Personal Sketches — No. 4: Josiah Matlack

By Camden NJ History
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Personal Sketches No. 4: Josiah Matlack, Camden County Courier, November 13, 1880
Camden County Courier, November 13, 1880
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PERSONAL SKETCHES — No. 4 By D. W. Seller JOSIAH MATLACK. Josiah Matlack, now Chief of Police of Camden, N. J., was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on the 13th of April, 1830. In 1832, when he was only two years of age, his parents removed to Haddonfield, where he remained for several years. When about nine years of age Josiah was put to service on a farm, having previously lived with a grandfather and grandmother in the country; eleven, a later period in life, he was apprenticed to an old carpenter, and began to learn the millwrighting business. He served five years at this trade. In about 1853, he came to Camden and commenced working at the same employment. In this line of duty he was an adept and always had plenty of work, and was never idle. At the time the new school-house at Fifth and Market streets was in course of erection (subsequently known as the Green School) the scaffolding gave way, precipitating him to the ground and injuring him to such an extent that he was obliged to abandon that profession. He then went into the produce-commission business in which he has also been successful. Politically Mr. Matlack is a Democrat; not of that litigative character which ignores good in an opposing party, but of a liberal school, and can appreciate true political merit wherever found. He has often said that there are too many things connected with politics that one cannot subscribe to which are revolting to his nature. In 1871 he received the nomination for the Board of Education against Levi S. Newton, Republican, and when it was found there was a tie in the count of that ward he went to Mr. Newton and proposed to have the ballots recounted, when the other gentleman was declared elected by two majority. No effort was made by Mr. Matlack to contest the election. In 1872 he was nominated for the City Council, in opposition to Mr. W. Cook, and was elected majority of thirty-six. He was properly relieved of the election judges who lost his seat without opposition, although A. W. Cook, Republican, was elected in the ward by a majority of seven, and was elected by Grocer McDavis by twelve. In that contest Mr. Matlack would take no active part until in possession of all the facts and evidence in the case, and had thoroughly studied them. He then voted with his Democratic associates. During his career in Council on all matters of public interest he was guided by a desire to do the best interests of the city, and as he never confronted the unmixed classes of his constituents. He is one of that class of gentlemen who cannot see why politicians should be less upright and honest in their dealings with the public than private individuals in their legitimate business transactions. Hence, although under obligations to the party that elected him, he frequently voted against measures they proposed simply because they did not meet with conscientious views of right and justice. This trait of character is commendable in him — it is worth far more in any man who has moral courage sufficient to do so. Municipal affairs have often brought into an imbroglio by partisan and ruling partisans, and to be inflicted on a community which independent and honest discharge of duties would have averted. Mr. Matlack's conduct, if entirely divested of partisanism, was therefore worthy of emulation. The subject of this sketch was never one of those war-menders who apply more time to bewailing misfortunes than to timely efforts to avert them. From his youth he has been a progressive thinker and a hard worker. With him self-dependence is a cardinal virtue — if, even at an early age he went out from the parent fold to struggle with the fortunes and misfortunes of life, to win or lose in the great game of draughts which mankind is ever playing on the rocky world's checker-board. With the courage him are fortified he will be succeeded. Mr. Matlack is a gentleman of unmistakable vital ordinate makeup. Muscular in build, and well athletic, with a brunette type of complexion, his physical forces are vigorous, strongly developed. His mind is clear, sharp and broad, but his moral consciousness dominates over all these. He will not jump at any conclusions, but likes to examine them, be in possession of all the facts of a question, and these facts must be thoroughly convincing and positive before he gives a final decision. His moral sentiments are strongly marked. Along with his dignity, integrity, determination and large veneration, he cannot easily be persuaded to do anything or adopt a line of policy not strictly in accord with plain old honesty. His language is plain but in deliberate of and legislative bodies he is unusual. Though possessing no considerable share of self-esteem, he is rather notorious in attempting to address large bodies, exhibiting a timidity which, when over-mastered, might educate him into a pretty good debater. Realizing this, he did not wish to obtrude any views upon Council which were not needed of a legal firmament, and which were not perfectly nominal. His bold being, among his truthful social feelings, which have much an influence over his life as to render it permanent to ever become a successful politician on a great scale. Yet they imbue his whole nature with a kind and sympathetic character, and these make it evident that he is better adapted to serve than to excite, especially when force and eloquence are needed. Such a man is Josiah M. Matlack. And it is a well-established hypothesis that the individual who has truth in him of sufficient calibre and appreciation of his principles need not concern himself much as to whom or to whom it is spoken.

By D. W. Seller

Josiah Matlack, now Chief of Police of Camden, N. J., was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on the 13th of April, 1830. In 1832, when he was only two years of age, his parents removed to Haddonfield, where he remained for several years. When about nine years of age Josiah was put to service on a farm, having previously lived with a grandfather and grandmother in the country; eleven, a later period in life, he was apprenticed to an old carpenter, and began to learn the millwrighting business. He served five years at this trade. In about 1853, he came to Camden and commenced working at the same employment. In this line of duty he was an adept and always had plenty of work, and was never idle. At the time the new school-house at Fifth and Market streets was in course of erection (subsequently known as the Green School) the scaffolding gave way, precipitating him to the ground and injuring him to such an extent that he was obliged to abandon that profession. He then went into the produce-commission business in which he has also been successful.

Politically Mr. Matlack is a Democrat; not of that litigative character which ignores good in an opposing party, but of a liberal school, and can appreciate true political merit wherever found. He has often said that there are too many things connected with politics that one cannot subscribe to which are revolting to his nature. In 1871 he received the nomination for the Board of Education against Levi S. Newton, Republican, and when it was found there was a tie in the count of that ward he went to Mr. Newton and proposed to have the ballots recounted, when the other gentleman was declared elected by two majority. No effort was made by Mr. Matlack to contest the election. In 1872 he was nominated for the City Council, in opposition to Mr. W. Cook, and was elected majority of thirty-six. He was properly relieved of the election judges who lost his seat without opposition, although A. W. Cook, Republican, was elected in the ward by a majority of seven, and was elected by Grocer McDavis by twelve. In that contest Mr. Matlack would take no active part until in possession of all the facts and evidence in the case, and had thoroughly studied them. He then voted with his Democratic associates. During his career in Council on all matters of public interest he was guided by a desire to do the best interests of the city, and as he never confronted the unmixed classes of his constituents. He is one of that class of gentlemen who cannot see why politicians should be less upright and honest in their dealings with the public than private individuals in their legitimate business transactions. Hence, although under obligations to the party that elected him, he frequently voted against measures they proposed simply because they did not meet with conscientious views of right and justice. This trait of character is commendable in him — it is worth far more in any man who has moral courage sufficient to do so. Municipal affairs have often brought into an imbroglio by partisan and ruling partisans, and to be inflicted on a community which independent and honest discharge of duties would have averted. Mr. Matlack's conduct, if entirely divested of partisanism, was therefore worthy of emulation.

The subject of this sketch was never one of those war-menders who apply more time to bewailing misfortunes than to timely efforts to avert them. From his youth he has been a progressive thinker and a hard worker. With him self-dependence is a cardinal virtue — if, even at an early age he went out from the parent fold to struggle with the fortunes and misfortunes of life, to win or lose in the great game of draughts which mankind is ever playing on the rocky world's checker-board. With the courage him are fortified he will be succeeded. Mr. Matlack is a gentleman of unmistakable vital ordinate makeup. Muscular in build, and well athletic, with a brunette type of complexion, his physical forces are vigorous, strongly developed. His mind is clear, sharp and broad, but his moral consciousness dominates over all these. He will not jump at any conclusions, but likes to examine them, be in possession of all the facts of a question, and these facts must be thoroughly convincing and positive before he gives a final decision. His moral sentiments are strongly marked. Along with his dignity, integrity, determination and large veneration, he cannot easily be persuaded to do anything or adopt a line of policy not strictly in accord with plain old honesty. His language is plain but in deliberate of and legislative bodies he is unusual. Though possessing no considerable share of self-esteem, he is rather notorious in attempting to address large bodies, exhibiting a timidity which, when over-mastered, might educate him into a pretty good debater. Realizing this, he did not wish to obtrude any views upon Council which were not needed of a legal firmament, and which were not perfectly nominal. His bold being, among his truthful social feelings, which have much an influence over his life as to render it permanent to ever become a successful politician on a great scale. Yet they imbue his whole nature with a kind and sympathetic character, and these make it evident that he is better adapted to serve than to excite, especially when force and eloquence are needed.

Such a man is Josiah M. Matlack. And it is a well-established hypothesis that the individual who has truth in him of sufficient calibre and appreciation of his principles need not concern himself much as to whom or to whom it is spoken.

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