Camden People - Charles H. Felton

CHARLES H. FELTON was born in Massachusetts on August 24, 1855 to Matias and Lurene Bent Felton. His family came to New Jersey after the Civil War, first settling in Vineland The feltons first appear in Camden Directories in 1869. The 1869 and 1870 City Directories shows the Feltons at 314 Friends Avenue in Camden. By June 20, 1870, when the Census was enumerated, the Felton family, which included younger brother Ernest and older brother George G. Felton, had moved to Camden's South Ward. They are listed at 301 Pine Street in 1872. Charles H. Felton is listed in 1874 and 1876 as a printer living at 716 South 3rd Street. By 1878 Charles H. Felton had gone into the real estate and insurance business, with an office at 203 Federal Street. He lived with his parents and brother Ernest at 506 Federal Street, where his father had a grocery store. By 1878 his father had retired and the Family had moved to 514 Federal Street, where they stayed into 1881. The 1882 Directory shows Charles H. Felton at 528 Stevens Street. His brother George G. Felton, who had moved to Burlington, had come back to the city Camden and was working as a clerk for one Eastlack family's grocery businesses. Charles H. Felton and family lived at 528 Stevens Street into 1885. By the time the 1887-1888 Directory was compiled, they had moved to 418 Benson Street.

Charles H. Felton's real estate business was quite successful. It is probable that he developed the eight houses on Felton Street, which wan south from Clinton Street between South 6th and South 7th Streets and Clarion alley in the 1880s. By 1887 brother George G. Felton had also come into the firm. Harry L. Humphreys had been employed as a bookkeeper in 1883, he would stay with Charles H. Felton's real estate business for 45 years.

Charles H. Felton died in Camden on November 23, 1887, He was survived by his mother, his wife, May I. Felton, sons Charles H. Jr. and Alvan S., daughter Edith L., and his brother, George G. Felton. His wife and brother carried the real estate business on together until 1893 when George G. Felton went into business for himself. Mrs. Felton remained active in the real estate business until 1925, and the firm continued to operate as late as the fall of 1928.