William Schucker

PRIVATE WILLIAM SCHUCKER was born April 29, 1892 in Philadelphia PA, the son of Philip and Mary Schucker. The family had moved to Camden in the 1890s, and were living at 527 Borton Street when the Census was taken in 1900. By 1917 the family was living at 935 Pearl Street in Camden NJ. William Schucker had worked as a bookbinder and also had been a member of the Camden Fire Department prior to being drafted in February of 1918. He also had been a member of the patriotic fraternal organization, the Improved Order of Red Men. Upon entering into the Army William Schucker was first stationed at Camp Dix NJ.

William Schucker was a member of the patriotic fraternal organization, the Improved Order of Red Men, belonging to Ottawa Tribe No. 15, which met in Morgan's Hall on Market Street in the years leading up to America's entry into World War I. Ottawa Tribe No. 15 members included J. Richard Geist, Fillmore Haines, Burton Bagg, John Harkins, Joseph Covert, and Ralph Benner. 

Private Schucker went overseas as a member of the Machine Gun Company, 309th Infantry Regiment. He was killed in action in France on October 16, 1918 during the Battle of the Argonne Forest. He was survived by his mother, sister Mary, and two brothers, Ernest and Fred. Fred Schucker served with the Camden Fire Department in the 1920s.

Private Schucker was memorialized by the Red Men when they erected their War Memorial in Camden in May of 1920. The Red Men War Memorial, a statue of an Indian chief by Camden sculptor Nicola Berardo,  stood for many years in the park at Benson Street and Haddon Avenue, before being moved to Tuckerton, New Jersey in the early 1980s, due in great part due to indifference on the part of those in City government at the time.

Camden Post-Telegram
November 21, 1918

Camden Post-Telegram
October 16, 1920

Camden Courier-Post - January 20, 1928

GOLD STAR MOTHERS TO ATTEND FOREIGN WAR VETERAN’S BALL

Gold Star Mothers will be the honor guests at the first annual military ball of the Camden Post, No. 980, Veterans of Foreign Wars, to be held on Friday evening, February 3, in the Elks ballroom, Seventh and Cooper Streets.

Elaborate plans for this ball are under the chairmanship of John S. Pennington.

Invitations have been issued for patrons and patronesses and the list will be announced early next week.

Gold Star Mothers to attend the affair are Mrs. C. Alberger, Mrs. Harriett Ablett, Mrs. Laura Brown. Mrs. A. Crangel, Mrs. A. Cassidey, Mrs. R. Dilks, Mrs. Kate Geist, Mrs. M. Griffen, Mrs. Horace B. Keebler, Mrs. H. Kirk, Mrs. Ross Leahy, Mrs. M. A. Matson, Mrs. M. McGuckin, Mrs. Mary Martin, Mrs. M. Matthews, Mrs. Cooling Pond, Mrs. Oliver Powell*, Mrs. Mary Pennington, Mrs. C. Rolk, Mrs. E. Simons, Mrs. Mary Schucker, Mrs. Margaret Steigerwald, Mrs. Annie Taylor, Mrs. M. Osborn, Mrs. Mary Keegan, Mrs. Anna Kennedy, Mrs. T.C. Young and Mrs. Walters.

Assisting Mr. Pennington in planning this ball are John Rouh, James W. Connor, Charles Bozian, Robert MacMahon, Edward Watson, David Lukoff, Harry Laxton, Edward A. Stark, George Jones, William V. Long, Joseph Keefe, Charles Blank sad Marvel Passwater.

* Newspaper error- Mrs. Oliver Powell was actually Mrs. Oliver Purnell