Joseph Oscar Till Jr. was born on January 12, 1876, in Pennsylvania, to Joseph Oscar and Catherine “Kate” Till. Joseph Sr., a Civil War veteran, resettled in Philadelphia after the war, where he worked as a huckster before operating a cigar store at 872 Moyer Street. By 1880, the family had grown to include sons William and Joseph Oscar Jr., known as “Oscar Till.” Subsequently, four more sons — Morris, Albert, Clarence, and Nelson W. Till, born on January 12, 1889 — joined the family. During this time, Joseph Till Sr. also served as a volunteer fireman.
In the 1890s, the Till family moved to Stockton, New Jersey, eventually settling at 912 Lois Avenue, now part of the Cramer Hill area of Camden. Joseph Till Sr. became active in local affairs and served as constable in Stockton. When Stockton merged with Camden in 1899, Joseph Jr. secured a position in the Camden Fire Department.
However, tragedy struck on November 1, 1903, when Joseph Till Jr. got into a fight, leading to a fall the following day that resulted in his death at Cooper Hospital on November 13. An inquest deemed his death accidental, from injuries sustained in the fall. He was laid to rest at Arlington Cemetery in Pennsauken, New Jersey, survived by his wife and sons, while Kate Till passed away on July 11, 1941.
J. Oscar Till Jr. first appears in Camden’s city directories in 1896, residing with his parents and employed as a day laborer. While absent from the 1897 directory, he is listed in both the 1898 and 1899 editions, still at the Lois Avenue address and working as a laborer. In 1900, he married Albina Slater, daughter of Cornelius and Ellen Slater, proprietors of a grocery store at 1000 North 25th Street in Cramer Hill. The couple initially lived with Albina’s parents and sister Hattie Slater.
Soon after, likely through his father’s influence, J. Oscar Till secured a job as a bridge-tender at the Federal Street drawbridge over the Cooper River. On December 3, 1904, he was appointed to the Camden Fire Department, and on January 1, 1908, he transitioned to the Camden Police Department.
The 1910 Census shows J. Oscar Till Jr., his wife Albina, and their sons Joseph W., Charles H., and Oscar H. Till residing at 1002 North 25th Street. Unfortunately, three other children had passed away by then. The Slaters, Albina’s parents, continued to live and operate their business at 1000 North 25th Street. Two more children, David and Verna Till, were born in the 1910s. By the 1930 Census, only Charles, Oscar H., David, and Verna remained at home, with J. Oscar Till Jr. still employed with the Camden Police Department until his retirement on January 1, 1933.
In 1940, J. Oscar Till Jr. lived with his wife Albina and son Oscar H. Till at 1002 North 25th Street. Their eldest son, Joseph W. Till, operated a confectionary at 1000 North 25th Street, while their youngest son, David, resided at 1004 North 25th Street with his wife Anna. J. Oscar Till Jr. passed away before the 1943 Camden City Directory was compiled.
J. Oscar Till Jr.’s younger brother, Nelson W. Till, was appointed to the Camden Fire Department in the early 1920s and served until the early 1940s.
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