John
Skolski

JOHN SKOLSKI was born John Edward Jaskolski on May 24, 1883 in Camden, New Jersey. He had begun using the name surname Skolski by 1906 and used the Skolski surname professionally throughout his career with the Camden Police Department, during which time he was mentioned in many newspaper articles. At least two other Camden police officers of that era also changed their names for professional reasons, Clarence Bunker (Julian Clarence Bunkowski) and John Kowal (John Kowalczyk). Both Bunker and John Skolski had sons who followed the same practice, Lawrence Bunker with the Camden Fire Department and Anthony Skolski with the Camden Police.

Married to Pelagia Stankowski, around 1903 the family was living at 1003 Sycamore Street when the 1906 City Directory was compiled, and had moved to the 1100 block of South 10th Street, between Chestnut and Sycamore Streets by the time the 1910 Census was enumerated. John Skolski was working as a blacksmith, shoeing horses, in these years. He worked as machinist at Camden Forge when he registered for the draft on September 12, 1918. The family then lived at 785 Mount Vernon Street. was appointed to the Camden Police Department shortly afterwards. Around 1923 the family moved to 1028 Liberty Street around 1923 and is still there as of April 2009. 

John Skolski spent the rest of his working days as member of the Camden Police Department. He had attained Sergeant's rank by April of 1930. He was still with the police department as late as the spring of 1942, but was not active when the City Directory for 1947 was compiled. John Skolski passed away in 1948.

John and Pelagia Skolski were the parents of 17 children, 15 of whom survived to adulthood. The two who had passed had come eary in the marriage, their deaths happening prior to 1910. The surviving children were, in order of birth children  was born after Paul, Josephine, Anthony, Frances, Polly, Anna, Katherine, Elizabeth, Maria, John, Edward, Margaret, Florence, Theresa, and Loretta. 

On May 16, 1937 John Jaskolski's son Anthony Skolski was appointed to the Camden Police Department, where he had a long and distinguished careeer. By the mid-1960s he had been further promoted to Captain.

World War I Draft Card

The Jaskolski Family - 1922
Click on Image to Enlarge

Above, From Left: Edward, John, Mary (Minnie), Elizabeth (Libby), Anna, Catherine (Kasia), Frances (Pat), Polly, Josephine (Jo), Agnes (Aggie), Anthony (Tony), Paul, My great-grandmother Stankowski, Grandmom Pelagia holding my mom Margaret (Peggy), Grandpop John Skolski (John E. Jaskolski).

Left: This picture is of the youngest two, my Aunt Teasie and Aunt Dolly. Teasie is standing. Theresa (Teasie) and Loretta (Dolly) were born in 1924 and 1926, respectively

Gary E. Soule
April, 2009