Alexander Wilson was born in Pennsylvania in 1847, according to the 1870 Census. By that time, he lived in Camden’s South Ward, worked as a hotel waiter, and boarded with Eliza Williams. He was single at the time.
On April 8, 1877, Camden Fire Department records show that Wilson, then residing at 422 Mount Vernon Street, was appointed as an extra man with the Hook and Ladder Company, replacing John Dugan. He was among the first three Black men to join the Camden Fire Department, alongside Solomon Clark and Pierce Brown. Wilson served for a year before being replaced by Barney Harvey in April 1878. He continued living at 422 Mount Vernon Street until at least 1878 and had moved to 423 Mount Vernon Street by the 1881-1882 City Directory. In 1885, he was listed at 745 Sycamore Street.
By 1890, Wilson was living at 760 Chestnut Street and working as a porter for the West Jersey Railroad. The 1894-1895 City Directory placed him at 931 Chestnut Street, where he was employed as a waiter in Philadelphia. By 1897, he had started a catering business. He remained at 931 Chestnut Street through 1900, appearing in the Census that year with his wife, Hattie Wilson. Married for ten years by then, the couple had no children. Although Wilson listed his occupation as “waiter” to the census taker, he continued catering until at least 1906. By that time, he had moved to 1020 South 10th Street, boarding with David and Lottie Taylor. His wife, Hattie, had passed away before the 1910 Census.
Wilson does not appear in the 1914 City Directory or the 1920 Census, suggesting he likely passed away in the early 1910s.
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Alexander Wilson
Alexander Wilson was born in Pennsylvania in 1847, according to the 1870 Census. By that time, he lived in Camden’s South Ward, worked as a hotel waiter, and boarded with Eliza Williams. He was single at the time. On April 8, 1877, Camden Fire Department records show that Wilson, then residing at 422 Mount Vernon…
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