fan, he was at one time part owner of the old Camden A.C. baseball team with Barney Maguire.
As a young man, Munter set up a milk delivery business and had one of the largest routes in North Camden. Milk was not sold in bottles in those early days, but was dispensed from large cans by means of a ladle. He later sold out to larger companies and engaged in a wet wash and laundry business at the same address. At the time of his last illness he was in charge of the laundry at Lakeland General Hospital.
He died October 28, 1931, following an illness of more than a year. Surviving were his widow, Mrs. Carrie Munter, and a daughter, Caroline. Funeral services were held at Joseph H. Murray and Son, 408 Cooper Street. Burial was in Harleigh Cemetery.
Sleighing in Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Horsemen Across the Delaware Crowd White Horse and Mt. Ephraim Pikes
With an excellent snow and a holiday Camden county horsemen enjoyed an ideal sleighing carnival. It was scarce a piece of a street nor a road that scraped a runner and by 3 o'clock nearly every available horse had been pressed into service and the shabby old basket affairs drawn by mules, “skates” of any old beast rigged with the elaborate fittings runners of the well-to-do horse owner wrapped in furs and guided by a liveried coachman. These county turnpikes first became popular with sleighters years ago when the roads were superior to Philadelphia, and had not yet known a paving stone, was, as usual, the attraction of those who could not afford one bred horsesleigh to make. In the morning a few came out and hardened the course, and in the afternoon the Boulevards presented one grand pageant of fleeing hoofs, to which the tinkling bells of the sleighs provided accompaniment.
The Cooper Street and Mt. Ephraim pikes, where there are numerous hotels where bands can be warmed and attacks of grog driven away, were the favorite roads for those who demanded more variety than Cooper street afforded, and these roads were alive in brilliant motion. On Cooper street and on the county roads could be seen the following well-known lovers of sleighing and owners of good horse flesh; Joseph Shinn, with a sleigh drawn by a fast bay driven by Baltzimer; Eugene Ingle was behind the high-stepping Prince Arthur; William C. Dayton drove a gray mare, Mrs. Dayton, brushed all competitors with a fast black mare, M. Stockham Woodward, accompanied by his wife and daughter in a sleigh drawn by the crack team, His Excellency with a record of 2:23, and Mr. Brown 2:23¾. In a Bailey sleigh; Ephraim Hires drove Van; Dr. William H. Iszard with old reins. From South Camden came Harry Davis with the favorite Out of Sight. Representing far North Camden were John Mathis, driving Harry, a fast bay; James Baird, with Harry, James, and Frank. One of the late ones to join and many others who joined the tinkling whirl before nightfall were John O. Munter with Harry—makes the best gray at South on John. John Clements with Uncle Sam, Dr. Gunter looking for trouble with his pride, Dan Foss, William H. Clements, W. K. Heston with Harry Gibson, Jack Van Sciver and his bay Smoky, Samuel Kilpatrick with Pleasure Bill, H. W. Davis behind a fast gray team, Edward Roberts, Joseph Burrough with a bay mare, and Dr. A. Haines Lippincott behind Bob.
The country roads were better than horsemen have seen them for years because there was no dirts. Friend passed friend on the road with surprising cordiality and many had driven so far from home. Men from Palmyra were there and along with residents in the vicinity of Merchantville and Main street, Moorestown, was the course for white drifts and fine beats between horsemen from all directions. Among those were noticed William Fancoast, of Laffercroft, and William Butterworth of Moorestown, with a team of bays; Morgan Butterworth behind a gray mare, Morgan Dates, George T. Elwood, Benjamin Zelly, Mt. Holly, behind Ella Free; Frank Haines, of Rancocas. But probably the most interesting was that of Joseph Burrough, of Merchantville, who drove a tiny old sleigh that was more than one hundred years old. On the front its slab he painted its history and the names of those who sat in it. Another sleigh said to have been built in a similar manner was owned by Joseph Hinchman, of Merchantville.
John Munter Dies, Pioneer Milkman
Camden Courier-Post —
North Camden Man Set Delivery Route; Later Operated Laundry
John I. Munter, 68, pioneer milk dealer, died yesterday following illness of more than a year.
For more than 30 years Munter lived with his family at the southwest corner of Third and York Streets. He was an avid baseball fan and at one time part owner of the old Camden A. C. baseball team with Barney Maguire.
As a young man Mr. Munter set up a milk delivery business. In addition to having one of the largest routes in North Camden he maintained a family “milk depot” in the rear of his home.
Milk was not sold in bottles in those early day’s, but was dispensed from large cans by means of a ladle. Many customers stopped old time milkmen and bought the milk directly from the horse-drawn wagons.
Like many of the pioneer milkmen, Munter sold out to the larger companies which later were organized. Later he engaged in a wet wash and laundry business at the same address. At the time of his last illness he was in charge of the laundry at Lakeland General Hospital.
One of Mr. Munter’s close friends was the late Police Captain Charles T. Humes. Another friend of early baseball days, when the Camden A.C. team played at Third and Erie Streets, was former Councilman Robert Macintosh.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Carrie Munter, and a daughter, Caroline. Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. Monday at the funeral home of Joseph H. Murray and Son, 408 Cooper Street. Burial will be in Harleigh Cemetery.