Camden People - Dr. Walter S. Bray

DR. WALTER S. BRAY was born in Dexter, Maine in March of 1863. The 1870 Census shows he was then living with his mother Margaret at the home of his grandparents, Bernard and Margaret Flanagan.

By the spring of 1880 he had left Maine for Altoona, Pennsylvania where he stayed with his uncle, Bernard Flanagan Jr., and found work as a druggist's apprentice.

After graduating from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science in 1884, he completed his medical education at Jefferson Medical College, receiving his M.D. in 1887. He practiced medicine for one year in Atlantic City before coming to Camden in 1888. His practice was centered on internal medicine.

Dr. Bray was on staff at Cooper Hospital, and was the Physician (gynecology) at the Camden City Dispensary. He also taught as an instructor of Internal Medicine at the Jefferson Medical College.

Dr. Bray was a member of the Camden City Medical Society. In June of 1891, Dr. Bray, Dr. Grant E. Kirk

and Dr. Rowland Haines were elected to he Camden County Medical Society. He served in the New Jersey National Guard as a Major, Surgeon. He was a charter member of the Camden Lodge of Moose, and belonged to the Wyoming Tribe of the Improved Order of Red Men.

Dr. Bray was also active in local politics, as a Democrat. He once ran for Mayor, and was the chairman of the Camden County Democrat Executive Committee for seven years.

The 1890-1891 Camden City Directory lists Dr. Bray at 900 North 2nd Street. He had affiliated himself with pharmacist George O. Borten. The 1900 Census shows Dr. Bray living by himself in an apartment at 902 North 2nd Street in North Camden, and he was still at that address as late as the summer of 1912.

Dr. Bray married to Ada May Snyder Johnson on November 11, 1912, and they had one child, a daughter, also named Ada. By 1914 Dr. and Mrs. Bray had moved to 210 State Street in North Camden.

Dr. Bray was seriously injured in an automobile accident in 1920. His injuries affected his overall health, and things took a serious turn in the spring of 1923. Taken to Cooper Hospital in June, he lingered for 10 days before passing on, with his wife at his bedside. Mrs. Bray, her sister Eva Snyder, and Ada Bray later moved to Collingswood, New Jersey.

Eastern Gazette - June 28, 1923

Dr. Walter Bray Dies At Hospital

Dr. Walter S. Bray, one of Camden's best-known physicians, died at Cooper Hospital this morning. His wife, Mrs. Ada Bray, was at his bedside when the end came.

The physician was taken to the hospital from his home, 210 State street, ten days ago. He had been ill for the last three months.

Dr. Bray was active in fraternal organizations, and at one time took a prominent part in politics. He practiced medicine in Camden for the last thirty-five years.

The physician was born in Dexter, Maine, sixty years ago. He studied at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and upon graduation, practiced for one year in Atlantic City. He came to Camden in 1888, and was a doctor in this city continuously, until shortly before his death.

Dr. Bray was one of the organizers of the Camden Lodge of Moose, in which organization he always retained an active interest. He was also a member of Wyoming Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men.

Dr. Bray for twenty years was a member of the Camden Democratic club. He once ran for mayor on the Democratic ticket, and also served as chairman of the Camden County Democratic Executive Committee for a period of seven years.

The physician was married November 11, 1912. Beside his wife, he is survived by a nine-year-old daughter, Ada.

Funeral services will be held at the Bray residence Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock. Rev. James Morrison, pastor of the North Baptist church, will officiate.

Three years ago, Dr. Bray was involved in an automobile accident, in which he was seriously injured. His health since then had been generally poor, and he attributed his condition to that accident. -Camden (N. J.) Courier.