JOSEPH F. ERNST was born around 1871 in Pennsylvania to Anna M. and Joseph S. Ernst. His father worked as a shoemaker. The family was living in Palmyra, New Jersey when the census was taken in 1880. Besides Joseph, the family included an older sister, Mary Frances.

By 1887 the family had moved to Camden. Joseph S. Ernst is listed at 728 Spruce Street in South Camden in the 1887-1888 and 1888-1889 City Directories.

Joseph F. Ernst married Ella Buzine, daughter of Camden Fire Department assistant chief Samuel S. Buzine, on January 3, 1891..

Joseph F. Ernst appears in the 1894-1895 City Directory, living at 286 Sycamore Street. He was then working as a plater in Philadelphia. By that time his father and mother had moved to 1112 South 4th Street. The 1895-1896 and 1896 Directory shows Joseph F. Ernst living at 702 Cherry Street, near his in-laws.

Joseph F. Ernst's mother passed away in September of 1896 and was buried at Evergreen Cemetery. His father later re-married and moved to Philadelphia. After the death of his mother, Joseph F. Ernst and his wife and children moved to 1112 South 4th Street. He continued working in Philadelphia as a plater and later as polisher into the late 1890s. 

The 1900 Census shows Joseph and Ella Ernst had three children, two of whom were still living in June of 1900, Jesse Hastings Ernst and Raydie Ernst. Joseph Ernst was still working in Philadelphia when the Census was taken.

On December 3, 1904 Joseph F. Ernst was appointed to the Camden Fire Department. During his time in service with the department, his name often appeared in print as Joseph Ernest, including department records from 1931. Obituaries for his parents, census records and City Directories prior to, during, and after his time with the Fire Department refer to him as Joseph F. Ernst.

All of Ella Ernst's siblings, the children of Camden Fire Department assistant chief Samuel S. Buzine had married by 1909. Son William K. Buzine, Ella Ernst's brother, had also joined the Camden Fire Department, as had son-in-law Joseph F. Ernst. Her brother-in-law Edward Hyde later became the Chief of police in Camden. Sister Clara Enst married James Roach, who served briefly as a fireman in the 1880s, as a policeman and constable in the 1890s and 1900s, and as tender of the State Street Bridge in the 1910s.

In February of 1909 Joseph F. Ernst's father, Joseph S. Ernst, passed away at his home in Philadelphia. He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Camden, by his first wife's side.

Joseph Ernst and family were still living at 1112 South 4th Street when the 1910 Census was enumerated. Ella Ernst's sister Stella, her husband Harry Prevost and their son Samuel then also lived at that address. 

On July 1, 1911 Samuel S. Buzine retired from active service with the Camden Fire Department. He was still residing at 765 Spruce Street when the 1912-1913 City Directory was compiled. Shortly thereafter, Samuel Buzine retired to Holly Beach, New Jersey which in 1912 had become a part of Wildwood. Samuel Buzine is not listed in the 1914 Camden City Directory, his obituary however, indicates that he kept his home in Camden and only spent summers in Holly Beach, where he passed away on August 5, 1917.

The 1914 Camden City Directory shows that Joseph F. and Ella Ernst had moved to 612 Pine Street. The Ernsts bought the home. Sadly, Mrs. Ernst died on November 23, 1928.

The 1930 Census shows Joseph F. Ernst still working for the Camden Fire Department. Living with him at 612 Pine Street was his son J. Hastings, daughter-in-law Hattie, and grandchildren Roland and Ella May. Joseph F. Ernst retired from the Camden Fire Department on January 1, 1933. 

When the 1947 Camden City Directory was compiled, Joseph F. Ernst, although 75 years of age, he was still working, as a watchman. Joseph F. Ernst, his son, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were still living at 612 Pine Street as late as 1956. In June of that year, great-granddaughter Henrietta Ernst married William Latham Jr., who would go on to have a long and distinguished career with the Camden Police Department. 

There was a fire at the home caused by a defective oil furnace in March of 1957, and the Ernst family moved next door to 610 Pine Street. Joseph F. Ernst he died on April 12, 1960. His son, J. Hastings Ernst lived in Camden at 610 Pine Street until his passing in December of 1972.

Tragically, Joseph F. Ernst's last years were not peaceful. Great-grandson Joseph R. Ernst Jr., who had been in trouble with the law beginning with an arrest in 1954 at the age of 16, was arrested in March of 1959 on a murder charge and was convicted on June 24, 1959.