Camden People - John McTaggart

JOHN STEPHEN McTAGGART was born on August 1, 1888 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Mary and Hugh McTaggart Sr. Hugh McTaggart was a plumber by trade. The McTaggart family moved to Camden in the early 1890s. They lived at 645-1/2 Van Hook Street from 1893 to 1895, then moved to 630 Jackson Street in 1897, 498 Jackson Street in 1898, and 1010 Sycamore Street by 1899. When the census was taken in the summer of 1900 the family resided at 1102 Sycamore Street. Nearby neighbors, according to the Census sheet, included Camden police officer Camillus Appley at 1118 Mount Ephraim Avenue and Dr. Paul Litchfield at 1123 Kaighn Avenue.

The 1910 Census shows John McTaggart working at Camden Forge. He was living with his widowed mother and siblings at 681 Van Hook Street in Camden's Eighth Ward. Still living at 681 Van Hook Street, by 1914 he had been appointed to the Camden Fire Department, where he served for several years. The McTaggarts had moved to 1710 Broadway by June of 1917. John McTaggart was still a Camden fireman at that time. On June 14, 1917 John McTaggart was injured when the trolley car he was a passenger on collided with a coal truck belonging to Richard M. McAllister. The injuries may have contributed to him leaving the Fire Department, as with America involved in World War I, he and several other firefighters left the department for better paying jobs at the shipyards.

Still single when he registered for the draft on June 5, 1917, John McTaggart married Anna J. Schoen before the year had ended. They had known each other since at least 1912. He was working as a chipper in one of the shipyards when the Census was taken in 1920 and when the 1921 City Directory was compiled. He was then living at 562 Division Street with his wife, Anna, and a step-son. Both John and Anna McTaggart were active members of the Sixth Ward Republican Club in these years.

Returning to public service, on July 6, 1922 John McTaggart was appointed to the Camden Police Department. He was given a beat on Broadway north from Kaighn Avenue to Line Street, and he would stay on that beat for his entire career. He became quite well known along Broadway, both for his work as a policeman and for his charitable activities and was quite popular. Beginning in 1931, annual "A Night in Ireland" banquets were held in his honor. On two occasions the affair grew so popular that it had to be held in Camden's Convention Hall. Other venues for the affair included the Eagles Hall, the Sixth Ward Republican Club at 506 Chestnut Street, and the Labor Temple.

John McTaggart's marriage did not last, as Anna deserted him shortly before the 1927 City Directory was compiled. The Directory shows him living with his widowed mother and siblings at 1710 Broadway. The 1930 Census shows John McTaggart living with his widowed mother Mary at 1295 Sayrs Avenue. Also residing there was older brother Hugh, older sisters Belle and Esther, and a younger sister, Mary. All of his siblings then residing at home had never married. A Camden firefighter, William Wood, lived next door at 1291 Sayrs Avenue. In 1936, John McTaggart married a divorcee, Ruth M. Borden, but the marriage was struck by tragedy, as the new Mrs. McTaggart died in 1937. John McTaggart married again in 1938, to Pauline Schaffroth. The couple lived at 1381 Kenwood Avenue. Sadly, their life together was cut short when John McTaggart passed away in on November 29, 1941.

John McTaggart's brother, James McTaggart, was also a member of the Camden Police Department. James McTaggart's twin sons, Joseph McTaggart and Francis McTaggart, after serving together overseas during World war II, both served for over 25 years with the Camden Fire Department.

*Camden Post-Telegram December 27, 1910**

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	Charles Robinson Samuel Price Harry Haines Mortica Clark James McDermott John McTaggart Roy A. Smith Peter Gray Harvey Watts Samuel S. Elfreth George P. Cox Mrs. Tillie Sackett Harry Ehrlich - Lena Ehrlich Florence Ehrlich - Martha Ehrlich Edward T. Sackett - Harry Pinsky Mary Palosky - Joseph Hermann Harry Nurock Broadway Albertson L. Matlack Engine Company 7

Philadelphia Inquirer - August 10, 1913

Engine Company 1 - Engine Company 2 - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Mount Vernon Street - Rev. William Brubaker
Mortica Clark - James Norris Ellis - George H. Hunt
Seth Monnell - John McTaggart - Fred Hall - William Rose

Philadelphia Inquirer - August 19, 1915


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	A. Goldberg - Richard Noon - Howard Robbins North 10th Street - Penn Street - Cooper Hospital Wildwood Avenue - Princess Avenue - Broadway Kaighn Avenue - Jackson Street South 3rd Street - Bridge Avenue Toone & Hollinshed - Camden Curtain Rod John McTaggart - Harry Green Chemical Company No. 1 (Engine Co. 9) Engine Company No. 1 Toone & Hollinshed Parkside School Click on Images to Download PDF File of Complete Story
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Camden Post-Telegram
June 20, 1917

Mary McTaggart
Broadway
John McTaggart

World War I Draft Card - June 5, 1917

Philadelphia Inquirer - June 15, 1917

Richard McAllister - James Dare - Joseph Davis
John McTaggart - Frederick Dill - Albert Smith
Harry Kay - Herbert Dewees - William Haggerty
Frank Shank - Minnie Rosenberg - W.B. Eldridge
Cooper Hospital
Sherman Avenue - Clare Street - Broadway
Carman Street - Roberts Street - High Street
North Street

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PDF File of Complete Story

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Camden Daily Courier - October 31, 1918

Broadway - William C. French - Samuel T. French - John McTaggart - Richard McAllister

Camden Daily Courier
February 22, 1919

William C. French
Samuel T. French
John McTaggart
Richard McAllister
Frank T. Lloyd Sr.
Joseph Davis

Camden Pots-Telegram * November 2, 1920

Eagles Hall - John McTaggart

Camden Daily Courier - July 6, 1922

Frank S. Van Hart - Frank Murray - Edward Hahn - Walter Christy - Albert Yost - Frank Pintozzi John McTaggart - Frank Sattler - Walter Larson - August Pflederer Kimber Street - North 5th Street - Howell Street - Waldorf Avenue - Cherry Street Lansdowne Avenue - Jackson Street - Sylvan Street - Pine Street

Camden Courier-Post
March 25, 1928

John McTaggart- Louis Lafferty
Anna McTaggart - Frank H. Miller
Broadway - Clinton Street

Camden Courier-Post - March 29, 1930

300 POLICE OFFICIALS OF STATE MEET HERE
78 Departments Represented at Benevolent Association Session

More than 300 state officers and delegates representing 78 New Jersey police departments were present yesterday at a meeting of the State Patrolmen's Benevolent Association at Tenth Street and Kaighn Avenue yesterday.

All state officers were present at the afternoon meeting, including State President Dennis Byrne, of New Brunswick; First Vice President Henry Miller, of Rahway; Second Vice president, August Harasdzira, of Garfield; Recording Secretary Michael McKeever, of Trenton; Financial Secretary Thomas Higgins, of West Orange, and State Treasurer William Mallon, of West New York.

Police work used in various cities was discussed. Plans were made for the state convention in Wildwood September 14, 15 and 16. Everett Joslin, Herbert Bott and George Weber were named local delegates to represent the local union, No. 35 at the Wildwood convention.

Chief of Police Lewis H. Stehr welcomed the delegates. A telegram of welcome was read from Director of Public Safety David S. Rhone, who is in Washington.

The committee in charge of yesterday's meeting consisted of Clifford Flenard, president of Local No. 35; Stanley Wirtz, Edward Cahill, Frank Wilmot, John McTaggart, James McTaggart and Howard Henery .

Camden Courier-Post - July 6, 1932

POLICE SERGEANT TRUAX BURIED AT HARLEIGH

Police Sergeant Frank Truax, who died Thursday night from a complication of diseases, was buried yesterday in Harleigh Cemetery.

More than two score policemen, as well as city officials, attended services at the funeral parlor of Frank J. Leonard, 1451 Broadway. Rev. E.M. Munyon, pastor of Eighth Street M.E. Church, officiated. More than 50 cars were in the procession that wound its way to the cemetery. A patrol wagon was used to carry the flowers sent by numerous individuals and organizations.

Pallbearers, all policemen, were John Cole, Joseph Leonhardt, John McTaggart, Andrew Truman, William McGrath, Paul Jackson, Joseph Mardino, and Clarence Boyer.

Sergeant Truax was 50 and resided at 1129 Kenwood Avenue. He died five minutes after being taken to Cooper Hospital. He had been a member of the police department since 1917, and was made a sergeant in 1930. He is survived by a widow, Linda, and a sister, Mrs. Viola Wilkinson.

Camden Courier-Post
March 10, 1934

John McTaggart
South 6th Street
Sixth Ward Republican Club
William Mills
Monte Bessor
Frank S. Van Hart
David Baird Sr.
Charles A. Wolverton
Albert S. Woodruff
Elizabeth C. Verga
Michael Durkin
Theodore Guthrie
George Chambers
Joseph Leonard
Howard B. Dyer
John Breslin
Mary Hartung
Marie Doyle

Camden Courier-Post
March 10, 1934

Camden Courier-Post
March 3, 1937

M.J. Savage
Western Auto Store
Broadway
John S. McTaggart
West Jersey Hospital

*Camden Courier-Post March 13, 1937**

John S. McTaggart - Frank B. Hanna - Arthur Colsey - Mary Kobus Edward Carroll - William D. Sayrs - John Garrity - Katherine Cunningham - Eagles Hall

*Camden Courier-Post March 17, 1937**


John S. McTaggart - Arthur F. Foran - George E. Brunner - James V. Moran - Gene R. Mariano Arthur Colsey - Ralph Bakley - Edward V. Martino - Harold W. Bennett - Horace R. Dixon Mary Kobus - Edward Carroll - William D. Sayrs - John Garrity - Kathryn Cunningham - Harold Hoffman

Camden Courier-Post
March 20, 1937

John S. McTaggart
Arthur Colsey
Mary Kobus
Church of the Sacred Heart
Eagles Hall
William Hughes
Otto Torpercer

Camden Courier-Post
March 22, 1937

John S. McTaggart
Eagles Hall
Arthur Colsey
Mary Kobus
Church of the Sacred Heart
William Hughes
Otto Torpercer
John Garrity
Edward Leonard
George Weber
Clarence Boyer
George Attison
F. Earl Fearon

Camden Courier-Post
August 31, 1938

Pauline Schaffroth
John S. McTaggart
Rose Street
Church of the Sacred Heart

Camden Courier-Post
March 15, 1941

John S. McTaggart
Betty Sullivan
Labor Temple
Convention Hall
Ralph Bakley
Edward Carroll
John Garrity
Harold G. Hoffman

	Camden Courier-Post September 3, 1941

John S. McTaggart - Dr. David S. Rhone - Dr. Paul M. Mecray Jr. Kenwood Avenue - John V. Wilkie

Camden Courier-Post
September 4, 1941

Camden Courier-Post
November 27, 1941

	Camden Courier-Post November 29, 1941

*Camden Courier-Post November 29, 1941** There are a three major errors in this story, 1> his length of service with the Fire Department, 2> his going straight from the Fire Department to the police, and 3> the omission of his first marriage.

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John S. McTaggart - James McTaggart - John McTaggart - Sixth Ward Republican Club - Convention Hall Kenwood Avenue