Robert L. Knox
ROBERT LINDEL KNOX was born in Camden, New Jersey on April 6, in either 1888, 1892, or 1893, as he gave different answers to government officials at different times in his life. According to the 1895 New Jersey Census, his parents were William and Jennie Knox. William Knox apparently was an ill-tempered sort, and was in and out of trouble with the law on numerous occasions. His parents appear to have parted ways shortly thereafter, and shortly before the 1900 Census was enumerated his mother married Joseph Lane, son of former Camden Fire Department member Barton Lane and nephew of Camden Fire Department members James Lane, and Charles Lane.
The 1910 Census shows Robert L. Knox living with his grandparents, parents, and extended family at 310 Washington Street in South Camden. He was then working as a teamster for the American Ice Company, which sold coal and ice. By 1912 he had married and by the following year was living with his wife Rosalia at 822 Division Street. A son, Robert B. Knox, was born in 1913 but died in August of that year at the age of six months from an intestinal ailment.
Robert L. Knox was still working for American Ice when he registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. Another child had been born by this time. The Knox family was still living at 822 Division Street. During the years on Division Street, 821 Division lived was well-known local baseball player George Clayton. Both men worked for the American Ice Company. In January of 1917, while cutting ice at a lake in the Kirkwood section of Voorhees Township, both men took part in rescuing a skater who had fallen through the ice, with four other men, including a teenager, Raymond Burgess. Both Knox and Burgess would later join the Camden Fire Department.
On March 23, 1918 Robert L. Knox was appointed to the Camden Fire Department. By the end of 1918 he and his wife moved to 766 Pine Street, where they were residing when the 1919 Camden City Directory was compiled. He was still a member of the Camden Fire Department in January of 1920 when the census was enumerated. Sadly, he and his wife had lost their child, possibly during the flu pandemic of late 1918. The 1920 Census shows that Robert and Rosalia Knox were then living with his mother and her third husband, John Coates, at 802 South 6th Street.
By 1924 Robert L. Knox had left the fire department, possibly due to injury as he was collecting a pension of some sort in 1931, according to Fire Department records. He was living at 450 Henry Street.
The 1927 Camden City Directory indicates that Robert L. Knox had remarried. He was working as a taxi driver and living with his wife Martha at 811 Princeton Avenue. By 1929 they had left Camden and had moved to 721 Center Avenue in Collingswood. The 1930 Census shows him at that address, and states that he was a partner in a taxi business. Fire Department records from 1931 also show him at that address.
By the spring of 1942 Robert Knox was out of the taxi business and had returned to Camden. He and his wife Martha were then living at 224 Friends Avenue. He was then working at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyards. The 1947 City Directory lists him and his wife at 478 Newton Avenue. He was then working as a boiler fireman. New Jersey Bell Telephone Directories show him at that address as late as the fall of 1959.
By 1970 Robert L. Knox had left Camden. His last address according to the Social Security Administration was in Fortescue, Cumberland County, New Jersey. He passed away in July of 1968.
Skater Drowns at Forest Hill
Camden Post-Telegram —
Skater Drowns at Forest Hill
Charles Evans Loses His Life and Several Companions Have Narrow Escape.
SNOW CONCEALED DANGEROUS SPOT
One skater lost his life and several others narrowly escaped a like fate yesterday at Forest Hill Park by going through a hole over which there was a coating of snow. Upwards of 300 persons, mostly skaters, saw the tragedy. The dead man is Charles R. Evans, aged 19 years, of 189 South Thirty-second street, East Camden. He was a member of Company C, Third Regiment, N.J. N.G.
In attempting to rescue their companion, Harry Haas, aged 14 years, of 512 Walnut street, and Graham Wishart, aged 18 years, of 30 South Thirty-fifth street, almost met similar fate. In their frantic efforts to rescue those two, Wilbur Crane, of 1468 Haddon avenue, and Matthew Yingling, of Eighth and Florence streets, also broke through the ice and were dragged out to safety after much difficulty.
Evans, Haas and Wishart were skating together with Evans leading. They apparently forget the hole in the ice on the east bank opposite the sluice box and to the horror of all the three skaters disappeared into the water. Haas and Wishart came up immediately, but Evans did not reappear. Going to the rescue of the men in the water, Crane and Yingling were precipitated into the water. They attempted even then to help Haas and Wishart to the edge of the ice, but their strength was soon exhausted and they had to look to their own safety. They grasped the edge of the ice and tried to pull themselves clear of the water, but their efforts resulted only in the further breaking of the ice and they repeatedly slipped back into the water. Finally they managed to scramble out.
In the meanwhile long poles and ropes were secured and by means of those Haas and Wishart were dragged out more dead than alive. Evans had not yet appeared and the search for him as he was under the ice. Long poles, fitted with grappling hooks, were obtained, and Evans finally was drawn from the lake, after being under the water several minutes.
Noting a flicker of life remaining, Dr. Charles Jackson, summoned by automobile, worked over the stricken youth, but without avail. The youth was sent to the Homeopathic Hospital, where a lungmotor was called into service, but all efforts to revive him proved in vain. The others were taken home in police automobiles after drying out their clothes in the park house.
The fatality had little if any effect on the other skaters, who only stopped when the snow made skating out of the question.
Falling through a thin place in the ice while skating on the lake at Kirkwood, yesterday afternoon, Raymond Harris, aged 23 years, of 2219 Arch street, Philadelphia, had a narrow escape from death. He was rescued by a number of employes of the American Ice Company who heard his cries for help, who were cutting ice less than one hundred yards from where the young skater broke through.
The ice cutters, including Raymond Burgess, George Clayton, Charles Armstrong, Robert Knox, Arthur Kees and Joseph Rush, all of this city, lost no time in procuring boards and rushing to the scene of the near-tragedy. The boy had gone beneath the surface, but by probing in the hole the rescuers were able to catch hold of one of the boards in young Harris’ clothing and brought him to the surface.
Unconscious and apparently dead, the Philadelphian was carried to the engine house of the company, which is located near the lake and after several minutes time he was revived and given a hot bath. Later, after being administered medical attention, he left for his home, apparently none the worst for his trying experience.
Shipyard Wages Lure to Firemen
Camden Post-Telegram —
Shipyard Wages Lure to Firemen
Chief Presents Six Resignations at Meeting of Council Commission.
MERTZ IS CAPTAIN IN WHITSELL’S PLACE
Camden’s Fire Department has been hard hit by the call of the shipyards and death. The report of Fire Chief Peter B. Carter presented last night at the meeting of the Fire Committee of City Council showed six resignations, two deaths and one vacancy from the draft.
The resignations follows: Louis Neuman, No. 3 Truck Company; George H. Pursglove, No. 7 Engine Company; Roy De Haven, Julius Hubert and Harry W. Stone, No. 3 Truck Company, and Lieutenant Joseph Sparks, No. 7 Engine Company.
Deaths reported were Captain Samuel Whitzell, of No. 1 Engine Company, and William Elberson, of Headquarters. William Schucher, of No. 4, was drafted into the Army.
To take the place of Captain Whitzell, Lieutenant Walter Mertz, of the same company, was appointed captain, and Horace Kerns was made lieutenant. The following appointments were made by the Fire Committee: Robert L. Knox, 822 Division street, to fill place of Julius Hubert; Allen Palmer, 120 North Eleventh street, for vacancy of Louis Neuman; Clarence Pursglove, 751 Mt. Vernon street, taking place of his brother George; Anthony Paradise, 658 South Second street, filling place of Roy De Haven; Harry B. Maxwell, 422 North Sixth street, for vacancy of Harry W. Stone; Robert Welsh, 512 Borton street, vacancy of William Schucher, and William Vile, 570 Carman street, to fill place of Captain Whitzell.
The American La France Company was awarded the contract to furnish a new two-in-one motor apparatus for $10,000.
A petition from members of the Firemen’s Pension Fund asked that the rule of ten years’ apprenticeship be abolished in view of the wages paid men employed in other industries. The petition requests that all men in the department be placed on full salary at once. The petition will be presented to City Council.
Six Camden Firemen Quit for Better Jobs
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Six Camden Firemen Quit for Better Jobs
Higher Wages Lure Members of the Force to the Local Shipyard
High wages paid at shipyards is proving a big lure to the members of the Camden Fire Department, resignations of six laddies being presented to the Fire Committee of City Council yesterday by Chief Carter. The men quitting to become shipbuilders are Louis Neuman, George H. Pursglove, Roy De Haven, Julius Hubert, Harry W. Stone and Joseph Sparks. Their places were filled by the appointment of Robert Knox, Allen Palmer, Clarence Pursglove, Anthony Paradise, Harry B. Maxwell and Robert Welsh. Lieutenant Walter Mertz was made a captain to succeed Samuel Whitzell, deceased, and Horace Kerns was made a lieutenant. A contract was awarded to the American-La France Engine Company for a new motor engine. The price is $10,000.
World War I Draft Card
World War I Draft Card — Robert L. Knox
World War II Draft Card
World War II Draft Card — Robert L. Knox