Ott Laxton
Samuel Arthur "Ott" Laxton was born on May 23, 1904 in Camden, New Jersey to William Henry and Ida Jane Laxton. He was the eighth of eleven children, six of whom are listed on the 1910 census. His father was a cabinetmaker by trade. William Henry and Ida Laxton were natives of England, and had first come to the United States in 1890 with at least two of their children, William H. Jr. and Gwendolyn. They settled in Lynchburg, Virginia, where sons Harry Frank and John Frederick "Fred" Laxton were born in 1893 and 1895, respectively.
The Laxtons returned to England for a time. Another son, Eric, was born in 1900. The Census of 1901 shows the family living in the city of Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. The family soon returned to America, and had settled in Camden at 417 Clinton Street by 1904.
The Laxton family was still living on Clinton Street when the 1914 Camden City Directory was compiled. Growing up in Camden, Ott Laxton, like most boys of his era, played a good deal of sports. His older brother William H. Jr. played soccer and was active with various teams in the Delaware Valley into the mid-1910s. Ott, however, gravitated to the American games, specifically basketball and baseball.
The City Directory for 1917 and draft records show the family at 45 North 21st Street in East Camden. The Census taken in January of 1920 shows Ott Laxton living with his mother and older siblings Gwendolyn and Eric at 31 North 24th Street in East Camden. Ott Laxton had already gone to work as an errand boy in an office by the time of the Census. One of Camden's many talented athletes, he had already started playing semi-pro basketball by the fall of 1918 and soon was well-known in local athletic circles. Ott Laxton supplemented his income playing semi-pro basketball and baseball.
Ott was well known in Camden basketball circles as a fast, clean, talented forward. He started his basketball career at age 14, playing with the Bethany AA team of the North Camden League. He followed that with time on the Union AA team, then he joined the Railroad League, playing first with Supervising Agent, and later taking the 1921–22 Championship with the Pavonia team. A stint with the Broadway Cycle club followed. In 1924, Ott joined the Glassboro club of the South Jersey League, playing with Broadway Cycle at the same time. By this time, Ott had made a name for himself as a fast, flashy "40 minute player," staying in the game from bell to bell. The 1925–27 seasons were his most successful. As captain of the Oaklyn team of the Camden County League, Ott led other Camden greats like Grover "Worm" Wearshing, Eddie Brandt and Frank Hambleton to back-to-back Championships. By 1930, Ott had been a member of the Marlton club and had played for the Eastern Camden League as well.
It's difficult to list all of the teams he played with in Camden over the years, as often Ott would play for whichever team was paying the $5.00 per game. Playing for two or three teams across several leagues within a year was not unusual for him.
Ott Laxton was living in Cramer Hill at 926 North 30th Street with his brother Eric when the 1926 City Directory was compiled. Later in the year he was staying at 802 Linden Street. He was there when his engagement to Helen Kocher was announced, and before the year was out, they were married. The young couple lived initially with Helen's mother at 266 Liberty Street in South Camden. By the end of the year they had moved to 1014 South 6th Street, and by April of 1930 to 578 Mount Vernon Street. By this time he had secured employment in the City of Camden's parks department, which also tended to New Camden Cemetery. A son, Samuel Arthur Laxton Jr., was born in 1932.
Ott also spent a fair amount of time playing baseball for the various city leagues in Camden. From 1927 to 1935 he played outfield or second base for the Haddon AA of the Reesman League, the Hurley Club of the Industrial League, Lucas AA of the Lower Camden County Circuit, and the Popeye Club of the Rhone Twilight League, to name a few.
The Laxtons were still living at 578 Mount Vernon Street when the 1959 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory was compiled. The family moved to 346 Garden Avenue in East Camden shortly thereafter. A resident of Camden till his last day, Samuel Arthur "Ott" Laxton passed away in April of 1983. Although he never went any further than the city basketball and baseball leagues, Ott Laxton brought many hours of joy to the citizens of Camden with his talent on the basketball court and the baseball field.
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Tag: ott-laxton
30th Street
Thirtieth Street runs from the Delaware River south, across River Road to the Pavonia railroad switching yard, then to Westfield Avenue and on to Federal Street, and to the intersection of Line Street and Beacon Avenue, just above Waldorf Street. It is North 30th Street above Federal and South 30th below.
21st Street
Twenty-First Street runs through Cramer Hill and into East Camden, extending from Harrison Avenue to Federal Street, established by the 1887–1888 Camden City Directory.
Life Hereabouts
Charley Humes's "Life Hereabouts" column of May 14, 1949, recalling the 1924 Broadway Cycle–Courier team that won the South Jersey semi-pro basketball championship, with Ott Laxton among the First Ward players remembered.
So. Camden Outfit Socks St. Joseph's
An August 29, 1935 Camden Courier-Post report on the Camden Collegians clinching the Brunner Twilight League National Division first-half title with a 14–3 win over St. Joseph's; Ott Laxton is briefly noted.
Arthur "Ott" Laxton
A 1930s Camden Courier-Post profile of Arthur "Ott" Laxton, a mainstay of the Haddon A.A. baseball club in the Reesman Twilight League, who played second base or shortstop. (Source dates this clipping only to the 1930s.)
Who's Who Among So. Jersey Stars
Charley Humes profiles Arthur "Otts" Laxton in his "Who's Who Among So. Jersey Stars" column, calling the Camden forward without a peer in local basketball. (Source dates this clipping only to the 1930s.)
Popeye Turns Back Independent Umps
A Camden Courier-Post report (c. 1929–1935) on the Popeye club's 8–4 win over the Independent Umpires' Association, with George Nicktern pitching in the Rhone Twilight League's annual contest. (No firmer date is determinable from the source.)
City League Champs of the American Division
A July 1934 Camden Courier-Post photo caption identifying the Popeye club — American Division champions of the Rhone Twilight League — including Ott Laxton and George Nicktern.
Hurley Five Victor Over Radio Quintet
A Fall 1929 Camden Courier-Post report on Ott Laxton's five field goals leading the Hurley Store five to a 24–19 exhibition win over the Radio Condenser quintet at Convention Hall.
Camden Cops Lose to Central Quintet
A January 26, 1928 Camden Courier-Post report on Central Camden's Municipal League win over the Camden Police quintet at Convention Hall, holding Ott Laxton to six points.
Ott Laxton Features in Thrilling Battle
A 1928 Camden Evening Courier account crediting captain Ott Laxton with the greatest game of his career as Oaklyn beat Clementon 29–21 in a Camden County League playoff at Silver Lake Park.
Hambleton Co-Stars with "Worm" and Laxton
Abe Corotis reports Camden's 28–13 Camden County League win over Pennsauken on December 24, 1927, with Frank Hambleton, Grover Wearshing and Ott Laxton starring.
Dangerous Foe Clashes with Oaks Tonight
Tom Ryan previews a crucial Camden County Senior Basketball League week in February 1927, recalling Oaklyn's protest after "Otts" Laxton was shoved through a gymnasium door in an earlier game against Immaculate Conception.
Laxton Scintillates in First Irish Defeat
Abe Corotis reports Camden's upset of the previously unbeaten Immaculate Conception in the Camden County League on January 24, 1927, with Ott Laxton the game's high scorer.
Cage Star Will Wed South Camden Girl
A 1926 Camden Courier-Post notice announcing the coming marriage of basketball star Arthur "Ott" Laxton and Miss Helen Kocher of South Camden.
Cupid Conquers Entire First Ward Cage Team
A humorous 1926 Camden Courier-Post story reporting that Ott Laxton, the last bachelor of the First Ward Republican cage team, eloped to Elkton with Helen Kocher — leaving Cupid "batting 1,000."
Triple Tie in League
A Pennsylvania Railroad League basketball report from the Philadelphia Inquirer noting Ott Laxton's Pavonia team in a three-way tie for first place after a loss to the Firemen at the Camden Y.M.C.A.