Warren H. Rich

Warren Howard Rich was born on June 24, 1894 in Mt. Holly, New Jersey to George Warren Rich and his wife, the former Ella M. Nutter. The family lived in the 900 block of Penn Street in the mid-1890s. The 1899 City Directory and the 1900 Census shows the family, which included younger siblings Florence and Herbert, at 1123 Marion Street. His father was working as a carpenter. They stayed there through 1902, then moved to 538 Grant Street. The 1906 Directory has them at 713 Mt. Vernon Street and the 1908 Directory gives the address as 126 North 36th Street. When the Census was taken in 1910 the Rich family was living at 2710 Westfield Avenue. George W. Rich worked as a carpenter during these years. By the end of 1910 he had moved to 126 North 33rd Street and had gone into business as a building contractor and builder. He later served as building inspector for the City of Camden.

Warren Rich married around 1914. He first appears in City Directories in 1915, at 3286 Westfield Avenue. The following year’s directory has him at 126 North 33rd Street, living with his parents. He and wife Cora and their children were living at 31 South 35th Street in East Camden and working as a carpenter when he registered for the draft in June of 1917. He had previously seen military service in the United States Naval Reserves. Before being called again to service, he took a job in one of Camden’s shipyards, and, as a defense worker, was not inducted into the Army.

The 1920 Census shows Warren Rich, his wife Cora and daughters Thelma and Vera at 2712 Cramer Street. He was then working as a shipyard carpenter. He was appointed to the Camden Fire Department in June 1920. The family continued to move frequently during the 1920s. Addresses include 2632 Federal Street in 1921, 602 South 5th Street in 1922, 433 Haddon Avenue in 1923, 1340 Argus Road in 1924, 2933 Westfield Avenue in 1927, 2985 Alabama Road in 1928, and 1131 Octagon Road in 1929 and 1930, then back to 2933 Westfield Avenue in 1931.

Apparently Cora Rich died in the mid-1920s. The 1930 Census indicates that he had custody of his daughters, and was living with a divorcee, Ida M. Renner and her 10-year-old son James. During the 1930s, daughter Thelma married Morris Odell, who would join the Camden Fire Department in 1941. Vera married Gilbert C. Graham.

The 1940 Census lists the Warren Rich family at 299 Marlton Avenue, and states that he had been at that address since 1935. His adult daughters were not at home, however his aged parents were living with him. Sadly, second wife Ida also passed away young, in 1945, but not before bearing a son, Warren H. Rich Jr.

By April of 1942 Warren Rich had moved to 2223 River Avenue in Cramer Hill, where he would live out his days.

Warren Rich retired from the Camden Fire Department in April of 1945. In April of 1963 he was selected to sit on Camden County’s grand jury.

Warren Howard Rich passed away on May 28, 1970. Warren Rich was survived by his son, Warren Jr., of the River Avenue address, and daughters Mrs. Vera Sweeney and Mrs. Florence Graham. He was buried at Arlington Cemetery in Pennsauken, near his wife Ida, and his father George W. Rich.

As stated above, Warren Rich’s son-in-law, Morris Odell, was a member of the Camden Fire Department. Grandson Robert Odell also made a career of the Camden Fire Department. Between grandson, father, and father-in-law there was 73 years of continuous service.

Herbert Bott Is Unopposed for Presidency of Camden Association

The Camden Police and Firemen’s Association will hold election of officers today at its headquarters, 1175 Whitman Avenue, from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Herbert Bott is unopposed for re-election as president. William Thorn is unopposed to replace Richard Middleton for financial secretary and Walter Vecander is unopposed for the new post of assistant financial secretary. All these are police officers.

The police trustees will be named from the following nine candidates: William Marter, George Ward, William Britner, Joseph Shreeve, William Schriber, Joseph Mardino, Joseph Dunnett, Leon Feltz and Russell Young. Two police sergeant-at-arms will be chosen from among Stanley Wirtz, Harry Cattell, Joseph Schultz and George Clayton.

Three candidates are seeking the post of vice president, which goes to a fireman. They are William Spencer, Charles Edwards and Albert Dukes. Warren Rich, a fireman, is slated to succeed himself as recording secretary and Winfield Leviseur is unopposed for the new post of assistant recording secretary, which goes to a fireman.

Four fireman trustees will be chosen from ten candidates. They are Charles Cook, Henry Baumgartel, Walter Eastlack, Arthur Batten, William Getner, William Toy, Lawrence Newton, James Young, Russell Anderson and William Taylor. Three firemen are seeking two posts as sergeants-at-arms. They are William Judge, John Mulligan and Furman Price.

Spencer Wins 3-Corner Fight for Vice-President of Association

Lauded by the members for his splendid work in behalf of the club, Herbert Bott, a patrolman attached to the Third Police District, last night was re-elected president of the Camden Police and Firemen’s Association.

The praise was heaped upon the patrolman following announcement that he had received 107 of 110 votes cast in yesterday’s balloting. He was unopposed for reelection.

In a three-cornered fight, William P. Spencer, a fireman, was elected vice president of the association. He received 73 votes. His opponents were Charles Edwards, given 12 votes, and Albert Dukes, 18 votes. Both are firemen.

Others unopposed for office were: William Thorn, financial secretary; Walter Vecander, assistant financial secretary; Warren Rich, recording secretary, and Winfield Leviseur, assistant recording secretary. The last two are firemen while the first two are policemen.

Lieutenant George Ward, Patrolman William Marter, and Firemen William Taylor, William Getner, James Young and Lawrence Newton were elected to the board of trustees.

Sergeants-at-arms named were Stanley Wirtz and George Clayton, police, and William Judge and John Mulligan, firemen. All had opposition.

After the ballots had been counted William H. Iszard, former assemblyman, appeared on behalf of the Elks Crippled Kiddies Committee, and asked police to support the wrestling show to be staged by that group February 13.