Introduction
SETH DANIEL MONNELL was born in New Jersey on December 15, 1874 to John Monnell and his wife, the former Frances E. Griffin. The family name appears in some records as “Monnell” and in others as “Monell.” Camden Fire Department records from 1931 have it as Monnell. In the late 1870s and early 1880s the Monnells lived at 809 Mount Vernon Street, the home of Frances’ parents, Seth D. and Margaret Griffin. Besides Seth there were three other children in 1880: older sister Maggie, and younger siblings John and Ella. Sisters Amelia and Jane came along in the 1880s. John Monnell worked at different times as a laborer, as a casting cleaner, and as an iron chipper. These seem to indicate that he generally worked around iron foundries and forges. The Monnells appear to have moved to Waterford Township in the mid-1880s. Seth Monnell, however, either stayed in Camden with his grandparents or returned in his late teens. The 1894–1895 Camden City Directory lists him at 923 South 8th Street, working as a laborer. The 1895–1896 edition shows him living at 813 Mount Vernon Street, working at the R.D. Wood & Company Iron Works as a laborer. He had wed, and his wife Mattie worked as a dressmaker. By 1896 he had found work as a railroad conductor. Seth and Mattie Monnell moved to 1012 South 8th Street prior to the compilation of the 1897 Camden City Directory, and remained at that address into 1899. By the spring of 1900 they had moved, along with Mattie’s two daughters from a previous marriage, Hannah and Viola Drummond, to 744 Mount Vernon Street. He stayed at that address through at least 1905.
Seth D. Monnell was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on February 3, 1904. The 1910 Census shows that the Monnell family had moved to 708 Mount Vernon Street. Seth Monnell was still at this address when he registered for the draft in September of 1918. When the census was taken in January of 1920 Seth Monnell had moved to 714 Mount Vernon Street. Sadly, he was now a widower. He was living with his widowed mother-in-law, Mrs. Martha A. Drummond, and stepdaughter Viola. He remarried shortly after the census was taken. The 1924 City Directory has Seth D. Monnell and his wife Laura at 778 Walnut Street.
When the 1927 City Directory was compiled Seth Monnell had left Camden and the Camden Fire Department. The 1930 census lists him in Westville, New Jersey. By 1931 he had moved to 52 Jackson Road in Berlin, New Jersey. His older sister Margaret had married Frank Blaese and lived for well over 50 years in Berlin before her passing in 1952.
Seth Monnell died on September 1, 1946 in Philadelphia.
SIXTEEN APPOINTED TO FIRE DEPARTMENT
Camden Evening Courier —
Men Selected from Every Ward Throughout the City.
EIGHT TO GO TO THE NEW HOUSE
On account of the illness of its chairman, Dr. Frank Neall Robinson, the fire committee of City Council last night met at Dr. Robinson’s residence, 518 Linden street. The principal object of the meeting was to recommend names for additional appointments in the Fire Department.
Among the sixteen fortunate ones were Rollo Jones and Charles Cook, of the First ward; James White and Harry C. Anderson, Second ward; Ephraim Davis, Tenth ward; Samuel Sheer and E. Finley, Third ward; Martin Carrigan, Fourth ward; Joseph Daly, Fifth ward; Joseph Ernest, Sixth ward; William Buzine, Seventh ward; William Munson, Charles Sturgis, Eighth ward; William Whitzell, Ninth ward; Joseph Till, Jr., East Camden.
William Miller, Eighth ward; John H. Vickers and F. Morse, Twelfth ward.
EIGHTEEN NEW FIREMEN NAMED
Camden Post-Telegram —
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 Monnell, William 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.
MORE FIREMEN FOR CAMDEN
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Made Necessary by the Erection of a New Engine House
The Fire Committee of Camden City Council have appointed the following firemen: Charles Cook, James White, Harry Anderson, Samuel Sheer, Edward Finley, Martin Carrigan, Joseph Daly, Joseph Ernest, Seth Morrell, William Buzine, Charles Sturgis, Samuel T. Whitezell, Ephraim T. Davis, J. Oscar Till, J. H. Vickers, Frederick Morse, Rollo Jones and William Miller. Jones and Miller will go on duty at once, and the others on January 1, by which time it is expected the new fire house at Twelfth and Federal streets, will be completed.
The new men will be distributed among the older companies. The new company will be made up of experienced men from the other companies.
NEW FIREMEN ADDED TO CAMDEN'S FORCE
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Spreading of the City’s Department Necessitates the Appointment of More Firemen
Camden City Council’s Fire Committee last night appointed additional firemen, the increased force being necessary by reason of the spreading of the department. The following are the new firemen: Charles Cook, First ward; James White and Harry Anderson, Second ward; Edward Finley, Third Ward; Martin Carrigan, Fourth ward; James Willis, Fifth ward; Harry Green, Sixth ward; Seth Monnell and Edward Buzine, Seventh ward; Charles Sturgis and William Miller, Eighth ward; Samuel Witzel, Ninth ward; Ephraim Davis, Tenth ward; J. O. Till, Eleventh ward; J. H. Vickers and Fred Morse, Twelfth ward.
Three Firemen Met Death in Camden Blaze
Philadelphia Inquirer —
THREE FIREMEN MET DEATH IN CAMDEN BLAZE
Trapped in Fire at the Old Sixth Regiment Armory They Perished in Flames
NINE OTHER PERSONS RECEIVED INJURIES
Three firemen were killed and nine persons injured at a fire last night which destroyed the old armory building at Bridge avenue, West and Mickle streets, Camden, causing a loss estimated at $50,000.
The dead firemen are: GEORGE SHIELDS, 525 Kaighn avenue, member of the Kaighn avenue chemical company. WILLIAM HILLMAN, 229 Beckett street, of the Kaighn avenue chemical company. WILLIAM JOBES, 576 Line street, member of Engine Company No. 2.
The Injured
The Injured
The injured, all of whom will recover, are: Josiah Sage, 917 South Eighth street, Kaighn avenue company, cut head and face; Seth Monnell, 744 Mt. Vernon street, Kaighn avenue company, scalp wounds; George Quinn, 516 Line street, Kaighn avenue company, cut face; Martin Carrigan, 516 Clinton street, Engine Company No. 1, lacerated face and hands; J. W. Simpson, 551 Cedar street, Engine Company No. 2, lacerations of scalp and face; James Elberson, 628 North Fourth street, Engine Company No. 4, contused wounds of the legs; William Elberson, 231 Taylor avenue, Engine Company No. 2, injured about the back; Charles Worthington, 1017 Penn street, Engine
Continued on Second Page—Fourth Column
Company No. 3, internally injured; Harry Dease, a citizen, cut about the face.
The six o’clock whistles were blowing when smoke was seen issuing from the northeast corner of the building. A moment later two boys ran out of a door, one of whom notified Policeman Isaac Toy that the structure was on fire. The officers immediately turned in an alarm. In rapid succession other alarms were given, until the entire department was on the scene.
One of the first companies to arrive was the Kaighn avenue truck. As the men drove up to the scene great tongues of flame were fast eating their way through the yellow pine timbers of which the interior was constructed. The main doors at the entrance on Mickle street were burst open and the firemen entered amid a perfect shower of sparks and falling debris. In this party were the three ill-fated firemen, Dease, and Fire-
men Harry Haines, Joseph Ernest, George Quinn, Seth Mounell and Joseph Gail.
After great difficulty the men worked their way into the blazing building about twenty feet. Dense volumes of smoke almost suffocated them and several dropped to the floor.
Dash for the Doors
While the firemen were waiting for the water a false ceiling thirty feet above them and composed of floor boards began cracking and bending. A shout of warning was given by Dease, and he and his companions made a dash for the doors. It was impossible to see a foot before them, and all blindly groped their way to the open doors but Jobes, Shields and Hillman. That they did not come out of the building was not known for several minutes later. Then reports were circulated that they had been taken to nearby houses, but these were found to be false. Their companions then tried to work their way back to their assistance,
but by this time the interior was a seething furnace.
Subsequently, when the blaze had been somewhat subdued, firemen and policemen instituted a search for the missing men. Where the latter had been there was a great pile of blackened timbers and twisted iron. After vigorous efforts this was removed.
Finding the Bodies
First there came to light Shield’s helmet, and a few feet distant his body and those of Hillman and Jobes, scorched and blackened almost beyond recognition, were found. It was then learned how they had met their deaths. Instead of going toward the open doorway they had evidently become bewildered and, turning, ran into a toilet room to which there was no outlet. There they were quickly cut off from their comrades and, becoming unconscious from the smoke, all three dropped to the floor, where death overtook them.
The bodies were carried out and taken to the Morgue.
In the meantime every portion of the structure became a mass of flames. Fed by the pine, great tongues of fire sprang into the air, across Mickle and West
streets, where the dwellings were badly scorched. The families residing in these in several instances became panic-stricken and began removing their household effects. Men, women and children ran excitedly about. It is owing to the excellent work of the firemen that these structures were not destroyed.
Spectacular Blaze
Chief Elfieth quickly concluded there was no hope of saving the armory and he directed a dozen lines of hose toward the dwellings, many of which became so hot that the streams of water fairly sizzled.
The fire was a spectacular one, lighting up the heavens for miles around. Thousands of persons crowded the thoroughfares leading to the blaze, but excellent order was preserved under the direction of Acting Chief of Police Schregler, who quickly had the streets roped off and guarded by the officers.
There was considerable danger at first from falling electric wires, which spluttered among the firemen and ofttimes amidst the onlookers. These wires also fell across the Pennsylvania Railroad Company’s tracks on Bridge avenue and suburban trains were stalled for over an hour. At one time the flames approached so near the passenger coaches that they had to be taken back into the yard.
Stubborn Blaze
For three hours the firemen fought the flames before they got them under control and it was not until an early hour this morning that they left the smouldering ruins.
The building was occupied by several concerns, including the Camden Bowling Alleys Company, whose loss amounted to $6000; F. G. Hitchener, wall paper, loss $1000; Sperry & Hutchinson, household articles, loss $2000; William Morgenweck, lumber, loss $500, and M. W. Taylor, theatrical scenery, loss $500.
The houses badly scorched and their occupants follow: 102 West street, John Sharwood; 104, vacant; 106, John Ackerman; Lewis Certain; 110, Richard Carpenter; 112, and 114, Daniel Mehlin; 120, Mrs. Ida Paul; 122, Mrs. Farley; 124, John Campbell; 126, Harry Chase; 416 Mickle street: John Widden; 418, Nelson Hart; 420, H.-W. Wilson; 422, Jules Bosch; 424, Gardner Corson; 426, Mrs. Borquin.
The stable immediately adjoining on
the west side of the armory, and belonging to C. M. Alcott, was flooded with water. At this place there were forty horses, all of which were rescued.
Formerly a Market
The destroyed building was erected in 1873, by a number of well-known Camden men, as the Farmers’ and Merchants’ Market. From the first it was not a success, and subsequently became known as the Camden Opera House. After a more or less successful season the promoters of this scheme closed the doors. In 1886 the building was purchased by the State as an armory for the old Sixth Regiment, N. G. N. J. For ten years Camden’s citizen soldiers drilled and gave balls and receptions in the building. When the regiment moved to the new armory on Haddon avenue the old structure was cut up into several rooms and had been used by many different concerns. Recently it was purchased by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company to make way for the elevated railroad. All the tenants had been ordered to vacate.
The origin of the fire is unknown. Incendiarism is hinted at and Mayor Ellis declared he will detail the detectives on the case to-day to make a rigid investigation.
Speaking of the matter, he said it is very peculiar that most of Camden’s fires occur about the time the firemen are at their meals. This has been the case in most every blaze if any importance in the city. The Mayor also highly commended the excellent work of the men in preventing a spread of the flames.
Negro Fought Firemen
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Accused by Woman of Attacking Her on a Lot
The frantic cries of a woman for assistance late Saturday night aroused the members of the Kaighn avenue fire company in Camden. When Firemen Albert Hayden, Seth Monnell and William Rose ran across an adjoining lot they encountered a tall negro armed with a knife. A desperate but brief struggle ensued when the negro was captured. Subsequently Nettie Dickson, of 625 Sycamore street, walked into the fire house with her right thumb nearly severed. She said the man attacked her and during the struggle he cut her with the knife.
The negro was taken to the City Hall, where he gave the name of William Byers, who is also known to the police as “Sunlight.”
Firemen’s Association Officers Elected
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association has elected these officers: President, Lewis Buzine; first vice president, Wright Cox; second vice president, Seth Monnell; treasurer, William Elberson; recording secretary, William Miller; financial secretary, William Rose.
Carriage Accident
Philadelphia Inquirer —
While responding to an alarm of fire early yesterday morning the carriage containing Assistant Chief George Cox and Driver Seth Monnell struck and ran over Dennie Ryan, 53 years old, of 439 South 3rd Street, at Broadway and Kaighn Avenue. At Cooper Hospital it was found Ryan had been badly cut and bruised, but not seriously injured.
Fireman Fred Hall Buried
Philadelphia Inquirer —
With fellow firemen acting as pall-bearers, the funeral of Fireman Fred Hall, who died Wednesday after several weeks of illness, took place yesterday from his home at 807 Mt. Vernon Street, Camden. The services were in charge of Rev. William Brubaker, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. The pall-bearers were Firemen Martin Clark, J. N. Ellis, William Rose, George Hunt, Seth Monnell and John McTaggart, all connected with the company of which Hall was a member. In honor of him Nos. 1 and 2 firehouses were closed for two hours. Interment was made in Harleigh.
Shickshinny
Wilkes-Barre Times —
World War I Draft Card
14 Firemen Win City Promotions
Camden Daily Courier —
Fortunate Members Of Department Are Being Congratulated By Friends
NEW HOUSE AT FAIRVIEW
Fourteen members of the local fire department were being congratulated today upon their promotions to higher positions in the department.
The promotions were authorized at the meeting of the fire committee of City Council last night and will take effect upon the opening of the new fire house at Yorkship Village.
Lieutenants James White, Horace Cairns, Mordecai Clark and John Vickers have been advanced to the rank of captain. Charles Watkins, Herman Kreher, John Hunt, George Hunt, James McDermott and William Miller will wear lieutenants’ chevrons. Harry Selby has been promoted to the rank of engineer, while Joseph Daley, Roy Smith and Seth Monall were made stokers.
White is to succeed William Madison, who goes on the pension list at No. 5 house, while Watkins will succeed White.
The other eleven men will form the nucleus of the force at the new house in Fairview. The hosemen and laddermen for the house have not as yet been appointed.