George Nowrey

GEORGE NOWREY was born in Glendon PA, a few miles from Easton, in 1862. His family moved to Camden when he was 11. His brother was Joseph E. Nowrey, Democratic politician from Camden who served as the city’s Mayor from 1902 to 1905. Joseph Nowrey also served as Camden County sheriff.

George and Joseph E. Nowrey appear in the City Directories for Camden in the late 1880’s and early 1890’s as living at 842 Locust Street in Camden. In these years George Nowrey worked as a blacksmith, while Joseph E. Nowrey is listed as a machinist. Also listed at this address is Mary Nowrey, the widow of Alexander, who had a dry goods business. It is likely that Alexander and Mary were the parents. There also appear a James G. and John Nowrey at the same address.

Joseph E. Nowrey became very active in Camden’s political life in the 1890s and 1900s. Brother George Nowrey was appointed to the Camden Police Department on August 8, 1898. He served until his retirement in June of 1937, a 39 year long career, rising to the rank of sergeant.

The 1924 Camden City Directory shows George Nowrey as a sergeant on the Camden Police Department, living at 1493 Princess Avenue in Parkside.

Plagued by ill-health after retirement, George Nowrey passed away at Mercer Hospital in Trenton NJ on January 21, 1938. After funeral services at St. John’s Episocopal Church in Camden, of which George Nowrey was a member from the time he came to Camden until his passing, he was buried at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden NJ. His grandson, PFC John A. Nowrey of Camden NJ, would be killed in action in 1945.

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