George B. Anderson was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on September 18, 1872, as a replacement extra man with Engine Company 2. He filled the position left by William S. Davis, who had been promoted to Engineer. Anderson later resigned on April 20, 1874, after being appointed to the Camden Police Department from the city’s Fourth Ward.
According to the 1900 Census, George B. Anderson was born in March 1840 in New Jersey. He may have been the son of John and Delina Anderson, who were recorded as living in Camden's North Ward in the 1850 Census.
The Fourth Regiment—Militia, commanded by Colonel Matthew Miller, Jr., was mustered into U.S. service at Trenton on April 27, 1861, for a three-month term. The regiment, which included Lieutenant Colonel Simpson R. Stroud and Major Robert C. Johnson among its officers, departed for Washington, D.C., on May 3 with 37 commissioned officers and 743 non-commissioned officers and privates, totaling 777 men.
Upon arriving in the capital on the evening of May 5, the regiment was ordered to camp at Meridian Hill on May 9. A few days later, the entire brigade was stationed there, and on May 12, the troops were honored by a visit from President Abraham Lincoln, who praised their appearance.
On the night of May 23, the regiment, along with the 2nd and 3rd Regiments, marched silently toward a bridge spanning the Potomac River. They crossed at 2:00 a.m. on May 24, with the 2nd Regiment stationed at Roach's Spring, while the 3rd and 4th Regiments were positioned about half a mile beyond on the Alexandria Road.
By July 16, the 4th Regiment had been assigned various guard duties: one unit was stationed along the Orange & Alexandria Railroad, another guarded the Long Bridge, and a third was posted at Arlington Mills. The remainder of the regiment, along with the 2nd, was ordered to Alexandria.
With its term of service complete, the 4th Regiment returned to New Jersey on July 24 and was mustered out at Trenton on July 31, 1861. The regiment’s total strength was 783 men. Over the course of its service, it lost six men to discharge, two to promotion, two to death, and seven to desertion, with 766 soldiers mustered out.
George B. Anderson was among those who mustered out with Company E, Fourth Infantry Regiment New Jersey on July 31, 1861, in Trenton, NJ. After spending a brief time at home in Camden, he re-enlisted on September 21, 1861, as a private in Company C, 10th Infantry Regiment New Jersey.
The 10th Infantry Regiment was organized under a congressional act approved on July 22, 1861. Unlike other units raised by state authorities, this regiment was formed under the direct authorization of the War Department and was initially an independent organization known as the Olden Legion. Recruitment began quickly, and the regiment was soon fully organized.
The unit went into camp at Beverly, New Jersey, before departing for Washington, D.C., on December 26, 1861. It arrived with 35 officers and 883 non-commissioned officers and privates, totaling 918 men. Upon arrival, the regiment camped at Camp Clay, located along the Bladensburg Turnpike, about a mile from Washington.
On January 29, 1862, the regiment was officially transferred to state control, underwent a thorough reorganization, and was designated as the 10th New Jersey Infantry Regiment. Much of its early service involved provost duty in and around Washington.
George B. Anderson received a disability discharge from Company C, 10th Infantry Regiment New Jersey on October 5, 1862, in Washington, D.C. He then returned home to Camden, where he reunited with his wife, Elizabeth.
The 1870 Census records George B. Anderson living in Camden's North Ward with his wife, Elizabeth, their son, George (5), and their daughter, Elizabeth (8 months). At that time, he was employed at an iron foundry. Shortly afterward, it appears that the family relocated to South Camden.
According to department records, during his tenure with the Camden Fire Department, Anderson resided at 419 Broadway. He worked as an engineer — meaning he operated steam-powered engines — before being appointed to the fire department on September 18, 1872, as an extra man with Engine Company 2. He resigned on April 20, 1874, upon receiving an appointment to the Camden Police Department from the city's Fourth Ward.
By May 1877, Anderson had left the police department and returned to North Camden.
City directories from 1878 and 1881, along with the 1880 Census, list the Anderson family at 114 Elm Street in North Camden. By then, Anderson had begun working as a machinist, a profession he would continue for the remainder of his life. The census records show that two of his children, George B. Anderson Jr. (then 15) and Emma G. (4), were living at home. Sadly, their daughter Elizabeth had passed away.
Between 1880 and 1900, the couple had two more children, though only one survived into the 20th century. However, their names are not known as of this writing.
By the time the 1882-1883 Camden City Directory was compiled, the Anderson family had moved to 532 Cedar Street. The following year, they relocated to 929 Point Street, and by the latter half of 1885, they had settled at 60 Erie Street.
In March 1887, George B. Anderson temporarily separated from his wife but continued living at 60 Erie Street. His son, George B. Anderson Jr., who had worked in a woolen mill at the time of the 1880 Census, was listed in the 1887 City Directory as residing with his father at 60 Erie Street and working as a painter.
By 1888-1889, the Andersons had moved to 940 North 2nd Street, where George B. Anderson Sr. operated a cigar store while his son continued working as a painter. This business venture lasted at least into 1890.
The 1890 Veteran's Census recorded George B. Anderson living at 220 Erie Street, where he was suffering from rheumatism.
By 1893-1894, Anderson had returned to working as a machinist, and he and his wife were living at 929 North 2nd Street. His son, George Jr., was still employed as a painter but had moved to 2712 Master Street in Stockton (later renamed Cramer Street after Stockton merged into Camden).
The 1896 and 1897 directories show that George B. Anderson, his wife, and their daughter Emma remained at 929 North 2nd Street. In 1896, George Jr. lived nearby at 604 Point Street, but he does not appear in the 1897 Camden directory.
By 1898, George and Elizabeth Anderson were still residing at 929 North 2nd Street, but Emma had apparently married and moved away. George Jr. was living at 126 Erie Street with his wife, Mary V., and working as a painter in Philadelphia.
That same year, the Camden City Directory listed George B. Anderson at 128 Erie Street. He remained at that address when the 1900 Census was conducted on June 14, 1900. At that time, he and Elizabeth had been married for 39 years, and of their five children, three were still living. He continued working as a machinist.
George B. Anderson passed away on December 27, 1901, and was buried at Evergreen Cemetery. His widow, Elizabeth H. Anderson, was approved for a widow's pension in late January 1902.
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