Introduction
RAYMOND RENAUD DONGES was born at Donaldson, Schuykill County, Pennsylvania, November 10, 1871, the son of Dr. John W. and Rose M. (Renaud) Donges. Besides Raymond, there were two other brothers, Clarence Donges who, like his father, served as a physician in Camden for many years; and Ralph Waldo Emerson Donges. Raymond Donges studied law under the tutelage of Howard Carrow. Both Raymond and Ralph W.E. Donges went into the legal profession, and had distinguished careers. The brothers began practicing in the 1890s, and had a law firm which at one time also employed Wilbert V. Pike, who was also quite well known in Camden legal circles.
Raymond R. Donges married around 1911. At the time of the 1930 Census he and wife Katherine lived at 2 Wellwood Avenue in Merchantville NJ with their children John, Katherine M. and Raymond R. Jr. Mrs. Donges was well known in the 1920s as a person of note within the Democrat Party in Camden County.
Raymond Renaud Donges passed away on April 8, 1937.
Raymond R. Donges
South Jersey: A History 1624–1924
RAYMOND RENAUD DONGES—In the execution of many important tasks that have fallen to his lot as one of the leading attorneys of Camden, New Jersey, Mr. Donges has found full play for his abilities and activities. His professional work, being extensive and important, has absorbed most of his energies and time, but Mr. Donges has won and held his position of pre-eminence among the lawyers of Camden largely by his ability to master the matters under consideration.
Raymond Renaud Donges was born at Donaldson, Schuykill County, Pennsylvania, November 10, 1871, the son of Dr. John W. and Rose M. (Renaud) Donges. Dr. Donges served during the Civil War and was left on the battle field at Fredericksburg for dead. He had enlisted at Minersville, Pennsylvania, when he was but seventeen years of age, with the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Subsequently he studied medicine and practiced in Camden, retiring in 1900. He is today a member of the Board of Assessors of Camden City.
The son, Raymond Renaud Donges, received his preliminary education in the public schools of Camden, New Jersey, and later was sent to Philadelphia, studying at the Broad Street Academy. He then went to the law department of the University of Pennsylvania and continued the study of law with Judge Howard Carrow, of Camden. He was admitted to the bar as an attorney, at the February term in 1895, and as a counsellor three years afterwards. Since then he has been in active practice, specializing largely in office and consultation practice and as solicitor for a number of building and loan associations. He is concerned largely in banking and investment law, and has acquired his important clientele through his exhaustive knowledge of those branches of the law. Like most successful attorneys his first years of practice were largely of a general nature, leading gradually toward specialization and change from court to consultation practice. In religion, he is affiliated with the Protestant Episcopal Church, and in politics he is a Democrat, although he never aspired to political office. He is a member of the Camden County Democratic Club, and of Trimble Lodge, No. 117 Free and Accepted Masons, and of the Excelsior Consistory, of Camden.
Mr. Donges married, in Philadelphia, in 1909, Katherine A. McTague, daughter of Daniel McTague. Their living children are: John W. Donges, born in 1910; Katherine M. Donges, born in 1914; Raymond R. Donges, Jr., born in 1916. Mrs. Donges is prominent in Democratic politics, being the first woman member of the New Jersey State Committee. She is the present member on that committee from Camden County. She was active in the campaign for a woman’s suffrage State amendment in 1915, and also in 1919 when the State ratified the Federal amendment.
Aged Man’s Sanity Debated as Nephew Contests His Will
Camden Courier-Post —
‘Kidnap’ Case Recalled as Islanders Declare E. Camden Cafe Owner Normal
LEFT $40,000 ESTATE
Attempts to prove that Nicholas Joseph Donahue, former East Camden restaurant proprietor, who died Sept. 12, 1927, was of unsound mind and was unduly influenced when he made his last will are expected to be made at a continuance of the hearing in which a nephew is contesting the will.
The hearing was scheduled to be resumed at 1.30 p. m. today in the Camden County Orphans Court, with Judge Samuel M. Shay presiding. Testimony was presented all day yesterday by Raymond Donges, prominent Camden attorney and executor of the will. Because Donahue was declared mentally deficient by a lunacy commission shortly before his death, the burden of proof fell upon Donges as executor to show that the wealthy restaurateur was of sound mind when he wrote the will. The latter disposed of an estate valued between $40,000 and $50,000.
Donges had a few more witnesses to present today, among them Mrs. Elizabeth S. Fernan, under whose care Donahue was placed on Chincoteague Island, off the coast of Virginia. Mrs. Fernan is a former Camden woman.
The nephew contesting the case is John Donahue, of 2411 East Boston avenue, Philadelphia. He is represented by Carlton B. Webb, of Haddonfield, while Donges is represented by Wilbert V. Pike, of this city.
Owned Shore Hotel
Donahue, who had no immediate family, originally owned a hotel at Townsend’s Inlet, but about 1896, a heavy storm drove the sea up on his property and ruined the building. He then opened an oyster saloon in East Camden, and later bought an old fire hall and opened a restaurant on Federal street near Twenty-fourth.
Donahue sold the restaurant and other properties during the 1925-26 real estate boom, and amassed his small fortune. He roomed in East Camden for a short time, and then went to live with his nephew, John.
The latter later claimed that Raymond Donges spirited Nicholas Donahue away from the Philadelphia home on a ruse and took him to Chincoteague Island. With another nephew, Edward Donahue, and a third man, John went to the island, according to previous allegations, and placed the elder Donahue in an automobile and started back for Philadelphia. Mrs. Fernan telephoned Raymond Donges of the alleged kidnaping attempt, and the two nephews were arrested at Dover, Del., on their way back to Philadelphia February, 1927. They were later released, while Nicholas Donahue was taken back to the island.
In September, 1927, John Donahue started habeas corpus proceedings in Virginia courts, and secured temporary custody of his uncle. After a lunacy commission quizzed Nicholas Donahue and declared him unsound of mind, the Orphans Court named the Haddonfield Safe Deposit and Trust Company guardian. After Donahue died and the will was filed here for probate, John Donahue filed a caveat against the will. The present hearing is a result of the caveat.
Will Made on Island
The will, a typewritten document, was executed on the island on May 19, 1927. Provision is made that if any legatee or beneficiary “attempt to have me declared of unsound mind or incompetent to manage my own affairs, to have guardian appointed to care for my estate, the legacy or bequest shall lapse and be void and shall revert to the estate.” Raymond Donges was named executor to serve without bond, and was given full power to sell or dispose of the estate, which according to the will, must be converted into cash.
The will provides for:
Setting aside of $1000 for masses on the souls of relatives of the deceased; replacing of an old monument in Calvary Cemetery with a new one and $2000 provided.
An original “tpyewritten” [sic] bequest of $1000 to a niece, Mrs. Katherine Cavanaugh, 295 Cedar street, Philadelphia, later was changed in ink to $3000.
Various sums of from $500 to $2000 are left to relatives. John Donahue, the nephew, is bequeathed $2000. Dr. Clarence Donges is left $1000. An amount of $5000 is to be divided equally between John W. Donges, Katherine M. Donges, and Raymond R. Donges, Jr., children of, and Marry [sic] Hanna, ward of Raymond R. Donges.
To the woman who cared for him on Chincoteague Island, Mrs. Elizabeth S. Ferman [sic], is left $2000.
Educational Fund
One-half of the entire estate is set aside and to be held in trust by Dr. Donges, Walter T. Pratt and Katherine Donges, and they are allowed to advance such moneys from the fund as they see fit to young men and women under 25 years of age to be used in obtaining an education. The three are not held responsible for any losses incurred by failure of students to repay loans.
The residue of the estate is to be divided among the legatees in proportion to the amount already willed them.
At yesterday’s hearing testimony indicated that Donahue was unsound of mind only during occasional periods, when excitement or commotion would upset him. Dr. Clarence B. Donges, his physician and adviser, testified he had been a close friend of Donahue for 35 years and had prevailed on the former hotel proprietor to come to Camden and start again in business. The prominent physician further stated that he frequently advised Donahue in real estate deals, and all of them were profitable to Donahue.
The physician further said that Donahue did not suffer from any ailment which would incapacitate him mentally, although physically he was ill during the latter days of his life. A number of witnesses from Chincoteague Island testified that they thought him entirely normal.
Clarence Derrickson and his wife, Lottie, witnesses to the will, testified, through depositions, that when they saw Donahue sign the will he was entirely aware of what he was doing.
Called Easily Persuaded
In cross-interrogatories the Derricksons concluded that Donahue was a self-willed man and could not be easily persuaded. Both Dr. Donges and Raymond Donges stated that following the sale of his restaurant he lived in a room, and they told him he should have a more healthy environment. They arranged with his nephew, John, for the latter to take care of the elderly man, it was alleged.
Finally, Raymond Donges said, John Donahue said that he did not wish to take care of Nicholas any longer, and the Donges then told Donahue about the island where Mrs. Fernan lived. The attorney said that Donahue had known Mrs. Fernan’s husband when the latter was alive and resided in Camden and agreed to the change. So did the nephew agree, said Donges. There was no ruse or secrecy about taking the semi-invalid to the island, where he could get the proper food and surroundings, the Donges said.
Donges also introduced a letter purported to have been written by Donahue on the island and addressed to Raymond Donges a short time before the will was made. In the letter Donahue urged his attorney to complete the will. Donges said that for nearly a year before May of 1927 the former restauranteur discussed various terms of the will.
In the present will a bequest of $1000 to a niece was changed by pen to $3,000. Donges said that in a former will Donahue gave the woman $3000, then wrote to Donges asking him to change it to $1000. However, when the drafted testament was ready to be signed Donahue himself increased the bequest to its original figure, it was stated.
Camden Opens the Way
Trenton Evening Times —
Mrs. Emma E. Hyland has been recommended for appointment as a member of the Camden County Board of Elections, by State Committeemen Donges and Kelleher, and it is expected that Democratic State Chairman Heher will present Mrs. Hyland’s name to the Governor and that she will get the appointment, which is worth $900 a year and not a great deal of work to be done.
This will be the first substantial recognition given to women voters. Thus far they have had to be content with “honorary” positions. They may fairly claim half of the county election board jobs, since they cast fifty per cent. of the votes.
As the appointments will be made within a few weeks it will be necessary for women aspirants to lose no time in presenting their claims.
Old Centreville Families
Camden Courier-Post —
Dr. Donges, Mills, Schepperkittes, Covely and Other Men Wrought Through Years to Bring Needed Improvements to District
WHEN a larger community annexes an adjoining district the newer area is generally regarded, for a time at least, as a step-child. Older residents of East Camden will bear out that truism when they recall how difficult it was to obtain improvements. Years before, Newton Township which became part of Camden, had had the same experience. Under such circumstances, it requires tireless energy on the part of leading men to get what their district needs. Demands often go unheeded unless the community is fortunate in having those of spirit who insist on street improvements, water extension, lighting facilities and schools. That was more in evidence half a century ago than now, of course, for Camden itself was little more than a large village.
Down in Centreville there were men who looked after the interests of their constituents, who slowly but surely obtained, improvements and who insisted on being recognized by the powers that be. No one may think of old Centreville without thought of Dr. John W. Donges, whose value to not only that section but Camden at large, has been expatiated upon in these annals. He was not only a leading physician, with a practice extending into Camden, but a leader in many civic movements, and any article on that era would be incomplete without allusion again to the doctor whose services as a real family physician are part of the traditions of many old families.
Came Here In 1872
He came here in 1872 from Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, when his health was affected by overwork through loyalty to his patients. He bought the drugstore at Ferry Avenue and Broadway, remaining there for many years. It was there Supreme Court Justice Ralph W. E. Donges spent his boyhood.
There, too, Dr. Clarence B. Donges and Attorney Raymond Donges were boys. Grant E. Kirk, clerk in his store, later becoming a physician and for several years a member of council and at one time being prominently boomed for mayor, married their sister. Dr. Donges was elected to council in 1878 on the Democratic ticket, itself an evidence of the high regard in which he was held, for the Eighth Ward generally was rock-ribbed Republican. Until the early part of this century he resided in his old place, but later went to Broadway and Clinton Streets. In later years, after he had retired, he was city assessor, “just to keep busy.” He died a few years ago, well in his 80s, mourned by a great host of Camdenites.
There was another widely known Centreville family of the old days, that of Samuel Mills, who had his own abattoir at Broadway and Jackson Street, where city-dressed meats were provided before the days of car refrigeration brought supplies from the great packing places in Chicago. His son, Charlie, was long a member of the Board of Education, while another, William, was a city councilman. Edward Mills, another son, was excise commissioner 35 years ago in the days when there was plenty of trouble with Sunday sellers.
Cornelius Schepperkotter was a factor in politics down that way, too, having a grocery store on Ferry Avenue at Ninth, later moving to the southwest corner when the Charles Sumner School was built. That school was torn down two years ago for the recreation center. Schepperkotter was a member of the old Board of Public Instruction in the late 90’s, named by Mayor Cooper B. Hatch. In later years and until his death, he was superintendent of Evergreen Cemetery. He was father of Mrs. Frank S. Albright, wife of City Clerk Albright.
Frank Covely
Shortly after the New York shipyard was opened, there moved to the “Hill” Frank D. L. Covely, who became a joiner and for years was foreman of the joiner shop. He was widely known as a secret society man and also as an effective campaign speaker for the G. O. P. He was a member of the Board of Education.
He sought to go to council, but that was at the time Kirk was a power in the ward. Covely laughingly used to tell of a meeting all set for him from which all save the colored folk were drawn away through strategy of his party opponents. But for ten years he was a member of the Board of Recreation Commissioners.
That movement owed much to his work. Nor did he forget his colored friends, for he had a playground established for them at Ferry Avenue and Phillips Street and the large one [Staley Park] at Seventh and Jefferson streets. Long afterward that was named for another city official, but Covely’s friends said it should have been for him, as a monument to his services for the boys and girls of Centreville. He died a few years ago at Bellmawr in his 70s, after a hectic experience as a chicken raiser at Port Norris.
There, too, was William Dorrell, superintendent of the old “Narrow Guage” who was one of the leading spirits in the paving of Broadway, nearly 60 years ago the big issue of that section. He lived in a house along the railroad still standing, as the hospital and dispensary of the shipyard.
Mention has been made of the Ferrises, the Helmbolds, the Yeagers, of Squire James D. Chester and Squire F. Joseph Rouh. There was also William O. Thompson, the leading contractor down that way for many years and Theodore Tiedeken, who established the wagon works on Van Hook Street, Martin Ewe, who had the hotel at Broadway and Emerald, and down the street a bit James Croker, who operated Tammany Hall. Forty years ago there was one of the best young athletes of the city, Thomas Nicholas, now retired Camden fire chief. He was down in old no. 3 with Bill Rose, long a fire captain, Bill Miller, Al James, Sam Lodge, Gus Dold and Jim Ware.
Many of these old timers have passed on, but others are still in the flesh but scattered to all parts of the city but it may be said the survivors look back on the days that were down there in Centreville with an interest that does not dim with the passing years.