Frederick
A.
Rex

FREDERICK A. REX was born in March of 1850 in Pennsylvania, one of at least seven children born to John and Sarah Rex. His father owned a large farm in Whitpain Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania at the time of the 1850 Census.

When the Census was taken in 1870 Frederick Rex was working as bank clerk and living ion Camden NJ. He subsequently went into the practice of law. Frederick A. Rex was not then married. The following year he helped found the Trimble Lodge No. 117, Free and Accepted Masons. He would wed M. Louise Fewsmith around 1877, a son, William, was born in December of that year. Daughter Elizabeth was born in late 1880. During the 1870s Frederick Rex also served as an officer with the Sixth Regiment, New Jersey National Guard.

Frederick A. Rex was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Camden, where many other men prominent in the business and civic life of Camden attended, including Albert W. Markley, John F. Starr, Peter L. Voorhees, Charles Stockham, Christopher A. Bergen, Randal E. Morgan L.T. Derousse, Charles Danenhower, Dr. James A. Armstrong, M.D., and Dr. J.V. Schenck, M.D.

At the time of the 1880 Census Frederick Rex and family lived at 726 Cooper Street. They moved to 533 Penn Street later in the decade, and lived there through 1890. Neighbors included F. Wayland Ayer and Richard Fetters Smith. During these years Frederick A. Rex was quite busy in both business and civic circles. Besides his law practice, he owned a coffee and Tea businesses with an office at 20 Market Street and in Philadelphia. He also served as clerk in Camden's District Court, and as treasurer of the Board of Education.

In 1895 Mrs. Louisa Rex was a charter member of the Woman’s Club of Camden.

Frederick A. Rex had moved to Merchantville by the summer of 1900, residing at 6 Clifton Avenue. The family was still there in 1910. He later took ill, and spent his last days in a South Jersey sanitarium. Frederick A. Rex died on July 17, 1916. 

Undated Newspaper Article
from
Philadelphia Newspaper

Visit by officers of the 6th Regiment,
New Jersey National Guard,
to the Philadelphia home of Captain William C. Shinn

Lieutenant Colonel William H. Hempsing
Captain Henry C. Lees
Lieutenant Frederick A. Rex
Lieutenant E.L. Thornton
Paymaster Richard Coates Wilkins
&
6th Regiment Band
under the direction of
Professor Joseph Jennings

Trade Cards
from
Frederick A. Rex & Company
1880s

First
Presbyterian
Church

Illustration Published
1886

Built by
Mahlon E. Harden

Camden Post-Telegram * July 20, 1916

LAWYER F.A. REX IS LAID TO REST

The funeral of Lawyer Frederick A. Rex, who died last Monday at a sanitarium in South Jersey, took place to day from the parlors of Funeral Director Martin J. O’Brien, 611 Market Street.

Members of Camden Lodge of Elks held services last night. He services today were conducted by Reverend J.W. Ohl, rector of the P.E. Church at Collingswood. The body was interred in Colestown Cemetery.

The pallbearers were Harry Blackburn, F.L. Vinton, Frederick Morse, John Schlorer, Harry Mayer, Harry Stains, James Thoirs, members of Camden Lodge of Elks. The remains rested in a polished oak casket with silver handles and name plate. The casket was adorned by many floral tributes.

Camden Courier-Post * 1936
From an article marking the 65th Annicersary of the Trimble Lodge No. 117, F. &. A.M.

...the lodge was constituted on February 2, 1871. Camden Lodge, No. 15, was the "mother" lodge of Trimble. The lodge was named for Joseph Trimble, who served three terms as master of Camden Lodge and three years as grand master of the state.

The organizers of the lodge were George H. Fairfield, George F. Fort, Marmaduke E. Taylor, Dr. H. Genet Taylor, Dr. William S. Fort, Wilbur F. Rose, Nathan F. Cowan, Frederick A. Rex and J. Graham Milligan.

At the first meeting, Rev. Joseph F. Garrison, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, was presented for membership. He was the father of former Secretary of War Lindley M. Garrison and the late Supreme Court Justice Charles C. Garrison.

The lodge was constituted in Morgan's Hall, Fourth and Market streets, then known as Masonic Hall. Fairfield was the first worshipful master; George F. Fort, senior warden; Marmaduke Taylor, junior warden; Dr. Taylor, treasurer; Milligan, secretary; Cowan, senior deacon; Rex, junior deacon; Rose, master of ceremonies, and Charles H. Gordon, tiler.

726 Cooper Street, where Frederick A. Rex lived, is at right. 
728 Cooper Street, the home of lawyer John Harned, is at left.