Charles
Cook


CHARLES COOK  was born on December 18, 1877 to Peter and Mary Cook. When the Census was taken in 1880 the family, which included older sister Maria, lived in Philadelphia. His father was a shoemaker. The Cook family first appears in Camden's city directories in 1898, living at 628 North 4th Street in North Camden. The 1899 Directory shows them at 328 Vine Street.

When the Census was taken in 1900, Charles Cook was living with his parents at 325 Vine Street in North Camden. This was hid home for the rest of his life. Charles Cook was working as a plumber and was single when the Census was taken in 1900. He married shortly after ward, and around 1903 his wife Sarah bore a son, Charles K. Cook. 

On December 3, 1904 Charles Cook was appointed to Camden Fire Department. He reported for duty on January 1, 1905. After serving with Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, stationed at Fire Headquarters, North 5th and Arch Streets, he was transferred to Engine Company 4, which was located opposite his house at 320 Vine Street on January 2, 1908.

A career firefighter, Charles Cook was a member of the Camden Fire Department for many years. He was a Lieutenant by the spring of 1914, and had reached the rank of Captain by September of 1918. By 1924 he was Senior Captain at Hook and Ladder Company No. 1. He was still serving in this position as late as 1929, and was still with the department in April of 1930. His son was then a billing clerk at Campbell soup.  Charles Cook was still living at 325 Vine Street in North Camden when the 1930 Census was enumerated. Charles Cook passed away on June 10, 1933. When the 1943 Camden City Directory was compiled, his widow, Sarah T. Cooke, was then living at 3069 Carman Street in East Camden.

Camden Daily Courier * January 12, 1904
...continued...
First Ward Republican Club - William E. Alberts - O. Glen Stackhouse - Joseph Kolb - Ephraim T. Hires
George F. Kappel - John Beard - Francis F. Patterson Jr. - George P. Pechin - Thomas Walton
Joseph Burt - Walter Banks - William Lyons - Charles Cook - William Weaver - Robert Finley
Samuel P. Jones - Antonio Mecca - John Leighton Westcott - William J. Bradley - Walter Banks
Joseph Potter - Joseph Baumeister - Dr. John F. Leavitt - Dr. William Iszard -
Joseph Logue

Camden Evening Courier
December 3, 1904

Dr. Frank Neall Robinson - Linden Street
Rollo Jones - Charles Cook
James White - Harry C. Anderson
Ephraim Davis - Samuel Sheer
Edward Finley - Martin Carrigan
Joseph T. Daley - Joseph Ernst
William K. Buzine
"William Munson" aka
Seth Monell
Charles Sturgis - Samuel W. Whitzell
J. Oscar Till Jr. -
William Miller
John H. Vickers - Fred Morse



Camden Post-Telegram
December 3, 1904

John Ware - Samuel Peoples
Rollo Jones - Charles Cook
James White - Harry C. Anderson
Ephraim Davis - Samuel Sheer
Edward Finley - Martin Carrigan
Joseph T. Daley - Joseph Ernst
William K. Buzine -
Seth Monell
Charles Sturgis - Samuel W. Whitzell
J. Oscar Till Jr. -
William Miller
John H. Vickers - Fred Morse
Dr. Wlliam H. Iszard
William Hertline
Samuel S. Elfreth

 




Philadelphia Inquirer
December 4, 1904
Martin Carrigan
Rollo Jones
Charles Cook
James White
Samuel Sheer
Edward Finley
Joseph T. Daley
Joseph Ernst
Seth D. Monnell
William K. Buzine
Charles Sturgis
Samuel T. Whitezell
Ephraim T. Davis
J. Oscar Till Jr.
John H. Vickers
Frederick Morse
Harry C. Anderson
William Miller
Engine Company 5

 

Philadelphia Inquirer
April 22, 1905

Charles Cook
James White
Harry C. Anderson

Edward Finley
Martin Carrigan
James WIllis
Harry Green
Seth D. Monnell
William K. Buzine
Charles Sturgis
William Miller
Samuel T. Whitezell
Ephraim T. Davis
J. Oscar Till Jr.
John H. Vickers
Frederick Morse

Camden Post-Telegram * January 2, 1913

... continued...
... continued...
Charles A. Todd - John W. Kelly Jr. - John H. Lutts - William K. Buzine - James Navin - Richard Marter
 Joseph Sparks - George Boone  - Roy A. Smith  - Edward Simpson - Henry C. Knowles
Samuel S. Elfreth - George P. Cox - Walter W. Browning - George B. Wade - John A. Stockton
Joseph F. Ernst - John A. Dold - Josiah Sage - Daniel Smith - Arthur Wingate - Joseph T. Johnson
Harry Hankins - William Laird - William Elberson - John H. Lennox - Martin Carrigan - Charles Cook
Harry Selby - Herman O. Kreher - Daniel P. McConnell - William Howell Tatem  
Harry C. Anderson - Steward Bakley - Joseph Maxwell
William Robinson - Richard Sauer - John Watson - Albert Glanders - Ladder Company 1
Charles Menke - Edward S. Gahan - Engine Company 7 - Engine Company 2

Camden Post-Telegram
March 16, 1914

Charles Worthington
John A. Stockton
George B. Wade
James White
Newton Ash
James Orrington Burris
William Laird
Joseph T. Johnson
Martin Carrigan
Charles Cook
William B. McCauley
William Elberson
William Cason
Harry Hankins
Conn L. Mack (Dan McConnell)
Joseph Allen


Camden Post-Telegram
March 23, 1914

Charles Worthington
John A. Stockton
George B. Wade
James White
James Orrington Burris
William Laird
George Tabor Quinn
Joseph T. Johnson
Harry Hankins
Charles Cook
William B. McCauley
William Elberson
Joseph Allen
Charles Meincke


Camden Post-Telegram
April 6, 1914

Joseph Johnson - James White
Charles Worthington -
John A. Stockton
George B. Wade - William McCauley
William Laird - William Elberson
Harry Hankins - Charles Cook
Newton Ash - James Miller
Joseph Allen -
Martin Carrigan
William R. Cason - Conn L. Mack

Engine Company 2


Philadelphia Inquirer
June 27, 1914

John A. Stockton - Peter B. Carter
Charles Worthington - Samuel Whitezell
Charles Cook -
Engine Company 1


Philadelphia Inquirer - July 27, 1914 Joseph A. Ware
Rev. Martin Stockett
Charles Cook
Richard Marter
James Navin
Louis Shaw
Spencer Smith
Alfred Hayden
Engine Company 1
Church of Our Saviour

 


Philadelphia Inquirer
July 30, 1915

John Stockton - Peter B. Carter - Thomas J. Nicholas
William Patterson - Charles Cook - Walter Mertz
William Cason - Robert Whitley
T.G. Middleton -
John H. Lennox
John A.S. Hunt George Cattell
Engine Company 3 - Engine Company 4
Walter W. Johnson - Walter W. Lee
Clarence Baler -
Walter Wolverton
Albert Denise - William Barr - Bowman H. Shivers

Click on Images for PDF File of Full Article



Camden Daily Courier
November 24, 1915

Robert Brice
Joseph T. Daley
Daniel Grimes
William W. Patterson
Charles Cook
Peter B. Carter
Joseph Logue
Ephraim T. Hires
Rollo Jones
Harvey Watts
Arthur Wingate
Harry Hankins
Josiah Sage
Abraham Kern
Charles Watkin
Martin Carrigan
John Miller
Frank Sheridan
Engine Company 4

 




World War I Draft Card


Camden Courier-Post - October 21,1931

‘ALKY’ CAR OWNER DENIES CRASH HERE
Machine Was Hi-Jacked and Driven by Thieves He Claims; Pays Fine

Three men who attempted to hijack 100 gallons of alcohol which was later seized by the police, yesterday were blamed for a hit-run accident which result ed in the seizure.     

Charles Alu, of Trenton, who was arrested on October 2 after the alcohol was found in his car, denied in police court yesterday he was operating the vehicle when it crashed into a truck, owned by Frank Salerno, of 446 South Fourth street. Two policemen found the liquor when the driver abandoned the car on Locust Street near Kaighn Avenue.

Alu testified that he had been driving along Fourth Street near Division when another machine pulled in front of him and stopped. Three men got out of the car and ordered him to leave his machine, he said. It was after they drove off in the car that the hit-run accident occurred, Alu stated.

William Helberson, a passing motorist, corroborated Alu's story and said he helped to chase the three men who had taken the Trenton man's car. Charles Cook, a fireman, also said that Alu asked him to help in the chase.

Police Judge Pancoast found Alu guilty and fined him $25, but suspended the sentence date, when Alu agreed to pay for the repairs to Salerno's ear.

At the time of Alu's arrest on the liquor possession charges, a record book was found in his car. It revealed that he had done $40,000 worth of business through August, but through the operations of rival dealers had lost $4000. He is under $1000 bail on this charge.


Camden Courier-Post - February 9, 1933

COPS AND FIREMEN WILL ELECT TODAY
Herbert Bott Is Unopposed for Presidency of Camden Association

The Camden Police and Firemen's Association will hold election of officers today at its headquarters, 1175 Whitman Avenue, from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Herbert Bott is unopposed for re-election as president. William Thorn is unopposed to replace Richard Middleton for financial secretary and Walter Vecander is unopposed for the new post of assistant financial secretary. All these are police officers.

The police trustees will be named from the following nine candidates: William Marter, George Ward, William Britner, Joseph Shreeve, William Schriber, Joseph Mardino, Joseph Dunnett, Leon Feltz and Russell Young. Two police sergeant-at-arms will be chosen from among Stanley Wirtz, Harry Cattell, Joseph Schultz and George Clayton.

Three candidates are seeking the post of vice president, which goes to a fireman. They are William Spencer, Charles Edwards and Albert Dukes. Warren Rich, a fireman, is slated to succeed himself as recording secretary and Winfield Leviseur is unopposed for the new post of assistant recording secretary, which goes to a fireman.

Four fireman trustees will be chosen from ten candidates. They are Charles Cook, Henry Baumgartel, Walter Eastlack, Arthur Batten, William Getner, William Toy, Lawrence Newton, James Young, Russell Anderson and William Taylor. Three firemen are seeking two posts as sergeants-at-arms. They are William Judge, John Mulligan and Furman Price.


Camden Courier-Post - February 10, 1933

BOTT CHOSEN HEAD OF POLICEMEN, FIREMEN
Spencer Wins 3-Corner Fight for Vice-President of Association

Lauded by the members for his splendid work in behalf of the club, Herbert Bott, a  patrolman attached to the Third Police District, last night was re-elected president of the Camden Police and Firemen's Association.

The praise was heaped upon the patrolman following announcement that he had received 107 of 110 votes cast in yesterday's balloting. He was unopposed for reelection.

In a three-cornered fight, William I. Spencer, a fireman, was elected vice president of the association. He received 73 votes. His opponents were Charles Edwards, given 12 votes, and Albert Dukes, 18 votes. Both are firemen.

Others unopposed for office were: William Thorn, financial secretary; Walter Vecander, assistant financial secretary; Warren Rich, recording secretary, and Winfield Leviseur, assistant recording secretary. The last two are firemen while the first two are policemen.

Lieutenant George Ward, Patrolman William Marter, and Firemen William Taylor, William Getner, James Young and Lawrence Newton were elected to the board of trustees.

Sergeants-at-arms named were Stanley Wirtz and George Clayton, police, and William Judge and John Mulligan, firemen. All had opposition.

After the ballots had been counted William H. Iszard, former assemblyman, appeared on behalf of the Elks Crippled Kiddies Committee, and asked police to support the wrestling show to be staged by that group February 13..


Camden Courier-Post - June 12, 1933

CHARLES COOK, SR.

The funeral of Charles Cook. Sr. who died Saturday, will be held at 2 p. m., Wednesday, at his late home, 325 Vine Street. Mr. Cook was a member of Camden Lodge No. 15, F. and A. M., and Rescue Council No. 15, Fraternal Patriotic Americans. He is survived by his wife, Sarah. Burial will be private in Harleigh Cemetery. 

Camden Lodge No. 15, Free & Accepted Masons 
Rescue Council No. 15 Fraternal Patriotic Americans

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