William S. Mountney Sr.

WILLIAM SAMUEL MOUNTNEY was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 10, 1893 to David and Jennie Mountney. The family was living in Philadelphia when the Census was taken in 1910, and included a baby sister, Ida, six months of age. It appears that he and his sister were orphaned by 1910. William Mountney and his sister were boarding with Kathe Entriken at 2729 Polk Avenue in Camden’s Cramer Hill. He was then working at a hosiery mill.

William S. Mountney was still living at 2729 Polk Avenue when he registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. He was then working as a laborer at the Victor Talking Machine Company factory at Market Street and Delaware Avenue in Camden. He married before going off to war with the United States Army. The 1919 City Directory, compiled late in 1918, shows him serving with the Army, while his wife Mary kept the home fires burning at 924 South 9th Street.

After serving overseas during World War I, William S. Mountney returned to Cramer Hill. By 1923 he had moved his family to 2818 Hayes Avenue. He worked as a laborer in the early 1920s. In late 1923 or early 1924 he was appointed to the Camden Fire Department, where he served for many years. He was still working as a Camden firefighter as late as 1947.

The 1930 Census shows William and Mary Mountney at 2818 Hayes Avenue with their children, William, Mary J., and Richard. William S. Mountney was still at that address as late as the fall of 1977.

William S. Mountney and his son William S. Mountney Jr. were very active members of the Corporal Matthews-Purnell Post 518 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, located at 2712 Hayes Avenue, a short walk from their home in Cramer Hill. Brother firefighter Michael Mungioli was also an active member.

William S. Mountney Sr. passed on April 27, 1978.

A dinner and get-together will be staged by former members of the 78th Division in Camden.

That was announced by William Mountney, of 2818 Hayes avenue.

“Several of the members of the division have suggested that we hold a dinner and get-together,” said Mountney, “and those who are interested are asked to write to me at the Hayes avenue address.”

Dinner Speakers Predict Camden Man Will Get Association Post

N. J. OFFICERS ATTEND

Robert Wonsetler, of the Camden Fire Department, was hailed as the next state president of the Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association at the 41st anniversary dinner of Camden Local, No. 5, last night. It was held in Kenney’s Cafe, with 150 members and their women folks attending.

The Camden man is now first vice president of the state association and state representative of the local. James Delaney, of Elizabeth, state president, and other state officers who were among the speakers predicted that when the local has its 42nd anniversary next year, it will have occasion to celebrate the election of Wonsetler as 1939 state president.

Other speakers were Mayor George E. Bruner, City Commissioners Mary W. Kobus and Frank J. Hartmann, Assemblyman Rocco Palese, Fire Chief John H. Lennox, Carlton W. Rowand, Bruce A. Wallace and Freeholder Edward J. Quinlan.

State officers attending, besides Delaney and Wonsetler, were Fred Bailey, Weehawken, second vice president; George Steele, Union City, recording secretary; Joseph Burke, Newark, financial secretary, and Jack Reed, Kearny, treasurer.

Surrogate Frank B. Hanna, who was toastmaster, referred to the three city commissioners present as “candidates for re-election without opposition.”

Commissioner Kobus, head of the city fire department, was applauded when she announced wash-stands and showers are being installed in local firehouses and that windbreakers and new fire nets have been ordered.

“The firehouses in Camden are in better condition than ever before,” Commissioner Hartmann said.

Officers of the Camden Local are Chester Andrus, president; W. Samuel Mountney, vice president; Nelson Andrews, recording secretary; Harrison Pike, financial secretary; Henry Zook, treasurer; Ralph Bingemann, sergeant-at-arms; William H. Harrison, chaplain, and Wonsetler, state representative.

Russell J. Anderson was chairman of the dinner committee, which included Harry Wagner, Arthur Batten, Harry Wilkers, David Humphries and Pike.

COMMITTEES were named at the last meeting of Corporal Mathews-Purnell Post 518, VFW, to plan for the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the post and its auxiliary.

The event will be observed with a dinner all the night of October 27 in the parish hall of St. Anthony of Padua Church, Twenty-eighth street and River avenue. Irving L. Stiefel, commander, has named as members of the anniversary committee Orris Smith, Alvah S. Ward, Paul H. Fredericks, John Morgandale, Albert Morgandale, Burrough Messick, Stephen Walters, Chester Knaub Sr., Louis Silverman, William Mountney, Albert Cornog and Michael Mungioli. Silverman and Messick are in charge of tickets. Members of the auxiliary committee include Mrs. Carrie Bean, co-chairman; Mrs. Victoria Nicktern, Mrs. Theresa Mungioli, Mrs. Edna Weaver, Mrs. Beatrice Fredericks, and Mrs. Esther Rowand.

The auxiliary will meet tonight at the post home, 2712 Hayes Avenue with Mrs. Nicktern, president presiding.

MATHEWS-PURNELL POST 518 met at 2712 Hayes avenue. Commander Irving L. Stiefel welcomed two members, Robert C. Barr and Charles E. Wilson, both veterans of War II.

Bernard Brown reported that Edward Bassett who underwent three operations in Cooper hospital, was improving at home. Chester Knaub Sr. reported Robert Louis was ill in Cooper Hospital. Robert Morgandale reported that the Last Man’s club of War II was progressing and will make a report later.

After the meeting, a buffet luncheon was sponsored by Commander Steifel in honor of the past commanders and officers of the post and the auxiliary. One hundred and twenty-five members and visitors attended. Among the guests were Mabel Dukes, District Chief Edgar R. Ellender of the Camden fire department, and William E. Hilbmann, who was introduced as the public relations officer of Camden county council. Steifel presented Hilbmann with a pot of flowers.

Hilbmann responded with a few remarks and said he could look back to 30 years ago when John C. Stroud and Raymond G. Price stopped at his house and suggested of the formation of a VFW post in Cramer Hill. “The go ahead sign was given and here’s what you see today, one of the finest and best VFW posts in the whole state,” Hilbmann said.

Steifel thanked the hosts for their services. They are past presidents of the 518 auxiliary, Mrs. Elizabeth Knaub, Mrs. Ruth Ibes, Mrs. Esther Rowand, Mrs. Margaret Worrell, Mrs. Edna Weaver, Mrs. Beatrice Frederick and Mrs. Etta Papaycik. Also introduced were Past Post Commanders Chester Knaub Sr., Peter Winters Sr., Michael Mungioli, William S. Mountney Sr., Stephen L. Walter and Alvah S. Ward. Other post officers introduced were Orris Smith Sr., vice-commander; Robert Cornog Jr., vice commander; Chester Knaub Sr., quartermaster; Burroughs Messick, adjutant; Stephen L. Walter, chaplain; Joseph Hasher, public relations.

Others present were Chester Knaub Jr., John Morgandale, William Mountney Jr., Frederick Sauers, James Flanigan Sr. and James Flanigan Jr. Auxiliary officers were Victoria Nicktern, president; Mary Clifford, Senior vice president; Mrs. Betty Horner, junior vice president; Mrs. Ruth Ibe, secretary; Mrs. Etta Papaycik, chaplain; Mrs. Filomena, conductress, and Mrs. Anna Mathews, Mrs. Edna Flanigan and Mrs. Millie Pettit, guards.