Theodore Verlander

THEODORE VERLANDER was appointed to the Camden Fire Department in September of 1871 to replace Charles Evans as an extra man with the Hook & Ladder Company, the original designation of what is now Ladder Company 1. He had previously worked as a machinist.

Theodore Verlander was born in New York around 1838. He married in the late 1850s. The Verlanders were living in Pennsylvania when his wife Amanda bore a son, Francis H. “Frank” Verlander, around 1860.

Theodore Verlander enlisted as a Private in Company K, Pennsylvania 36th Infantry Regiment on June 4, 1861. This regiment was the 7th of the Pennsylvania reserve regiments. It was organized at West Chester, ordered to Washington on July 21, 1861, and there mustered into the U. S. service on the 27th for a three years’ term. At Tennallytown, in August, it was assigned to the 2nd brigade of the reserves under Brigadier General George G. Meade. Stationed at Great Falls and later at Tennallytown, the troops constantly expected an engagement with the forces in the vicinity, but none occurred until the affair at Dranesville, Virginia, in December, in which the 3rd brigade won a victory, but the 2nd arrived too late to participate. At Mechanicsville the part of the regiment was not important, but at Gaines’ Mill it was in the thick of the fight and its losses were heavy. It was active at Glendale; in reserve at Malvern Hill; met with heavy losses at Antietam.

Theodore Verlander received a disability discharge and mustered out on November 13, 1862. He returned to his wife and son, and brought his family to Camden, where in 1863 another son, Theodore A. Verlander was born. Two more sons came afterwards, Clarence and William.

As stated above, Theodore Verlander was appointed to the Camden Fire Department in September of 1871. He was then making his home at 411 Cedar Street in North Camden. He was dismissed from the Camden Fire Department on October 22, 1872.

When the 1878–1879 City Directory was compiled Theodore Verlander was living at 815 Kimber Street. By the time the 1880 Census was taken he had moved to 615 Pearl Street, where he lived through 1884. By the following year he had moved to 804 Linden Street. He then was working as a machinist in Philadelphia. The 1887–1888 and 1888–1889 City Directories state that Theodore Verlander was residing at 210 York Street and was still working as a machinist.

Theodore Verlander passed away on November 14, 1889, survived by his wife and sons Frank, Theodore, Clarence, and William. Amanda Verlander was approved for her Civil War widow’s pension on December 20, 1889.

Theodore Verlander was a member of the Thomas M.K. Lee Post 5, G.A.R. He was active with New Jersey Lodge No. 1, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he also had been a founding member, in 1868, of Council No. 20 of the Order of United American Mechanics.