John S. Anderson
JOHN SAMUEL ANDERSON was born on July 20, 1897 in Camden, New Jersey to William and Mary Anderson. When the 1900 Census was taken five of the seven Anderson children were still alive, John being the youngest, with Charles J., Hazel, Madeline, and William older than him. The family was then living at 1712 South 7th Street. The elder Anderson worked as a day laborer at one of the nearby shipyards to support his family. Twins Kate and Lester Anderson were born shortly after the Census was taken.
By 1906 the Anderson family had moved to 644 Ferry Avenue and were still there when the Census was taken in 1910. By the spring of 1912 the William Anderson family had moved to 1618 South 6th Street, and were still there in June of 1917, when older brother William Jr. registered for the draft.
When he registered for the draft on August 24, 1918 John S. Anderson had married and was working for the New York Shipbuilding Corporation at their shipyard at Broadway and Morgan Street in South Camden. He was then living at 533 Vine Street in North Camden with his wife Agnes. John and Agnes Anderson moved into the then-new Yorkship Village homes, renting at 1081 West Ironsides Road in 1919 and into at least 1920. He was employed at New York Shipbuilding as late as January of 1920. Three children would arrive during the 1920s, Henry, Jane, and John S. Anderson Jr.
John S. Anderson was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on April 16, 1928. He reported for duty the same day with Engine Company 4, located at 320 Vine Street. The 1929 City Directory shows John and Agnes Anderson residing at 128 Erie Street in North Camden. The 1930 Census shows the Anderson family back in Fairview at 2848 Kansas Road. The Andersons were also taking care of two nieces and a nephew, Sarah L., Margaret L., and John F. Michael. The family later moved to 2854 Idaho Road, and then to 2917 North Constitution Road.
On July 1, 1933 he was transferred to Engine Company 3 at 1813 Broadway, where he served until March 16, 1948 when he was assigned to Engine Company 10 on Morgan Boulevard.
John S. Anderson retired after serving the City of Camden for over 28 years on September 1, 1956. He was replaced on the department by Adelbert Kirk Sr.
John S. Anderson is not listed in any New Jersey Bell Telephone directories, thus, his whereabouts and activities after his retirement are as of this writing unknown. Agnes Anderson passed away in April of 1987. John S. Anderson passed away on December 10, 1987. The Social Security Administration shows his last address as Clementon, New Jersey, however, the Clementon Post Office serviced a number of surrounding towns at that time.
World War I Draft Card
Named: World War I Draft Registration Card, John Samuel Anderson, and August 24, 1918.
Promoted Firemen Take Posts Today
Camden Courier-Post —
Lennox Deputy Chief; Eight Others Elevated as Captains Here
A new deputy chief, a battalion chief and eight new senior and junior captains will assume their posts today in the fire department. The men were promoted yesterday afternoon, along with the announcement of eleven new appointments of firemen, who will go into service April 15.
The new deputy chief, John H. Lennox, now is second in command when his platoon is on duty. He was acting deputy since the naming of Thomas Nicholas as chief two years ago.
The new battalion chief is Rollo Jones. Jones succeeded George B. Wade, who retired January 1.
Junior captains advanced to senior captains, with salaries increased to $2,400, are William H. Harring, Truck Company No. 1, Clarence Madden, Engine Company No. 6 and George Hunt, Engine Company No 7. The new junior captains advanced from the ranks, with new salaries of $2,299 a year, are David Ellis, driver for Chief Nicholas for nine years, George Saunders, hoseman of Engine Company No. 9; Eli Hunt, driver of Engine Company No. 3, and William Van Pfefferle, hoseman, Engine Company No. 1.
All the promotions were from the civil service eligible list. The captains will be assigned tomorrow.
The new firemen, also civil service eligibles, will start with salaries of $1,500. Each year of service brings an increase, until five years in the department pays $2,040 annually. The new men are Thomas F. Gibbons, Byron M. Davis, John S. Anderson, William H. Toy, Leo J. Tompkins, Horace T. Molan, Lawrence Bolton, George W. Garner, Felix E. Bendzyn, Harry H. Hess and Charles Jones.
Chief Lennox is one of the most popular firefighters in the organization. “Chappie” is the nickname by which he has been known for years. He was appointed a fireman January 1, 1908. He was promoted to a captainship October 1, 1915, and was assigned to Engine Company No. 8.
His promotion to deputy chief gives the department two men in that standing, one in command of each platoon on duty. His new salary will be $2,800 a year. He will be stationed at headquarters, Fifth and Arch streets. He lives at 633 Clinton street. William W. Patterson is the other deputy chief.
Battalion Chief Jones will receive $2,520 a year. He has been in command of Engine Company No. 9, Twenty-seventh and Federal streets. He will be sent to command Engine Company No. 3, Broadway and Ferry avenue. He was a former senior captain of Engine Company No. 4. For a number of years he was an instructor in fire school methods of life saving. He lives at 536 York street.
22 Firemen Assigned to New Stations
Camden Courier-Post —
12 Rookies and 10 Promoted Men Go to Posts
Twelve new firemen and ten men promoted several weeks ago were assigned to their new stations yesterday by Chief Thomas J. Nicholas. With these appointments, the department complement of 200 men is completed.
John H. Lennox, newly named deputy chief, will make his headquarters at the Fifth and Arch streets station. Rollo Jones, promoted from senior captain to battalion chief, succeeding George Wade, recently retired on pension, will move to Engine Company No. 3, Broadway and Ferry avenue.
Three men were promoted from junior to senior captaincies. They are: William Heron, who moved to Company No. 2; George Hunt, Company No. 8, and Clarence T. Madden [sic] Company No. 5.
Taken from the ranks, the following will be stationed as junior captains: David R. Ellis, Company No. 7; Clarence Newton, Company No. 5; William Van Pfefferle, Truck Company No. 2; Eli Hunt, Company No. 9, and George Saunders, Company No. 6.
The new firefighters and their stations are: Lawrence Bolton, Company No. 9; John S. Anderson, Company No. 4; Byron M. Davis, Company No. 1; George W. Garner, Company No. 4; Lawrence Milton, Company No. 5; Thomas Gibbons, Company No. 4; Leo J. Tompkins, Company No. 2; Felix Bendzyn, Company No. 7; Horace T. Molan, Company No. 7; William E. Toy, Company No. 9; Harry H. Hess, Company No. 11, and Edward Callahan, Truck Company No. 4.
City Fireman Dies of Heart Ailment
Camden Courier-Post —
Lester R. Anderson Found Unconscious on Cot at Headquarters
After fellow-firemen strove vainly for two hours to revive him, Lester R. Anderson, 38, a hoseman attached to Engine Company No. 2, was pronounced dead of a heart attack at Cooper Hospital last night.
Anderson, a member of the fire department since 1923, apparently died in his sleep a few hours after answering an alarm for a grass fire at 12.26 p. m. yesterday at Twenty-ninth and Mickle streets. With other members of his engine company, the headquarters detail located at Fifth and Arch streets, he returned to that fire station and went to bed on a cot on the second floor of the building.
At 4.20 p. m. another fireman sought to awaken him. When Anderson gave no response, the other fire-fighters hastily organized a rescue squad which worked in relays at artificial respiration, under supervision of Dr. Garnett Summerill, the city, police and fire surgeon, until 6.20, when the stricken man was removed to the hospital.
Coroner Charles T. Murray pronounced Anderson dead of the heart ailment.
Anderson, who lived at 2771 North Constitution road, is survived by his widow and two children; and two brothers, John, also a fireman, attached to Engine Company No. 3, and William, active in Thirteenth Ward political circles.
He became a member of the fire department April 13, 1923, and first saw service at Engine Company No. 10. Later he was transferred to Engine Company No. 7, and in January, 1934, to the headquarters company at Fifth and Arch streets.
Rites Friday
Camden Courier-Post —
LESTER R. ANDERSON
The funeral of Lester R. Anderson, 38, city fireman, who was found dead on a cot at fire headquarters Monday, will be held at 8.30 a. m., Friday at the home, 2771 Constitution road. Requiem mass will be held at 9.30 a. m., at St. Joan of Arc Church. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Mr. Anderson was a member of Local No. 5, Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Society.
Firemen Pallbearers for Lester Anderson
Camden Courier-Post —
The funeral of Lester R. Anderson, 38, a member of Engine Company No. 2, Fifth and Arch streets, who died in his sleep at the fire house Monday night, will be held today at 8.30 a. m. from his home, 2771 Constitution road.
A High Mass will be celebrated at the Roman Catholic Church of St. Joan of Arc at 9.30 a. m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Pallbearers, all members of the engine company, will be John Yates, Arthur Batten, William Hopkins, Leo Tompkins, Ralph Bingemann and Henry Baumgartle.
Mr. Anderson, a member of the fire department since 1923, had not been ill. A native of this city, he is survived by his widow, Marie; two children, Marie, 15, and Lester R. Jr., 12; his father, William, Camden; a stepmother, and three brothers and three sisters; John, also a fireman; William, a Republican county committeeman in the Fourteenth ward; Charles, of Pennsauken; Mrs. Louis Letzgus, of Camden; Mrs. Kathryn Venella, of Glendora, and Madeline, Camden.
Camden Fire Department Personnel Record
Camden Fire Department Personnel Record — John S. Anderson