Joseph Bishop Van Sciver was born on May 14, 1861, in Hainesport, New Jersey. He grew up in Camden and attended the E. A. Stevens School. In 1881, he founded his furniture manufacturing and retail business in a small shop at 210 Federal Street. The business grew rapidly, and by 1888, he had moved to a four-story building directly opposite the Pennsylvania Terminal and Ferry at Delaware and Federal. Over the years, he expanded his operations to Trenton and Allentown, Pennsylvania.
By 1923, the Van Sciver business occupied ten acres, with new construction and buildings added in 1890, 1896, 1902, and 1923. The furniture produced by Van Sciver was shipped all over the world, and the business was a household name. In addition to furniture manufacturing, J.B. Van Sciver was involved in other businesses related to the manufacture and sale of construction materials.
On June 9, 1892, he married Florence Groff Kelly at the First Baptist Church in Camden, and they had four children: Joseph B. Jr., Russell, Lloyd, and Ruth. The Van Scivers later made their home in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia.
J.B. Van Sciver remained actively involved in his business until about a year before his death on June 19, 1943. He was succeeded by his son, Joseph Bishop Van Sciver Jr., as the chief executive officer of the company.
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