William A. Madison
WILLIAM A. MADISON was born in Pennsylvania on October 8, 1867 to Edward Woods Madison and the former Susan Stevenson. By June of 1870 the family had moved to the town of Stockton, in Camden County, New Jersey. Edwin Madison then worked in a brickyard. Stockton was annexed to Camden in 1899, bringing what is now known as East Camden and Cramer Hill into the city.
William A. Madison married around 1891. His wife Lizzie gave birth to a daughter, Susie Madison, the following year. The Madisons were living in what was then the town of Stockton in the 1890s. In 1895 he was working as a Stockton policeman. The 1898 City Directory shows William A. Madison living at 6 Church Street, working as a motorman for the C & S Railway, a trolley car line. The Directory shows his younger brother, Edward Madison Jr., at 8 Church Street, and his parents at 2930 Westfield Avenue. Uncles Robert and Nathan Madison also lived in the neighborhood.
On November 27, 1899 William Madison was appointed to the Camden Fire Department, as part of a five company expansion.
The Census taken in June of 1900 shows William Madison working as a fireman. He and his wife and daughter were still living at 6 Church Street in East Camden when the Census was taken. By 1906 William Madison had moved to 10 Church Street, where he would live for at least the next 40 years. The 1906 City Directory indicates that his brother Edward Jr. had moved into the house at 6 Church Street, and it is likely that another relation had moved into 8 Church Street.
The 1910 Census shows William Madison living in a house he owned at 10 Church Street in East Camden with his wife Lizzie and daughter Susie. He was still working as member of the Camden Fire Department. The Madisons were still at that address when the 1920 Census was taken. Susie Madison had married James R. Donnelly, and a son James R. Donnelly Jr. was born in 1918. William Madison was still working for the Camden Fire Department at that time.
By the end of 1923 William A. Madison had left the Fire Department. He worked as a laborer in the mid-1920s. By April of 1930 he was working as a watchman at the Campbell Soup factory in Camden.
Camden Fire Department records from 1931 show William Madison still residing at 10 Church Street in East Camden. He had by this time retired and was collecting a pension. William A. Madison was still living at 10 Church Street as late as 1946. He passed away after a long illness on May 3, 1950.
Queer Idea of Law
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Thought an Officer Couldn’t Enter Except to Arrest for Murder.
After a jury in the Camden Criminal Court yesterday had acquitted Albert Schwetzer of assault and battery on Nicholas Parsons, Bernard Buenzle, in whose saloon, in Stockton, Parsons had been knocked senseless, was placed on trial for punching Policeman William Madison. Buenzle had no license, but that did not deter him from selling liquor. When the police raided the place the liquor seller fought against arrest and Policeman Madison nursed a sore jaw and a swollen eye for several days afterward. Buenzle told the jury that he fought the policeman because he thought they had no right to come into his place unless he was wanted for murder. He was convicted.
The jury in the case of William and Charles Anderson, charged with assault and battery on Otto Saml. of Berlin, acquitted William, but could not agree in the case of Charles. They were sent back to the jury room and at a late hour last night had not reached a verdict.
Want to Be Firemen
Philadelphia Inquirer —
There’ll Be Trouble in Finding Places for All Hands
To-morrow night’s session of the Fire Commissioners of Camden promises to be a lively one. Two firemen for the Second ward and four each for the Eleventh and Twelfth wards will be appointed. In the Second ward the candidates are John Vanhart, W. Scott Franklin and Edgar Bolton. Vanhart has been agreed upon by both factions. Franklin has the support of Freeholder Whyte and a large following, while Bolton is recommended by Mayor Hatch and Councilman McGill. Bolton’s appointment was expected at the last meeting of the Commissioners. Afterwards it was found that typewritten resolutions purporting to be signed by the same committee of the Second ward club which indorsed Bolton was sent to the Commissioners prior to the meeting urging the appointment of Franklin. The resolutions had the seal of the club attached. This caused the appointment to hang fire. It is now claimed by Bolton’s friends that the club did not indorse Franklin, as he is not a member. It is alleged that the signatures purporting to be those of the committee were not authorized.
In the Eleventh ward Councilmen Longacre and Arnold have not yet settled their differences. Councilman Longacre insists on the appointment of Robert Gick, Joseph Till, Edward Kelly and Christian Stark. Councilman Arnold claims the right to name Frank Powell and Lewis H. Sasse notwithstanding the fact that at a conference he agreed upon the names presented by Councilman Longacre. In the Twelfth ward Councilman Leas, the City and Ward Committeeman, and the Union Republican Club favor the naming of Samuel Collins, William Madison, John F. Renner and Josiah Pedigree.
Firemen Selected
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Mayor Hatch’s Candidates Were Pushed to the Front
Increase in Camden Fire Department Agreed Upon After Sharp Contest
The trouble over the selection of new firemen from the Second, Eleventh and Twelfth wards of Camden was settled at an executive session of the Fire Commissioners last evening. John W. Vanhart and Edgar Bolton, backed by Mayor Hatch and Councilman McGill, were selected from the Second ward, and Councilman Longacre in the Eleventh ward and Councilman Leas in the Twelfth landed their candidates.
Prior to the meeting a delegation of Second ward Republicans marched to fire headquarters wearing badges inscribed, “For firemen, Second ward, John W. Vanhart and W. Scott Franklin.” The latter was a candidate against Bolton, who also had a number of friends present. There was no opposition to the appointment of Vanhart.
As the delegation crowded in on the second floor of the fire house there was a cracking noise that sounded as if the floor was giving away. This caused a rush, but the alarm soon subsided.
The Commissioners were in secret session for nearly a half hour before they finally settled the contest over the Second ward appointments. Mayor Hatch, Councilman McGill and Freeholder Whyte were each called before the Commissioners. The latter favored the appointment of Franklin. After the Second ward appointments were settled it did not take long to decide upon the new firemen from the Eleventh and Twelfth wards. Councilman Arnold, who has been opposing Councilman Longacre’s candidates in the Eleventh ward, was not present, neither was Councilman Lee, who was opposing the men backed by Councilman Leas in the Twelfth ward.
The men selected for firemen from these two wards are as follows: Eleventh ward, Robert Gich, Joseph Till, Edward Kelly and Christian Stark; Twelfth ward, Samuel Collins, William Madison, John Renner and Josiah Pedigree.
The following were promoted to foremen: George F. Cox, foreman Hook and Ladder Company No. 1; George Wade, Hook and Ladder Company No. 2; Samuel Peoples, Hook and Ladder Company No. 3; Charles Robinson, Chemical Engine Company No. 1; Edward Weston, Hose Company No. 1, East Side; Albert C. Jones, Hose Company No. 2, East Side.
The appointments, together with those made last Thursday evening, will be confirmed by City Council to-morrow night.
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.