William Stanley Ablett
Private
Company B
104th Engineer Regiment
29th Infantry Division
Entered the Service from: New Jersey
Died: October 27, 1918
Buried at: Lot 376, Grave 3
New Camden Cemetery
NE Corner, Mt. Ephraim & Ferry Avenues
Camden NJ
William Stanley Ablett — Honor Card
Introduction
William Stanley Ablett — Grave, New Camden Cemetery
Private William Stanley Ablett was born on December 27, 1895, the son of James John and Harriet “Hattie” Ablett at 618 Elm Street in Camden NJ. The 1897 City Directory shows the family at 825 Elm Street. The 1898 and 1899 editions show them at 608 Cedar Street. The 1900 Census has the family living at 126 North 8th Street. They were still there in 1910. By 1914 the family had moved to 603 South 3rd Street in South Camden. He attended Cooper School from 1901 to 1911, and the old Camden High from 1911 through 1913, after which he entered Dickinson Theological Seminary at Williamsport PA to study for the ministry.
Private Ablett had enlisted in Company B, 104th Engineers, when that company was organized in Camden on April 27, 1917. He was sent to Camp Edge, Sea Girt NJ and later to Camp McClellan, Anniston AL. Private Ablett was killed in action in the Argonne Forest on October 27, 1918, when he was shot in the arms and legs.
William Stanley Ablett was survived by his parents, James and Hattie Ablett, and a sister Alice. The surviving family moved to 618 Royden Street shortly after the war.
In 1941, the Housing Authority of the City of Camden honored the memory of William Stanley Ablett by naming its new housing project after him. Built to house the families of those working in Camden's defense industry, the William Stanley Ablett Village took in its first tenants in the summer of 1943. The 306 unit development sits at the corner of State Street and River Road, in Camden's Cramer Hill section.
Photos
William Stanley Ablett — Camden County World War I Honor Roll
Camden Courier-Post — January 20, 1928
Gold Star Mothers to Attend Foreign War Veterans’ Ball
Gold Star Mothers will be the honor guests at the first annual military ball of the Camden Post, No. 980, Veterans of Foreign Wars, to be held on Friday evening, February 3, in the Elks ballroom, Seventh and Cooper Streets.
Elaborate plans for this ball are under the chairmanship of John S. Pennington.
Invitations have been issued for patrons and patronesses and the list will be announced early next week.
Gold Star Mothers to attend the affair are Mrs. C. Alberger, Mrs. Harriett Ablett, Mrs. Laura Brown. Mrs. A. Crangel, Mrs. A. Cassidey, Mrs. R. Dilks, Mrs. Kate Geist, Mrs. M. Griffen, Mrs. Horace B. Keebler, Mrs. H. Kirk, Mrs. Ross Leahy, Mrs. M. A. Matson, Mrs. M. McGuckin, Mrs. mary martin, mrs. M. Matthews, Mrs. Cooling Pond, Mrs. Oliver Powell*, Mrs. Mary Pennington, Mrs. C. Rolk, Mrs. E. Simons, Mrs. Mary Schucker, Mrs. Margaret Steigerwald, Mrs. Annie Taylor, Mrs. M. Osborn, Mrs. Mary Keegan, Mrs. Anna Kennedy, Mrs. t.c. young and Mrs. Walters.
Assisting Mr. Pennington in planning this ball are John Rouh, James W. Connor, Charles Bozian, Robert MacMahon, Edward Watson, David Lukoff, Harry Laxton, Edward A. Stark, George Jones, William V. Long, Joseph Keefe, Charles Blank sad Marvel Passwater.
* Newspaper error — Mrs. Oliver Powell was actually Mrs. Oliver Purnell
Housing Project Will Honor Hero
Camden Courier-Post —
State and River Development to be Named for W. S. Ablett
The Camden Housing Authority yesterday adopted a resolution to name the $1,566,000 East Camden defense housing project in memory of William Stanley Ablett, of Camden, who was killed in action, while fighting for his country in France during the first World War.
The new housing project, to be constructed with 306 dwellings at River avenue and the State street bridge, is expected to be started April 1, and is due to be completed by Sept. 1. It will be known as the “William Stanley Ablett Village.” Ablett’s mother, Mrs. Harriet Ablett, lives at 618 Royden street.
Ablett, who was born Dec. 27, 1895, at 618 Elm street, was a member of the Eighth Street Methodist church, for many years located at Eighth and Walnut streets. He graduated from the Cooper School in 1911, and from Camden High School in 1913. He was a student of the Dickinson Theological School, Williamsport, Pa., when he enlisted in Camden in 1917. He was killed while fighting in the Meuse-Argonne. His body was returned from France to this country and buried in New Camden Cemetery.
The suggestion that the housing project be named after a World War hero was made by Burnell S. Hartman, when he was a member of the Housing Authority. Members of the committee which made a research of history of Camden veterans in the first World War and recommended the selection of Ablett’s name were Allen T. Kline, chairman; Richard Jerbyn, Harry J. Stone and David Ensign. All are members of the Veterans’ League of South Jersey.
William S. Ablett World War I Hero
Camden Courier-Post —
Village Honors Memory of Bible Student Killed in France
William Stanley Ablett Village was named in memory of a Camden soldier who paid the supreme sacrifice in World War I.
Young Ablett was a student at Dickinson Theological Seminary, Williamsport, Pa., when the United States went to war against Germany. In April of 1917 he put away his books and returned to Camden to enlist in the First Battalion, New Jersey Engineers, a unit that was organized in Camden to complete the battalion. After training at Sea Girt he was sent to Camp McClellan, Anniston, Ala., where he was transferred to the 104th Engineers and promoted to private first class.
Private Ablett left for France Aug. 19, arriving at Brest June 26. On Oct. 27 Company D, 104th Engineers, was called into combat in support of the 57th Infantry Brigade. This engagement took place between Hill No. 269 and Hill No. 270 at Molleville Farm, Meuse-Argonne offensive. It was in this battle that Private Ablett was shot through the arms and legs. He died shortly after being struck down by enemy fire.
His body was buried in the French national cemetery at Glorieux, France, and was returned to the United States on July 22, 1921. He was buried with military honors in New Camden cemetery July 24, 1921. The widowed mother, Mrs. Harriet L. Ablett, lives at 618 Royden street.
Private Ablett was born at 618 Elm street, Dec. 27, 1895. He was a lifelong member of the congregation and Sunday school of Eighth Street Methodist church, Eighth and Walnut streets. He attended Cooper school from 1901 to 1911 and Camden high school from 1911 to 1913. After graduation he entered Dickinson Theological Seminary.
Mother to Unveil Picture of Soldier Slain in ‘18 Battle
Veterans’ organizations and officers will join with the Camden Housing Authority tomorrow afternoon to officially dedicate William Stanley Ablett Village, River avenue and State street. The ceremony will start at 2 p.m. Participants in the dedication will assemble at 1:45 p.m. and parade to the site of the city’s first war housing project. Mrs. Harriet L. Ablett, widowed mother of Pfc. William Stanley Ablett, for whom the project was named, will unveil a portrait of her son, killed in battle in the Meuse-Argonne, France.
John A. Kervick, director of project management for the Federal Public Housing Authority, will be a speaker. Other speakers will be Major James F. Bentley, county vice commander of the American Legion, and Mayor Brunner. First Sergt. W. Hamilton Staats will give a brief history of Company B, 104th Engineers, in which Private Ablett enlisted. County Clerk Suttill, authority chairman, will preside.
County commanders of veterans’ organizations, the city commissioners, and county freeholders will be guests. Music will be furnished by the Westmont Junior Legion Band.
Rev. John M. Long, pastor of Eighth Street Methodist Church, to which Private Ablett was a member and to which his mother belongs, will give the spiritual meditation. Benediction will be by Rev. George E. Sharkey, assistant pastor of St. Joseph’s Church, East Camden.
Dedication of the William Stanley Ablett Village
Dedication of the William Stanley Ablett Village — Sunday, June 20