Isaac J. Hibbs was born on March 25, 1848, in Pennsylvania. He was the son of Isaac G. Hibbs, a carpenter, and his wife Mary. At the time of the 1850 Census, he was the youngest of the seven living Hibbs children. The family resided in Middletown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Around 1863, Isaac J. Hibbs married and continued to live in Middletown Township as of the 1870 Census.
By 1880, Isaac lived in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, with his wife Margaret and their five children: Wesley, Mary, Katie, Harry, and Herbert, whose ages ranged from 14 years to 8 months. Although he typically worked as a carpenter like his father, in 1880, he was employed as a cigar maker. During the 1890s, Isaac moved to Camden and primarily worked in the cigar business, a trade his children also pursued.
The 1894-1895 Howe’s City Directories listed Isaac and his son Harry in the cigar business at 806 Walnut Street. Wesley, another son, ran a cigar business at 453 Kaighn Avenue. By 1895-1896, Wesley and Herbert operated at 1144 Broadway, while Isaac, his wife, Harry, and Kate remained at 806 Walnut Street.
In 1896, Wesley established a cigar store at 441 Kaighn Avenue, selling the family’s manufactured cigars, including the “Hibbs Special.” Isaac briefly ventured into the saloon business at 1057 Kaighn Avenue in 1896, but moved the following year. His children, Katie, Harry, and Herbert, lived and worked as cigar makers at 1057 Kaighn Avenue, likely for Wesley.
The 1897 Camden City Directory recorded Isaac, Harry, and Herbert at 1162 Mt. Vernon Street, making cigars. In 1898, Herbert moved to 441 Kaighn Avenue with Wesley, while Isaac and Harry relocated to 1419 South 10th Street. Tragically, Harry V. Hibbs died on December 12, 1898, at 22 years and 8 months.
The 1899 Directory showed Isaac and Herbert together again at 1419 South 10th Street, while Wesley returned to 1144 Broadway. Wesley remained there for several years before moving to 1146 Broadway and entering the stationary business by 1906.
By the 1900 Census, Isaac lived at 913 South 8th Street with his wife Maggie and youngest son Herbert. Isaac worked as a carpenter, and Herbert was still making cigars. This remained Isaac's address until at least 1913. The Census noted that Margaret Hibbs had borne seven children, with only three surviving: Mrs. Katie Hibbs Terry, Wesley, and Herbert.
Herbert married after the 1900 Census and lived at 759 Chestnut Street, working as a bartender in 1905. Later, he joined the Camden Fire Department but was tragically murdered on Christmas morning, 1910.
Isaac continued working as a carpenter until at least 1913 before finding less physically demanding work as a turnkey (guard) at the Camden County jail, where he was known as “Daddy” Hibbs. On July 17, 1916, Isaac J. Hibbs was killed in the line of duty during a jailbreak. His daughter, Katie Hibbs Terry, died three weeks later. Both were buried at Middletown Friends’ Cemetery in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, along with Herbert and other family members. Isaac's widow, Margaret Malseed Hibbs, passed away in 1917, reportedly from a broken heart over her husband. She had also outlived six of her seven children.
Wilson Ashbridge, Isaac's killer, who was already awaiting trial for another murder, was recaptured and executed on January 3, 1917.
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Isaac J. Hibbs
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