History of Camden, (Camden County) New Jersey United States of America

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Local History Notes:

CAMDEN, a county in the W. S. W. part of New Jersey, has an area of about 220 square miles. It is bounded on the N. E. by Pensauken creek, N. W. by the Delaware, and on the S. W. by Big Timber creek, and is also drained by Cooper's creek, which affords some water-power. The surface is level except where worn down by streams. The soil in the E. part is sandy, and in the W. a fertile loam producing great quantities of fruit and vegetables for the Philadelphia markets. Indian corn, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, hay, and butter are the staples. In 1850 this county yielded 259,684 bushels of corn; 307,869 of potatoes; 65,191 of sweet potatoes; 12,946 tons of hay; and 299,856 pounds of wool. It contained 2 foundries, 5 glass manufactories, 1 locomotive manufactory, 11 flouring, 1 paper, and 28 saw mills, 35 churches, and 3 newspaper offices; 3,639 pupils attending public schools, and 386 attending academies or other schools. Marl is abundant in most parts of the county. The inhabitants in the eastern portion are principally engaged in manufactures of iron and glass. The railroad connecting Camden with Absecom traverses the county. Organized in 1844, having been formed from Gloucester county, and named from its seat of justice, the city of Camden. Population, 25,422.

Biographies:

William Joyce Sewell, senator, was born in Castlebar, Ireland. Dec. 6, 1835. His parents both died when he was a child and he came to the United States in 1851, where he found employment in a shipping office and made several voyages in the merchant marine service. He went to Chicago where he engaged in business, and about, 1860 returned to Camden, N.J., and joined the 5th New Jersey volunteers as captain in 1861. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel in July, and colonel in October, 1862, commanded his regiment in the Army of the Potomac at Frederickburg in Revere's brigade, Sickles's division, Stoneman's corps, and at Chancellorville in Mott's brigade, Berry's division, Sickles's corps, succeeding to the command of the brigade when Mort was wounded. Colonel Sewell was wounded at Gettysburg, while in command of his regiment in Burling's brigade, Humphrey's division, Sickles's corps. He was with his regiment in McAllister's brigade, Mott's division, Hancock's corps, in Grant's campaign against Richmond, and in September, 1864, was made colonel of the 38th New Jersey volunteers, and was honorably discharged with his regiment in the summer of 1865. He was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers for Chancellorsville in 1863, and major-general for services during the civil war, March 13, 1865. He returned to Camden, and was appointed an officer in the Pennsylvania railroad company in the New Jersey branch of that road. He was a member of the personal staff of Governor Parker, 1873; state senator, 1873?81; president of the senate, 1876, 1879 and 1880; commanded the 2d brigade, National Guard, State of New Jersey; and was national commissioner of New Jersey for the World's Columbian exposition, 1893. In 1881 he defeated George M. Robeson for U.S. senator and served for the term expiring, March 3, 1887, and was reelected in 1895, and on Jan. 23, 1901, his third term to expire, March 3, 1907. He was a delegate to the Republican national conventions of 1876?1900, inclusive, and was appointed major-general of volunteers by President McKinley in 1898, for service in the war with Spain, but upon the unanimous petition of the Republican members of the U.S. senate, President McKinley requested him not to take the field. His sons, Lieutenant Robert and Captain William Joyce, were officers in the volunteer army. Senator Sewell was appointed chairman of the committee on engrossed bills and a member of the appropriations, military affairs, territories, interoceanic canal and immigration committees. He died at Camden, N.J., Dec. 27, 1901.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Reynell Coates, scientist, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 10, 1802; son of Samuel and Amy (Hornor) Coates, and grandson of Samuel and Mary (Langdale) Coates. He early became proficient in mathematics and the languages, and studied medicine and surgery at the Pennsylvania hospital, where at the age of fifteen he was entered as an "apprentice" under Dr. Benjamin Rush. He was graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1823, and became resident physician at the hospital. The same year he went to India, as surgeon of a vessel, and made an extended entomological tour. In 1829 he accepted the chair of natural sciences in Allegheny college. Joining the U.S. navy as surgeon, he made during a cruise a collection that furnished the material for a large volume. He was a member of the scientific corps of the first South Sea expedition under Commodore Jones in 1835-36, and had charge of the department of comparative anatomy, but left the service on the return of the expedition. He was the author of the national address of the Native American party in 1844, and the originator of the patriotic order, Sons of America, Dec. 10, 1847, and wrote its ritual. In the national election of 1852 he was the candidate of the Native American party for vice-president of the United States, Daniel Webster being on the ticket for president. He was married in 1837 to Margaretta, daughter of William Abbott of New Jersey, and his only child died in infancy. Dr. Coates contributed voluminously to various medical and scientific journals, many of them being translated into the French, German, Spanish and Italian languages. He was the editor of Graham's Magazine and contributed to the other literary journals of the time, both in prose and in verse. Of his poems The Gambler's Wife, Christian Charity and The Drunkard's Child were best known. He published Physiology for Schools (1840)?the first work of its kind?and Natural Philosophy for Schools (1845); besides other works. He died in Camden, N. J., April 27, 1886.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Bowman Hendry McCalla, naval officer, was born in Camden, N.J., June 19, 1844; son of Auley and Mary Duffield (Hendry) McCalla; grandson of Auley and Hannah (Gibben) McCalla and of Dr. Bowman and Elizabeth (Duffield) Hendry; great-grandson of Thomas and ?? (Bowman) Hendry, and a descendant of John and Jane McCalla, who came from Scotland in 1750 with a grant of land in Pennsylvania and settled in Montgomery county, afterward removing to Roadstown, N.J. He was graduated at the U.S. Naval academy in November, 1864;and was promoted master, Dec. 1, 1866. He served on the training ship Sabine on the Atlantic station, 1867-68; was promoted lieutenant, March 12, 1868; served on the Tuscarora of the South Pacific and North Atlantic squadrons, 1868-71, and was promoted lieutenant-commander, March 26, 1869. He was attached to the Wabash, flagship of the European squadron, 1871-72; to the Wachusett of the European fleet in 1873, and was on duty at the U.S. Naval academy, 1874-78. He was married, March 3, 1875, to Elizabeth Hazard, daughter of Gen. Horace Binney Sargent, of Boston, Mass. He served on the Powhatan of the North Atlantic station, 1878-81; was assistant to the bureau of navigation, 1881-87; was promoted commander, November, 1884, and commanded the naval force on the Isthmus of Panama in 1885. He commanded the Enterprise on the European station, 1887-90, and in the latter year while holding this command he was convicted by court-martial of striking a mutinous sailor with the back of his sword and was sentenced to be suspended from rank and duty for three years. In 1891 Secretary Tracy remitted the unexpired portion of his sentence. He was granted a full and unconditional pardon by President McKinley, March 13, 1900. He was on duty at the Mare Island navy yard. 1893-97; was instructor at the war college, 1897; commanded the protected cruiser Marblehead, 1897-98, and seized the British steamship Adula in Cuban waters, June, 1898, on the claim that the vessel was violating the blockade, and served in the North Atlantic squadron during the war with Spain. He was promoted captain and advanced seven numbers, Aug. 10, 1898, for heroic and distinguished services during the Spanish-American war, and this restored him to the number and rank he had hold in the navy prior to the court-martial. He was transferred from the Marblehead to the Norfolk navy yard in October, 1698, nerved as captain of the yard and made the unsuccessful effort to bring into that yard the Spanish cruiser Maria Teresa, which had been abandoned off Cat Island by the wrecking company in November, 1898. While in command of the Newark he received the surrender of the provinces of Cagayan and Isabella, with the Batan Isles at Aparri, P.I., Dec. 11, 1899, from General Tirona, in command of the insurgent troops, and appointed the captured general civil governor of the province, subject to the approval of General Otis. He was ordered to China in 1900 and commanded the American seamen and marines in Admiral Seymour's unsuccessful expedition for the relief of Pekin, and Admiral Seymour in writing to Admiral Kempff after the expedition spoke in high commendation of his gallant conduct.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Frank A. Burr, journalist, was born Nov. 24, 1843. When but three years old his father consigned him to the care of a band of Chippewa Indians, who, when he was eight years of age, took him to Detroit, where he was a newsboy. Senator Chandler, on whose front steps he was accustomed to fold his papers, became interested in him, and gave him an opportunity to advance himself. When he was eighteen years old he went to the war as a private, and was advanced to the rank of colonel of cavalry. Afterward he became a locomotive engineer, an unsuccessful candidate for representative in Congress, United States district attorney, an official in the patent office, and a journalist. He published a memorable interview with Jefferson Davis, and claimed to have induced James G. Blaine to write his letters on the distribution of the surplus among the states. He wrote a life of General Grant, and one of Gen. James A. Beaver. For many years he was connected with the Philadelphia Press, but toward the close of his life wrote mainly for syndicates. He died at Camden, N .J., Jan. 15, 1894.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor