Joseph F. Kobus and his brother Henry were the sons of Anthony Kobus, who established a shoe business at 943 South 4th Street in 1858, later relocating it to the corner of South 4th and Spruce Streets. Joseph, born in Camden in 1863, along with his brother, successfully managed the business until their retirement in the early 1930s. Anthony Kobus was also involved in the Broadway Trust Bank and, upon his passing in 1920, Joseph and Henry moved the business to a nearby building at 934 Broadway in 1924.
In his youth, Joseph Kobus developed a keen interest in crosswords, cryptograms, and similar puzzles. In 1883, he became one of the founding members of the National Puzzlers League and remained an active member throughout his life.
Joseph Kobus’ second wife, Mary Walsh Kobus, made her mark as one of Camden’s early female politicians. She served on the City Commission and held the position of Director of Public Safety in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Like her husband, Mary was an accomplished puzzler and served as the president of the National Puzzlers League in 1929.
After the passing of his brother Henry in April 1939, Joseph Kobus, who was already dealing with kidney problems, took a turn for the worse and passed away on June 9, 1939. He is survived by his wife Mary and a son, Harry Kobus, from his first marriage.
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