Dr. Sarah Donnell
Wolverton

DR. SARAH DONNELL WOLVERTON was born in Mattoon IL in 1880. Here family came to Camden in the 1880s; her father, John K. Donnell, operated a grocery. The Donnell family lived for a time on King Street, below Mercer Street, in Gloucester City before moving to 555 State Street in North Camden. John Donnell operated a grocery in Philadelphia in the 1890s. 

Sarah Wolverton grew up in Camden, where she received her education in Camden’s public schools and at the Raymond Academy. She went on to graduate from the Girl’s Collegiate Institute in Philadelphia in 1899, and the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1903. After graduation, she interned in 1904 at the West Philadelphia Hospital for Women, and was a resident at Children’s Hospital in Staten Island NY from 1904 through 1906.

After marrying then Camden County Prosecutor Charles A. Wolverton in 1910, Dr. Wolverton’s career in medicine would follow a different path. Her husband was a well known attorney and public figure, and soon involved himself in politics. He served as an assistant State Attorney general, and was a member of the New Jersey Assembly from 1915 through 1918. Charles A. Wolverton was elected to the House of Representatives from Camden in 1926, and remained Camden’s Congressman until 1959.

The 1920 Census shows the Wolverton family, which included son Donnell K., born in 1912, living at 330 State Street. By the end of the decades the family home was at 505 State Street.

Her son, Donnell K. Wolverton, graduated from Princeton with honors in 1938, and subsequently went into law.

Dr. Wolverton’s medical activities were mostly related to medical institutions. She sat on the Board of Governors of the Camden County Tuberculosis Hospital, and on the Board of Directors of the West Philadelphia Hospital for Women. She also was a member of the Camden County and Camden City Medical Societies, and of the New Jersey and the American Medical Women’s Associations. She was also active in affairs of Camden Lodge 293, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

Dr. Sarah K. Wolverton died in 1938. Survived by her husband and son, she rests at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden. 

Camden Courier-Post - January 28, 1928

Patrons, Patronesses Announced Today for First Military Ball

Patrons and patronesses for the first military ball of the Camden Post No. 960, Veterans of Foreign Wars, to be held on Friday evening February 3 in the Elks auditorium, Seventh and Cooper Streets., are announced today.

The following prominent men and women are listed: Mrs. J.W. Connor, Miss C.M. Day, Mrs. J.H. Forsyth, Mrs. H.J. Goodyear, Miss B. Graham, Mrs. R.E. Green, Mrs. E.F. Haines, Mrs. J. Hood Jr., Mrs. W. Hurley, Mrs. J. Jarrell, Mrs. T. Keefe, Mrs. J.F. Kobus, Mrs. L. Liberman, Mrs. F.L. Lloyd, Mrs. M.A. Logan, Mrs. T.P. McConaghy, Mrs. F.F. Neutze, Mrs. L.K. Marr, Mrs. J.A. Pennington, Mrs. M.E. Ramsey, Mrs. E. Truax, Mrs. S.M. Shay, Mrs. W.J. Staats, Mrs. B.G. Tarburton, Mrs. R.W. Waddell, Mrs. E. Watson, Mrs. E.P. Wescott, Mrs. C.A. Wolverton. 

David Baird Jr., William T. Boyle, Isaac Ferris, William Hurley, John Hood Jr., John Jarrell, Victor King, William J. Kraft, Thomas Keefe, Joseph F. Kobus, Hon. Edmund B. Leaming, Dr. A. Haines Lippincott, James H. Long, L.K. Marr, Dr. Thomas P. McConaghy, Hon. Frank F. Neutze, Samuel P. Orlando, Albert E. Simmons, Edwin Watson, Ethan P. Wescott.

Camden Courier-Post * August 2, 1929
(excepts)

400 Friends Pay Homage To 'Good Gray Poet'

 Men and Women From Many Sections Visit Walt Whitman's Tomb and Old Mickle Street Home on His 114th Anniversary
By FRANK SHERIDAN 

 “It's just a little street where old friends meet"

That's Mickle Street where Walt Whitman, the "Good Gray Poet," once lived, and old friends came back here from near and far yesterday to mingle under the portals of the house in which he wrote his famous works, on the 114th anniversary of his birth.

Among them was Mrs. Augusta K. Dole, 71, of Metuchen, whose hus­band has been a sports writer on New York newspapers for 45 years.

"They call it a dingy street and some are ashamed to return and say they lived there," Mrs. Dole said. And with a gesture of the hand she pointed out the homes of some of neighbors, who became famous.

Among, them was Button; famous artist [architect -PMC]. Another was the grandmother of J. B. Van Sciver.

"I lived at 319 Mickle Street when I was a young lady," she said. "I was one year old when we moved into the house right across the street from Whitman. I remember when he lived on Stevens Street before he moved to Mickle Street.

Knew Whitman Well

"We lived at the Mickle street address about 15 or 16 or 20 years; I knew Whitman well. He always stopped and exchanged greetings with me. I frequently, saw him on the ferryboats crossing the rivers.

"I want to take, issue right here with those, who have questioned his chastity. He was more like Christ than anyone else. I saw him admiring me as a young woman one day on a ferryboat.”

"Years later I read a description of myself in one of his works. I did not begin to read his work until 30 years ago. He wrote of the true things in life. He wrote of life as it is and as we see it. I am glad to come here today at the invitation of the committee,"

Mrs. Dole sat in the last chair in which the poet rested before his last illness. She was introduced to Dr. Alexander MacAlister, who was his personal physician in his last illness and who is a member of the Walt Whitman foundation.

Then she posed with an etching by Lewis Daniel, New York artist, at the Walt Whitman art gallery, 641 Market Street. It is one of 14 the young artist drew on "The Song of the Open Road," Two lines taken from' the book are sketched under the etching as follows:

"The earth is crude and incomprehensible at first- Nature is rude and incomprehensible at first."

400 Visit Home

More than 400 guests visited the home of the poet during the day to be welcomed by members of the foundation, Mrs. Charles A. Wolverton, wife of Congressman Wolverton, was chairman of the reception committee.

Many of the guests visited the tomb of the poet in Harleigh Cemetery where the door is ajar at his request "that his spirit may come and go as I choose.'" But no flowers were placed there as he requested none.

Born on May 31, 1819, near Huntingdon, Long Island, he had a varied career as a writer, war correspondent and poet. During the Civil War he ministered the wounded of both the North and South at Washington. He spent the last 19 years of his life in Camden, where he died in 1892. 

Under the bed in his second story front bed room today is a huge metal bathtub, which he designed for use in his invalid days. His library, horsehair furniture, his favorite rocking chair and a cane with which he knocked on the floor to call his housekeeper.

Some of his writings, manuscripts and other works are the property of Miss Ann Harned and Madge Barton Feurer. They are now, at the New Jerseyanna Exhibition at the State House at Trenton.

New Painting Viewed

A new painting of Walt Whitman has been completed by Byron T. Connor, of 4320 Manor Avenue, Merchantville, and is now on display at the Hotel Walt Whitman. The painting was completed in three weeks, so as to be ready for the birthday ceremonies.

Later it will be moved from the hotel and placed either in the Whitman home or hung in the lobby of the Walt Whitman Theatre.

Miss Harned, daughter of the late Thomas B. Harned, one of Whitman's literary executors; Joseph Praissman and Mrs. Martha Davis curator of the Whitman home, were members of the anniversary committee headed by Mrs. Wolverton.

With few exceptions, members of the Walt Whitman Foundation attended yesterday's program, including Dr. Macalister, chairman; Dr. Cornelius Weygandt, vice chairman; Mrs. Juliet Lit Stern, Joseph M. Conover, Mrs. Helen Taft Manning, Mrs. Allen Drew Cook, Mrs. Nicholas Douty, Dr. Herbert Spencer Harned, J. Frederick Harned, Roy Helton, William T. Innes, Eldridge R. Johnson, William H. Ketler, Dr. Rufus M. Jones, former Mayor Victor King, Oscar Wolf, John Frederick Lewis, Jr., Dr. Bliss Perry, Harrison S. Morris, Agnes, Repplier, former Mayor Winfield S. Price, Vernon Whitman Rich, Dr. J. Duncan Spaeth, Dr. Felix E. Schelling, Dr. Robert E. Spiller, Mrs. David Abeel Storer, Frederick von Nieda and Ralph W. Wescott.

Among the visitors was former Assemblyman William H. Iszard, who is secretary of the committee, which acquired the home as a national shrine. Iszard sponsored legislation in the Assembly for its upkeep.

Plans for a campaign to raise funds to cover the budget of the Salvation Army Corps here were discussed yesterday at a meeting of members of the executive board at Hotel Walt Whitman.

William D. Sayrs, chairman of the committee presided and requested that a successor be appointed. The nominating committee selected Earl Lippincott, chairman; Mrs. Arthur Casselman and John J. Robinson, vice chairmen.

Brigadier James A. Harvey, commanding the Philadelphia region of the Army reviewed the Work accomplished at the Camden headquarters, under direction of Captain Charles W. Schafter.

An itemized report of receipts and expenditures together with a budget outline were submitted by Captain Schaffer.

Included among the members at the meeting were Reverend John Pemberton, Mrs. Charles A. Wolverton, Mrs. Casselman, Mrs. Mary W. Kobus, Herman Hensgen, Joseph Tweedy, Frank C. Propert, and Robinson.

Other members of the committee include Howard Hemphill, George C. Baker, Patrick Harding, Dr. James Rodgers, Dr. F. William Schafer and Dr. Albert Pancoast.  

Miss Norris Saurman, of Grove Street and Maple Avenue, Haddonfield, entertained yesterday at luncheon followed by bridge for the following members of her club: Mrs. Charles A. Wolverton, Mrs. Joseph Hackett, Mrs. Einar Dale, Mrs. James Polk, Mrs. Walter Carroll and Mrs. Thomas Trappe, of Merchantville, and Mrs. Josiah Hatch, of Delair.

Earl R. Lippincott, real estate broker, has been named chairman of the advisory board of the Camden unit of the Salvation Army, succeeding William D. Sayrs.

Elections of officers for the group were held yesterday following a luncheon meeting at Hotel Walt Whitman. Vice chairmen of the organization include John J. Robinson and Mrs. Arthur J. Casselman.

Other officers include Mrs. Charles A. Wolverton, treasurer, and Miss Elizabeth Magill, secretary.

Members of the executive committee selected the following committees: Woman's committee, Mrs. Arthur H. Holl and Mrs. Wilfred W. Fry; finance committee, Dr. F. William Shafer, William D. Sayrs, Frank C. Propert, Mrs.  Wolverton and Mrs. Holl; property committee, Howard Hemphill, John J. Robin son, Herman E. Hensgen, Arthur J. Casselman and George C. Baker; public relations and publicity, Rev. John Pemberton, Joseph G. Tweedy, Mrs. Mary W. Kobus, Dr. Albert B. Pancoast and Patrick H. Harding; program committee, Dr. James Rodger, Propert, Robinson, Tweedy and John L. Shannon.