Introduction
STEPHEN PFEIL was born in New York City on December 26, 1854 to Martin Pfeil and his wife, the former Johanna Kurtz. He received a law degree from the University of New York in 1874, was admitted to the bar in 1875 and practiced law there for ten years. On March 23, 1882 at Trenton, New Jersey he married Ida Theone. The marriage produced two daughters, Ida and Julia, who both died young and a son, Hubert.
In 1888 Stephen Pfeil moved to Camden, New Jersey where for the most part he earned his living through writing. In 1892 his work as the co-author of Walsh’s Handy Book of Literary Curiosities was published. He began working the following year for the Philadelphia Record newspaper. He contributed articles for the Encyclopedia Americana in 1904 and 1908, and authored many other articles on political and legal matters for various political, legal, and economic publications.
Stephen Pfeil first appears in Camden City Directories in 1890 at 312 Penn Street, and was still there in 1892. According to the Directories he was in the underwear business in those years. The 1893 Directory has his address at 225 North 3rd Street and his occupation as journalist. The 1894 Directory lists him as a journalist living at 414 North 6th Street. The 1895 City Directory shows Stephen and Ida Pfeil at 421 Linden Street. The 1896 Directory has them at the same address, with Stephen Pfeil’s occupation as editor. The Pfeils moved to 423 Linden prior to the compilation of the 1897 Directory. Stephen and Ida Pfeil moved shortly after the compilation of the 1899 City Directory to 431 Linden Street.
Stephen Pfeil was active politically as a Democrat, from the time in 1872 when he cast his first vote for Samuel J. Tilden in the presidential race of that year. He was a delegate to the state convention in 1910. He campaigned for the Democrat nomination for Congress in 1911. He was unsuccessful in gaining the nomination, but he was appointed that year to the board of the New Jersey State Geological Survey. In 1915, when that board was absorbed by the newly-created New Jersey State Department of Conservation and Development, he was appointed to its governing board, and was reappointed for a four year term in 1916.
The 1914 City Directory shows Stephen and Hubert Pfeil in business at 225 Federal Street as advertising agents. The business, appropriately enough, was called Stephen Pfeil & Son.
Stephen Pfeil passed away at his home, 431 Linden Street, Camden on April 3, 1919. He was survived by his wife, the former Ida Theone. She remained at 431 Linden Street into 1920, lived at 419 Linden Street for two years, then crossed the street to 412 Linden, where she lived out her days. She passed away on October 18, 1943, survived by son Hubert Pfeil.
Stephen Pfeil Is Dead in Camden
Trenton Evening Times —
Stephen Pfeil, a member of the New Jersey State Board of Conservation and Development, and for years an editorial writer on the Philadelphia Record, died at his home in Camden Thursday. The funeral will take place from his home, 531 Linden Street, Camden, Sunday afternoon at 5 o’clock. Interment, which will be private, will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, Monday morning.
Mr. Pfeil was born in New York City, December 26, 1854, and was graduated from the Law Department of the University of New York in 1873. He practiced law in New York for some years and in 1888 moved to Camden since which time he engaged in literary work. He was co-author in 1892 of Walsh’s Handbook of Literary Curiosities. In 1893 he began as an editorial writer on the Philadelphia Record.
Mr. Pfeil in 1911 was appointed a member of the Geological Survey by President, then Governor Wilson. With absorption of the Geological Survey by the newly created State Department of Conservation and Development, Mr. Pfeil was appointed to the latter board by Governor Fielder. Mr. Pfeil was an active Democrat, and in 1910 was a delegate to the State Convention that nominated Woodrow Wilson for Governor. Mr. Pfeil was always a great admirer of the President.
Mrs. Pfeil, who survives her husband, was Miss Ida Thoene of this city.