Introduction
DR. MARCUS K. MINES was born in Camden in 1869, to Christopher J. Mines Jr. and his wife, the former Mary A. Cavanaugh. The Mines family appear in the 1880 census and the 1887–1891 Camden City Directories at 265 Pine Street. Christopher Mines Jr. supported his family as a tobacconist. He was also active politically and held a number of posts in city government at one time or another. Christopher Mines Jr. served as Camden County Sheriff in 1902 and 1903. Grandfather Christopher Mines Sr. was also active in Camden’s civic and political circles.
Marcus Mines was educated in a private school in Camden, and then graduated from the Jefferson College medical school in Philadelphia. Returning to Camden to practice medicine, he married Catherine Cooper around 1896, at the age of 27. Dr. Mines served as the president of the Camden Board of health, was a member of the Camden City and Camden County Medical Societies, and was a member of the board of Camden’s municipal hospital.
Dr. Mines did notable work with Dr. Henry H. Davis when Camden was hit by the influenza epidemic of 1918. When the 1920 Census was taken, Dr. Mines and his family resided at 532 West Street, in South Camden. He later purchased a home at 573 Stevens Street.
Dr. Marcus K. Mines died at his home, 573 Stevens Street, on August 26, 1936, after a long illness. He was survived by his wife, Catherine Cooper Mines, and a daughter, Mrs. Emily O’Reilly, of New York City.
Dr. Mines’ uncle William W. Mines, was also active in Republican politics in Camden throughout the latter part of the 1800s and early 1900s. William W. Mines was an original member of the Camden Fire Department and for many years was in charge of Camden’s Water Department.
Probing Camden Tragedies
Philadelphia Inquirer —
PROBING CAMDEN TRAGEDIES
Grand Jury Investigating the Zane-Shaw Murders.
The Camden grand jury yesterday took up the charge against Eli Shaw of murdering his mother and grandmother. Among the witnesses examined were County Physician Jones, Dr. Marcus Mines, Police Lieutenants Foster and Pettit, Policemen Steen, Shaw, Sinclair and Painter, Charles and Alonzo Lane and Coroner Lippincott. The case will be continued to-day, as over a dozen witnesses are yet to be heard.
George Mordorf, who shot Cigar Dealer Mather in his store in Camden, was arraigned in the Camden Court yesterday. He pleaded not guilty and said he did not want counsel.
Sensation Sprung in Camden’s Council
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Attempt Made to Have Committee Appointed to Investigate Affairs of Street Commissioner’s Office
Something of a sensation was occasioned at the reorganization of Camden City Council yesterday when Councilman Frederick Finkeldey endeavored to have adopted a resolution providing for the appointment of a committee of five to investigate the affairs of the office of Street Commissioner Louis Mohrman. He offered the resolution when the latter came up for reappointment. In seconding Councilman Finkeldey’s motion Councilman Wilson declared he had data in his possession which showed there were irregularities. The resolution was defeated by a vote of 19 to 2. Mohrman was reappointed.
Aside from this the reorganization was the usual cut and dried affair. All the old officers were reappointed with the exception of City Clerk Harry C. Kramer, who was succeeded by Isaac Bradley, the retiring Councilman from the Seventh ward. William H. Day was made building inspector to fill the vacancy caused by the suicide of William Steinmetz.
In his annual message Mayor Charles H. Ellis urged among other things that provision be made for mounted police in East Camden, the erection of an additional jail building, the installation of the Bertillon system for the identification of criminals, the increase of the present fire service by two additional companies, the necessity of establishing an auxiliary pumping plant.
It was general reorganization day among the civic bodies of Camden yesterday. The Excise Commission re-elected John Baker president, while Jacob Schiller was made inspector. Dr. Marcus K. Mines was elected president of the Board of Health, and at the reorganization of the Board of Education Edmund E. Read was elected president and Harry Sharp vice president.
Camden News Notes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden News Notes
•• The Board of Education has appointed Drs. Marcus K. Mines, Frederick Jones Jr., W. P. Wingender and W. K. Browning as assistant medical inspectors at salaries of $400 each. This is in compliance with a recent law of the State.
•• In a fall from a scaffold at the New York Shipbuilding plant yesterday, John Wagner, 24 years old, of 1038 Mechanic street, received a bad shaking up beside a sprained back. He was taken to the Cooper Hospital.
•• It is reported that a number of industrial concerns where girls are employed are not adequately protected by fire escapes, a subject that will probably be investigated.
•• Members of the class of 1908 have been given the privilege of placing a memorial marble in the High School, a custom that is likely to be followed by other classes.
•• The fact that Supreme Court Justice Garrison has taken such a decided stand in the election fraud probe has caused considerable uneasiness in certain quarters.
•• Policeman Lewis Hamel, who was suspended from the force pending a trial on charges of dereliction of duty, yesterday resigned. Policeman George West, who is accused of conduct unbecoming an officer, was suspended by Mayor Ellis yesterday.
•• Because he knocked out several of his wife’s teeth in a domestic row, Clarence Governs, of 817 Clare street, was committed to jail by the Recorder yesterday for action by the grand jury.
•• After a lingering illness, Michael Kirby, father of Mrs. W. Leonard Burley [sic], died yesterday at his son-in-law’s country home, “Dungarven,” West Collingswood. He was 70 years old and a native of Woodstown.
•• The funeral of Mrs. Amelia C. Roub, who died suddenly last Friday from acute indigestion, took place yesterday from her home, at Broadway and Ferry avenue. Interment was made in Evergreen Cemetery.
•• At the annual meeting of the Tammany Club, a well known South Camden social organization, these officers were elected: President, William Black; vice presidents, Redmond Pierson and Charles Redmond; secretary, Joseph Byrie; treasurer, James Croker.
•• Under the direction of the Women’s Home Missionary Society an all-day meeting will be held tomorrow in the State Street M. E. Church.
•• Children playing with matches is supposed to have been the cause of a fire that partly burned the home of Archer D. Norris, at 930 Elm street, Monday night.
Accident on Bulson Street
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Named: Bulson Street, Mrs. Bernidetta Baldwin, Dr. William Pratt, and Dr. Marcus Mines.
Dr. Marcus K. Mines Dies at Age of 67
Camden Courier-Post —
Former City Health Aide Did Notable Work During Flu Epidemic
Dr. Marcus K. Mines, former president of the Camden Board of Health and medical advisor to the Camden Municipal Hospital, died late yesterday at his home at 573 Stevens street.
Dr. Mines was 67 and was born in Camden. He was educated at a private school here and took his medical
course at Jefferson College.
Dr. Mines was a member of the board during the influenza epidemic of 1918 and did notable work with the late Dr. Henry H. Davis in stamping out the disease. He was a member of the Camden City and Camden County Medical Societies.
He was a member of the board when the municipal hospital was opened to combat contagious diseases and served as a medical advisor. The board was abolished when commission government replaced councilmanic form in 1923.
Dr. Mines had been an invalid for several months, being bedfast for a long peroid [sic] and had not practiced for years.
He is survived by his widow, Catherine Cooper Mines and a daughter, Mrs. T. C. O’Reilly, New York City.
The funeral will be held Friday morning at 453 South Sixth street. The funeral and burial will be private.
Obituary for Dr. Marcus K. Mines, August 27, 1936