Morris McMeekin Odell was born June 24, 1915 to Floyd Odell and his wife, the former Edna May McMeekin, in Camden, New Jersey. He was named after his grandfather, Morris Odell, who was a prominent figure in Camden civic life, as Assistant City Clerk and with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, where he at times led both the city and state organizations, and his maternal grandfather, Thomas McMeekin. His father, Floyd Odell, worked in Camden's shipyards. Morris M. Odell grew up in Camden's Cramer Hill neighborhood. The Odells were living at 3060 River Road when the 1920 Census was taken on January 20th of that year.
When the Census was taken in April of 1930 the Odell family had moved to 939 North 31st Street. Morris Odell would make his home in the 900 block of North 31st Street through at least the fall of 1977. During the 1930s Morris M. Odell had married Thelma Rich. Her father, Warren H. Rich, was a member of the Camden Fire Department. He and wife Thelma made their home at 939 North 31st Street.
Morris M. Odell was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on July 31, 1941. He reported for duty the next day. After ten days at the Fire Training School he was assigned to Engine Company 2, located at Fire Headquarters, North 5th and Arch Streets. He was assigned to the post of Battalion Chief's Aide on November 21, 1944.
Morris Odell's father, Floyd Odell, passed away sometime after the spring of 1942. Mother Edna Odell resided next door at 937 North 31st Street. Morris and Thelma Odell were still at 939 North 31st Street as late as October of 1959. During the 1960s they moved across the street to 944 North 31st Street.
On December 15, 1949 William Van Pfefferle was selected to replace the retiring Walter Mertz as Chief Engineer of the Camden Fire Department. Chief Pfefferle selected Morris M. Odell to serve as his aide, a post which he held for over ten years. Morris M. Odell returned to Engine Company 2 in February of 1960. On January 25, 1961 Morris M. Odell was assigned to the Camden Fire Department's Maintenance Department, where he replaced Joseph P. Boone.
On August 1, 1961, not long after Morris M. Odell was assigned to the Maintenance Department, his son, Robert M. Odell, was appointed to the Camden Fire Department.
Almost three years later to the day after his transfer to the Maintenance Department, on January 23, 1964, Morris M. Odell once again was assigned to the post of Chief's Aide, this time for Chief Edwin Michalak.
After retiring from the Camden Fire Department, Morris Odell moved to Gloucester City, New Jersey. He passed away in February of 1980.
Morris M. Odell's son, Robert M. Odell, retired from the Camden Fire Department on February 1, 1993. Between father and son, the Odells had served the City of Camden continuously for over 51 years.
From left: unknown, Morris Odell, Francis Vecander (with tie), John Taylor, unknown, unknown, and unknown. The man in the hat might be Sam Bates, from North 27th Street.
From left: unknown, Morris Odell, Francis Vecander (with tie), John Taylor, unknown, unknown, and unknown. The man in the hat might be Sam Bates, from North 27th Street.
Camden Courier-Post, April 27, 1948View transcription
FUNERAL ON FRIDAY FOR FIREMAN TOY
Fellow Members of City Department Will Act as Pallbearers
Funeral services for William Earl Toy, veteran Camden fireman who died Sunday of injuries received when the vehicle he was driving and a bus collided Saturday, will be held at 2 p. m. Friday at the residence, 607 West street.
Members of the Camden Fire Department will act as pallbearers and attend the viewing and funeral in a body. The pallbearers will be Deputy Chief William Herring, Captains Harry Wagner and Frank Oberman and Hosemen Morris Odell, Ervin Brennan and Christopher Moll.
Toy is survived by his widow, Margaret C., nee Voll, and a son William, Jr., a member of the Army Air Force stationed in Colorado, who is on his way home for the funeral.
He is survived also by his father, Lemuel, 86, who lived with his son and who was admitted to the hospital yesterday, suffering a heart ailment. His condition today was described as fair. He is unaware of his son's death.
Toy, 45 and a member of the department 17 years, was at the wheel of Acting Chief William Van Pfefferle's car when it collided with a west-bound Public Service bus at Sixteenth and Federal streets. Pfefferle escaped with severe cuts and bruises but Toy suffered fractures of the thigh, arm and wrist and internal injuries, the latter proving fatal. Both men were taken to Cooper hospital, where Pfefferle's condition today was described as good.
Camden Division of Fire Personnel RecordView transcription
PERSONNEL CARD — CAMDEN FIRE BUREAU
[illegible]
NAME: Odell, Morris M.
CO.:
GROUP NO.:
TITLE: [illegible]
TEL. NO.: [illegible]
ADDRESS: [illegible]
WHERE: [illegible]
BADGE NO.: [illegible] 91
Blood Type: A Positive
BORN AT: Camden, N.J.
DATE: June 24, 1915
APPOINTED: July 31, 1941
REPORTED FOR DUTY: August 1, 1941
CHECK POSITIONS THIS MEMBER IS CAPABLE OF FILLING
ACTING CAPTAIN ( ) DRIVER ( ) PUMP OPERATOR ( ) TILLERMAN ( )
ASSIGNMENTS
8/1/41 - Fire Training School
8/11/41 - #2 Engine Co.
11/21/44 - Batt. Chief's aide
1/1/50 - Chief Engineer's aide
2/22/60 - #2 Engine Co.
1/25/61 - Maintenance Dept. (Comm. Garrity)
1/23/64 - Chief Engineer's Aide
FD 843—500—3-61—PPCo.
His Camden Fire Bureau personnel card records his assignments from the Fire Training School on August 1, 1941 to Chief Engineer's Aide on January 23, 1964, with badge No. 91 and blood type A Positive. He retired around 1968.
Camden Courier-Post, February 6, 1980View transcription
ODELL
On February 4, 1980, Morris M. Age 64 years. Husband of the late Thelma (nee Rich). Of Camden, N.J. Survived by one son, Robert M. a Camden City Fireman, of Gloucester Hts., His mother, Edna M. Holt of Camden, one sister Bertha Gaskill of Pennsauken, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Mr. Odell was a Camden City Fireman for twenty-six years until retiring twelve years ago. Relatives, friends, also the members of the Camden Fire Dept. and the I.A.F.F. Local 788 are invited to attend the funeral services on Thursday 11 a.m. at the EDWARD P. LEONARD JR. FUNERAL HOME, 35th St. and River Ave., Camden, N.J. Interment Harleigh Cemetery. Friends may call Wednesday after 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Parking on premises.
River Avenue, more popularly known as River Road, runs north from Federal Street to the Camden city limits and became a Camden thoroughfare in 1899, when the town of Stockton was united with the city. It is the main artery of Cramer Hill and the location of many stores and small businesses.
31st Street spans from the Delaware River through Cramer Hill and East Camden, with no addresses outside Cramer Hill since the early 1920s. It is North 31st Street above Federal and South 31st below.
Funeral services for veteran Camden fireman William Earl Toy, fatally injured when the car of Acting Chief William Van Pfefferle he was driving collided with a bus at Sixteenth and Federal streets, were set for Friday at his home, 607 West Street, with fellow firemen as pallbearers.
The 418 Club beat the Letter Carriers 16-9 to join a three-way tie for second place in the Camden City Softball League, while the Camden Y.M.C.A. and New York Ship, with Odell in center field, played to a 14-14 tie. Camden Fire led the league at 12 wins and 2 losses.
