Charles S. Boyer
Charles Shimer Boyer, born in Pennsylvania in 1869 to Benjamin Franklin Boyer and Alabama Shimer Boyer, is most notably recognized as the inaugural President of the Camden County Historical Society. Renowned for his contributions to the region's historical narrative, he authored or co-authored numerous books and articles. His family relocated to Camden when he was three years old, initially residing at 321 North 2nd Street during the 1880 census. By the late 1880s, they had moved to 528 Linden Street. Benjamin F. Boyer, Charles's father, partnered with George Shimer in Shimer & Boyer, a woolen yarn manufacturing company later known as the B. F. Boyer Company. George Shimer, Alabama Shimer Boyer's father, lived on Linden Street at 503 Linden.
Charles S. Boyer married Anna Derousse, daughter of former Assemblyman and Camden Postmaster Louis T. Derousse, on April 27, 1904. The 1910 census places Charles and his family at 525 Cooper Street, among notable neighbors like Judge Frank T. Lloyd, Dr. Byron Fortiner, Dr. Paul Markley, and father-son duo Drs. William A. and Albert Davis.
Following a successful stint managing the family business after his father's passing, Charles S. Boyer redirected his focus toward studying Camden County's history. As a prolific writer, he penned numerous books and pamphlets, earning the distinction of being the first president of the Camden County Historical Society. Detailed accounts of his business and historical endeavors can be found in a 1920s biography and a more recent article authored by Vincent Summers, a distant relative.
In November 1927, Mayor Winfield S. Price appointed a committee chaired by Charles S. Boyer to organize the One Hundredth Anniversary observance of the City of Camden in February 1928. The committee comprised notable members such as T. Yorke Smith, E.G.C. Bleakly, Mahlon F. Ivins Jr., Fred S. Caperoon, and Frank S. Albright.
Charles S. Boyer later relocated to Moorestown, NJ. He passed away on November 10, 1936, and was interred at Harleigh Cemetery. The honorary pallbearers at his funeral included many of Camden's leading citizens from the first third of the 20th century.
