Introduction
WILLIAM H. DAY was born in May of 1860 to Samuel B. Day and his wife Ellen. He was one of at least five children, coming after George and before John, Alphonso and Ella. His father worked as a brick mason. The 1869 Camden City Directory indicates that Samuel B. Day was living in the 600 block of Chestnut Street. The family appears in the 1872 City Directory in South 7th Street, below Division Street. By 1874 they had relocated to Birch Street in North Camden. The 1878 City Directory shows the family at 622 Cedar Street. They moved to 537 Birch Street prior to the enumeration of the 1880 Census. When the 1900 Census was taken, William H. Day and his sister Ella, both unmarried, were still living with their parents at 537 Birch Street.
When the Census was taken in 1880, William H. Day worked as a clerk in a hardware store, but by 1881 had gone to work as a carpenter. He was named as Camden’s building inspector on January 1, 1907 during the administration of Mayor Charles H. Ellis. He succeeded William T. Steinmetz in the position after Steinmetz’s death in December of 1906. William H. Day was still on the job as building inspector as late as 1923. He lost his position when Victor S. King took over as Mayor in 1923. After leaving city government, William H. Day went into business as a contractor.
A carpenter by trade, William H. Day appears in the 1880 Census and 1881 and 1882 City Directories at 537 Birch Street. The 1883 Camden City Directory has him at 261 Kaighn Avenue. From 1884 through 1921 William H. Day lived at 517 North 6th Street. A bachelor most of his life, William H. Day finally married at the age of 56. He and his wife Mary moved to 2929 Stevens Street in East Camden shortly before the 1922 City Directory was compiled, then within a year moved to 2935 Stevens Street. Sadly, by April of 1930 William H. Day was a widower. The 1930 Census shows him at 2935 Stevens Street along with his sister Ella, who had never wed. Their next door neighbor was Arthur Colsey, who would become Camden’s Chief of Police a few years later. Both William and Ella Day were living at the Stevens Street address in 1940. William H. Day was still living at 2935 Stevens Street in East Camden when the 1943 City Directory was compiled. They were not listed in the 1947 Directory, and may have both passed.
In the Political Whirl
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden in a Lively Congressional Contest.
ANTI-GRATZ WORKERS ENCOURAGED
Campaign Jottings of Interest Gathered at the City and State Committee Headquarters of Both Parties.
There was widespread interest in the Republican delegate election in Camden county last night. Delegates were chosen to the Congressional District Convention, which meets at Bridgeton on Thursday next. Hon. Thomas H. Dudley and Christopher Bergen were the rival candidates, and the latter’s friends claim to have carried every ward in the city.
During the voting at the Fourth ward polls Policeman Ikey Scheeve got into an altercation with two men named Richmond and Walters. It is alleged that he used a blackjack without provocation. The two men who were assaulted immediately engaged the services of a lawyer, who will cause Sheeve’s arrest to-day on the charge of assault and battery. Following are the delegates elected in Camden city and in the various townships:
First Ward—W. Baily, Isaac Githens, George Barrett, Frank Welch and Howland Croft.
Second Ward—J. Willard Somers, Frank C. Somers, John Wells, W. H. Day and Samuel Bakely.
Third Ward—Dilwyn Pettit, J. Milton Powell, David Freeman, Sr., George Denny and Albion Lane.
Fourth Ward—Everett Ackley, Samuel M. Gall, William Ireton, Joseph Brown and Howard Lee.
Fifth Ward—Christopher J. Mines, Jr., Frederick Parker, John H. Miller, David Rankin and Samuel Roach.
Sixth Ward—A. R. Dease, James Brown, Isaac Robinson, John Brother and James Hewitt.
Seventh Ward—John C. Edwards, M. D. Cornish, William K. Price, Reuben Gaskill and John W. Everman.
Eighth Ward—Samuel H. Mourey, William H. Smith, Herman Helmbold, E. Thompson and Thomas Watson.
Stockton township was carried by Dudley, and W. Harrison Livermore carried Woodbury. Centre, Delaware and Haddon townships of Camden county were carried by Bergen.
The Congressional district includes Camden, Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem and Cape May counties. The indications are that Congressman Hires will be renominated.
Many Seek Suicide’s Place
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Building Inspector William Steinmetz to Be Buried Thursday
Building Inspector William Steinmetz, who ended his life Saturday by stabbing himself in the neck, will be buried from his home, 1015 South Second street, Camden, on Thursday. Those intimately acquainted with him express little surprise over his act, because he had been despondent for months over the death of his wife.
There is considerable speculation as to who will be appointed by City Council as Building Inspector. Candidates have sprung up all over the city. While the Fifth ward wants the appointment because Steinmetz was from that district, it is said efforts are being made to prevail upon William Day, of the First ward, to accept the place, which pays $1200 a year.
Sensation Sprung in Camden’s Council
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Attempt Made to Have Committee Appointed to Investigate Affairs of Street Commissioner’s Office
Something of a sensation was occasioned at the reorganization of Camden City Council yesterday when Councilman Frederick Finkeldey endeavored to have adopted a resolution providing for the appointment of a committee of five to investigate the affairs of the office of Street Commissioner Louis Mohrman. He offered the resolution when the latter came up for reappointment. In seconding Councilman Finkeldey’s motion Councilman Wilson declared he had data in his possession which showed there were irregularities. The resolution was defeated by a vote of 19 to 2. Mohrman was reappointed.
Aside from this the reorganization was the usual cut and dried affair. All the old officers were reappointed with the exception of City Clerk Harry C. Kramer, who was succeeded by Isaac Bradley, the retiring Councilman from the Seventh ward. William H. Day was made building inspector to fill the vacancy caused by the suicide of William Steinmetz.
In his annual message Mayor Charles H. Ellis urged among other things that provision be made for mounted police in East Camden, the erection of an additional jail building, the installation of the Bertillon system for the identification of criminals, the increase of the present fire service by two additional companies, the necessity of establishing an auxiliary pumping plant.
It was general reorganization day among the civic bodies of Camden yesterday. The Excise Commission re-elected John Baker president, while Jacob Schiller was made inspector. Dr. Marcus K. Mines was elected president of the Board of Health, and at the reorganization of the Board of Education Edmund E. Read was elected president and Harry Sharp vice president.
Building Inspector Day Returns to Office After Illness
Philadelphia Inquirer —
After an absence of several weeks from an attack of blood poisoning in one hand, which necessitated an operation at the Homeopathic Hospital, Building Inspector William Day was in his office yesterday.
William H. Day
CAMDEN NEWS IN BRIEF
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden Democrats who follow the standard of Sheriff Mowrey are jubilant over the reappointment of Charles MacKillone as a member of the Camden County Board of Taxation. It is declared to be a victory for the Mowrey followers and as such indicates that he is the recognized head of Camden Democracy.
Promising to stay away from his wife and mother-in-law George N. Cook, accused of striking his young wife and terrorizing the household, was released on suspended sentence by Recorder Stackhouse.
Charles Smith, of 203 Steven street, has been appointed a city fireman to fill the vacancy occasioned by the recent death of Edward Finley.
Out of work, Daniel Burns, aged 32 years, of 1755 South Fourth street, drank carbolic acid. At Cooper Hospital it was stated the man has good chances for recovery.
Building Inspector Day has issued building permits to the Guarantee Realty Company for the erection of five dwellings on 1601 to 1609 Mt. Ephraim avenue, and for twelve from 1137 to 1159 Sherman street.
Working about electric lights at the Farr & Bailey oil cloth works, John Shimski, aged 31 years, of 1230 Sherman street, was shocked and fell. At Cooper Hospital it was found he had been injured about the back.
Inspector Day Issues $2.2 Million in Building Permits
Philadelphia Inquirer —
More home building is going on in Camden than at any time since the war, and many builders have plans ready for extensive operations when there is a further drop in the price of materials. During the past six months Inspector Day has issued permits for work estimated to cost $2,286,904. Included among the list are permits for 165 dwellings and three schools.
William H. Day