John
McTaggart

JOHN 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 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. By the summer of 1915 he had been appointed to the Camden Fire Department, where he served for several years. During World War I he and several other firefighters left the department for better paying jobs at the shipyards. John McTaggart was working as a chipper in one of the shipyards when the Census was taken in 1920. He was then living at 562 Division Street with his wife, Anna, and a steps-son, Howard. The marriage did not last, either due to death or separation, as the 1930 Census shows John McTaggart living with his widowed mother Mary at 1295 Sayrs Street. 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 Ward, lived next door at 1291 Sayrs Avenue.

John McTaggart's brother, James McTaggert, was a member of the Camden Police Deartment.    

Philadelphia Inquirer - August 19, 1915

Click on Images to Download
PDF File of Complete Story

Philadelphia Inquirer - June 15, 1917

Click on Images to Download PDF File of Complete Story