Camden People - John "Happy" Kowal

JOHN KOWAL, whose full name was John Francis Kowalczyk, served on Camden's Police Department as a detective from the 1920s into the 1940s. He was popularly known as John "Happy" Kowal.

John Kowalczyk was born in Camden on November 15, 1892 to Ignatius Kowalczyk and his wife, the former Michalena Michalak. The family included an older sister, Pearl, and at least six younger children, Frank, Walter, William, Joseph, Anna, and Helen Catherine Kowalczyk.

By 1900 the family had moved to 1131 Louis Street, not far from St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, the heart and soul of Camden's Polish community. At some point between 1906 and the summer of 1910 the family moved to 1049 Mechanic Street. John Kowalczyk was still living with his parents when he registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. He had been working as a bricklayer up to that time. John Kowalczyk served in the armed forces during World War I. By January 1, 1920 John Kowalczyk was appointed to the Camden Police Department. He was soon promoted to Detective and eventually reached the rank of sergeant.

In late 1927 or early 1928 John Kowalczyk married. The 1930 Census shows that and his wife Mary lived at 1145 Whitman Avenue. Also then at home was Mary's daughter from a previous marriage, Florence. He was still living at 1145 Whitman Avenue and working as a detective when the 1947 Camden City Directory was compiled. The Kowalczyk's are not listed in the 1956 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory, however.

Camden Courier-Post
July 15, 1915

John Kowal
Joe Hyde
Sapho Tully
John Blair
Frank "Whitey" Urban
George Clayton
Joseph Christian
Dutch Fisher
Dutch Barry
James Mangold

CAMDEN POST-TELEGRAM * FEBRUARY 9, 1922

POLICEMAN KOWAL CALLED TO PACIFIC
Left for 'California to Testify in Murder of Former Camden Resident

Policeman John Kowal, at the South Camden district, last night began a trip across the continent. He will travel in Pullmans, put up at the best hotels and the six thousand mile journey will not cost him a cent.

Kowal is on the way to Monrovia, California where he will figure as an important witness for the defense in the case of a wealthy Armenian hotel keeper at that place, who is charged with the murder of a former resident at South Camden named Schultz. He should not be confused with another former resident at South Camden, Gus Schultz, at one time in the bottling business on South Sixth Street, and a member of the old Excise Commission, who went to Los Angeles, California about twenty years ago. The defense for the accused California hotel keeper is that he shot Schultz in self defense when attacked, knowing him to be a desperate character. Kowal was subpoenaed by the defendant's lawyer to prove Schultz's unsavory character when a resident of South Camden, he having arrested him on several occasions in the theft of automobiles and other crimes.

Counsel for the defense came here from California to get Policeman Kowal as a witness for his client. Lawyer and witness started for the Pacific coast from Broad Street Station, Philadelphia, last night.

Camden Courier-Post - January 11, 1928

2 CAMDEN YOUTHS HELD ON CHARGES OF HOLD-UP

Held for grand jury on a highway robbery charge, two Camden youths today were committed to the county jail in default of $200 bail each, following hearing in police court.

Lawrence Richards, 1227 Morgan Boulevard and Stephen Baldyga, 1226 Mount Ephraim Avenue both 19 years old, were chaged with holding up Marcy Wrule, 1183 Norris Street. City Detectives John Kowal and Joseph Ward arrested the boys after their identity had been revealed by a woman who saw the hold-up on Thurman Street. Wrule was robbed of $17.

Kowal testified the boys had played pinochle with Wrule at his store, Louis and Thurman Streets. Later when Wrule was on his way home he was held up and robbed.

Camden Courier-Post - February 25, 1928

Augustine Fortune - John Kowal
Sigmund Brozozowski - Joseph Moslouski
Joseph Novachan - Anthony Szwak
Camden Storage Battery Company

South 10th Street - Haddon Avenue - Liberty Street
Line Street - Louis Street - Sycamore Street - Whitman Avenue

Camden Evening Courier - September 19, 1928

...continued...

John Kowal
Lewis Stehr
John Skolski
John W. Golden
James Hollis
Clarence Arthur
Frank Moll
Clarence Bunker
Thomas Cheeseman
Sylvester McGrath
Lawrence T. Doran
Dr. David S. Rhone
William Bonner
William D. McDonaldson
Frank Leonard
Father McCorriston

Joseph "Mose" Flannery" Joseph Moll - James Bonner - Rita Leslie
James L. Hawkins - Hotel Royal - Walter Novak - Joseph Novak
Garfield Del Duca - Eugene Murphy - Russell Sage - Joseph "Cuzzy" Scarduzio
Patrick Driscoll - Front Street
Kaighn Avenue - Fairview Street - South 3rd Street
Camden High School - West Jersey Hospital - Sacred Heart Church

Camden Courier-Post
sometime between 1929 and 1935

Nicktern Twirls Rhone Leaguers to 8-4 Win; Hanna and Fulton Play

Fergie McGrath's Popeye club, members of the Rhone Twilight League, easily defeated the Independent Umpires' Association in their annual contest last evening at Civic Center by the score of 8 to 4.

At times, the game turned into a clownish affair, with both clubs attempting to excel each other in fun-making for the fans. Commissioner Frank B. Hanna, in addition to officiating, acted as a pinch-hitter for the "blindmen", while Samuel E. Fulton, president .

of the Board of Education and also prexy of the Rhone Twilight circuit, officiated and pinch hit for the same outfit, getting a single in his lone trip to the plate, while Hanna walked and also scored.

Pat Heppard worked on the hill for the "umps" and was touched for 11 hits. The winners bunching these m the third inning when they scored five runs. Nicturn twirled for Popeye and gave up seven blows, two or which were made by Leo Pusey, while 'Vandy [VanderStraaten], Tully, Ackerman and Nicktern each collected a brace of blows for the winners.

John Kowal

CAMDEN COURIER-POST - FEBRUARY 26, 1936

ILLNESS CAUSES SHIFTS FOR POLICE OFFICIALS

Temporary changes in the police department to offset the absence of Lieutenant George Frost, head of the First District, who is ill, and Lieutenant George Ward, of headquarters, who is away on police business, were announced yesterday by Chief Arthur Colsey.

Sgt. John Potter, of the Third District, is made acting lieutenant and placed in charge of the First. Patrolman Louis Schmidt, of the Third, replaces Potter as acting sergeant.

Lieutenant Herbert Anderson, of the Fourth District, replaces Ward at headquarters, with Sgt. John Skolski acting as lieutenant in charge of the Fourth.

Sgt. Gustav Koerner, of the Second District, who has been working in plain clothes, is to report in uniform.

Patrolman John Kowal, of the Second District, is shifted to the First district, with Patrolman William Schultz going from the First district to the Second district.

Camden Courier-Post - July 1, 1941

POLICE, FIRE GROUP TO HONOR WALLACE

The Camden Police and Firemen's Association will hold an informal buffet supper tonight at its headquarters, 1175 Whitman Avenue, for Bruce A. Wallace, counsel for the association and member of the Delaware River Joint Commission. Invitations have been issued to police chiefs throughout the county, as well as to other officials.

Patrolman William Schriver, president of the association, is chairman of the committee. Other members are Fire Captain Winfield Leviseur, Sergeant Edward Carroll, and Patrolman John Kowal, William McGrath and Arthur Batten.

Camden Courier-Post - February 21, 1928

Bernard Bertman - Joseph Carpani - John Kowal - Walter Smith Anna May Frye - Louis Vennell Federal Street - Stevens Street -

Camden Evening Courier - December 6, 1930





Dr. David S. Rhone - Charles V. Dickinson - Theodore Guthrie James Paradise - Clarence Bunker - Howard Smith - Clarence Arthur Henry Lutz - Clarence Thorn - John Kowal - Lewis H. Stehr

Camden Evening Courier December 11, 1930

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Lewis H. Stehr - Dr. David S. Rhone - Charles V. Dickinson Arthur Colsey - George A. Ward - John Kowal - Donald Swissler Clarence Phifer - Archie Reiss - John Skolski - Herbert Anderson Thomas Cheeseman - Harry Kyler - George Nowrey - Frank Truax Ralph Bakley - Clay W. Reesman - Clifford A. Baldwin Winfield S. Price - Clifford A. Flennard - B.C. Schroeder Camden Local No. 35, P.B.A. - Cooper Hospital - Broadway Royden Street

*Camden Courier-Post December 12, 1930**

Lewis H. Stehr - Dr. David S. Rhone - Charles V. Dickinson Arthur Colsey - George A. Ward - John Kowal - Donald Swissler Clarence Phifer - Archie Reiss - John Skolski - Herbert Anderson Thomas Cheeseman - Harry Kyler - George Nowrey Frank Truax - Ralph Bakley - John J. Breslin Cooper Hospital - Rev. Edward T. Weeks Union Methodist Episcopal Church - B.C. Schroeder Broadway - Royden Street - Sixth Ward Republican Club

World War I Draft Card