The Haldeman Boys: Franklin and Charles

If you're a Haldeman researcher you can understand the undertaking it is to research, record and store the numerous documents that contain the Haldeman, Halderman, Haldiman, Holdman, Holderman, etc............. surnames. There are many versions of the Haldeman name and many branches through out the US. My Haldeman research as of late has led me to a story about father and son Franklin and Charles Haldeman of Camden, NJ.

The Franklin Haldeman family was made up of Franklin, born 31 January 1855 in Mahanoy City, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, his wife Anna Maria (Heins) Haldeman born August 1854 in Pennsylvania, and children (all born in Pa.)

• Leroy Stanley b. 1 March 1880
• Bertha E. b. 1 Jan 1882
• Charles C. b. Feb 1886
• Harold F. b. 1889

Franklin Haldeman was a master carpenter. His artistry and skill were featured in an artcile written in The Camden Courier, a local newspaper. The article is complete with a photo of Franklin with the masterpiece of a table he built with 10,954 pieces of wood, brass, ivory, bone, and pearl. The amazing part of the construction process is that he did it with only a pocket knife and a small file! The table was to be displayed at the sesqui-centennial exposition. http://www.phillyhistory.org/blog/archive/2008/07/31/the-sesquicentennial-exposition-of-1926.aspx

Below is the photo from the Camden Courier Newspaper dated June 2, 1926.
(Click full screen above the photo in order to view the entire photo.)


Franklin Haldeman -

Franklin's son, Charles, was a semi-professional boxer and a semi-professional baseball player about the turn of the 20th century.  He played with and managed the State Field Club in North Camden.  He also played with the Highland SC. (Currently, I don't have anymore information on his sports records or these teams - More to follow.)

Sadly, both Franklin and Charles came down with pneumonia and died on the same day within 20 minutes of each other.  The date was 19 Dec 1929.  Both were buried together in the New Camden Cemetery, Camden, NJ.  I visited the cemetery, but could locate no headstones for the pair.  Franklin and his bride, Anna were set to celebrate their 51st wedding anniversary on Christmas Eve the following week.  Charles was 43 years old and single.  I can only imagine the saddness felt that Christmas in the Haldeman home, but Anna Maria Haldeman must have had such pride for and fond memories of her son and husband.