The History Behind Two Men And A Citation

Department of Public Works Bureau of Water citation, issued on May 16, 1894.

     This is a Department of Public Works Bureau of Water citation that was issued on May 16, 1894. I found it inside of an old book (100th Anniversary of the Constitution of the United States, 1889). It was evidently being used as a book marker. The serrated edge where Inspector Henry S Flake tore the citation from his book is still crisp and there are two strong thumbprint stains near the lower corners (I checked, it was rainy that day) where the recipient, William Adair, first held it. I decided to look up the history of these two men. Their story follows:

The Flake Family: Henry S Flake was born in Philadelphia in June of 1855. He spent almost his entire life living near the intersection of Shackamaxon and Wildey Streets (about 2 blocks north east from the intersection of Frankford and Girard Ave). Henry's grandfather, Samuel Flake, was born in Salem, NJ in 1801 and came to Philadelphia in 1817 to find work as a seaman. Samuel became a Shipwright (ship carpenter). He married Sarah Ellen Rowen and they had 2 sons, Samuel jr (Henry's father) in 1833 and Christopher in 1836. In 1854, Samuel jr went to work with his father as a ships carpenter. That didn't work out and in 1857 he went to work with his younger brother, Christopher, as a cooper (barrel maker). That didn't work out either so in 1861, he opened up a stall with his mother, Sarah Ellen, at the 5th Street Market. Samuel jr sold fish and Sarah Ellen sold produce. 

      On July 30, 1854, Samuel jr married Magdalena Scheowerer. They had 3 children, Henry S Flake in June of 1855, Clara in 1858 and Samuel III in May of 1860. Samuel III died at 11 months old on April 27, 1861 of cerebritis (brain infection). In 1862, Samuel sr and Sarah Ellen moved to 222 Wildey Street and Samuel jr and Magdalena moved to 232 Wildey Street. On July 26, 1864, Samuel sr drowned when he fell into the Delaware River at the foot of Shackamaxon Street. Samuel jr died of tuberculosis on October 14, 1870. After his father died, 15 year old Henry S Flake went to work with his grandmother, Sarah Ellen, selling fish. The family of Thomas Louder (aka Lowder), a sail builder, moved to 252r Wildey Street in 1868. Thomas had a daughter named Mary R Louder. Henry fell in love with Mary and they married on November 5, 1876. 

      After Henry's grandmother died in 1879, he went into business with his brother in law, Harry Louder selling Oysters. The business lasted just a couple of years and by 1883, Henry was working as a roofer. Henry and Mary had 11 children but 5 of them died as young children. Their children were: Sallie (b. July 16, 1877), Clara (b. 1878 - d. Jan 2, 1883 of Diphtheria), Harry (b. June 1881 - d. Jan 21, 1883 of Diphtheria), Elizabeth (b. Sep 1883), Catherine (b. Sep 28, 1885), Clarence (b. Oct 20, 1887 - d. Dec 3, 1887 of convulsions), Mary (b. Oct 13, 1888), Edna (b. May 1890 - d. Sep 14, 1891 of Colitis), William (b. Dec 1891 - d. Aug 9, 1894 of malnutrition), Charles (b. Nov 28, 1894) and Adelia (b. Feb 10, 1900).

      Henry became an inspector for the Water Bureau in 1887. In 1891, Henry moved his family just around the corner to 1101 Shackamaxon Street. Mary operated a cigar/variety store out of their home. It was on Wednesday May 16, 1894 when Henry issued the pictured citation to 2931 Kensington Ave. The property was part of William Adair's blacksmith shop located at 2923 to 2931 Kensington Ave. He did not have an iron cover stamped "W" on his water box at his curb. The back of the citation states that Adair had 5 days to fix the problem or he would be fined $5. It was rainy that day and Adair's muddy thumbprints are still on the citation.

      In May of 1914, Henry's 25 year old daughter Mary (who he called Mamie) was diagnosed as having Tuberculosis, the same disease that had claimed Henry's father. Henry turned to God and was baptized at the Kensington ME Church (Richmond and Marlborough) on October 2, 1914. His Mamie died the next day. Soon after, Henry moved the family to 212 Wildey Street, just down the street from where he first met his wife Mary in 1868. Henry continued to work for the water Bureau right up until his death on November 20, 1920. Mary lived with the family of their youngest daughter Adelia until her death in the 1930's.

The Adair Family: William Adair was born in May of 1860. He was the son of an Irish immigrant from County Down, Alexander Adair, and the third of eleven children (4 of his siblings died as young children). Alexander was a blacksmith and William also made that his profession. Alexander and William worked at their blacksmith shop/stable at 2923 to 2931 Kensington Ave. William married a girl named Mary in 1882. William and Mary had 7 children but 5 died as young children. Their children were: Mary (b. Oct 1882 - d. Mar 3, 1884 of Diphtheria), Mamie (b. Sep 23, 1884 - d. Oct 3, 1884 of a bad heart), Nelly (b July 1885), Rachel (b Jan 1888 - d June 16, 1897 of a bad heart), William Adair jr (b. 1902) plus 2 stillborns during the 1890's. 1884 was a particularly bad year for the Adairs. Not only did William lose his daughters Mary and Mamie that year but he lost a 5 year old sister to Diphtheria on March 14, 1884 and a 3 year old brother to the croup on March 9, 1884. 

     Alexander owned some land on what would become th 3000 block of Rorer street. Alexander had 3 other sons who were bricklayers. They built the first 3 houses on the block, 3028 Rorer for Alexander and his wife and 3026 and 3030 for 2 of Alexander's daughters. Alexander and William operated a speak easy above their blacksmith shop. They were arrested for breaking liquor laws in March of 1890. The next month William was sentenced to 5 months and a $500 fine. William's wife Mary died on May 22, 1905 from heart disease. William's father, Alexander, died on October 16, 1907. William was arrested again in 1916 for breaking liquor laws. On October 13, 1916, he was sentenced to 7 months in jail. By 1920, he moved to Hart Lane where he lived until he died in the 1930's. 

     William was an avid reader. He stored a chest of books at his father's house at 3028 Rorer Street. The books went untouched for over 70 years when they were given to me in 1990 by the man who was living at 3028 at the time, Bill Johnson. While reading one of the books, I found the pictured citation.