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According
to the 1900 Census, Joseph H. Minnett was born in New Jersey in October
of 1849. In 1869 he married Elizabeth Featherer of Woolwich Township in
Gloucester County. A son, Harry, was born in Camden in 1869, and a
daughter, Ada Belle Minnett was born in April of 1870. The Minnetts were
living in Woolwich with Mrs. Minnett's mother when the Census was taken
in June of 1870. Sadly, Ada Belle died during the 1870s.
Joseph
Minnett and his family returned to Camden at some point after the 1870
Census. By 1878 the family was living at 215 Mickle
Street, not far from
the railroad yard where Joseph Minnett worked as a car inspector. A son,
Willard Howell Minnett, was born on December 7, 1880. The family lived
at 215 Mickle
Street through at least 1885. The 1887-1888 City Directory
shows them living at 215 Bridge Avenue. By the spring of 1888 they had
moved to 314 Beckett Street. Another son, Raymond J. Minnett, was born
on February 15, 1890. The Minnetts were still living at 314 Beckett
Street when the Census was taken in 1900.
The
1906 City Directory shows that Joseph Minnett was no longer working for
the railroad. He and his wife were living with their son Harry Minnett
at 614 Carman Street. Joseph Minnett was working as a metalworker. When
the 1910 Census was taken, Joseph and Elizabeth Minnett were still
living with their son Harry, daughter-in-law Emma, and granddaughters
Dorothy and Florence at 1021 Cooper Street.
Joseph
H. Minnett passed away shortly after the 1910 Census.
Joseph
Minnett was a member of the Wyoming Tribe No. 55 of the Improved Order
of Red Men, as were fellow Camden Fire Department members James
M. Lane and Charles G.
Zimmerman. George Reeser Prowell, in his History of
Camden County, New Jersey, published in 1886, wrote the following about
this organization:
WYOMING
TRIBE, No. 55, was instituted July 8, 1880. The Great Chiefs present
were Great Prophet, Wm. P. Hall; Great Sachem, James M. Smith; G.C. of
R., John T. Davis. The first Chiefs of the tribe were Prophet, Joseph
H. Minnett; Sachem, Alonzo Bicking; Senior Sagamore, Chas.
G. Zimmerman; Junior Sagamore, Wm. F. Propert; C. of R., D.C.
Vannote; K. of W., Jos. B. Fox. The present Chiefs - P., J.A. Dold; S.,
Henry C. Boddy; S.S., Wm. B. Bignell; J.S., Wm. J. Boddy; C. of R., D.C.
Vannote; K. of W., J.B. Fox. The number of members is one hundred and
fifty-eight. The lodge meets Wednesday evenings at Third and Market
Streets.
Joseph
Minnett was very active in another fraternal organization in Camden, the
Knights of the Golden Eagle. George Reeser Prowell wrote the following about
this organization:
KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN EAGLE.
The Knights of the Golden Eagle is a secret
benevolent institution, founded in Baltimore, Md.,
February 6, 1873, and is now in successful operation in the States of Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts, Delaware, New Jersey, California,
Ohio, New York, Iowa, Georgia, Connecticut,
West Virginia, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Colorado, Virginia, Illinois, Alabama and the District
of Columbia. It is based upon the most liberal principles consistent with future prosperity, and
has for its motto, " Fidelity, Valor and Honor," a
trinity of graces which are taught in its ritual.
The order has for its main object the promotion of the principles of true benevolence,
associating its members together for purposes of mutual relief against the trials and difficulties which
attach to sickness, distress and death, so far as they
may be mitigated by sympathy and pecuniary
assistance. It studiously avoids all sectarian and
political controversy, and aims to cultivate the social, moral and intellectual feelings of its
members, and to promote their welfare in all the walks
of life.
The Order of the Knights of the Golden Eagle
was introduced into the State of New Jersey in
the summer of 1883, Camden Castle, No. 1, being
instituted in August of that year with twenty-four
members. During the year 1884 four new castles
were instituted, at Millville, Camden, Mount Holly
and Salem, respectively. The membership, at the
close of the year, being five hundred and eighty-four. In 1886 the number of castles was increased
to ten, with a membership of one thousand and
one, and from January 1, 1886, to the present time
thirteen new castles have been formed, and the
membership increased to over two thousand.
The Grand Castle of New Jersey was instituted July 16, 1884, the officers at institution
being : Past Grand Chief, John P. Price ; Grand
Chief, Joseph H. Minnett; Grand Vice-Chief,
William A. Garrison ; Grand Master of Records, Daniel
M. Stevens ; Grand Keeper of Exchequer, P. P.
Achenbach ; Grand Sir Herald, George J. Robertson ; Grand High Priest, Henry F. Bacon ; Grand
First Guardsman, S. Luther Richmond ; Grand
Second Guardsman, George W. Stevens.
The present officers are: Past Grand Chief, William A. Garrison, Westville; Grand Chief, Henry
P. Bacon, Salem (P. O. Box 200); Grand Vice-
Chief, Irving W. Kelly, Perry and Montgomery
Streets, Trenton; Grand Sir Herald, P. P. Achenbach, 712 Carman
Street, Camden; Grand High
Priest, John S. Broughton, Trenton; Grand Master of Records, E. D. Senseman, 580
Clinton
Street,
Camden; Grand Keeper of Exchequer, F. A. Buren,
Merchantville; Grand First Guardsman, George Williams, Wrightsville; Grand Second
Guardsman, William F, Perry, Quinton.
The next annual session will be held in Camden
on the first Wednesday in March, 1887.
Camden Castle, No. 1, was instituted August
9, 1883, with the following officers: P. C, Joseph
T. Fortiner; N. C, Charles Brown ; V. C, Joseph
Rubicam ; H. P., John C. Newhouse ; V. H., Watson Stevens; K. of E., Charles Aston; C. of E.,
Herman Rosade ; M. of R., E. D. Senseman ; Sir
H., Joseph C. Madara ; W. B., William B. Vannaman; W. C, John J. Pierson, Jr. ; Ens., George
A. Bingham ; Esq., William S. Caume ; 1st G.,
John J. Pierson, Sr. ; 2d G., Thomas T. Madara.
The present officers are : P. C, Robert F. Stockton ; N. C, Birtus A. Wagner ; V. C, Edwin F.
Jones ; H. P., William S. Carels ; V. H., George
Cook ; M. of R., Howard M. Sexton ; C. of E.,
Herman Rosade ; K. of E., Charles Brown ; S. H.,
William P. Fowler.
The lodge meets every Friday evening at Lincoln Hall, Third and Market Streets. The
membership is three hundred and forty.
Washington Castle, No. 3, was instituted
April 4, 1884. The officers at institution were :
P. C, John N. Madara; N. C, Daniel M. Stevens;
V. C, H. Frank Pettit; V. H., Andrew G. Vannaman ; H. P., James H. Reeves ; K. of E., Elmer
E. Cox; C. of E., Samuel A. Barto; M. of R.,
George W. Stevens ; Sir H., George S. Fox ; W.
B., C. O. Pedrick; W. C, James Hoagland; Ensign, Lemuel Pike; Esq., James Hartley; 1st G.,
John Allen ; 2d G., W. B. Waters.
The present officers are : P. C, Joseph W. Jackson ; N. C, James Spence ; V. C, William B.
Gibbs ; H. P., H. W. Howland ; V. H., John P.
R. Carney ; M. of R., George W. Stevens ; C. of
E., Charles Sayre ; K. of E., Elmer E. Cox ; S. H.,
William B. Slocum.
The lodge meets every Friday night, at Wildey
Hall, Fifth and Pine Streets. The number of
members is two hundred and thirty-three.
Red Cross Castle, No. 6, was instituted January 2S, 1885, with the following officers: P. C.
W. H. Tyler; N. C., F. T. Steinbach ; H. P., Adam
Hoffman ; V. H., Hiram Walton ; M. of R., Geo.
S. Bundick; C. of E., Isaac Buzby.
The present officers are : P. C, Frederick Fearn ;
N. C, Adam Hoffman ; V. C, Joseph M. Taylor;
H. P., E. O. Smith; M. of R., Walter Hart; C.
of E., John Neff; K. of E., Moses Gour; S. H., D. Ewan.
The lodge meets every Monday night, at Gour's
Hall, 249 Kaighn Avenue. The number of members is seventy-five.
White Cross Castle, No. 19, was instituted
August 20, 1886, with the following officers: P. C,
William H. Snyder; N. C, Richard Twelves;
V. C, W. D. Reel; H. P., Morris E. Michel;
V. H., Joseph Engard ; M- of R., W. H. Wagoner ;
C. of E., Richard A. Outwater; K. of E., Frank Mester;
Sir H., George W. Reese ; W. B., E. W. Shallcross ;
W. C, Harry E. Horner ; Ens., Morris Odell ;
E-q., C. E. Swaney ; First Guard, W. H. Strang;
Second Guard, C. E. Bowker.
The lodge meets every Monday night at the
northwest corner of Second and Federal Streets,
Camden. The present membership is ninety.
Monarch Castle, No. 9, was instituted November 11, 1886, the officers at institution being:
P. C, George L. Frazee ; N. C, Charles E. Lane J
V. C, Samuel R. Murray ; H. P., N. N. Wentz;
V. H., J. K. Hibbs ; M. of R., Frank S. Fithian;
C. of E., Abram H. Allen ; K. of E , Thomas B.
Woolston ; S. H., James Rudolph; W. B., Horace
J. Parks; W. C, C. P. Baker; Ens., William H.
Smith, Jr. ; Esq., George Ewan ; First Guard,
Charles H. Savidge ; Second Guard, George Ewan.
The present officers are P. C, John W. Mickle ;
N. C, George C. Vankirk ; V. C, Edwin S. Titus;
H. P., R. M. Coffman ; V. H., D. P. Steiner ;
M. of R., E. D. Senseman; C. of E., Abram H.
Allen; K. of E., Washington Bucknell;. Sir H.,
William M. Callingham; W. B., Charles Kain ;
W. C, Theo. Austermuhl; Ens., William M.
Strohl; Esq., John F. Wilkins ; First Guard,
Jacob E. Miller; Second Guard, William P.
Riker.
Meetings are held every Wednesday night at
the northwest corner of Fourth and Federal Streets.
The present membership is one hundred and
thirteen.
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