Thomas
M.
Stanger

THOMAS M. STANGER was born around 1861 to Jason B. and Mary Stanger. His early years were spent in Salem NJ, where, at the time of the 1870 Census. Jason Stanger was employed as a glassblower. The family moved to Camden around 1873, and settled in the area around Broadway Methodist Church, where they became members. The 1880 Census shows that Mrs. Stanger had passed away. Jason B. Stanger, now a bookkeeper, was living at 423 South 5th Street with his four children, Howard, a law student, Thomas, then employed as a tinsmith, Harry, a watchcase maker, and Leonora, who was still in school.

By 1887 Jason Stanger no longer appears in the Camden City Directories. Howard Stanger was now a lawyer, and the family was living at 520 Royden Street when the 1887-1888 Camden City Directory was compiled. Later in 1888 the family moved to 634 Berkley Street. Thomas M. Stanger worked as a listed his occupation as clerk then as  "produce" in the directories. In June of 1893 Thomas Stanger married Ida Woodfield, whose father Joseph managed a scrap iron concern. By the mid 1900s he was managing the feed and flour store of Joseph Middleton, at South 5th and Royden Streets. The Stangers were living at 414 Chambers Avenue by 1910.

Around 1907 Mayor Charles Ellis appointed Thomas M. Stanger to the police force of the City of Camden. He served as clerk to Mayor Ellis, to Chief James E. Tatem and to the Detective Bureau of Camden's police force. During his time in service he rose to the rank of sergeant. He established the department's first photographic gallery of criminals and was in charge of criminal records for years. He also became a fingerprint expert before retiring in January of 1933 due to ill health.

Socially, Thomas M. Stanger was a thirty-second degree Mason, and was a past master of Trimble Lodge, No. 117 Free and Accepted Masons. He was a member of Excelsior Consistory, the Ninth Ward Republican Club, and was secretary of the Police Beneficial Association.

The Stangers had moved to the suburbs to live with their daughter, Mrs. Catherine Madera by 1930. His health declined rapidly after his retirement. On  October 14, 1933 Thomas M. Stanger died at West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital in Camden. He was survived by his wife, daughter, brother Harry, and a grand-daughter. 

The Camden Police Department provided an honorary escort at his funeral, which was held at the Joseph H. Murray & Sons funeral home at 406 Cooper Street, and at his interment, at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden. 

Charles H. Ellis - Joseph H. Murray
James E. Tatem - Joseph Middleton
Trimble Lodge No. 117, F. & A.M.
 Chambers Avenue - Washington Street
Cooper Street
Broadway Methodist Church
South 5th Street - Royden Street

Camden Courier-Post
November 23, 1932

A. Lincoln James
Thomas Stanger
John Painter
Joseph Caputi
Cooper Street
Park Boulevard
Princess Avenue

Camden Courier-Post * December 31, 1932

  Nathan Petit - Roy R. Stewart - A. Lincoln James - Samuel Johnson - Charles Laib
Frederick Watson - William Boettcher - Thomas Stanger - George Ward - George Frost - Louis Shaw Thomas J. Murphy - William Robertson