Camden People - James F. Walton Jr.

JAMES F. WALTON JR. was born in Pennsylvania around 1870 to James and Mary Walton. His English-born father was a shoemaker by trade. The Waltons moved to New Jersey around 1872, and by the time of the 1880 Census, the family, which included younger siblings George C. and Annie, had moved to 623 North 6th Street in North Camden.

James F. Walton Jr. had entered the workforce by 1887. The directories show that he worked as a wool comber at Highland Mills as early as 1887 through 1889. The 1890-1891 Directory shows that he had taken up paperhanging.

By the the early 1900s James F. Walton Sr. had mastered the plumber's craft. He was well known in Camden in the early part of the 20th century. Trading as "Walton the Plumber" from his shop at 201 Main Street, he specialized in both ship and house plumbing, and steam and hot water heating. His shop, at the intersection of Main, Vine, and North 2nd Streets, was directly across the street from John F. Daly's tavern (known appropriately enough as Daly's Cafe) and the Standard movie theater, and a few doors away from former prize-fighter Dan McConnell's oyster house, the boyhood home of noted journalist Daniel J. McConnell.

On October 30, 1894 he married Alwilda M. James in Camden. The Walton's had three children, Raymond in 1896, Pearl in 1899, and Caroline in 1900. Sadly, Raymond and Caroline died in infancy. Alwilda Walton passed away on March 15, 1915 in Camden, at the age of 41.

The 1910 Census shows James F. Walton as residing at 302 State Street with his wife and daughter. By January of 1920 he had remarried, and with second wife Sallie resided at 314 Vine Street. James F. Walton Jr. passed away in Camden on February 7, 1827. His shop was used as a Civil Defense headquarters during World War II, but was not listed in the 1947 Camden City Directory.