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John
F. |
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John
F. |
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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. |
| World War I Draft Card | |
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| CAMDEN POST-TELEGRAM * FEBRUARY 9, 1922 |
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POLICEMAN
KOWAL CALLED TO PACIFIC 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. |
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Camden Courier-Post - January 11, 1928 |
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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. |
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Camden Courier-Post - February 21, 1928 |
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Bernard
Bertman - Joseph
Carpani
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John
Kowal
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Walter
Smith |
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Camden Courier-Post - February 25, 1928 |
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Augustine
Fortune
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John
Kowal South
10th Street - Haddon Avenue - Liberty
Street |
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John
Kowal - Lewis
Stehr |
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Front
Street - Kaighn
Avenue - Fairview
Street - South
3rd Street |
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Camden Evening Courier - December 6, 1930 |
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Dr.
David S. Rhone
- Charles
V. Dickinson - Theodore
Guthrie - James Paradise |
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Camden Evening Courier - December 11, 1930 |
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Lewis
H. Stehr - Dr.
David S. Rhone
- Charles
V. Dickinson -
Arthur Colsey |
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Camden Evening Courier - Morning Post 12, 1930 |
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Lewis
H. Stehr - Dr.
David S. Rhone
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V. Dickinson -
Arthur Colsey |
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Camden Courier-Post - sometime between 1929 and 1935 |
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| CAMDEN COURIER-POST - FEBRUARY 26, 1936 |
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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. |
| WWII Draft Card |
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