Levi E. Farnham
LEVI ELMER FARNHAM was born in Massachusetts around 1856. By 1887 he had relocated to Camden NJ, and was employed as the assistant city surveyor, making his home at 550 Berkley Street. By 1890 he was promoted to city surveyor. Shortly thereafter he was made City Engineer, in which he served for 30 years. The Farnhams lived at 550 Berkley Street from 1887 to 1890. The 1900 Census shows Levi Farnham living with his wife Georgeanna at 416 South 6th Street. By 1906 Levi Farnham, still employed by the City of Camden, had purchased a home at 413 Chambers Avenue, not far from the Berkley Street address. Among those on his staff in the City Engineer’s office was Thomas J. Daley. Mrs. Farnham was an active member of the Womans Club of Camden.
Levi E. Farnham, for over thirty years City Engineer of Camden, died October 13, 1923 at the age of 67. Still a resident of the Chambers Avenue address, his wife joined him in August of 1931. On December 1, 1927 the City Commission of the City of Camden re-named Forest Hill Park, between Kaighn Avenue and Baird Boulevard and along the Cooper River, Farnham Park in appreciation of Levi Farnham’s services to the city.
Farnham Park
Postcards of Farnham Park in the 1930s
Farnham Park, 2003
Republican Caucus
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The Republican members of City Council who hold over and the newly-elected members held a caucus at the City Hall last night for the purpose of nominating officers who will be elected at the organization of City Council to-day. The candidates for president were Harry M. Snyder, of the Second ward, the present incumbent, and Isaac Githens, of the First ward. Mr. Snyder received the nomination. The other successful candidates are: City Clerk, T. P. Varney, Sixth ward; Assistant City Clerk, William T. G. Young, Jr., Second ward; City Surveyor, Levi Farnham, Ninth ward; City Supervisor, John Blowe, Seventh ward.
Offices and Office-Seekers
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Positions Soon to Be Filled in Camden’s Municipal Government.
Another caucus of the Republican members and members-elect of Camden City Council will be held prior to the organization of the new Council. Building Inspector William H. Cole, who is a candidate for re-election, has two opponents—ex-City Assessor J. Oscar Nichuals and ex-Freeholder Richard C. Mason. All these candidates have practical knowledge of building operations and the contest is an interesting one. William T. G. Young, Jr., is a candidate to succeed the late Owen B. Jones, as assistant city clerk, a position which he formerly filled. So far there is no active opposition to City Engineer Farnham, Water Clerk Fithian and City Controller Hollingshed, who are candidates for re-election.
There are half a dozen candidates for the position of Excise Inspector, which the new Excise Board will fill. They include the present Inspector, Samuel Lee; John Cherry,, [sic] Harry Goodman, Samuel Lodge, C. Harry Price and Frank Vacke. Arthur Bedell will probably be selected as president of the board, and City Clerk T. P. Varney will retain his position as clerk.
Councilman Sayrs, of the Seventh ward, will, it is said, be appointed by Judge Joline as clerk of the District Court to succeed George D. Barton, a Democrat, whose term expires next Friday.
Funeral of Mrs. Moffett
Camden Daily Telegram —
City Officials Act as Pall Bearers for a Noble Woman.
The funeral of Mrs. Susan Moffett, wife of Janitor Charles C. Moffett, of the City Hall, was held this afternoon from the residence of her son, Henry Moffett, No. 602 Broadway. The services were conducted by Rev. J. R. Mace, pastor of the Broadway M. E. church, and interment was made in Harleigh Cemetery. A large number of Mrs. Moffett’s friends attended the funeral and followed her remains to the cemetery.
The pall bearers were ex-Mayor Jesse Pratt, City Clerk T. P. Varney, Supervisor of Highways John Blowe, Tax Receiver William A. Husted, City Engineer Levi Farnham and Assessor C. J. Mines. The body was laid out in a brown silk dress and reposed in a black cloth covered casket with silver trimmings. The floral tributes were numerous and consisted of twelve rosebuds representing twelve grandchildren, a “Gates Ajar,” from her son Henry; a pillow, from her three daughters; a bouquet, from the Broadway M. E. church; a setting sun, from her son Walter, and a sheaf of wheat, from the officials of the city.
Artesian Water Test
Philadelphia Inquirer —
City Engineer Farnham expects to have the special casting ready by to-morrow to make a test of the new artesian water plant. Contractor Pfeiffer still declares he will not make a test under the resolution, recently adopted by City Council.
New Names for Streets
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Radical Changes to Be Made in Camden’s Annexed District.
The annexation of the town of Stockton to Camden has necessitated the renaming of many streets in the annexed district, as the old names conflict with the street nomenclature of Camden proper. A sub committee of City Council who were appointed to act in conjunction with City Surveyor Farnham has solved the problem, and the changes they suggest will probably be adopted by City Council at its next meeting. Of the sixty-one suggested changes fifty are in the former town of Stockton, and are as follows:
Arlington street to be changed to Thirtieth, Beach to Forest, Cramer to Twenty-sixth, Chestnut to Watson, Chestnut avenue to Biddle, Central avenue to Fremont, Cooper avenue to Twenty-seventh street, Delaware avenue to Hagan, Elm to Copley, Erie to Saunders, Evans to Hobart, Folwell to Carman, Fifth to Hayes avenue, Fillmore avenue to Wayne, Fourth to River avenue, Front to Essex, George to Rand, Grant avenue to Concord, Howard to Dupont, Jefferson to Boyd, Main to Brant, Maple to Trinity, Master to Canton, Park to Hollis, Penn avenue to Arnold, St. John to Bank, Fourth to Hanover, Benson to Mickle, River road to River avenue, New Cove road to Thirty sixth street, Seventh to Sherman avenue, First to Twenty-eighth, Boothman to Twenty-fourth, Centre to Thirty-third, Central to Thirty-second, Penn to High, Washington to Chase, Second to Twenty-ninth, Second avenue to German, Sixth to Arthur avenue, Spruce to Emerson, State to Marlton avenue, Taylor avenue to Astor, Third to Bryant, Third, from Westfield avenue to north of Pleasant, to Thirtieth; Van Buren avenue to Putnam, Walnut to Temple, Washington avenue to Carman, Westminster avenue to Mickle, Wright avenue to Morse, Folwell to Fifteenth.
The changes in old Camden follow: Arthur to Seward, Cleveland terrace to Kent place, Church place to Chapel place, Fulton place to Waverly, Dayton to Garden, Green to Dana, Griffee alley to Dean alley, Harrison to Randall, Howell to Camac, Lincoln to Douglass, Sewell to Porter, Union place to Campbell place.
In making the changes over two hundred street signs will have to be put up.
She Dared Men to Touch the “Pants”
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden Woman Planted a Pole, Decorated It With Pair Trousers and Flourished a Revolver
Flourishing a revolver and exclaiming, “I’ll kill the first man who touches those pants; this is fair warning to everybody, for I mean what I say!” Mrs. Louisa Traubel, of 807 Broadway, Camden, yesterday held up work on the addition being erected to the Gately and Hurley Company’s department store at Broadway and Spruce streets.
Mrs. Traubel claimed one of the walls was being constructed three inches over the line of the property belonging to her father, George Fields. She consulted City Engineer Farnham, who decided the wall was a fraction of an inch over the line. Then Contractor John Welsh was notified to stop work, but without the desired result.
Mrs. Traubel procured a post, planted it on the line, tacked a pair of trousers on it and, with the above words, threatened the person audacious enough to tear down her improvised banner. Work was at once stopped.
Gentle persuasion was of no avail and then Mayor Nowrey was consulted. He referred the contractor to the Recorder and Police Captain Stanley was detailed to protect the workmen and procure a warrant for the arrest of the woman unless she took down the post and trousers. But the police found they could do nothing unless there was a breach of the peace.
After sitting in the hot July sun for several hours Mrs. Traubel evacuated her position and the post was cut down, together with the “pants.” Work on the wall was then resumed.
She Dared Men to Touch the “Pants”
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden Woman Planted a Pole, Decorated It With Pair [sic] Trousers and Flourished a Revolver
Flourishing a revolver and exclaiming, “I’ll kill the first man who touches those pants; this is fair warning to everybody, for I mean what I say!” Mrs. Louisa Traubel, of 807 Broadway, Camden, yesterday held up work on the addition being erected to the Gately and Hurley Company’s department store at Broadway and Spruce streets.
Mrs. Traubel claimed one of the walls was being constructed three inches over the line of the property belonging to her father, George Fields. She consulted City Engineer Farnham, who decided the wall was a fraction of an inch over the line. Then Contractor John Welsh was notified to stop work, but without the desired result.
Mrs. Traubel procured a post, planted it on the line, tacked a pair of trousers on it and, with the above words, threatened the person audacious enough to tear down her improvised banner. Work was at once stopped.
Gentle persuasion was of no avail and then Mayor Nowrey was consulted. He referred the contractor to the Recorder and Police Captain Stanley was detailed to protect the workmen and procure a warrant for the arrest of the woman unless she took down the post and trousers. But the police found they could do nothing unless there was a breach of the peace.
After sitting in the hot July sun for several hours Mrs. Traubel evacuated her position and the post was cut down, together with the “pants.” Work on the wall was then resumed.
Royal Welcome for Ex-Sheriff Baird
Philadelphia Inquirer —
New Jersey State Leader Meets With an Enthusiastic Reception in New York Harbor on His Return Home From Europe—Camden Men Extend Cordial Greeting
STATE ASSESSOR DAVID BAIRD
From a Staff Correspondent.
NEW YORK, Sept. 4.—Not since the time the lamented Sewell some years ago returned from the Emerald Isle, where he looked upon the graves of his ancestors, was perhaps such an enthusiastic welcome accorded a Jerseyman as that which greeted State Assessor David Baird, of Camden, on his return from Europe to-day. Every county in the State, from Sussex to Cape May, was represented among the two hundred and some odd friends of the returning voyager. Camden, of course, where was originated the idea of giving Mr. Baird a surprise welcome, sent the greater number of shouting admirers. They boarded a special train at Broad Street Station, Philadelphia, which left at 7 o’clock. Arriving in Jersey City shortly before 10 o’clock, they took the steamer Sea Gull, which had hardly swung away from the pier before the Fuerst Bismarck, on which Mr. Baird was returning, loomed up in the fog. The Camden City Band immediately struck up “Home Again,” while the two hundred men on the Sea Gull waved flags and hats in the direction of the big steamer. Soon Mr. Baird appeared on the upper deck, and a cheer went up from the smaller boat that drowned the band’s “Home, Sweet Home.” While the Bismarck warped her way into the dock the passengers on the Sea Gull, which kept close to the ocean liner, anchored up against an appetizing luncheon.
A committee headed by ex-Sheriff John Wesley Sell escorted the State Assessor from his steamer to the reception boat, where he shook the hand of each passenger. There was a trip up the Hudson, and about 4 o’clock the reception party, with Mr. Baird, left for South Jersey. “The Sheriff,” for everybody knows him as such, reached Camden about 7 o’clock, where another enthusiastic reception awaited him. Seldom has such a representative party of prominent Jerseymen gotten together on a like occasion. Among them were the following:
County Clerk Frank F. Patterson, Jr., former Sheriff John W. Sell, Judge Charles V. D. Joline, ex-Judge E. Ambler Armstrong, Prosecutor Frank T. Lloyd, Assistant Prosecutor F. Morse Archer, Postmaster Robert L. Barber, Senator William J. Bradley, Under Sheriff William D. Brown, Thomas P. Curley, Charles F. Currie, Register of Deeds Isaac W. Coles, Councilman E. W. Delacroix, John J. Burleigh, John Cherry, William Graeff, Assemblyman Theodore B. Gibbs, Assemblyman John S. Roberts, ex-Sheriff Henry J. West, ex-Senator George Pfeiffer, Postmaster Maurice B. Rudderow, of Merchantville; Irving Buckle, Samuel Wood, Jonathan Watson, City Treasurer Richard R. Miller, Street Commissioner Lewis H. Mohrman, David M. Anderson, G. William Barnard, Edward H. Chew, William Coffin, Dr. John B. Davis, Dr. H. H. Davis, Samuel S. Elfreth, Chief of Camden Fire Department; Councilman Charles H. Ellis, Levi E. Farnham, John Blowe, J. Palmer Earl, Samuel P. Jones, president of City Council; George W. Turner, City Solicitor Henry M. Snyder, Lewis Stehr, Assistant Postmaster Charles P. Sayrs, Henry J. Rumrille, William M. Palmer, Frank Peterson, Martin J. O’Brien, State Comptroller J. Willard Morgan, J. Alpheus McCracken, John R. McCabe, A. G. McCausland, superintendent of the Atlantic City Railroad; Joseph Kolb, John M. Kelly, E. E. Jefferies, Jacob S. Justice, Robert Jaggard, Harry L. Jones, former Senator Herbert W. Johnson, Upton S. Jefferys, William Kettler, John D. Courter, County Physician William C. Jones, County Collector Mahlon F. Ivins, City Controller Samuel G. Hufty, ex-Assemblyman Ephraim T. Gill and Francis R. Fithian.
Others who joined in giving Mr. Baird a royal welcome were United States Marshall Thomas J. Alcott, of Mt. Holly; Speaker of the House John Herner, of Palmyra; Assemblyman J. Boyd Avis, of Woodbury; State Treasurer Franklin O. Briggs, Mayor Charles Y. Flanders, of Burlington, Clerk in Chancery Edward C. Stokes, ex-Senator Richard C. Miller, of Salem; Nathan W. C. Hays, of Burlington; Irving Maguire, of Palmyra; Internal Revenue Collector Isaac Moffett, Richard B. Reading, Senator George L. Shinn, of Ocean county; Judge Thomas W. Trenchard, of Cumberland; Factory Inspector John C. Ward, and many others.
Fürst Bismarck
1903
Camden News Notes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Another day was put in by Vice Chancellor Grey yesterday hearing the interminable testimony in the case of the Jonas Glass Company against the Green Glass Bottle Blowers’ Association.
Miss Minnie Tierney, the pretty Irish girl who was taken violently insane at the Cooper Hospital Wednesday, will be removed to the State Hospital for the Insane by Overseers of the Poor Jefferies to-day.
The graduating class of the Camden High School gave a banquet in the Masonic Building Wednesday night. The toastmaster was Edward H. Sayford and the toasts were: “The High School Graduates in After Life,” Professor James E. Bryan; “The Influence of the Senior Class,” Miss Clara S. Burroughs; “Our Alma Mater,” Miss Susanna Danser; “School Athletics,” Julian K. Potter; “Our Curriculum,” Miss G. Rovilla Fry; “The Girls of ‘03,” George T. Phillips; “The Boys of ‘03,” Miss Helen E. Herbert.
Camden Lodge of Elks has appointed Frank Healy, Peter Verga, Frank Gardner, A. R. Dease and Levi Farnham a committee to arrange plans for enlarging its handsome headquarters at Broadway and Federal streets. The first floor of the addition will be used as a bowling alley, shower baths and shuffle boards. There will be a stage on the second floor and on the third there will be rooms for billiards, pool and other games.
Albert West, colored, of 1018 Linden street, reported to the Camden police yesterday that he had been swindled out of $6. West says he met a man who gave the name of William Beston, and claiming he had been sent by the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad to get West to work as a porter. Beston declared White [sic] must first have a uniform and after measuring him Beston asked for the $6 as advance money. He then told West to report at the railroad office. He did but no porters were needed.
News of a Day in the City of Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden is to have another daily newspaper. The stockholders met yesterday and elected these officers: President, George M. Beringer; vice president, William E. Anthony; secretary, Newton B. T. Roney; treasurer, John Danenhower. It will be called the Daily News, and while it is to be a business proposition, it will be established mainly for the advocacy of the Colby-Record movement in New Jersey. It will be opposed to present local political conditions.
Albert Reese, 27 years old, of 834 Jersey avenue, Gloucester City, fell eighty feet from a scaffold at the New York Ship Yard last night. He was taken to the Cooper Hospital apparently fatally injured. An examination revealed the fact that he had escaped with slight bruises.
James McDonald, who was struck by a train at Fish House Monday, died at the Cooper Hospital, Camden, yesterday, without regaining consciousness. His address is unknown and the body was removed to the Morgue awaiting a claimant.
According to the report of Health Physician Leavitt, of the Camden Board of Health, the health of the city is exceedingly good. In all there were but thirty-nine contagious diseases reported for the past month. There was but one case of typhoid fever. This disease has almost entirely disappeared from Camden, there having been less than a score of cases the past year.
A number of Camden’s officials enjoyed a planked shad dinner at Chew’s Landing last night. In the party were City Comptroller Samuel Hufty, City Engineer Levi Farnham, Assistant Tax Receivers Charles Elfreth, J. F. Newton and Frank Heisler, Assistant Engineer William Osler, License Clerk John McCabe, Building Inspector William Steinmetz, Plumbing Inspector Harry Francis and Mayor Charles H. Ellis.
Robert Floyd, a colored stevedore, of Mt. Ephraim avenue, Camden, is building a thirty-five-foot boat in his back yard with the object of using it to seek a treasure island in the West Indies. Although his home is nearly two miles from the river, Floyd declares he will have no difficulty in launching the rather unwieldy craft. A sailor on board a vessel which Floyd was unloading told him the tale of hidden gold and as a result the Camden man decided to seek out the spot on his own hook.
There was an exciting incident in Recorder Stackhouse’s court, in Camden, yesterday, when a young woman yelled a denial in a high voice as a witness was testifying in the case of Herbert M. Denny against Chauncey Bell and Frederick Bock, the latter two being charged with assault and battery. Silence was restored by the court officers and the case was concluded by the defendants being held in $200 bail each.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Nace in the Circuit Court, in Camden, yesterday were given a verdict for $25 against the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad Company. The plaintiffs sued for $2500, they claiming a conductor of the company roughly handled the woman on March 16 of last year when she was put off a train. In the case of Charles Smith against the Public Service Corporation a verdict was given for the plaintiff in the sum of $600.
William H. Cox, 18 years old, of 903 Haddon avenue, had his right foot crushed at the Camden Iron Works yesterday. He was taken to the Cooper Hospital.
William Walsh, 17 years old, of 524 Borton street, who had been missing several days, returned yesterday. He had gone to Atlantic City to see the sights.
The Germantown Wood Working Company was incorporated yesterday with a capital of $10,000.
Ida Jackson, a negress, was convicted of dealing in lottery policy before Judge Joline yesterday. William Derry, also a negro, was convicted on a similar charge.
John Cowan, 53 years old, of 1024 Sycamore street, died suddenly yesterday from hemorrhages of the stomach. He was a life-long resident of Camden.
At great personal risk, Dr. Ernest Ramsdell, of 425 Linden street, Camden, last night saved Arthur Grant, 11 years old, of 501 State street, from being crushed beneath a team of horses. Arthur, who was riding a bicycle, attempted to get out of the way of a dog. In doing so he wheeled directly into the horses. The latter reared and were about to fall on the boy when Dr. Ramsdell rushed over to him and dragged him from beneath the horses.
Telephone Conduit Work Halted on Broadway
Philadelphia Inquirer —
After tearing up a part of Broadway near the Newton Creek, Camden, preparatory to laying the underground conduits for the Bell Telephone Company, the contractors were called off yesterday. This was the result of opposition on the part of Street Commissioner Mohrman, who claimed that the company has not the right to go on with the improvement until City Council finally approves the action of the Street Committee which recently adopted a resolution providing for the burying of the wires. While City Engineer Farnham has approved the plans and specifications of the company’s proposed conduits, Street Commissioner Mohrman has thus far refused.
When it was learned that the work of opening the street had been proceeded with, Mayor Ellis, City Solicitor Bleakly and Commissioner Mohrman held a conference. Before any line of action could be decided upon the Bell Company, by telephone, imparted the information that the work had been stopped. In the meantime the rights of the city will be safeguarded, even if it is necessary to call on the police to do so. Mayor Ellis says he will be guided solely by the advice of Solicitor Bleakly.
Philadelphia Inquirer — August 30, 1909
Mrs. Caroline W. Hackett, Mrs. Levi E. Farnham and Miss Bassett will start next Thursday for a trip to the Yellowstone Park and the Pacific coast.
Mrs. Caroline W. Hackett, Mrs. Levi E. Farnham and Miss Bassett will start next Thursday for a trip to the Yellowstone Park and the Pacific coast.
Development Body for Camden Named
Philadelphia Inquirer —
DEVELOPMENT BODY FOR CAMDEN NAMED
Mayor Ellis’ Commission to Study Changes New Bridge Will Bring
Citizens’ Papers Granted 221; Ashes of Sailor Suicide to Be Sent West
To plan for the future development of the city and to study the changes that will come with the building of the Delaware River bridge, a commission was appointed for Camden yesterday by Mayor Ellis. The Mayor’s action was in compliance with a resolution of City Council passed after a careful study of the benefits of zoning had been made.
Councilman Joseph Forsyth, of the Second ward, is chairman of the commission and will serve for three years. The other members of the commission are City Engineer Levis Farnham, Martin Schreiber, three years; Councilmen Wellington Barto, J. J. Blanchfield, two years; Councilmen William H. Roberts, E. H. Sapp, one year.
One of the aims of the commission is to establish zones to which certain characters of buildings will be restricted in order to prevent industries from encroaching on residential sections. This plan, it is argued, will stabilize realty values and is strongly advocated by the Real Estate Board and Chamber of Commerce.
Widow of L. E. Farnham Dies From Pneumonia
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Mrs. Georgianna M. Farnham, widow of Levi E. Farnham, for many years Camden city engineer, in whose honor Farnham Park was named, died early today at her home, 413 Chambers avenue. She was 76 and had been ill about a week with pneumonia.
Mrs. Farnham, a resident of Camden many years, was long interested in civic and charitable work. She was active in the affairs of the Camden Day Nursery and the Methodist Home for the Aged in Collingswood. Her husband, often referred to as the “father of city parks” for his work in laying out Farnham Park, died about seven years ago.
Mrs. Farnham leaves no immediate survivors. Mrs. Frank C. Pickernell, of Englewood, a sister-in-law, survives, and there is also a niece, Mrs. Bradbury Jenness, Norwood, Mass. Funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. Thursday and burial will be in Harleigh cemetery.
Funeral Thursday for Mrs. Farnham
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. Thursday for Mrs. Georgianna M. Farnham, widow of Levi E. Farnham, in whose honor Farnham Park was named, who died yesterday at her home, 413 Chambers avenue. She was 76 and had been ill a week with pneumonia.
Born in South Boston, Mass., Mrs. Farnham had been a resident of Camden 46 years. She was long active in civic and philanthropic affairs. Her husband, for many years Camden city engineer, often referred to as the “father of city parks” for his work in laying out Farnham Park, died about seven years ago.
Mrs. Farnham had no children. She is survived by a brother, Henry H. Pickernell, Roslindale, Mass., a sister-in-law, Mrs. Frank A. Pickernell, Englewood, and a number of nephews and nieces.