Camden People - Robert Whitley

ROBERT WHITLEY was born on in Ireland on October 26, 1876, the son of John Whitley. Little is known of his early life. According to the 1920 Census he came to the United States in 1884 and was naturalized as an American citizen in 1889.

On September 25, 1896 Robert Whitley married Anna Hennigen at Union Methodist Episcopal Church. The 1898 City Directory shows the Whitleys at 9 South 8th street, Robert Whitley then working as a finisher at the Keystone Leather works. The 1900 Census shows them at 826 Sycamore Street in Camden's 7th Ward. There had been two children born, sadly, both had died. Robert Whitley was then working as a foreman. Robert Whitley's marriage did not last, however, and the Whitleys had separated by 1907. The 1906 City Directory has him at 215 Stevens Street in Camden's Third Ward, working as a hostler. He became involved in local politics as Republican.

The 1907 City Directory shows Robert Whitley living at 211 Channing Terrace, with a widow Anna Tallman Kilroy. Her husband, Charles Kilroy, had died in February of 1905. Charles Kilroy and Robert Whitley had both belonged to the Eyota Tribe of the Improved Order of Red Men. He was back to working as a leatherworker, probably once again at the Keystone Leather works, where it is known that he was employed in 1908. By 1908 Robert Whitley and Anna Kilroy had moved to 225 Stevens Street with her daughters Hannah J. and Mary A. Kilroy.

Not long after the 1908 City Directory was compiled, Robert Whitley was appointed to the Camden Fire Department and assigned to Engine Company 6.

The 1910 Federal Census shows him living with a widow, Anna M. Kilroy, at 225 Stevens Street. Also at home were her daughters, Hannah, 17, and Mary A., 15. In September of 1910 Robert Whitley sued for divorce from his first wife. Whether it was granted or not is not known as of this writing, but he eventually did marry Anna Kilroy.

Robert Whitley served as a driver with Engine Company 6 until July of 1913 when her was promoted to stoker and assigned to Engine Company 3, where he served until February 1, 1919 when he was transferred to Engine Company 5.

The 1915 New Jersey Census shows Robert and Anna Whitley living at 225 Stevens Street. Also at home was Mary A. Kilroy, aged 20, who worked as a cigar maker. The Whitleys were still at 225 Stevens Street when the 1917 City Directory was compiled. When Robert Whitley registered for the draft in September of 1918, the family had moved to 322 Mickle Street, a few doors away from the former home of poet Walt Whitman, who had lived at 330 Mickle Street.

The 1920 Census shows Robert and Anna Whitley living at 613 Clinton Street with their unmarried daughter, Mary A. Whitley, 25 and granddaughter, also named Mary A. Whitley, 6. A Camden firefighter to his last, Robert A. Whitley died at his home on Clinton Street on October 9, 1920 as a result of a duodenal ulcer. He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery.

Camden Post-Telegram
October 11, 1910

Improved Order of Red Men
Charles Kilroy
North Street

	Camden Daily Courier April 22, 1907

Keystone Leather - Robert Whitley - Keystone Field Club - East Side Field Club

Camden Post-Telegram
October 11, 1910

John H. Switzer
Anna Whitley
Robert Whitley

Camden Post-Telegram
July 3, 1912

Engine Company 6
Robert Whitley

January 3, 1915
Photo taken at the Kaighn Avenue Ferry Fire

Engine
Company 3

Left to Right:
Engineer Daniel Smith
Stoker Robert Whitley

Engine
Company 3

FAR RIGHT:
Stoker
Robert Whitley

*Camden Post-Telegram January 19, 1915**

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Third Ward Republican Club - Turn Verein Hall - J. Edward Way - A. Benjamin Sparks William H. Hall - John T. Rodan - Rushton's Orchestra - Harry Hertline - Walter J. Stanton - Jesse Hillman Lemuel Toy - Jesse Smith - Morris Steelman - William Elberson - Samuel S. Bacon - Albert Keaser Harry Miller - Frank Smith - John S. Roberts - George Murry - Harry Selby - Harry C. Sharp Robert Schroeder - James Vickers - Elwyn D. Steen - William Horay - Clarence H. Thorn - Wright Cox Frank S. Fithian - George F. Hammond - Albert J. Meyer - Harry Stowe - Wesley J. Stanton Thomas Dickinson - Edwin Fields - William H. Dill - Frank S. Ireton - Gustav Jans Charles H. Errickson - Henry Gerke - James MacDemott - George Schu - William M. Fithian Julius R. Schaaf - James Monahan - Thomas Madden - George Cox - Robert J. Garrison

Camden Post-Telegram
April 24, 1915

Camden Post-Telegram
July 7, 1915

*Camden Daily Courier July 30, 1915**

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	John Stockton - Peter B. Carter Thomas J. Nicholas - William Patterson Charles Cook - Walter Mertz William Cason - Robert Whitley T. Grant Middleton - John H. Lennox John A.S. Hunt - George Cattell Walter W. Johnson - Walter W. Lee Clarence Baker - Walter Wolverton Albert Denise - William Barr

*Camden Daily Courier July 30, 1915**

John Stockton	Peter B. Carter

William Patterson	Thomas J. Nicholas

*Camden Post-Telegram July 30, 1915**


Peter B. Carter	William Patterson
Charles Cook - Walter Mertz - William Cason - Robert Whitley - John H. Lennox T. Grant Middleton - John A.S. Hunt - George Cattell - Walter Wolverton Walter W. Johnson - Walter W. Lee - Clarence Baker - Albert Denise - William Barr

Philadelphia Inquirer
July 30, 1915

John Stockton - Peter B. Carter
Thomas J. Nicholas - William Patterson
Charles Cook - Walter Mertz
William Cason - Robert Whitley
T. Grant Middleton - John H. Lennox
John A.S. Hunt - George Cattell
Walter W. Johnson - Walter W. Lee
Clarence Baker - Walter Wolverton
Albert Denise - William Barr
Engine Company 3 - Engine Company 4

Click on Images for PDF File of Full Article

Camden Post-Telegram
August 24, 1915

*Camden Post-Telegram February 25, 1918**

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MacAndrews & Forbes - William L. Miles - Engine Company 3 - F. Walter Toms - William Mills William J. Kelly - Howard Marshall - Thomas Leeson - Charles H. Mills - Thomas Nicholas Frank Chambers - William J. Rose - Daniel Smith - Robert Whitley - William Miller - Russell Benson Arthur Wingate - Roy De Haven - Jules Hubert - John T. Garrity - John A.S. Hunt - Harry Stone