George
Smith


GEORGE SMITH was born in Pennsylvania on August 1, 1890. His obituary states that he enlisted in the United States Army in October of 1910, and served until December of 1917. Selective Service records form the 1918 Draft state that he served with the United States Marine Corps. During his time in the military he saw duty in the Philippines and in Mexico. 

George Smith married around 1914. The 1918-1919 City Directory shows George and Ethel Smith at 228 Ambler Street. Later that year, when he registered for the draft (September, 1918) he was living with his wife Ethel and two children at 326 Washington Street, and working as a laborer for the Campbell Soup Company.

George Smith was appointed to the Camden Fire Department around 1921. The 1924 City Directory shows him living at 233 Point Street. The 1927 edition gives an address of 1111 North 26th Street in Cramer Hill. The 1929 City Directory lists George and Ethel Smith at 429 Vine Street. George Smith appears in the 1930 Census with his wife Ethel at 410 Vine Street in North Camden. The 1940   

City Directory lists him at 107 Penn Street, which in the 1910s had been the home of 19th Century Camden Fire Department Robert S. Bender. He last resided in Camden at 540 Bailey Street.

George Smith was cited twice for bravery during his fire fighting career. In 1926 he was cited for attempts to rescue two children from a burning home in East Camden. In 1933 he saved tow of his brother firemen who had been overcome by smoke at a vacant factory in North Camden.

George Smith was placed on retirement from the Fire Department due to ill health in 1941. He had been a patient at the Camden County Hospital at Lakeland for some time when it became apparent that he would not be returning to active duty with the Fire Department. He died on May 21, 1943 at the hospital at Lakeland. and was buried at Evergreen Cemetery. 

George Smith was survived by his wife Ethel and two daughters. Mrs. Ethel M. Smith was living at 424 South 7th Street when the 1943 City Directory was compiled.


1930 Census Sheet
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Camden Courier-Post
May 22, 1943

Bailey Street - Matthews-Purnell Post 518, V.F.W.
Harry J. Leonard - Federal Street

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