JOSEPH T. JOHNSON was born in March 2, 1871 in Dias Creek, New Jersey. Other sources including Camden Fire Department pension records indicate he may have been as many as five years older. Of his life before 1900 little has been confirmed, but it appears that he was living in South Camden in the 1890s and may have been separated from his wife around 1898.

Joseph T. Johnson was not among the many new appointees made to the Camden Fire Department at the end of November of 1899, however, on January 1, 1900 he began a career as a Camden fire fighter that would last into 1933. It appears that he spent his entire career at Engine Company 7.

The 1900 Census shows Joseph Johnson was then married, but was living apart from his wife. While not on duty with the Fire Department, he boarded at 441 Chambers Avenue, the home of Arthur R. Abele. By 1906 he had moved to 649 Royden Street. The 1910 and 1914 City Directories shows him living at 566 Royden Street. 

By the end of 1918 Joseph Johnson had re-married. His new wife was a widow, Mrs. Emma Richards Stolzenback, whose husband Edward had died in 1909. The City Directory shows him and his wife Emma living at 901 Atlantic Avenue. Also living with them was Emma's widowed mother, Mrs. Amy Richards, according to the 1920 Census. Emma's daughter, Irma A. Stolzenback, had married another Camden Fire Department member, Walter D. Eastlack. By 1924 Joseph T. and Emma Johnson had brought a home at 1433 South 10th Street, where they lived through at least 1931. Joseph Johnson retired on pension in 1933.

The Johnsons were not at the South 10th Street address when the 1940 City Directory was compiled. A Joseph and Emma Johnson were are listed in that edition at 714 Mount Vernon Street, but it is not clear at this point if these are the same people. The Johnsons were living at 626 Pine Street in January of 1950 when Mrs. Johnson passed away. Joseph T. Johnson later moved to 626 Berkley Street. He passed away on March 12, 1956.

Samuel S. Elfreth
George B. Wade
Harvey Watts
William Elberson
Harry Hankins
William E. Laird
John H. "Chappie" Lennox
Joseph Johnson
Josiah Sage
John Augustus "Gus" Dold
Arthur Wingate

A.W. Cattell