Dr. William
Irvin
Kelchner

Dr. William I. Kelchner was born in Reading PA on December 27, 1869. He was a prominent physician in Camden NJ around the turn of the century. He came to Camden in 1888, and began practicing medicine in 1894. In June of that year he married Edith R. Campbell, a daughter of Joseph S. Campbell, of the Campbell Preserving Company, better known in these times as Campbell's Soup. Their daughter, Miriam Kelchner, married William P. Partenheimer Jr., who was associated with the Camden YMCA for many years. It appears that the Kelcners also had a son William I. Kelchner Jr., born in 1897 after the publication of the sketch below.,

An ear, nose, and throat specialist, Dr. Kelchner was a member of many professional and fraternal organizations, including the Trimble Lodge, No. 117 Free and Accepted Masons, the Odd fellows, and the Improved Order of Red Men. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Camden.

Dr. Kelchner had passed away by April of 1930, when his wife appears on the census as living at the home of daughter Miriam Partenheimer. His grandson, Private David M. Kelchner, was killed in action while serving with the 82nd Airborne Division in Germany in February of 1945.

Biographical Review - 1897

Philadelphia Inquirer
September 30, 1905

George Aultemus
Frank Devereaux
John R. Wolf
Wilfred M. Kaighn
A.J. Vansant
Frank W. Tressey
John Vanderslice
Dr. William I. Kelchner
Robert Garrison
George H. Watt
John E. Smith
Ludwig Winters
Martin J. Ewe
William S. Wilkins
Levi Sharp
Dr. William H. Kensinger
Walter Hubbs
George Martin
Thomas S. Armstrong
Huelings Mulvey
Josiah Kirkbride
Lewis Schimer
George H. Jones
Thomas Pooley
John J. Welsh
Alfred R. Taylor
Bernard Funfer
John Carver