Martin
Nelson

MARTIN BENEDICT "SID" NELSON was the son of Nels Martin Nelson and his wife, the former Bertha Ellis. He was the youngest of three sons, coming after Morris N. Nelson and Theodore S. Nelson. 

When the 1930 Census was enumerated, the family lived at 561 Spruce Street. Martin Nelson's older brothers had moved out by this time. Sadly, brother Theodore died in 1932, and brother Morris passed in 1935. His mother died in 1935. Martin Nelson married Caroline T. Schweiring in 1940. The couple lived at 561 Spruce Street until at least 1956.   

On March 7, 1944 Martin Nelson was inducted into the United States Army at Fort Dix, New Jersey. he reached the rank of Private First Class before being honorably discharged. He returned to the Camden Police Department on his release from military duty.

Martin Nelson scored highly on Civil Service tests for both the fire and police departments. On September 1, 1940. Martin Nelson was appointed to the Camden Fire Department but was shifted over to the Camden Police Department on June 9, 1941. He worked in the Traffic Bureau in the late 1940s before being promoted to detective. His last posting was in the Communications Bureau.

Martin Nelson's father, who lived with him at 561 Spruce Street, died in 1954. Martin & Caroline Nelson stayed at the spruce street home as late as the fall of 1956, then moved to 22 Maple Walk in Camden's Fairview neighborhood.

Still employed with the Camden Police Department, Martin Nelson had had moved to North Cape May, New Jersey and had filed his retirement papers when he suffered a fatal heart attack on his way home from work on October 1, 1964. He was buried at Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, New Jersey.

60-DAY SENTENCE GIVEN IN THEFT OF WATCH

Sixty days in the county jail was the sentence meted out to Wilmer Brown, 52, of 3002 Thompson Street, when he was charged in police court yesterday with stealing a watch.

Arrested on complaint of Martin Nelson, 561 Spruce Street, Brown denied the charges and said he knew nothing of the timepiece. Nelson testified that he went to a house on Cherry Street near Sixth with Brown and fell asleep. His watch was taken while he slept, he said. He admitted he had been drinking.

William Pollard, of 751 Cherry Street, said he was in the back yard of the house on Cherry Street when Nelson and Brown appeared. An hour after they entered the place, he said, Brown asked him for a pair of pliers to cut it chain.    

In sentencing Brown, Police Judge Pancoast said he believed the man wanted the pliers to cut Nelson’s watch chain. 

1924-1956
Martin Benedict "Nils" Nelson & Family
ironworker
Martin & Bertha Nelson
Martin B. Nelson Jr.
Theodore Nelson
Morris Nelson

1924-1956
Martin B. Nelson Jr. & Family
policeman
Martin B. & Caroline T. Nelson Jr.

Camden Courier-Post
June 3, 1933

Camden Courier-Post * December 4, 1940

THREE MEMBERS OF CAMDEN TRAFFIC squad are shown on new motorcycle mounts which went into service this week. Left to right are Patrolmen Martin Nelson, Frank Wilmot, and Thomas Carr in front of City Hall. Seven of the new $800 vehicles were delivered to the department on Wednesday, Capt. Nathan Petit, squad commander, announced.

Charley Humes

Admiral Wilson Boulevard - Joseph Ronketty - Thomas Scarduzio - Martin Nelson

Camden Courier-Post
November 8, 1958

Martin Nelson
Eleanore LuBrant
Liberty Street

Camden Courier-Post
June 15, 1959

Martin Nelson
Maple Walk