Samuel Peoples

SAMUEL PEOPLES was born in Pennsylvania in November of 1864, and appears to have come to Camden around 1889. He married his Irish-born wife Mary Robinson around 1888. He first appears in Camden’s City directories in 1890, living at 621 North 2nd Street and working as an iron moulder in a foundry in Philadelphia. By 1892 he had moved to 1641 Broadway and stayed there into the following year. By the end of 1894 he had moved to 1613 Broadway where he remained into 1895. Once having moved to Broadway, Samuel Peoples became politically active in the early 1890s as a Republican from Camden’s Eighth Ward.

Samuel Peoples was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on November 27, 1894 as a replacement for William Bogia, who had passed away. He was assigned to Hook and Ladder Truck No 1, quartered on North 5th Street between Arch and Market Streets. When Samuel Peoples was first assigned to Hook and Ladder Truck No 1, the company was led by Foreman Benjamin L. Kellum; the tillerman was Peter S. Gray; and the laddermen consisted of Steward D. Bakley, John Gray, Edward Weston, Samuel Peoples, and Joseph Logue.

The 1896 City Directory shows Samuel and Mary Peoples at 525 South 2nd Street. By 1897 they had moved to 606 Point Street.

On November 27, 1899 Samuel Peoples was promoted to foreman, the equivalent of Captain, of Hook and Ladder Company No 3.

The 1897 City Directory shows Samuel Peoples at 606 Point Street, and when the 1900 Census was taken Samuel Peoples, wife Mary, and daughter Vera were living at 606 Point Street in North Camden. Also living with them at the time of the census were Mary’s sister Lydia and her husband David Robinson.

Sadly within a few years of his promotion, Samuel Peoples contracted tuberculosis, in that time a fatal disease with no cure. He was placed on the retired list in November of 1904 and moved to California, where it was thought that the climate might alleviate his symptoms. Samuel Peoples died at Monrovia, California on December 31, 1905. He was brought home to New Jersey and buried at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden. Samuel Peoples was survived by his wife and daughter, who were living at 604 North 2nd Street when the 1910 Census was enumerated. Vera Peoples was still living at that address as late as January of 1920.

The Republican Executive Committee Decided the Differences Last Night

The Republican City Committee last evening settled the controversy over the Councilmanic nomination in the Eighth ward by the selection of Edward A. Mills. The contestants were John E. Gunby, Benjamin Mellor and Samuel Peoples. The Committee also decided that Butler Lee received the regular nomination for Constable in the Second ward.

The Fourth Ward Republican Executive Committee also met and placed in nomination for Council Albert Barber, to fill the vacancy caused by the declination of Dr. W. S. Jones.

The Fire Commissioners last evening appointed Samuel Peoples, of the Eighth ward, to a position in the fire department, made vacant by the death of William Bogia.

Camden Councilmen From East Side Split on Selecting Appointees

There Is Also Trouble in the Second Ward — Benjamin Kellum Made Assistant Chief — Other Promotions

The Camden Fire Commissioners last evening selected firemen for the five new fire companies from all the wards except the Second, Eleventh and Twelfth, as the Councilmen in these wards could not agree on the candidates the appointments were laid over until Monday evening next.

In the Second ward the Councilmen have agreed on John W. Vanhart. The other candidates are W. Scott Franklin, backed by Freeholder Whyte, and Edgar Bolton, who is the choice of Mayor Hatch and Councilman McGill. Bolton will probably be selected.

In the Eleventh ward a meeting was held by the Councilmen and the candidates agreed upon. Councilman Arnold has since repudiated the agreement, and last evening presented a new set of names to the conference of the commissioners. Councilman Longacre presented those previously agreed upon.

In the Twelfth ward Councilman Lee submitted names in opposition to those of Councilman Leas. It is quite probable that the choice of Councilmen Leas and Longacre, who are members of the Fire Committee, will be selected.

Benjamin Kellum, foreman of Truck No. 1, was appointed assistant chief. He will have charge of the East Side companies.

Charles Robinson, of the Seventh ward; George B. Wade, of the Sixth ward; Albert Jones, of the Ninth ward; George Cox, of the Third ward; Edward Weston, of the Ninth ward, and Samuel Peoples, of the Fifth ward, were elected foremen. They will be assigned to their posts of duty on Monday.

The selection of new firemen was as follows: First ward, Harry B. Middleton, Harry Burroughs; Third ward, Robert W. Colkett, William G. Hillman; Fourth ward, James E. Navins, Charles Todd; Fifth ward, Daniel Smith, Peter B. Carter; Sixth ward, Alfred Hayden, Henry Elliott; Seventh ward, Josiah Sage, Samuel Price; Eighth ward, William Rose, Charles Sturgis; Ninth ward, Daniel Grimes, Harry Wagner; Tenth ward, Augustus Kester, William Simpson.

The commissioners presented the bell now in the William Penn hose house, East Side, to the First Baptist Church.

Mayor Hatch’s Candidates Were Pushed to the Front

Increase in Camden Fire Department Agreed Upon After Sharp Contest

The trouble over the selection of new firemen from the Second, Eleventh and Twelfth wards of Camden was settled at an executive session of the Fire Commissioners last evening. John W. Vanhart and Edgar Bolton, backed by Mayor Hatch and Councilman McGill, were selected from the Second ward, and Councilman Longacre in the Eleventh ward and Councilman Leas in the Twelfth landed their candidates.

Prior to the meeting a delegation of Second ward Republicans marched to fire headquarters wearing badges inscribed, “For firemen, Second ward, John W. Vanhart and W. Scott Franklin.” The latter was a candidate against Bolton, who also had a number of friends present. There was no opposition to the appointment of Vanhart.

As the delegation crowded in on the second floor of the fire house there was a cracking noise that sounded as if the floor was giving away. This caused a rush, but the alarm soon subsided.

The Commissioners were in secret session for nearly a half hour before they finally settled the contest over the Second ward appointments. Mayor Hatch, Councilman McGill and Freeholder Whyte were each called before the Commissioners. The latter favored the appointment of Franklin. After the Second ward appointments were settled it did not take long to decide upon the new firemen from the Eleventh and Twelfth wards. Councilman Arnold, who has been opposing Councilman Longacre’s candidates in the Eleventh ward, was not present, neither was Councilman Lee, who was opposing the men backed by Councilman Leas in the Twelfth ward.

The men selected for firemen from these two wards are as follows: Eleventh ward, Robert Gich, Joseph Till, Edward Kelly and Christian Stark; Twelfth ward, Samuel Collins, William Madison, John Renner and Josiah Pedigree.

The following were promoted to foremen: George F. Cox, foreman Hook and Ladder Company No. 1; George Wade, Hook and Ladder Company No. 2; Samuel Peoples, Hook and Ladder Company No. 3; Charles Robinson, Chemical Engine Company No. 1; Edward Weston, Hose Company No. 1, East Side; Albert C. Jones, Hose Company No. 2, East Side.

The appointments, together with those made last Thursday evening, will be confirmed by City Council to-morrow night.

The Fire Committee of Camden City Council has placed Foreman Samuel Peoples, of No. 4 Fire House, and Driver John Ware, of Engine Company No. 3, on the retired list.

Sixteen of the Men Will Not Go on Duty Until July Next

Two Others to Fill Vacancies

City Council’s Fire Committee last night named 18 new firemen. Sixteen of these men will not go on duty until July 1, next, at which time the new fire house will be ready for service, while the other two, who were named to fill vacancies, will begin duty the first of next year.

It must not be inferred that the sixteen new men will all be assigned to the new company. Experienced men from the several houses, with one or two of the new ones, will make up Company No. 5, while the rest of the raw recruits will be apportioned among the several houses.

Rollo Jones, of the First ward, and William Miller, of the Eighth ward, are the men to go on duty January 1. They fill the vacancies caused by the retirement of John Ware and Samuel Peoples.

The others selected are: First ward—Charles Cook. Second ward—James White, Harry Anderson. Third ward—Samuel Sheer, Edward Finley. Fourth ward—Martin Carrigan. Fifth ward—Joseph Daly. Sixth ward—Joseph Ernest. Seventh ward—Seth Monell, William K. Buzine. Eighth ward—Charles Sturgis. Ninth ward—S. T. Whitezell. Tenth ward—Ephraim T. Davis. Eleventh ward—J. Oscar Till. Twelfth ward—J. H. Vickers, Frederick Morse.

All the appointees must pass a physical examination which will be made by Dr. W. H. Iszard.

William Hertline, connected with headquarters, has been suspended pending a trial on a charge made by Chief Elfreth. The case will be heard on Monday night.