Camden People - John Wissinger

JOHN WISSINGER was born on November 22, 1894 in Bogoros, a town in what was then Hungary. He came to America in 1910. By June 5, 1917 he had moved to Camden NJ. When he registered for the draft he was living and working at 600 North 3rd Street as a barber for Joseph Brenner. He had already filed his Declaration of Intent to become an American citizen.

When the census was taken in January of 1920 John Wissinger had moved to Philadelphia, where hi lived with his wife Julia and 8 month old son James at 1250 North Cadwallader Street. He had already by this time opened up his own shop.

By 1924 John Wissinger had moved to 416 Market Street and opened up his beauty salon. He advertised often in print and eventually established a second location in Philadelphia, at 812 Chestnut Street.

John Wissinger died in August of 1932. His wife Julia kept the business open under his name through at least 1938. By 1947, however, it was operating as Malin's Beauty Salon, with Frank Malin of Powelton Avenue in Philadelphia as proprietor.

Camden Courier-Post * June 8, 1933

COURT DISMISSES BEAUTY PARLOR SUIT
Ousted Woman Manager Sought $20,751 But Had No Written Contract

Judge Henry H. Eldredge declared a nonsuit yesterday afternoon in action brought by a Camden woman, former manager of a Philadelphia beauty parlor. The plaintiff sought $20,751.52 in Circuit Court, charging a breach of contract.

Judge Eldredge granted the nonsuit on motion of Joseph Haines, attorney for the Wissinger Beauty Palace, of Camden and Philadelphia, defendant in the suit, because there was no written agreement between Mrs. Dorothy M. Firth, of 220 South Thirty-third street, the plaintiff, and the beauty establishment.

Mrs. Firth sued the Wissinger Beauty Palace, of Camden and Philadelphia. Of the damages Mrs. Firth seeks, $751.52, she claimed, was due her for past services, from January 2, 1932, to July 11 of the same year. Mrs. Firth charged she was discharged Oct. 3, 1932, in violation of an agreement.

The former manager, who had been employed in the Camden headquarters of the "palace," declared that she had an agreement, dated June 5, 1931, that she was to be employed as office manager of the Philadelphia establishment, 812 Chestnut street, for five years, at $50 a week, plus 10 percent of the gross receipts.

The "contract" was signed by John Wissinger, proprietor of the "palace" who died in August, 1932, shortly after the alleged contract was made. Mrs. Firth contended that she worked as manager until Oct. 3, 1932, when the new president, Juliana Wissinger, and the firm's attorney, Thomas F. Madden, discharged her and refused to pay her back salary. Isador H. Hermann is Mrs. Firth's attorney.

Haines said in court yesterday, the Wissinger Beauty Palace owed Mrs. Firth nothing at all. He said there was no agreement that his client knew of and declared that Mrs. Firth made no claims until some time lifter Wissinger's death.

Haines charged that Mrs. Firth refused to give an accounting of the business she managed and declined to turn over the earnings of the establishment in Philadelphia. He declared there was just cause for Mrs. Firth's discharge, contending that the woman took all her records with her.

Mrs. Firth was the first witness called yesterday.

She described how Wissinger made the agreement after telephoning her home and later coming there in person.

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