Josiah Matlack
Josiah Matlack was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on April 13, 1830. His family moved to Haddonfield, New Jersey when he was two years old, and he came to Camden in his teens. After an accident made carpentry work impossible, he went into business and did well. He was nominated to Camden's Board of Education in 1871 but did not win; the following year he was elected to City Council. The 1867 City Directory shows Bowman Matlack at 931 South 5th Street, and he was still at that address as late as 1894.
Josiah Matlack was appointed Chief of Police in 1880 by Mayor Claudius Bradshaw, replacing Charles F. Daubman. He served in that position for six years. He was succeeded by Harry H. Franks, who was appointed by Jesse Pratt after Pratt's victory in the 1886 mayoral election.
Josiah Matlack died at the home of city council president Charles H. Ellis on August 23, 1896. He was interred at Harleigh Cemetery on August 25, 1896.
Tag: josiah-matlack
Harry H. Franks
Henry Houston "Harry" Franks served as Camden's Chief of Police from April 1, 1886 until his death on January 1, 1887. A Civil War veteran of the 25th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry and a tobacconist, he served as constable of the Third Ward before his appointment as chief.
Bowman Matlack
Bowman Matlack was a well-known figure in South Camden. According to the 1880 Census, he lived with his wife Priscilla and their three daughters at 635 South 5th Street .
Ionic Lodge No. 94
Free and Accepted Masons The Ionic Lodge, originally known as the Corinthian Lodge, was established in 1868. It had its roots in the Camden Lodge, No. 15, which served as the "parent" lodge for Corinthian.
Chief Matlack's Funeral
The August 26, 1896 Camden Daily Courier account of Josiah Matlack's funeral at the residence of Charles H. Ellis, Jr., conducted by Rev. J. S. Heisler with lodge representatives as pall-bearers and interment at Harleigh Cemetery.
Josiah Matlack Funeral Notice
The August 25, 1896 funeral notice for Josiah Matlack, inviting relatives and members of Ionic Lodge No. 94, Camden Lodge No. 155, and Pottowottomie Tribe to services at the residence of Charles H. Ellis, Jr., 915 South Fifth Street, with interment at Harleigh Cemetery.
Josiah Matlack Dead
The August 24, 1896 Camden Post obituary of ex-Chief of Police Josiah Matlack, who died at the home of City Council President Charles Ellis after being prostrated by heat at Ocean City. It recounts his Council service, Masonic and fraternal memberships, and his tenure as chief under Mayor Bradshaw.
Franks Sworn in as Chief
Harry H. Franks and six new patrolmen took the oath as retiring Chief Josiah Matlack bade the police department farewell and formally turned it over to his successor.
Chief Matlack
In March 1886, Chief of Police Josiah Matlack accepted a position with E. Roberts & Bro., commission merchants at 226 North Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia.
The Smith Policy Case
William "Policy Bill" Smith surrendered to the Mayor and was admitted to $300 bail after the raid on his place at 14 South Eighth Street.
'Policy Bill' Did Not Come
Chief Matlack expected "Policy Bill" Smith to surrender and post bail after the raid on 14 South Eighth Street, but Smith failed to appear and the case went to the grand jury.
The Policy Raid
Mayor Bradshaw sent the paraphernalia from the raid on "Bill" Smith's policy den at 14 South Eighth Street to the grand jury; Smith remained at large, believed to be in Philadelphia arranging bail with backer Oscar Stein.
A Favorite Row Drawn After a Year's Rest — Mayor Bradshaw's Raid
A January 1886 report of a policy-game raid by Chief of Police Matlack and Mayor Bradshaw on a house at 14 South Eighth Street run by William "Policy Bill" Smith, in which the winning row was the old familiar 4-11-44.
Policy Shop Raided on Joint Alley
Camden police raided a policy (numbers) shop at 330 Joint Alley in August 1884, arresting proprietor John W. Baynard, policy writer George M. Johnson, and a player, Benjamin Stone.
Over the River
A December 1882 Philadelphia Inquirer roundup of Camden news, opening with a three-week-old child left on the doorstep of Chief of Police Josiah Matlack's home at 935 South Fifth Street and placed in the charge of Constable Streeper.
Personal Sketches — No. 4: Josiah Matlack
An 1880 character sketch of Josiah Matlack, newly appointed Chief of Police of Camden, tracing his early life, a carpentry accident, his produce-commission business, and his service on the Board of Education and City Council.