The labeled Constitutional Beverage (Bitters?) from New York

18 March 2014

I suppose many of you may have noticed that gorgeous, rectangular, yellow-olive, Constitutional Beverage bottle in the Glass Works Auctions “Winter be Gone” Catalogue Auction 101 that ended last night. I bet many of you are not aware that this bottle is catalogued as a labeled bitters bottle, C 224 L, in Bitters Bottles by Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham. The listing is below.

C 224  L CONSTITUTIONAL BITTERS

L…Constitutional Bitters
// s // CONSTITUTIONAL / BEVERAGE / W. OLMSTEAD & CO // sp // NEW YORK // *Incorrectly spelled “Olmstead” in Bitters Bottles
292 Washington Street New York
10 1/4 x 3 3/4 x 2 1/4
Rectangular, Amber
Note: New York City Directory 1868 until 1878, Public Ledger (Philadelphia), July 28, 1869

“W. OLMSTED & CO. – CONSTITUTIONAL / BEVERAGE – NEW YORK.”, (Ring/Ham, C-224L), New York, ca. 1865 – 1875, yellow olive semi-cabin, 10 1/4”h, smooth base, applied mouth. – Glass Works Auctions

The labeled (without label) Constitution Bitters, Constitutional Beverage, W. Olmsted & Co., New York – Meyer Collection

As you can can see, this is a pretty darn cool bottle. Look at that applied ring mouth. Killer! Many times you will see this bottle miss-spelled “Olmstead” instead of the correct spelling “Olmsted”. So who is W. Olmstead?

From most accounts, I can see that Waller Olmsted was born on July 1, 1809 in Pennsylvania. His father was born in Connecticut and his mother, Rhoda Brown, was born in Pennsylvania. He was married to Maria Downer. Waller’s flame shone brightly from 1868 to 1880 in New York City. He set up Olmsted and Company at 292 Washington Street but commuted to Brooklyn where he lived. One year he was even listed as a doctor. Waller produced a “Beverage” (embossed on bottle) which was kind of smart and fairly unique in the bitters world. This allowed him to sell it as a drink, bitters, patent medicine and tonic. It is like he couldn’t make up his mind. What we need to find here is some advertising and a labeled example to clarify his intent. Obviously a form that represents a bitters bottle, I sure would like some more evidence. Oh, and this bottle is coming to Houston. Some records show Waller Olmsted fading away in Elmira, New York.

Olmsted & Company – Waller Olmsted

1809: Waller Olmsted born 1 July 1809. Born in Pennsylvania. Father born in Connecticut, Mother (Rhoda Brown) born in Pennsylvania, Spouse Maria Downer – 1880 United States Federal Census

1868: Olmsted & Co. (Waller Olmsted), patent medicines, 292 Washington, h – Brooklyn, New York City Directory

1869: Olmsted & Co. (Waller Olmsted), beverage, 292 Washington, h Brooklyn - New York City Directory

1870: W. Olmsted & Co., meds, (Olmsted refused) 292 Washington - New York City Directory

1872: Olmsted & Co. (Waller Olmsted), tonic, 292 Washington, h Brooklyn - New York City Directory

1873: Waller Olmstead, (M. D.) 292 Washington, N.Y. h Throop av. c Walton – Brooklyn New York City Directory

1874: Olmsted & Co. (Waller Olmsted), patent medicines, 292 Washington - New York City Directory

1875: Olmsted & Co. (Waller Olmsted), bitters, 292 Washington - New York City Directory

1876 – 1879: Olmsted & Co. (Waller Olmsted), patent medicines, 292 Washington - New York City Directory

1880: Olmsted & Co. (Waller Olmsted), tonics, 292 Washington, h Brooklyn - New York City Directory

1884 – 1889: Waller Olmsted, h 109 E Hudson – Elmira New York City Directory

Black Hills Bitters To The Front!

19 March 2014

Jack Stecher (Rochester, New York) provided me with a copy of this 1879 advertisement below for Black Hills Bitters from Rochester, New York and asked if I knew anything about the brand or E. H. Davis? All Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham have in Bitters Bottles is reference to the same advertisement from the Corning Democrat (Corning, N.Y.) on October 15, 1879. They gave it a B 115 listing. I am not aware of any existing bottles but I sure like their slogan, “Black Hills Bitters To The Front!”

NATURE’S GREAT AND TRUE REMEDY !

Edward H. Davis was born in New York around 1832 and was a well known and reputable druggist in Rochester, New York. He graduated from the University of Buffalo and then worked as a physician and druggist in Spencerport, New York which is west of Rochester. He then joined the Rochester drug house that was first established by Hippolyt A. Blauw in 1852. By 1869 it was called Rowley & Davis. Some of the brands they represented included Hoyt’s Cologne, Buckingham Dye, Hall’s Hair Renewer, Hamburger Drops, Blauw’s Worm Lozenges, Blauw’s Diarrhea Mixture, Boshe’s German Cough Syrups along with other patent medicines, Havana cigars, perfumes, colognes, surgical instruments, toilet soaps, homeopathic vials, sponges and chamois, German drugs, prescriptions, oils, medicinal liquors, wines, stationery, books and notions etc. Later Edward H. Davis became the sole proprietor, and in 1883, Charles Blauw (son of the original founder of the drug house) acquired an interest, and the firm name E. H. Davis & Company was adopted.

The drug store business was only retail at first, and the wholesale department was added in 1875. The store was first located at 81 State street and then moved to 101 State street in mid 1880s. A listing in the History and Commerce of Rochester says of the drug house:

The premises here occupied by the firm comprise a spacious floor and basement and a commodious four-story and basement building in the rear, used as a warehouse. The various departments are well ordered and thoroughly equipped, and a dozen or more people are employed in the establishment, while two salesmen represent the house on the road, the trade extending throughout Western New York and Northern Pennsylvania.

There was a well-equipped laboratory on the premises, and a number of meritorious pharmaceutical specialties were manufactured by the drug firm. Again from History and Commerce of Rochester:

A very large and first-class stock is constantly kept on hand and includes everything comprehended in drugs, chemicals, acids, extracts, tinctures, etc., all the standard patent medicines and proprietary remedies, pure and fine medicinal liquors, wines, mineral waters, etc., herbs, barks, seeds, spices and kindred products; also full lines of perfumery, toilet articles, soaps, sponges, chamois and druggists’ sundries generally. The retail department is neatly appointed and well equipped, and physicians’ prescriptions and family recipes are there accurately compounded, from pure, fresh ingredients, by competent graduates in pharmacy.

GREAT RESTORER !

E. H. Davis & Co, Wholesale Druggist – No. 101 State Street – History and Commerce of Rochester, 1894

Edward H. Davis – E. Davis & Company

1832: Edward H. Davis, born New York about 1832, wife H. Genevieve Davis, father born in Massachusetts, mother in Pennsylvania, listed as druggist – 1880 United States Federal Census

1851 – 83: Prescription Ledgers and Formularies, 1851-1883 by Hippolyt A Blauw; Charles Blauw; Charles Glaser

The Blauw collection consists of four ledgers and two formularies. Ledger 1 (Sept. 1851-July-1857) is a chronologically arranged record of chemicals, botanicals and preparations sold to druggists in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Rochester and other cities. Ledger 2 records prescriptions Blauw filled (numbered 11000-14500) between March & Nov. 1855. Ledger 3 records prescriptions filled (nos. 51000-55000) between May & Nov. 1863. Ledger 4 records prescriptions filled (nos. 88200-97010) between Oct. 1867 & Mar. 1868. Ledger 5 bears the label of C. Blauw & Co., and records prescriptions filled in June 1883 at Charles Blauw’s short-lived drug store on State St., opened after his return from New York City in 1882. Formulary 1 contains recipes for medicines prepared by H.A. Blauw. Formularly 2 (which may be dated 1872-1884) bears the inscription of Charles Glaser, a “clerk” at at least two Rochester pharmacies who boarded with Ernestine Blauw, and who may have worked for H.A. Blauw and Charles Blauw.

1852: Drug store on State Street in Rochester, New York established by established by H. A. Blauw. - History and Commerce of Rochester, 1894

1855: E. H. Davis, physician – 1855 New York State Census

1863: E. H. Davis, grocer and provisions dealer, Avon - Rochester, New York, City Directory

The corner of State and Main streets in downtown Rochester, N.Y., is a hub of activity in this daguerreotype taken around 1852. – University of Rochester archives

1869: Blauw, succeeded in 1869 by Rowley & Davis (Edward H. Davis) History and Commerce of Rochester, 1894

1869: Edward H. Davis, (Spencerport), physician and druggist (see ad below), Union. – Business Directory for Ogden, New York

1869 – 1870: Rowley & Davis, (John Rowley and E. H. Davis,) (successors to H. A. Blauw) – Gazetteer and Business Directory of Monroe County, N.Y. for 1869-70

1872 – 1875: Rowley & Davis (John Rowley & E. H. Davis), druggists, 81 State street - Rochester, New York, City Directory

1876 – 1882: E. H. Davis (Edward H. Davis) (listing and cover, below), Druggist, Patent Medicines, Wholesale and Retail, 81 State Street, West Side, r 12 Trowbridge – Rochester, New York, City Directory

1879: Advertisememt (see subject advertisement at top of post), BLACK HILLS BITTERS To The Front! Sold by E. H. Davis, 81 State street, Rochester, NY – Corning Democrat (Corning, N.Y.), October 15, 1879

1879: Dr. E. H. Davis, of 81 State street, returned home yesterday from a two month’s trip along the Atlantic coast. His health was greatly benefited by his journey. – Union & Advertiser, August 30 1879 (Rochester, NY)

1883: Charles Blauw acquired an interest, when the present firm name E. H. Davis & Company was adopted.

1885 – 1887: E. H. Davis & Co., Druggist, Patent Medicines, 101 State (see adv on front cover) - Rochester, New York, City Directory

Black Hills Bitters made by F.C. Parmelee in Honeoye, NY

20 March 2014

I did a post yesterday on Black Hills Bitters (Read: Black Hills Bitters To The Front!) and got a little tangled up in the hills and missed the mountain. What I mean is, I found some more advertising, suggested by Mark Yates, on Fulton History (FultonHistory.com) that now leads me to believe that the bitters was put out by F. S. Parmelee in Honeoye Falls, New York instead of Edward H. Davis in Rochester.

Black Hills Bitters – Lavinia, NY Gazette, 1878-80

Honeoye Falls is a village in Monroe County, New York. The population was 2,674 at the 2010 census. The village includes a small waterfall on Honeoye Creek, which flows through the village and gives it its name. The falls are pictured below.

Honeoye is a Seneca word translated as “a lying finger,” or “where the finger lies.” The Village of Honeoye Falls is within the Town of Mendon. The Village was founded in 1791 by Zebulon Norton when he purchased 1,820 acres of land for the price of 12½ cents per acre. He built a grist mill and later a saw mill, at a waterfall on Honeoye Creek. The area was originally known as Norton Mills. In 1827, Hiram Finch built a second mill, which would come to be called the Lower Mill to differentiate it from the earlier mill. On May 17, 1973, the Lower Mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [Wikipedia]. Upper Main Street in Honeoye is pictured below.

F. S. Parmelee

1853: Francis S. Parmelee born, New York. Father born in Connecticut, mother in New York. - 1880 United States Federal Census

1877 – 1888: Beach & Parmelee, (Otis S. Beach and Auburn W. Parmelee) druggists, Main cor. North ave., Village of Owego, NY, 1887 – 88 Directory

1880: Francis S. Parmelee, druggist, wife Jennie – 1880 United States Federal Census

Winfield Scott JOHNSON, dispenser of divers and sundry delicious drinks and poisons too numerous to mention at BEACH & PARMELEE’S drug store left for a week’s sojourn in the busy and wicked city of New York.

Two Extraordinary Wide Mouth Sunburst Snuff Jars

21 March 2014

Many of you may remember the extraordinary wide mouth Keene Glass Works, wide mouth Sunburst flask that was sold by Glass Works Auctions at the FOHBC 2013 National Antique Bottle Show “Madness in Manchester Auction“ in Manchester, New Hampshire last August. From Bottles and Extras: Sandor Fuss purchased the bottle and he was delighted, he couldn’t believe it went so reasonable considering the rarity (it sold for $24,000 not including auction house premium). The picture below is from the auction house while the second picture shows the flask, in all its beauty, on a shelf in the Fuss Collection.

Glass Works Auctions

Lot #44. WIDE MOUTH SUNBURST Flask, (GVIII-19), Keene Glass Works, Keene, New Hampshire, ca. 1815 – 1825, deep bluish aqua jar, 7 1/8”h, pontil scarred base, sheared and tooled wide mouth. A tiny potstone located in one of the rays has several tiny stress radiation’s stemming from it. Crude whittled glass, full of seed bubbles.

You are bidding on what many consider to be the most desirable of all the Sunburst form flasks. Often times referred to as the ‘snuff jar’ Sunburst, it is believed that only about a half-dozen are thought to exist, usually in shades of olive amber and olive green. To our knowledge of the known examples, this is the only example in this deep bluish aqua color.

We see another extraordinary example of a Sunburst Snuff Jar in the current Heckler Premier Auction 108. The write-up and pictures follow.

Lot: 96 Sunburst Snuff Jar, Keene Marlboro Street Glassworks, Keene, New Hampshire, 1815-1830. Medium to deep yellowish olive green, sheared mouth – pontil scar, ht. 7 3/8 inches; (some very minor manufacturer’s blemishes including onion skin bubbles and potstones). GVIII-19 Exceptionally rare. Exceptionally beautiful. This piece has a real “presence”. Fine condition. Purchased from Jacob’s in Southwick, Massachusetts for $25.00 in 1952, ex Merritt Vanderbilt collection, Clarissa Vanderbilt Dundon collection.

Swiss Stomach Bitters from Zwinger to Koch to Zoeller 

22 March 2014

It is always nice to hear from fellow bitters collector Gary Beatty from sunny Florida. Gary is also a Pastor by profession and the Treasurer for the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors. Besides sending monthly financial reports, he typically sends me information on a spectacular new bitters bottle he has added to his collection. In this case it is the Swiss Stomach Bitters from Birmingham, Pennsylvania. His e-mail that accompanied many images (see top image and below) is presented below:

Hi Ferd, here are the pictures of the Arnold Koch Swiss Stomach Bitters. I recently purchased it and it is from the Howard Crowe collection. Ring & Ham have it cataloged at S 242. The variant S 243 is later and embossed “The Zoeller /Medical Co/ Pittsburgh, PA.”

Birmingham Pa, became a part of Pittsburgh. I had a broken S 243 Pittsburgh but had never ran across the Birmingham Pa. version. I missed getting the S 243 Howard had for sale in Antique Bottle & Glass Collector magazine by a day so Howard sold me the rarest one and in a fantastic color. The color is golden, yellow, amber with a touch of apricot. All examples I have ever seen of either variant were dark amber.

Best Regards, Gary Beatty

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listings in Bitters Bottles are as follows:

S 242  SWISS STOMACH BITTERS

f // SWISS / STOMACH BITTERS // f // ARNOLD KOCH / BIRMINGHAM. PA. //
9 3/8 x 3 3/8 x 2 3/4 (6 7/8)
Rectangular 2 sides folded, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Rare
Arnold Koch was in business until 1876 or 1877 (Arnold Koch was in business from 1862 to 1896. First listed as a clerk, he quickly become a druggist and was listed as a bitters manufacturer from 1873-1876)
Birmingham became part of Pittsburgh in 1872. Thereafter it was called South Side.

S 243  SWISS STOMACH BITTERS

SWISS / STOMACH / BITTERS // f // THE ZOELLER / MEDICAL CO /
BIRMINGHAM, PA // f //
10 1/8 x 3 3/8 x 2 3/4 (6 7/8)
Rectangular, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth and Tooled lip, Rare
Possibly successors to Arnold Koch, after 1867

Interestingly enough, there is also the listing for another earlier Swiss Stomach Bitters in Bitters Bottles:

S 241  SWISS STOMACH BITTERS

Manufactured by F (Should be “J”) . Aug. Zwinger, 172 Smithfield Street, Corner Strawberry Alley
Pittsburgh Directory (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) 1858-1859 (Actually 1856 – 1878, bitters probable marketed from 1856 to 1859 or so)
Possible predessor to Arnold Koch

Swiss Stomach Bitters (S 242) – Meyer Collection

The three Swiss Stomach Bitters are obviously related. The dates, names and addresses match up nicely though there is no concrete information that confirms that one proprietor sold the brand to the next. Let’s look at Jacob Augustus Zwinger who put out the bitters first. Then we will look at Arnold Koch who must have purchased the rights to make and sell the bitters. Next the brand goes to William F. Zoeller.

Jacob Augustus Zwinger 

Jacob Augustus Zwinger was a retail druggist and apothecary selling drugs, chemicals, and perfumery etc. first located at 172 Smithfield Street on the corner of Strawberry Alley in Pittsburgh. He was the first sole manufacturer of Swiss Stomach Bitters. Listings for him can be found in Pittsburgh Directories from 1856-1878. In his later years, he is listed as a physician. He was a probably the predessor to Arnold Koch and his Swiss Stomach Bitters. I suspect the “F” on the advertisement below was a mistake as it should have been a “J” for Jacob.

1856: J. A. Zwinger, druggist, 172 Smithfield - Directory for Pittsburgh and Allegheny Cities

F. August Zwinger (Should be J), apothecary and druggist, 172 Smithfield – Directory of Pittsburgh & Vicinity

1857: Jacob Augustus Zwinger, druggist, 172 Smithfield - Directory of Pittsburgh & Vicinity

1858: J. August Zwinger, apothecary and druggist, 172 Smithfield (see advertisement above) - Directory of Pittsburgh & Vicinity

1859: J. August Zwinger, apothecary and druggist (also wholesale drygoods), 172 Smithfield - Directory of Pittsburgh & Vicinity

1865: Augustus Zwinger, druggist, 192 Ohio - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1866: J. A. Zwinger, druggist, 487 Penn cor Walnut - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1867 – 1872: Jacob A. Zwinger (Druggist), 76 East lane (East and Third) - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1873 – 1875: Dr. J. A. Zwinger (Physician, doctor), 70 East A, Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1877 – 1878: J. A. Zwinger (Physician), 78 Avery - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1879 – 1881: M Zwinger drug store (druggist), 76 East (East and Third) - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1889 – 18901: Jacob A. Zwinger, physician, 30 Avery – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania City Directory

Arnold Koch

Arnold Koch was one of the best known druggists of the South Side of Pittsburgh, having been established in business since 1862. Previous to this date he was connected to Julius Zeller in New York, the uncle and predecessor of Max Zeller, the well known wholesaler in New York.

Koch was listed as a retail druggist in Pittsburgh and Allegheny City Directories from 1862 to 1896. First listed as a clerk, he quickly become a druggist and was listed as a bitters manufacturer from 1873-1876. Though I can find no direct evidence, I would suppose he clerked with Jacob Augustus Zwinger and took over the Swiss Stomach Bitters brand. For 11 years Arnold Koch was located at 1203 Carson Street. William F. Zoeller was located at 1807 Carson street. They had to know each other.

Arnold Koch’s son was Professor J. A. Koch, dean of the faculty of the Pittsburgh College of Pharmacy.

1862 – 1863: Arnold Koch, clerk, corner Washington and Liberty - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1864 – 1870: Arnold Koch, druggist (Drug store, drugs), 1118 Carson n Denman - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1871: Arnold Koch, druggist, 127 Twentieth - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1872: Arnold Koch, druggist, 1118 Carson n Denman - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1873: Arnold Koch, stomach bitters, 113 Eighteenth ss - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1874: Arnold Koch, druggist, Charles, L St. Clair tp - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1875 – 1876: Arnold Koch, bitters manufacturer, 113 Eighteenth ss, h Walnut, L St. Clair tp - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1877 – 1886: Arnold Koch, druggist (pharmacist), 1203 Carson- Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1887 – 1896: Arnold Koch, druggist, 62 Washington av - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1896: Arnold Koch sudden death.

William F. Zoeller

William F. Zoller was born in 1857 on the South Side of Pittsburgh, the son of John and Fredericka Zoeller. His wife was named Caroline and their children were Carl Zoeller, Joseph Zoeller, Carrie Zoeller and Robert F. Zoeller. Zoeller a druggist and wholesale liquor dealer by trade, was located at 1807 Carson Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and manufactured Black Gin for the kidneys, Swiss Stomach Bitters for dyspepsia and liver complaint and Wild Cherry Tonic for coughs, colds and throat diseases. He is listed as making and selling bitters from 1890 to 1895. In 1909 Zoeller is believed to have been the founder and owner of Zoeller Medical Manufacturing Company of Pittsburgh, selling “Zoeller’s Kidney Remedy” (made of juniper berries, buchu leaves and other valuable diuretics) priced at 50 cents per bottle. The product was advertised in several editions of the Pittsburgh Press in July 1909.

1880: Joseph Zoeller, drug clerk, 1203 Carson (Arnold Kochs address) - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1881: William F. Zoeller, clerk, 112 Nineteenth ss - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1882: John Zoeller (saloon), William F. Zoeller (bar tender), 112 S Nineteenth - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1883: William F. Zoeller, liquors, 1807 Carson - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1884: William F. Zoeller, clerk, 1722 Sarah, Joseph P. Zoeller, drug clerk, 201 Franklin, J.P. Zoeller, druggist, 112 S. Nineteenth, John Zoeller, saloon, 112 S. Nineteenth - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1885: John Zoeller, saloon 112 S. Nineteenth - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1886: William F. Zoeller, book keeper, 115 S Nineteenth, Joseph P. Zoeller, druggist, 112 S. Nineteenth, John Zoeller, 112 S. Nineteenth - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1887: William F. Zoeller, liquors, 1907 Carson, Joseph P. Zoeller, druggist, 112 S. Nineteenth, John Zoeller, (deceased) - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1888 – 1889: William F. Zoeller, wholesale liquors, 1807 Carson, Joseph P. Zoeller, druggist, 112 S. Nineteenth - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1890 – 1891: William F. Zoeller, Bitters, 1807 Carson (see below) - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1892: William F. Zoeller, Patent Medicines, Liquors Wholesale, 1807 Carson - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1893 – 1895: William F. Zoeller, Bitters, Liquors Wholesale, 1807 Carson - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities

1906: In the Pittsburgh City Directory, sold “liquors” at 1807 Carson. Bell phone Hemlock 9396. Resided in Knoxville, Pa.

1909: Is believed to have been the founder and owner of Zoeller Medical Manufacturing Company of Pittsburgh, selling “Zoeller’s Kidney Remedy” (made of juniper berries, buchu leaves and other valuable diuretics) priced at 50 cents per bottle. The product was advertised in several editions of the Pittsburgh Press in July 1909.

1920: When the federal census was taken, William (age 60) and Caroline (63) and their son Robert (25) made their home together on Bellefonte Street in Pittsburgh. William’s occupation that year was as an Allegheny County assessor, and Robert’s as a civil engineer with a power company.

1930: The census shows William (age 71) and Carolyne (71) living in Mt. Lebanon, near Pittsburgh, on Central Square. William was still employed as a county assessor that year.

Swiss Stomach Bitters William F. Zoeller Advertising Trade Cards

The following trade cards are from the Joe Gourd collection in Chicago.

Where is the Columbia Cascara Bitters from?

23 March 2014

Gary Beatty (North Port, Florida) has sent me more pictures (see top of post) for yet another odd bitters that I was not aware of, this being the Columbia Cascara Bitters. Gary mentioned in his e-mail that Bill Ham had rated it as extremely rare and would be giving it a catalog number. Gary won the Cascara Bitters on ebay and said the bottle is square, with four flat sides and chamfered corners, measuring 9 1/2 by 2 3/4 by 2/3/4.

Now this is a tough bottle to research. I may need yo’alls help! First of all, what is Cascara?

Casca Ferrine Bitters advertisement – The Cape Girardeau Democrat, June 10, 1899

Cascara – Sacred Bark

Commercially it is called “Cascara Sagrada” (‘sacred bark’ in Spanish), while traditionally it is known as “chittem bark” or “chitticum bark”. The dried, aged bark of R. purshiana has been used continually for many years by both Pacific northwest native peoples and immigrant Euro-Americans as a laxative natural medicine, as one of several anthraquinone-containing herbal medicines including the leaf and fruits of senna, the latex of Aloe vera, and the root of the rhubarb plant. “Extract of cascara sagrada” from cascara bark has been recognized as a tonic laxative and prescribed by doctors since about 1877.

Cascara was found in more drug preparations than any other natural product in North America, and is believed to be the most widely used cathartic in the world.

Cascara is native from northern California to British Columbia and east to the Rocky Mountains in Montana. It is often found along streamsides in the mixed deciduous-coniferous forests of valleys, and in moist montane forests.

By 1877 the U.S. pharmaceutical company Parke-Davis was producing cascara preparations, and soon afterwards cascara products were being exported overseas to European markets. The explosion of the cascara industry caused great damage to native cascara populations during the 1900s, as a result of overharvesting.

In 1999, cascara made up more than 20% of the national laxative market in the U.S., with an estimated value of $400 million. The bark itself was worth approximately $100 million. Cascara was found in more drug preparations than any other natural product in North America, and is believed to be the most widely used cathartic in the world. [Wikipedia]

Checking Bitters Bottles, Bitters Bottles Supplement and the working draft for Bitters Bottles Supplement 2 by Carlyn Ring and Bill Ham I see the following cascara bitters listings:

Labeled, clear square, Casca Ferrine Bitters from Schlesinger & Bender, Inc., 730-738 Brannan, San Francisco, Meyer Brothers Drug Company were the Sole Distributors in St. Louis, Missouri. (C 71 L)

Labeled, amber, round wine shaped Casca Ferrine Bitters Tonic Stomachic Laxative put out by the Sierra Pharmaceutical Company in San Francisco, California (C 72 L)

Labeled, 9 1/2 x 2 3/4 amber square Cascara Bitters from Gauntlett & Brooks, Druggists, Ithica, New York (C 73 L)

Labeled, 9 3/4 x 2 3/4 (7) 3/8, amber square Cascara Bitters from King & Coril, Druggists and Pharmacists in Jefferson, Ohio (C 74 L)

Labeled, 9 x 2 5/8, square, amber, LTCR, Casacara Bitters, J. A. Meriman, Druggist, Silver Cliff, Colorado (C 74.3 L) *forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2

Trade card for Cascara Bitters from Riley & Fox, Sole proprietors, Healdsburg, California (C 74.5)

Labeled, 9 1/4 x 2 3/4 (7) 3/8, LTCR, 3 sunken panels, amber square Cascara Bitters from D. Miller in New York (C 75 L)

Labeled, 8 x 2, square, amber, LTC, Cascara Bitters, Frederick Stearns & Co. Pharmacists, Detroit, Michigan. (C 75.5 L) *forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2

9 x 3 (6 3/4) 3/8, square, amber and aqua, DLTC and LTCR, Applied Mouth, Scarce Cascarilla Bitters Co. Kansas City, Mo. Wild Cherry Tonic from D. Miller in New York (C 76)

I also found two unlisted cascara bitters for Greene’s Cascara Bitters and Hammers Cascara Sagrada Bitters (see below):

Advertisement for Greene’s Cascara Bitters, Charles E. Greene, PH. G., Hope Valley, Rhode Island (see advertisement below)

Advertisement for Greene’s Cascara Bitters, Charles E. Greene, PH. G., Hope Valley, Rhode Island – Alfred Sun (New York) 1891-1896

Advertisement for Hammers Cascara Sagrada Bitters, Hammer’s Drug Store, Fourth and K Streets, Sacramento, California. (see advertisement below)

Hammers Cascara Sagrada Bitters – Sacramento Daily Record – March 1881

Gary also sent me an ebay link that Steven Libbey forwarded him for Dr. Dunlop’s Cascara Compound (see below).

Three box sizes for Dr. Dunlop’s Cascara Compound, United States Medicine Company, New York City, N.Y.- ebay

Quite honestly, I have not researched each and every of the Cascara bottle listings above to determine a link to Gary’s bottle. My hunch is that it is a new listing altogether. Can any of you shed any light on Gary’s find?

Read more from Gary Beatty:

Swiss Stomach Bitters from Zwinger to Koch to Zoeller

An unlisted Home Bitters?

A Morning Call Bitters Comparison

The unlisted German Army Bitters – Ironton, Ohio

Mexican Bitters – Henry C. Weaver – Lancaster, O

Could this be the Nathan’s Celebrated Union Bitters?

Beneath Lincoln’s ass they used to load a lot of Glass

Washington City Glass Works – ‘Old Glass House’

by Stephen Atkinson

14 March 2014

Unknown to most Washingtonians and other Americans, and particularity we few in the glass collecting community, located literally right underneath the Lincoln Memorial, was a thriving glass works started in 1807. It rivaled the Boston Crown glass works in size and output at the time and supplied a lot of the glass windows in the city of Washington. The name, “Old Glass House,” to an old-time Washingtonian, meant not only an old factory where glass was made, but it also comprehended the settlement that grew up in the vicinity of that factory.

This factory and settlement were located in the southwestern part of Washington City. To be more explicit, the factory was at the southeast corner of Twenty-second and Water streets, northwest. The Glass-House settlement covered the space between Twenty-first and Twenty-third streets northwest, and New York avenue and the Potomac river, and occupied part of the old village of Hamburg or Funkstown, which extended from about the location of Nineteenth street to that of Twenty-third street, west, and from about the location of H street, northwest, to the Potomac River. In easier terms to understand, just north of the current location of the Lincoln Memorial monument.

Below is a map from 1800 showing the area where the glass works were located. Notice how much ground was added at the current site of the Lincoln Memorial.

This is a map from 1800. The glass house are is marked in red. The yellow area is the wharf which extended outward into the Potomac, and to the right of this area is the future site of the Washington Memorial.

Drawing looking west towards Arlington Virginia. Arlington, Virginia is in the background. In present day, you are viewing the glass works from the Washington Mall. Just to the left of the schooner is where the Lincoln Memorial would be located. – From the records of the Columbia Historical Society.

The factory buildings extended quite a distance along Water street. At the east end was the blowing room, a barn-like brick structure with broad blind arches in the walls. There was no chimney to the blowing-room, but a large cupola in the roof served as an outlet for the smoke and gases; and a small hand-engine was always standing ready to extinguish any blaze in the roof from stray sparks. In the blowing-room were the furnaces for melting the materials, and there were platforms for ten blowers. To the west, from the blowing-room, extended the flattening-house, the cutting-room, the pot-room, the mixing-room, and the box-shop, all built of brick. Outside, next to the wharf, was a large wood-yard. Boschke’s map of Washington (1857) shows the ground plan of the works. Window glass was only produced for over thirty years with the last 10 being tenuous as we will see.

1835 drawing of the Washington City Glass Works looking towards the Potomac River. Notice the small buildings on the hill in Arlington, Virginia to the right of the main roof. This is the Robert E. Lee Mansion in Arlington Cemetery today. In 1810 this was the Custis Mansion from George Washington’s wife Martha’s family. – From the records of the Columbia Historical Society.

The settlement was principally the natural growth around what was considered in those days a large and flourishing glass factory. Situated on the riverbank between Twenty-first and Twenty-second streets, northwest, which was started about the year 1807 by a firm composed of Andrew Way, Jr., George Way, Jacob Curts, Horace H. Edwards and the practical glass maker and superintendent of the works, Solomon Stanger, (a member of the famous Stanger glass making family) who in that year (according to deed dated May 12, 1807, and recorded in Liber M 17 at folio 315 of the District of Columbia Land Records) bought a piece of land in Square 89, fronting 1691/) feet on Water street and extending southward to the Potomac; and on the river side of which was a wharf fronting a]) out 130 feet on the river, and extending about 200 feet south from Water street, and called the ”Commissioners Wharf”‘ on the old plates, with a depth of about eight feet of water at mean tide.

By the year 1809, Andrew and George Way had bought out the interests of the other owners, and in 1813 they had increased their acquisitions to the east and west of the works until their property extended 3211/2 feet along Water street, a large part of it covered by water, it is true, but very valuable to them for the extension of their works and wharves.

Glass House – Glass Works Advertisements

The following advertisements were placed in newspapers around the country:

1809 advertisement listing WINDOW GLASS OF VARIOUS SIZES. In 1809 the Company was called Edwards, Way & Company.

1810 advertisement for GLASS WORKS. The company is now in full possession of the Way family.

Jar manufactured at the ‘Old Glass House’

Jar manufactured at the ‘Old Glass House’ that was made for the Schneider Family in 1825. – From the records of the Columbia Historical Society.

Pieces of Glass from the Glass Works site

The following pieces of glass were found on the shore of the Potomac river just south of the glass works site. I acquired these pieces from a gentleman who lives in Georgetown who found them as a boy around 1925. The one piece is a large hunk of slag that is bright aqua in color. The other is more green in color and is clearly a window glass piece in which diamond score cutting marks are clearly seen.

Pieces of glass found on the shore of the Potomac river just south of the Glass Works site. Notice the window glass piece in which diamond score cutting marks are clearly seen.

Pieces of glass found on the shore of the Potomac river just south of the Glass Works site

Pieces of glass found on the shore of the Potomac river just south of the Glass Works site

Pieces of glass found on the shore of the Potomac river just south of the Glass Works site

The Glass Works were advertised for sale in 1819.

Window Glass Manufactory and other valuable Property for Sale notice – 1819.

Apparently no buyers were found because Way & Company continued to own the works up until 1828 when they finally found a buyer in Cornelius McLean who would operate the works until the early spring of 1831 when he was forced to lose the works at auction. The following advertisement was placed in various newspapers around the country.

VALUABLE PROPERTY & GLASS WORKS FOR SALE AT AUCTION notice – 1831

No buyers were found in 1831 or the following three years as the works were dormant. A buyer was eventually found and the Glass Works changed hands again as Lewis Johnson and Company bought the factory in 1835. Lewis was related to the Governor Johnson who owned the Glass Factory in Frederick Maryland 1n 1800.

WASHINGTON GLASS WORKS notice. Lewis Johnson and Company bought the factory in 1835.

Lewis Johnson would maintain the ownership right up until 1838 as evidenced by the advertisement placed below by Francis Stenger (Stinger in ad).

FOR RENT notice by Francis Stenger.

The works would continue on and off until 1851 when they finally closed.The works began in 1807 and lasted until 1851. There were some time periods where the the works were idle. A best guess was the works operated for about 37 years.

Fredrick Schneider

Below is a picture of a man Fredrick Schneider who lived near and worked at the glass factory for a few years making iron Blow pipe rods and any other needed metal products. He was very helpful to the Columbia Historical Society in gathering these records.It is not to often we can look into the eyes of someone who was part of such an early glass works.

Fredrick Schneider Sr. who lived near and worked at the glass factory. Born 1811 at Lauffen Am Neckar, Wurttemburg. Died 1893 at Washington, D. C.

Dr. Allen’s Stomach Bitters – Pittsburgh

16 March 2014 (R•031714)

Glass Works Auctions, in their “Winter Be Gone” Catalog Auction 101, presently online, has a nice example of a Dr. Allen’s Stomach Bitters from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The bottle reminds me of a Dr. Henley’s IXL Bitters. Yesterday I was laying out Part 2 of the Dr. Henley’s Royal Palm Gin article for Bottles and Extras and was again wondering why the bottles were so similar. The picture above, from the author, Steve Hubbell and Eric McGuire, will be featured. Anyway, I thought I would pull out my Dr. Allen’s example and see if I can find out who Dr. Allen was and if there was a relationship with Dr. Henley.

Anyway, I thought I would pull out my Dr. Allen’s example and see if I can find out who Dr. Allen was and if there was a relationship with Dr. Henley.

Bottle Similarities

Bitters collectors are aware of the the similarities between the Dr. Allen’s Stomach Bitters and the Dr. Henley’s IXL Bitters. The bottle shape, size, appearance and applied ring on the mouth are virtually the same. The typography is basically the same with many of the characters matching as you can see by comparing various detail images below. Portions of the embossed name are also arched and the bottle glass looks very similar. Notice the treatment of the word “DR” with the under bar beneath the ‘R’. The Dr. Allen’s bottle however, only comes in the pale aqua. The Henley’s bottles come in some of the most exciting colors imaginable.

Dr. Allen’s Stomach Bitters Pittsburgh, Pa (A 31) – Meyer Collection

Dr. Henley’s California IXL Bitters in medium aqua (H 83) – Meyer Collection

Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters (H 85) – Meyer Collection

Dr. Henley’s California IXL Bitters in pale aqua (H 83) – Meyer Collection

Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters (H 85) – Ed & Kathy Gray

Eastern bottle authority Jeff Noordsy, quoting from his web site Jeff and Holly Noordsy, in a past sale of a Dr. Allen’s notes, “This rarely encountered Pittsburgh, PA bitters bottle is shaped very much like a Henley’s Wild Grape Root Bitters and I would be willing to hazard a guess that the two bottles were blown in the same Pittsburgh, PA glass house. With that said, the Allen’s is FAR less common than the Henley’s, with less than a handful of examples hitting the auction block over the past decade.”

According to western bitters authority Rick Simi, over at Western Bitters News, “One of the more popular bitters products of the western states, Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters, was introduced to the public in 1868. L. Gross & Co. of San Francisco was the manufacturers and proprietors of Henley’s concoction of alcohol, wild grapes from Oregon and flavorings.” Rick further notes that Dr. Henley’s was a product of the Pacific Glass Works. In a stereoscopic view photo taken at the 1869 San Francisco Mechanics Institute Fair of their glassware exhibit, an example was identified by magnification, and was able to read a portion of the embossing on the bottle.

Some fantastic colors for the Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters – Mlasko Collection

PIRATES SAIL UNDER FALSE COLORS!

Notice that L. Gross & Co., manufacturers and sole proprietors were posting advertisements in San Francisco in 1869 (see below) warning of numerous imitators of the Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters. “Pirates Sail Under False Colors!” I suppose this was prophetic as a mold maker in Pittsburgh would copy the bottle in a few short years.

Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters notice – The Golden Era (San Francisco), 23 June 1869

Stephen Hubbell and Eric McGuire in their benchmark and comprehensive Dr. Henley’s Royal Palm Gin article, note the following, “The combination of relatively rapid and safe transport, as well as new capital, enabled the newly formed H. Epstein & Co to market Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Bitters throughout the Western United States and even to Australia. At the same time, another product was made available specifically for consumers east of The Rockies (e.g. Midwest and South) called Dr. Henley’s California IXL Bitters. This new product was simply the original Wild Grape Bitters with a new name designed to appeal to a more Eastern market. To efficiently sell this product a new depot and manufacturing facility was set up in Chicago, Illinois under L. Gross & Co. with, of course, Louis Gross as head of the company.” Steve and Eric go on and say, “Louis Gross had used another Pittsburgh glass house to manufacture Dr. Henley’s California and Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters.”

Read More: Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters ‘Showdown’

Dr. Allen’s Stomach Bitters

In Bitters Bottles by Carlyn Ring and W.C Ham, the listing for the Dr. Allen’s is as follows:

A 31  DR. ALLEN’S STOMACH BITTERS

DR. ALLEN’S ( au ) STOMACH BITTERS / PITTSBURGH / PA // c //
12 1/4 x 3 1/4 (6 7/8)
Round, Aqua, ARM, Applied mouth, Rare

Dr. Allen’s Stomach Bitters – Pittsburgh – Glass Works Auctions

The listing in the Glass Works Auction (see their example above) reads as follows:

140. “DR. ALLEN’S / STOMACH BITTERS / PITTSBURGH / PA.”, (Ring/Ham, A-31), Pennsylvania, ca. 1870 – 1880, bluish aqua, 12 1/4”h, smooth base, applied ring mouth. A rare bitters in near perfect condition.

Dr. Allen’s Stomach Bitters – Pittsburgh – Meyer Collection

Who is Dr. Allen?

This is where it gets a little tricky. Searching for the name ‘Allen’ in Pittsburgh around 1870 is problematic as the last name “Allen” was fairly common. Looking at various Pittsburgh directories including 1839, 1841, 1860, 1862, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1870, 1873, 1874, 1877, 1882 and 1887 reveal a few possible targets.

Ricketson & Allen, wholesale and retail grocers and dealers in oils and candles, c Liberty and St Clair and Wood b Front and Second. 1839 – 1841

William B. Allen, grocer, h & s cor Webster and Roberts, 1860 – 1873, Directories of Pittsburg and Allegheny Cities

Robert L. Allen, produce and liquor merchant, 6 Wood, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania City Directory 1862 – 1865

Alexander Allen, Physician (and surgeon), Grant & Sherman, Millvale bor,  1887, student in 1870. Alexander Allen, tavern, 7 Penn, 1862, 1882: Alexander Allen, salesman, 58 Chatham 1873 – 1887, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania City Directory

William R. Allen, grocer, 287 Webster ave., 1874

A. T. Allen, grocer, 1879

Joseph Allen from Germany living in Pittsburgh (age 28), Saloon Keeper, 1880 United States Federal Census

Peter Allen from Germany living in Pittsburgh (age 29), Saloon, 1880 United States Federal Census

J. C. Allen, Merchant, from England living in Pittsburgh (age 50), 1880 United States Federal Census

William H. Allen, Analytical Chemist from Virginia living in Pittsburgh (age 20), 1880 United States Federal Census

Well, no smoking gun. I can only surmise that someone in Pittsburgh in the early 1870s (in earlier decades Pittsburgh was spelled Pittsburg by many), saw the Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root Bitters bottle and capitalized on the form and made the Dr. Allen’s Stomach Bitters. Probably for only a year or so. Was it William B. Allen the grocer? You didn’t have to be a doctor to create an illusion and story-name for a product. Was is Alexander Allen who was a physician and surgeon? He also worked in a tavern at one time. Was this his attempt to make some money on the side? Maybe they are related or it was someone else altogether? The ‘Allen’ web is complex. We’ll see if any of you readers have any more information.

The Swan Bitters from Meadville, Pennsylvania

17 March 2014

Glass Works Auctions, in their “Winter be Gone” Auction 101 that ends this evening, has an interesting bitters square that I have not seen before. The Swan Bitters seems to have been a very short-lived bitters product from Meadville, Pennsylvania. Let’s try to find out who the McFarland Brothers were? Their name is embossed on the bottle.

I know some of you might be thinking “Hasn’t Meadville been in the bottle news recently?” Well of course, the Meadville Pure Rye Whiskey story by Alan DeMaison was featured within and on the cover of the current issue of Bottles and Extras. Small world.

Meadville, Pennsylvania

Meadville was founded on May 12, 1788 by a party of settlers led by David Mead and is a city in Crawford County, Pennsylvania. Meadville is within 40 miles of Erie, Pennsylvania and 90 miles of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was the first permanent settlement in northwest Pennsylvania. Its location was chosen well, for it lies at the confluence of Cussewago Creek and French Creek, and was only a day’s travel by boat to the safety of Ft. Franklin.

The first settlement was in a large meadow, first cleared by Native Americans led by Chief Custaloga, and well suited for growing maize. The village Custaloga built here was known as Cussewago. The neighboring Iroquois and Lenape befriended the isolated settlement, but their enemies, including the Wyandots, were not so amiable. The threat of their attacks caused the settlement to be evacuated for a time in 1791.

“In the twilight of the evening of May 12, 1788, a party of ten men built their camp fire beneath a wild cherry on the bank of French creek, near the present site of the Mercer street bridge, in the town of Meadville. They were the first settlers in Crawford county—Cornelius Van Horne and Christopher Snyder, from New Jersey; David Mead and his brothers—Darius, John and Joseph—John Watson, Thomas Martin, James F. Randolph and Thomas Grant, from Sunbury, Northumberland county. On the next day these pioneers built a cabin on the deserted corn fields of the Indians on the bottom, between the Cussewago and French creek, and commenced their first planting. Grant selected the present site of Meadville, but abandoned the settlement the same summer, when David Mead took possession and built a double log house on the bluff banks of French creek, where is now the residence of James F. McFarland, Esq. This house was built with a view of defense against Indian attacks, and was surrounded with a stockade and protected by a small, square log blockhouse on the northwest corner. - Quotation from the Hon. William Reynold’s contribution to the Centennial History of Crawford County, Frontier Forts of Western Pennsylvania

Around 1800, many of the settlers to the Meadville area came after receiving land bounties for service in the Revolutionary War. Allegheny College, the second oldest college west of the Allegheny Mountains, was founded in Meadville in 1815 and is the oldest college west of the Allegheny Mountains that has kept its original name. One of the McFarland’s would be the Treasurer of this College for over thirty years. Meadville became an important transportation center after construction of the French Creek Feeder Canal in 1837 and of the Beaver and Erie Canal it connected to at Conneaut Lake and subsequent railroad development.

The McFarlands

The McFarland name is prominent and well known in Crawford County, Pennsylvania. John McFarland, who seems to be the patriarch of the state-side family, was born in Erie County, Pennsylvania, on February 18, 1880. His father was born in Scotland and his mother in New Jersey. McFarland was educated at Erie, and at the age of fourteen went to Meadville and began his business career as a clerk. He was engaged also, at different times, in Franklin, Pennsylvania and Mayville, New York, until 1827, when he established himself in the grocery business in Meadville. In 1829, McFarland moved his grocery store into a brick building at the corner of Walnut and Water Streets. McFarland also held the office of town Burgess in 1856 for one or more terms before Meadville received a city charter. In 1870, John McFarland or most likely, John McFarland Jr, who was listed as a wholesale liquor dealer, made and sold the Swan Bitters.

Gable House Hotel on Water Street in Meadville, PA. Charles Gable was the proprietor of the establishment. John McFarland had his grocery store at the corner of Walnut and Water Streets.
Engraving from an advertisement in the Kaldron, Allegheny College Yearbook, 1890

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:

S 229  SWAN BITTERS

SWAN BITTERS // f // McFARLAND BRO’S / MEADVILLE PA // f //
McFarland & Co., 852 Water Street, Meadville, Pennsylvania
9 1/2 x 2 3/4 (6 3/4) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare
The company also made lager beer

Swan Bitters McFarland Bro’s Meadville, PA. amber with fancy label sold on eBay for $522 in 2003 as reported by the Southeast Bottle Club

Mercantile National Bank (John McFarland, James E. McFarland and James E. McFarland, Jr.) advertisement from the Directory of Crawford County, Pa. for 1871-72

The Merchants National Bank of Meadville was granted a charter in 1865. The bank issued 15 types of notes. The bank is illustrated on the left and a $10 dollar note on the right.

Eventually McFarland became president of Merchants’ National Bank and was also one of the directors of the Crawford County Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He was also the Treasurer of Allegheny College for over thirty years. He died on September 28, 1881. His sons, from two different marriages were George, William, Thomas (lawyer), John (liquor merchant), Archibald, Frank and Malcolm.

The McFarland Brothers (Sons of John McFarland who established the grocery business) – George, William, Thomas, John, Archibald, Frank and Malcolm)

John McFarland (Obituary)

This venerable and highly respected citizen, who had been a member of the Vestry for nearly half a century, departed this life on Wednesday morning, Sept. 28th. Mr. McFarland was born in Erie County, Pennsylvania, Feb. 13th, 1800. He was educated in Erie, and at the age of fourteen came to Meadville and shouldered the responsibilities of life for himself. He was a clerk in this place, as also at different times in Franklin, Pa., and Mayville, N.Y., until 1827, when he established himself in the grocery business. By strict industry and unwavering honesty he built up a large and important trade, and his influence did as much, perhaps, to shape the affairs of this community as that of any other one man. He was identified with many of our leading interests, having been one of the founders of the Merchants’ Bank, of which he became President when it organized under the National Banking law, and which position he held to the day of his death. He was also one of the projectors and directors of the Crawford County Fire Ins. Co. For more than thirty years he was Treasurer of Allegheny College, for the first twenty of which his services were rendered gratuitously. He also was Treasurer of the School Board, and until within a few months Treasurer of Christ Church.

In 1825, Mr. McFarland was married to Miss Salome Atkinson. Seven children were the fruit of this union, five of whom are still living. His first wife having died, he was married again in 1843 to Miss Augusta Atkinson. There were four children of this marriage, three of whom survive. Mr. McFarland also held the office of Burgess for one or more terms before the town received a city charter. In all these positions he acquitted himself with great credit, and has left to his descendants the priceless legacy of a stainless name. Mr. McFarland’s vigor of mind and body was astonishing. His intellect was unclouded to the last and on his seventy-eighth birthday he astonished his friends by skating with the agility of a boy. No less conspicuous was he for his kindness of heart. Wherever sickness and destitution and trouble were, there John McFarland was found with a helping hand, an open purse, and a consoling word. His attachments were very strong, and his family and home were the especial joy and pride of his heart. Like so many men of similar temperment, when he began to fail, the decay was rapid. For about a year past he was not at all his old self; and when the end came, he breathed his life away in a slumber as peaceful as an infant’s dream. Many a tear will bedew the good man’s grave, and hearty will be the prayer “Requiescat in pace.”

James E. McFarland

James E. McFarland, banker, Meadville, is a grandson of James McFarland, who emigrated from Ireland about 1800 and located in Chambersburg, Penn., engaging in mercantile trade at that place until his death. One son, John McFarland, the father of our subject, was born in Ireland in 1797. He remained with his father until nineteen years of age, when he began the publication of the Sentinel at Chambersburg, Penn., and, removing to Carlisle, same State, he published the Volunteer, afterward the Commonwealth, at Harrisburg. His last enterprise was the establishment of the Allegheny Democrat, at Pittsburgh, Penn., about 1824. He was married March 1, 1816, at Hagerstown, Md., to Catherine Eberly, a native of Chambersburg, Penn. He died August 12, 1827. The death of his widow occurred October 10, 1876, at her son’s residence in Meadville, Penn., and her remains were interred in his family lot in Meadville cemetery.

James E. McFarland, our subject, is the only surviving child of the above couple. He was born at Chambersburg, Penn., January 4, 1817. When fourteen years of age he was apprenticed to his father’s trade, serving his full time at Pittsburgh, Penn. In 1885 he came to this county and established the Crawford Democrat, which paper strongly advocated the election of George Wolf for Governor. Afterward he became the purchaser of the Meadville Courier and continued to publish the united papers over a period of twenty-five years. In 1840 he was appointed Deputy United States Marshal for Crawford County; in 1845 he was elected Protbonotary, to which office he declined re-election. In 1848 Mr. McFarland was the Democratic nominee for Congress; served as Postmaster at Meadville during the full terms of Pierce and Buchanan respectively. In 1862 he engaged in the general banking business; in 1865 be was one of the incorporators of the Merchants National Bank at Meadville, and accepted the Presidency of the same. Shortly afterward a reorganization of the bank officials took place and he was elected Cashier, which post of trust he has filled acceptably to all concerned for a period of eighteen years. He has served as Councilman and School Director. In 1838 Mr. McFarland was married to Mary Scott, of Pittsburgh, Penn., and to this union were born eight children: Sarah S., intermarried with Dr. T. J. Young of Titusville, Penn. (have two children, David and Kathrine); John, who entered the Naval Academy in 1851 (John served with distinction throughout the Rebellion, was rapidly promoted from Midshipman on the Iroquois to Lieutenant-Commander; was in several engagements and was among the first to enter New Orleans under Farragut. He sailed through the West Indies and visited China, Japan and California. He died at his father’s residence, in 1874, from disease contracted through exposure during his service in the navy); Thomas S., residing at Buffalo, N. Y., is a member and Secretary of the Union Oil Company of Buffalo, married to Miss Fanny Otterstater, of Meadville (have three children, Frank, Adelaide and John); Katherine (deceased); James E., Jr., Assistant Cashier Merchants National Bank, also member of the firm of McFarland & Co., of Meadville Bottling Works (also called McFarland Bottling Works); Elizabeth S., married to William S. McGunnegle, of Meadville (have two children, George K. and James;; Mary, married to G. W. Delamater (have two children, Susan and James Scott); Anna (deceased). Time has dealt kindly with ‘McFarland, and although past three score and a half years of age, and considering the labor he has undergone and his active business life, his health and vigor and mental capabilities remain unimpaired.

The labeled Constitutional Beverage (Bitters?) from New York

18 March 2014

I suppose many of you may have noticed that gorgeous, rectangular, yellow-olive, Constitutional Beverage bottle in the Glass Works Auctions “Winter be Gone” Catalogue Auction 101 that ended last night. I bet many of you are not aware that this bottle is catalogued as a labeled bitters bottle, C 224 L, in Bitters Bottles by Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham. The listing is below.

C 224  L CONSTITUTIONAL BITTERS

L…Constitutional Bitters
// s // CONSTITUTIONAL / BEVERAGE / W. OLMSTEAD & CO // sp // NEW YORK // *Incorrectly spelled “Olmstead” in Bitters Bottles
292 Washington Street New York
10 1/4 x 3 3/4 x 2 1/4
Rectangular, Amber
Note: New York City Directory 1868 until 1878, Public Ledger (Philadelphia), July 28, 1869

“W. OLMSTED & CO. – CONSTITUTIONAL / BEVERAGE – NEW YORK.”, (Ring/Ham, C-224L), New York, ca. 1865 – 1875, yellow olive semi-cabin, 10 1/4”h, smooth base, applied mouth. – Glass Works Auctions

The labeled (without label) Constitution Bitters, Constitutional Beverage, W. Olmsted & Co., New York – Meyer Collection

As you can can see, this is a pretty darn cool bottle. Look at that applied ring mouth. Killer! Many times you will see this bottle miss-spelled “Olmstead” instead of the correct spelling “Olmsted”. So who is W. Olmstead?

From most accounts, I can see that Waller Olmsted was born on July 1, 1809 in Pennsylvania. His father was born in Connecticut and his mother, Rhoda Brown, was born in Pennsylvania. He was married to Maria Downer. Waller’s flame shone brightly from 1868 to 1880 in New York City. He set up Olmsted and Company at 292 Washington Street but commuted to Brooklyn where he lived. One year he was even listed as a doctor. Waller produced a “Beverage” (embossed on bottle) which was kind of smart and fairly unique in the bitters world. This allowed him to sell it as a drink, bitters, patent medicine and tonic. It is like he couldn’t make up his mind. What we need to find here is some advertising and a labeled example to clarify his intent. Obviously a form that represents a bitters bottle, I sure would like some more evidence. Oh, and this bottle is coming to Houston. Some records show Waller Olmsted fading away in Elmira, New York.

Olmsted & Company – Waller Olmsted

1809: Waller Olmsted born 1 July 1809. Born in Pennsylvania. Father born in Connecticut, Mother (Rhoda Brown) born in Pennsylvania, Spouse Maria Downer – 1880 United States Federal Census

1868: Olmsted & Co. (Waller Olmsted), patent medicines, 292 Washington, h – Brooklyn, New York City Directory

1869: Olmsted & Co. (Waller Olmsted), beverage, 292 Washington, h Brooklyn - New York City Directory

1870: W. Olmsted & Co., meds, (Olmsted refused) 292 Washington - New York City Directory

1872: Olmsted & Co. (Waller Olmsted), tonic, 292 Washington, h Brooklyn - New York City Directory

1873: Waller Olmstead, (M. D.) 292 Washington, N.Y. h Throop av. c Walton – Brooklyn New York City Directory

1874: Olmsted & Co. (Waller Olmsted), patent medicines, 292 Washington - New York City Directory

1875: Olmsted & Co. (Waller Olmsted), bitters, 292 Washington - New York City Directory

1876 – 1879: Olmsted & Co. (Waller Olmsted), patent medicines, 292 Washington - New York City Directory

1880: Olmsted & Co. (Waller Olmsted), tonics, 292 Washington, h Brooklyn - New York City Directory

1884 – 1889: Waller Olmsted, h 109 E Hudson – Elmira New York City Directory

Black Hills Bitters To The Front!

19 March 2014 (R•032114)

Jack Stecher (Rochester, New York) provided me with a copy of this 1879 advertisement below for Black Hills Bitters from Rochester, New York and asked if I knew anything about the brand or E. H. Davis? All Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham have in Bitters Bottles is reference to the same advertisement from the Corning Democrat (Corning, N.Y.) on October 15, 1879. They gave it a B 115 listing. I am not aware of any existing bottles but I sure like their slogan, “Black Hills Bitters To The Front!”

NATURE’S GREAT AND TRUE REMEDY !

Edward H. Davis was born in New York around 1832 and was a well known and reputable druggist in Rochester, New York. He graduated from the University of Buffalo and then worked as a physician and druggist in Spencerport, New York which is west of Rochester. He then joined the Rochester drug house that was first established by Hippolyt A. Blauw in 1852. By 1869 it was called Rowley & Davis. Some of the brands they represented included Hoyt’s Cologne, Buckingham Dye, Hall’s Hair Renewer, Hamburger Drops, Blauw’s Worm Lozenges, Blauw’s Diarrhea Mixture, Boshe’s German Cough Syrups along with other patent medicines, Havana cigars, perfumes, colognes, surgical instruments, toilet soaps, homeopathic vials, sponges and chamois, German drugs, prescriptions, oils, medicinal liquors, wines, stationery, books and notions etc. Later Edward H. Davis became the sole proprietor, and in 1883, Charles Blauw (son of the original founder of the drug house) acquired an interest, and the firm name E. H. Davis & Company was adopted.

The drug store business was only retail at first, and the wholesale department was added in 1875. The store was first located at 81 State street and then moved to 101 State street in mid 1880s. A listing in the History and Commerce of Rochester says of the drug house:

The premises here occupied by the firm comprise a spacious floor and basement and a commodious four-story and basement building in the rear, used as a warehouse. The various departments are well ordered and thoroughly equipped, and a dozen or more people are employed in the establishment, while two salesmen represent the house on the road, the trade extending throughout Western New York and Northern Pennsylvania.

There was a well-equipped laboratory on the premises, and a number of meritorious pharmaceutical specialties were manufactured by the drug firm. Again from History and Commerce of Rochester:

A very large and first-class stock is constantly kept on hand and includes everything comprehended in drugs, chemicals, acids, extracts, tinctures, etc., all the standard patent medicines and proprietary remedies, pure and fine medicinal liquors, wines, mineral waters, etc., herbs, barks, seeds, spices and kindred products; also full lines of perfumery, toilet articles, soaps, sponges, chamois and druggists’ sundries generally. The retail department is neatly appointed and well equipped, and physicians’ prescriptions and family recipes are there accurately compounded, from pure, fresh ingredients, by competent graduates in pharmacy.

Read Update: Black Hills Bitters made by F.C. Parmelee in Honeoye, New York

GREAT RESTORER !

E. H. Davis & Co, Wholesale Druggist – No. 101 State Street – History and Commerce of Rochester, 1894

Edward H. Davis – E. Davis & Company

1832: Edward H. Davis, born New York about 1832, wife H. Genevieve Davis, father born in Massachusetts, mother in Pennsylvania, listed as druggist – 1880 United States Federal Census

1851 – 83: Prescription Ledgers and Formularies, 1851-1883 by Hippolyt A Blauw; Charles Blauw; Charles Glaser

The Blauw collection consists of four ledgers and two formularies. Ledger 1 (Sept. 1851-July-1857) is a chronologically arranged record of chemicals, botanicals and preparations sold to druggists in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Rochester and other cities. Ledger 2 records prescriptions Blauw filled (numbered 11000-14500) between March & Nov. 1855. Ledger 3 records prescriptions filled (nos. 51000-55000) between May & Nov. 1863. Ledger 4 records prescriptions filled (nos. 88200-97010) between Oct. 1867 & Mar. 1868. Ledger 5 bears the label of C. Blauw & Co., and records prescriptions filled in June 1883 at Charles Blauw’s short-lived drug store on State St., opened after his return from New York City in 1882. Formulary 1 contains recipes for medicines prepared by H.A. Blauw. Formularly 2 (which may be dated 1872-1884) bears the inscription of Charles Glaser, a “clerk” at at least two Rochester pharmacies who boarded with Ernestine Blauw, and who may have worked for H.A. Blauw and Charles Blauw.

1852: Drug store on State Street in Rochester, New York established by established by H. A. Blauw. - History and Commerce of Rochester, 1894

1855: E. H. Davis, physician – 1855 New York State Census

1863: E. H. Davis, grocer and provisions dealer, Avon - Rochester, New York, City Directory

The corner of State and Main streets in downtown Rochester, N.Y., is a hub of activity in this daguerreotype taken around 1852. – University of Rochester archives

1869: Blauw, succeeded in 1869 by Rowley & Davis (Edward H. Davis) History and Commerce of Rochester, 1894

1869: Edward H. Davis, (Spencerport), physician and druggist (see ad below), Union. – Business Directory for Ogden, New York

1869 – 1870: Rowley & Davis, (John Rowley and E. H. Davis,) (successors to H. A. Blauw) – Gazetteer and Business Directory of Monroe County, N.Y. for 1869-70

1872 – 1875: Rowley & Davis (John Rowley & E. H. Davis), druggists, 81 State street - Rochester, New York, City Directory

1876 – 1882: E. H. Davis (Edward H. Davis) (listing and cover, below), Druggist, Patent Medicines, Wholesale and Retail, 81 State Street, West Side, r 12 Trowbridge – Rochester, New York, City Directory

1879: Advertisememt (see subject advertisement at top of post), BLACK HILLS BITTERS To The Front! Sold by E. H. Davis, 81 State street, Rochester, NY – Corning Democrat (Corning, N.Y.), October 15, 1879

1879: Dr. E. H. Davis, of 81 State street, returned home yesterday from a two month’s trip along the Atlantic coast. His health was greatly benefited by his journey. – Union & Advertiser, August 30 1879 (Rochester, NY)

1883: Charles Blauw acquired an interest, when the present firm name E. H. Davis & Company was adopted.

1885 – 1887: E. H. Davis & Co., Druggist, Patent Medicines, 101 State (see adv on front cover) - Rochester, New York, City Directory

Black Hills Bitters made by F.C. Parmelee in Honeoye, New York

20 March 2014 (R•032214)

BLACK HILLS BITTERS !

THE GREAT FAMILY MEDICINE!

Contains Hope and valuable Herbs and Roots (obtained only from the Black Hills. Try a bottle to-day! It may save your life!

I did a post yesterday on Black Hills Bitters (Read: Black Hills Bitters To The Front!) and got a little tangled up in the hills and missed the mountain. What I mean is, I found some more advertising, suggested by Mark Yates, on Fulton History (FultonHistory.com) that now leads me to believe that the bitters was put out by F. C. Parmelee in Honeoye Falls, New York instead of Edward H. Davis in Rochester. Davis was just one of many druggists selling the brand in Rochester and elsewhere. Some of the newspaper advertising from 1878 – 1880, and there were many examples, were quite outlandish in their claims. A few representative examples are pictured in this post.

Black Hills Bitters advertisement – The Lavonia Gazette (New York), 1880

Thousands who have been cured say: Use Black Hills Bitters.

Price only $1.00 per bottle.

Cheaper than doctors’ bills. Sold by all druggist throughout the United States and Canada.

Wholesale Depots: New York City, Chicago, San Francisco and New Orleans. 

Honeoye Falls, New York

Honeoye Falls is a village in Monroe County, New York. The population was 2,674 at the 2010 census. The village includes a small waterfall on Honeoye Creek, which flows through the village and gives it its name. The falls are pictured below.

Honeoye is a Seneca word translated as “a lying finger,” or “where the finger lies.” The Village of Honeoye Falls is within the Town of Mendon. The Village was founded in 1791 by Zebulon Norton when he purchased 1,820 acres of land for the price of 12½ cents per acre. He built a grist mill and later a saw mill, at a waterfall on Honeoye Creek. The area was originally known as Norton Mills. In 1827, Hiram Finch built a second mill, which would come to be called the Lower Mill to differentiate it from the earlier mill. On May 17, 1973, the Lower Mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [Wikipedia].

Upper Main Street post card in Honeoye, New York

Black Hills Bitters Advertising

“10 Reasons Why you should Black Hills Bitters advertisement” – The Dansville Express, Thursday, November 11 1880

Black Hills Bitters advertisement – Union & Advisor (Rochester, New York) 1880

“We Know” Black Hills Bitters advertisement – Union & Advisor (Rochester, New York) 1880

F. C. Parmelee

So far, all I can really find is a F. C. Parmelee who was a druggist living in Mendon, (Monroe County), New York. Mendon was an affluent suburb of Rochester.

1853: F. C. Parmelee born, New York. Father born in Connecticut, mother in New York. - 1880 United States Federal Census

1877 – 1888: Beach & Parmelee, (Otis S. Beach and Auburn W. Parmelee) druggists, Main cor. North ave., Village of Owego, NY, 1887 – 88 Directory

Winfield Scott JOHNSON, dispenser of divers and sundry delicious drinks and poisons too numerous to mention at BEACH & PARMELEE’S drug store left for a week’s sojourn in the busy and wicked city of New York.

1880: F. C. Parmelee, druggist, wife Jennie. living Mendon, Monroe County, New York – 1880 United States Federal Census

E. M. Parmelee

I did find an advertisement for Parmelee’s Mandrake and Dandelion Bitters (see further below). Interesting. It seems like this would be P 27 L … in Bitters Bottles by Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham. This 12-side aqua bottle was made by the Parmelee Drug Company in Norwich, New York in the 1894 – 1894 time period.

Embossed “Manufacturing Chemist” on the front panel. Side panel reads “E. M. Parmelee and Dansville, N.Y.” The bottle measures 8-5/16″long by 2-3/4″ wide and 1-3/8″ deep. – ebay

There is also a very interesting  listing in Bitter Bottles for a P 26L … Parmelee’s Hop, Iron & Buchu Bitters with “E. M. Parmelee” from Dansville, New York noted on the label. This is an amber square that was put out between 1888 and 1894. 

Parmelee’s Mandrake and Dandelon Bitters handbill (P 27 L) – Joe Gourd Collection

Parmelee’s Hop, Iron and Buchu Bitters handbill (P 26 L) – Joe Gourd Collection

Parmelee’s Mandrake and Dandelion Bitters and Parmelee’s Household Ointment advertisements (E. M. Parmelee) – Livonia Gazettte, 1890-91

Parmelee’s Poultry Powder advertisement (E. M. Parmelee) – Livonia Gazettte, 1890-91

A Placard that definitely features Dr. Lighthill and a bitters

23 March 2013 (R•032414)

In early March, Civil War author and patent medicine ephemera collector, James Schmidt contacted me about a potential bitters he had spotted on a stereoview card that he was purchasing. I looked at the images and patiently waited until Jim was in receipt of the card and green-lighted a post. Jim has written about Dr. Lighthill before.

Read: 1864 Letter from “Eye, Ear, and Throat” Doctor to Union Sailor! (Part I)

Read: 1864 Letter from “Eye, Ear, and Throat” Doctor to Union Sailor! (Part II)

The stereoview card is of “The Old Tavern” by Gilman & Gardner, 123 Washington Street, Boston. It says “Views of Manufactories, Residences, &c.” You can read this on the reverse of the card. If you enlarge the corner of the front building, you will see a placard for Dr. Lighthill and a bitters product. Was this his house, manufacturing base and tavern?

Now, I know you really have to look closely and focus you eyes, but you can clearly see two identical placards for Dr. Lighthill on the kiosk. Beneath the placards is another sign with three words in uppercase characters. The third word looks to be “BITTERS”. One has to assume that the second notice beneath is related to the Dr. Lighthill placard above. If this is a Dr. Lighthill Bitters, then we have some work to do. Besides being unlisited in Ring & Ham, there is absolutely no information tying Dr. Lighthill to a bitters product.

Enlarged again below, I see BRAxx  xxxIC  BITTERS. What do you see?

UPDATE: One of the Facebook viewers, Jim Eifler, when reviewing the same images, solved the mystery when he made out “ORANGE GROVE BITTERS” on the sign.  This makes sense as Baker’s Orange Grove Bitters is from Boston. So was Dr. Lighthill. One can imagine Baker and Lighthill having an agreement where Lighthill would take a couple crates of Orange Grove Bitters with him on the road and sell at his speaking engagements. Make a few extra bucks commission.

Read: Roped Squares – Baker’s Orange Grove Bitters

Here is an advertisement below from The Wheeling Intelligencer (Wheeling, West Virginia) on Monday Morning, November 30, 1868. Notice how Dr. Lighthill is promoting his appearance in Wheeling at the McClure House. I suppose at each stop he may have sat a kiosk outside with his placards noting his presence and products. I would have thought that somewhere within the advertisement that the word “bitters” would appear. No luck.

Dr. G. C. Blake’s Anti Dyspeptic Bitters from Buffalo

26 March 2014

With the completion of the Dr. Blake’s Aromatic Bitters post from New York City, it seems logical that we might now want to look at the Dr. G. C. Blake’s Anti-Dyspeptic Bitters from Buffalo, New York. Cory Stock also suggested this in a follow-up e-mail.

This bottle is quite difficult to find and I am pleased to possess a nice example in my collection that is featured in this post. The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:

B 119  BLAKES ANTI DESPEPTIC BITTERS
G. C. BLAKES / ANTI. DESPEPTIC ( au ) / BITTERS // c //
58 Lloyd Street Buffalo, New York
7 1/4 x 3 1/8 x 1 7/8 (4 1/2)
Oval, Aqua, STC, Applied mouth, Metallic pontil mark, Very rare

Buffalo Harbor in the 1850s

George C. Blake was listed as the proprietor of Blake’s Anti-Dyspeptic Bitters in 1855 and 1856 in Buffalo, New York Directories. His address was 53 Lloyd Street at the corner of Commercial and Water Streets. In 1857 he is listed, but the bitters relationship is not. In 1858 he is listed as a druggist at 2 Thompson block, Prime. In 1859 he has a saloon in Buffalo. Before 1855 and after 1859 he is a mystery. One has to wonder if he was related to Thomas Blake and the Blake’s Aromatic Bitters in New York City.

Dr. G. C. Blake’s Anti Dyspeptic Bitters advertisement – The Commercial Advertiser Directory for the City of Buffalo, 1855

Dr. G. C. Blake’s Anti Dyspeptic Bitters advertisement – 1855 Buffalo Business Directory

George C. Blake

1855 – 1856: George C. Blake, proprietor, anti-dyspeptic bitters (see above), 53 Lloyd Street at the corner of Commercial and Water Streets - Buffalo City Directory

1857: George C. Blake - Buffalo City Directory

1858: George C. Blake, druggist, 2 Thompson block, Prime - Buffalo City Directory

1859: George C. Blake, saloon, 4 commercial, h same, Distillers, Cordials, 2 Prime, Buffalo – New York City Directory

John Thomson and his “Thomsonian System of Practice”

27 March 2014 (R•28 March 2014)

Just a short post tonight, it has gotten longer thanks to Mark Yates and his leads, about John Thomson who was a Botanic Physician located at No. 67 Beaver-street in Albany, New York. The illustration above is Albany in 1854.

Early Medical Warfare

John and his brother Cyrus, marketed their father Samuel’s, “Thomsonian System of Practice” and sold, using testimonials, the Vegetable Anti-Dyspeptic Wine Bitters. Later in Syracuse, Cyrus operated the city’s first Infirmary Center of Early Medical Warfare.

Read More: Samuel Thomson and the Poetry of Botanic Medicine, 1810-1860, Chapter 1, The American Hippocrates

City’s First Infirmary Center of Early Medical Warfare – The Post Standard, 15 August 1948 – Syracuse, New York

The Botanic Infirmary circa 1890s – Early Landmarks of Syracuse

This is an early bitters, with no bottles recorded in collections. One advertisement I found said, “40th Barrel of Vegetable Anti-Dyspeptic, manufactured this day, since 2d March, 1831.”

Carlyn Ring and W. C. Ham note the following in Bitters Bottles:

A 73  ANTI-DYSPEPTIC VEGETABLE BITTERS
Newspaper advertisement 1834: Its good effects are beyond description, cures consumption, destroys pernicious thirst in summer and expels paroxysms in winter. For any disease of the head, stomach or bowels.

Mark Yates  (Cazenovia, New York) adds that there was a Cyrus Thomson in Syracuse (Geddes), New York and that he has a labeled, unembossed open pontiled medicine (he will forward a picture). He led me to the 1894 book, Early Landmarks of Syracuse and some information within that indicates that Cyrus’ father, Samuel, was the founder of the Thomsonian System of Medicine. A couple of important excerpts:

Dr. Cyrus Thomson is remembered as a very eccentric man, rough and uneducated, though possessing considerable natural ability, shrewd, a close observer, and fond of telling amusing anecdotes. He was the son of Samuel Thomson, the founder of the Thomsonian system of medicine, and was born January 20, 1797, in Alstead, New Hampshire, where his father was born.

A letter from his distinguished though eccentric father, dated Madison county, New York, July 26, 1823, says that Samuel Thomson of Boston, Mass., authorized Cyrus Thomson to act as an agent in selling his medicines and to become a member of the Friendly Medical ‘Botannack’ society; the agreement lasting two years.

This botanic treatment, called the Thomsonian system, was founded by Samuel Thomson, who claimed to have “discovered the fatal error of Allopathy – the doctrine that irritation, fever and inflammation are diseases.” Samuel wrote in his book published in 1825; “Our life depends on heat; food is the fuel that kindles and continues that heat; heat I found was life, and cold was death, and that all constitutions are alike,” meaning in regard to their anatomy and physiology, their powers and their wants. Read More

Verse describing the principles of the Thomsonian System – Early Landmarks of Syracuse

A few advertisements I found are represented below, one dating the specific bitters brand to 1828.

John Thomson Botanic Physician advertisement – Albany Evening Journal, 1831

John Thomson Botanic Physician advertisement – Albany Evening Journal, 1832

“40th Barrel of Vegetable Anti-Dyspeptic” advertisement – Albany Evening Journal, May 17, 1833

Webb’s Improved Stomach Bitters Jackson, Michigan

29 March 2014 (R•033014)

It is not often that I purchase a bottle for my collection when I already have an example, unless of course it is a different color or mold variation. In this case, yesterday afternoon, at the opening of the San Luis Obispo Bottle Society’s, Morro Bay Bottle Show, I purchased a Webb’s Improved Stomach Bitters from Jackson, Michigan from Lou Lambert. Lou knew an antique dealer who sold him the bottle, which is quite extraordinary.

My existing orange amber bottle is pictured above while at the top of this post you will see my new example which was photographed today at the show. Below is an illustration of their drug store in Jackson, Michigan.

Illustration of Webb’s Drug Store, Webb’s Family Medicines.

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:

W 60 WEBB’S IMPROVED STOMACH BITTERS
WEBB’S IMPROVED / STOMACH BITTERS. // f // C. E. WEBB & BRO. / JACKSON, MICH. // f //
L…Webb’s Improved Stomach Bitters, (picture of a three-story building) C. E.
Webb & Bro., Jackson, Mich.
9 x 2 3/4 (6 1/4) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Tooled lip and Applied mouth, Rare

Existing Orange Amber Webb’s Improved Stomach Bitters – Meyer Collection

C. E. Webb & Brother

Webb’s Drug Store, Jackson, Michigan

Charles E. Webb 

Charles E. Webb was a druggist and manufacturing chemist who prepared a line of extracts and compounds for his medical remedies, which gained great popularity and were sold to retailers in several States. He was born in Jefferson county, New York in 1835 and was the third of eight sons from George and Julia Webb, nee Brown, of New York. Charles spent the first 14 years of his life working on a farm. He then went to Watertown, New York to learn the drug business, remaining there until 1857. Webb then went to Iowa, and for six years was the proprietor of a drug store in DeWitt. He eventually sold out and came to Jackson, Michigan in 1863, and formed C. E. Webb & Brother, with his brother Walter at 201 Main Street in Jackson, Michigan. They had one of the largest and finest drug stores in central Michigan. Below is an advertisement that the brothers placed in the 1867 - 1868 Jackson City Directory.

C. E. Webb & Brother advertisement – 1867 & 1868 Jackson City Directory (Jackson, Michigan)

Webb married Elizabeth Clark, of Watertown, New York, by whom he had 4 children, 3 daughters and 1 son. He was a member of the City School Board, and he and his family belonged to the First Baptist Church. Webb’s mother was a niece of General Jacob Brown, who settled in Pennsylvania before William Penn’s time; and moved to northern New York when the country was a wilderness. For six months they saw the face of no white person but their own family, the Indians being their only neighbors.

Walter B. Webb

Walter B. Webb was an  insurance, loan and real-estate agent. He was born in Watertown, New York in 1843 and enjoyed the advantages of common school until 15 years of age. Webb then came west and engaged in the drug business with his brother Charles in DeWitt, Iowa. He remained until 1863 and then came to Jackson, continued in the same business, and three years later became a partner. In January 1875, Webb retired his interest from the concern, save that in manufacture of patent medicines, which he retained. He then engaged in insurance, representing some 18 fire companies, among which were a number of the leading companies of Europe, his business being equaled in volume by few agents in Michigan. You can see his business occupying the same building at 201 Main Street in Jackson, Michigan. Walter married Emma L. Backus, of Jackson, in 1866, who died two years after; and in the fall of 1871 he married Julia A. Mann, of Calhoun county, Michigan. They had 1 daughter, Mettie. He and his wife were members of the Episcopal Church.

Later Walter B. Webb Insurance advertisement (over Webb’s Drug Store) – Jackson County, Michigan, rural directory (1918)

Reference: The History of Jackson County, Michigan, 1881, and other resources.

1867 & 1868: C E Webb & Brother (Charles E and Walter B), druggists, dealer in drugs and medicines, 224 Main, Jackson City Directory (Jackson, Michigan)

1871: C E Webb & Brother (Charles E and Walter B), druggists, dealer in drugs and medicines, 201 Main, Jackson City Directory (Jackson, Michigan)

1891: On October 15, 1891, Mr. Ryerson married Julia E. Webb, daughter of the late Charles E. Webb, of Jackson. They have one son: Creighter Webb Ryerson.

I also have an example of the extremely rare, Webb’s Old Rye Bitters. The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:

W 61 WEBBS OLD RYE BITTERS
WEBBS / OLD RYE BITTERS // f // JACKSON, MICH. // f //
9 x 2 5/8 (6 1/4) 3/8
Rectangular, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare
Embossing on wider sides.

Paradise Bitters – Fresno, California

31 March 2014

I picked up a pretty rare Paradise Bitters at the Morro Bay bottle show this past weekend when I was walking out the doors nearing the end of the two-day show. Lou Lambert had it and said the bottle was from Fresno and dug in Fresno. Possibly only three or so known examples, he added. There was no embossing except “Paradise Bitters” twice, on the side panels.

A quick search using “Paradise Bitters” and “Fresno” revealed the advertisement below that said Dr. John L. Kellett’s Paradise Oil was the “The Greatest Discovery on Earth”. Later in the advertisement, he implores you to use “Paradise Bitters” for a variety of other ailments. Priced $1 dollar a bottle, it was manufactured by Kellett & Brown in Fresno, California. All druggists can obtain the same by applying to F. W. Braun & Company in Los Angeles, California.

Paradise Bitters manufactured by Kellett & Brown, Fresno, California -  Los Angeles Herald, 3 August 1891

From various bits of information, I can piece together that Dr. John Kellett was born about 1805 in Ireland and once in the states, settled in Utica, New York. He came west and settled in Hornitos, Mariposa County, California as a farmer. Hornitos soon became one of the most important points in the route of travel between Stockton and Los Angeles and is northwest of Fresno. Hornitos means “little ovens” in Spanish. About a mile from town, Dr. John Kellet, in 1851, operated a quartz mill, by water-power, with a wheel forty-five feet in diameter.

He married Minerva Evilyn Lewis in 1855, who in her teens, she, with her father, sister, brother and stepmother, left Alabama for Richmond, Virginia, from there they went to Little Rock, Arkansas; from there they emigrated to California in 1852, crossing the plains in a wagon train. The had a number of children, the first being John Lewis Kellett in 1862. I believe this son put out the Paradise Bitters.

The following “incident with a runaway horse” in 1873, talks about young John. “John L. Kellett, a lad of 15 years of age, son of Dr. John Kellett, who resides near Hornitos, met with a very severe accident a few days ago, which came near proving fatal. He was in the act of unhitching a horse which was fastened with a chain halter, when the animal gave a sudden start and ran – the chain becoming entangled and forming a noose around the boy’s wrist. The boy fell and was dragged at full speed for about 400 yards, receiving some very serious and painful bruises, including 5 severe cuts on the head. When picked up nearly every stitch of clothing was torn from his body and he was insensible. His escape from death seems almost a miracle. At last accounts he was recovering with a prospect of sustaining no permanent injury from his wounds.”

In 1882, John C. Kellett was advertising Liniments and in 1891, John L. Kellett was advertising the Paradise Bitters and Paradise Oil. Did they work together? Did they compete? In 1902, The California C0-operative Medical Company was organized in Eureka, California and was formed by John L. Kellett. One share entitled the owner to “free medical service and treatment for themselves and little ones”. At this time Kellett was operating out of Oakland.

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:

P 19.5  PARADISE BITTERS

// PARADISE BITTERS // sp // PARADISE BITTERS //
7 5/8 x 2 1/2  x 1 3/8 (5 1/2)
Rectangular, Aqua, NSC, Tooled lip, Extremely rare
Paradise Medicine Company of California
One dug in Virginia City, Nevada

Select Timeline Events

1851: Hornitos soon became one of the most important points in the route of travel between Stockton and Los Angeles. About a mile from town, Dr. John Kellett, in 1851, operated a quartz mill, by water-power, with a wheel forty-five feet in diameter.

1855: Marriage, Minerva Evilyn Lewis to Dr. John Kellett

1862: Saturday, 20 Dec 1862, Birth at Hornitos, Dec. 23, to the wife of John Kellett a son.

1873: John Kellett – AN INCIDENT WITH A RUNAWAY HORSE,  HORNITOS, 1873-Wednesday, 15 Jan 1873, Stockton Daily Independent

1882: Dr. John Kellett’s Liniments advertisement (see below) - The Fresno Republican - 24 June 1882

Dr. John C. Kellett’s Liniments advertisement – The Fresno Republican – 24 June 1882

1887: KELLET Death – At Hornitos, January 5th, 1887, Minerva Evilyn KELLETT, a native of Alabama, aged 47 years.

The deceased was the beloved wife of Dr. John KELLETT, of Hornitos. She was born in Mobile, Alabama, on Oct. 12th, 1839, and was the youngest child of David L. LEWIS, by his wife Susanna LEGARE, daughter of Hugh LEGARE, of North Carolina, whom he married at Georgia in 1829. While the subject of this sketch was yet early in her teens, she, with her father, sister, brother and stepmother, left Alabama for Richmond, Va., from there they went to Little Rock, Arkansas; from thence they emigrated to California in 1852, crossing the plains in the same train, with R. H. WARD, of Merced, STONER and family at Stockton. The LEWIS family met John KELLETT of Hornitos, then of Utica, New York, who the deceased married in 1855 since which time she has devoted her life to the cares of her family and the careful rearing of her children, who are now left to mourn the loss of a faithful devoted wife, a patient and gentle mother.

1887: January 22, 1887 Mariposa Gazette, KELLETT- HALLIHAN marriage January 12, 1889 Mariposa Gazette from Coulterville Correspondence, Miss Lizzie HALLIHAN, one of our fair young Coulterville girls, and John KELLETT, of Hornitos, were united in the holy bonds of matrimony by Father RAGO, at the residence of the bride’s father, on Sunday, December 30th. The happy couple departed for their home near Hornitos on Monday.

1897: John L. Kellett, patent medicines, 1309 Broadway – Oakland City Directory

1902: The California Co-operative Medical Company organized in Eureka, California was formed by John L. Kellett.

Wonderful Success notice, 1992

1904: John L. Kellett, president, The California Co-operative Medical Company, 906 Broadway - Oakland City Directory

H & K Stomach Tonic Bitters

Ashtabula

06 April 2014

The H & K Stomach Tonic Bitters images and post content are from Matt Lacy from Austinburg, Ohio. He surprised me with these images that are outstanding. I am unfamiliar with the bottle so this is pretty darn exciting. Matt is also joining the board of the FOHBC as our Midwest representative. That is pretty darn exciting too! I took Matt up and searched for information and found yet another Mayor who put out a bitters.

[from Matt] I thought I would take a break from the eagle flasks and post another very rare bottle and the even rarer end crate. This is a local bitters to me. H & K Stomach Tonic Bitters was made by Hendry and King who owned a drug store on Center Street in Ashtabula, Ohio. They were in operation for only 8 years from 1864 to 1872. King left in 1871 to lead the Ashtabula Colony west in hopes of establishing a new town which they did, King City, Kansas, presently known as Elyria, Kansas. Hendry followed in 1872 to establish a new drug store.

I was fortunate enough to obtain this example and the end crate from a local digger that dug it out of a honey dippers dump in the late 1970s.

I have heard that an example of this bottle exists with “Ashtabula Ohio” embossed on it. I have dug an embossed panel, but have never seen an example. I would be very interested in seeing one if anyone has any information. I am also currently looking to purchase any examples of this bottle that may be available out there. Please contact me if you know of any examples like this or with the town embossed on it.

Carlyn Ring and W. C. Ham list this brand twice in Bitters Bottles. Please note that ‘ASTABULA’ should be ‘ASHTABULA’.

H 1  H & K CELEBRATED STOMACH TONIC BITTERS

H & K / CELEBRATED STOMACH / TONIC / BITTERS // f // HENDRY & KING / ASTABULA OHIO // f //
Hendry and King, Sole Proprietors
9 1/2 x 2 1/2 (6 1/2) 1/4
Square, amber, LTC, Extremely rare

H1.5  H & K STOMACH TONIC BITTERS

H & K / STOMACH / TONIC BITTERS // f // f // f //
8 7/8 x 2 3/4 (7)
Square, amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Very rare

Hendry & King Druggists

Hiram A. Hendry and Ephraim L. King had a drug store in Ashtabula Colony, Ohio. They put out the H & A Stomach Tonic Bitters which is the subject of this post. Hendry was born in Jefferson, Ohio in 1837 and had a college education. At the age of twenty-two, he took up the pharmacy profession in Ashtabula, Ohio. His business and professional partner was Ephraim L. King. King was born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania in 1830. He received his education at Allegheny College in Meadville. He resided for a time in Winona County Minnesota and then moved to Monongahela City, Pennsylvania. Next he was a professor of surgery in the Erie street Medical College in Cleveland for a short time. From there he came to Ashtabula in 1865. In Ashtabula he was twice elected mayor, and for twelve years served as a member of the Board of Education, most of the time as president.

Hendry & King advertisements in the same paper for Roback’s products – Ashtabula Weekly Telegraph, May 30, 1868

In January, 1871, Ephraim L. King, and others, organized a colony in Ashtabula, Ohio, for the purpose of locating a town in Kansas. The King group traveled a thousand miles over the State, and were returning homeward without having made a location, when they came into McPherson County, and decided upon the site of King City. Both Hendry and King relocated here. By June, 1872, the town contained twenty-five houses but would not last.

Read about other city Mayors who sold bitters:

The Honorable Stephen Buhrer and his Gentian Bitters

The unlisted Yaupon Bitters – Norfolk, Virginia

Hiram A. Hendry

Kansas and Kansans: Volume 5

Alexander Sutherland Hendry, who for more than a quarter of a century has practiced law at McPherson, is a member of the Hendry family which was so conspicuously identified with the early history of this section of the state. His father (Hiram A. Hendry) was one of the founders of the Ashtabula Colony and for years was prominent in the public and business life of McPherson.

His father was the late Hiram A. Hendry, born at Jefferson, Ohio, in 1837, son of Samuel A. Hendry, likewise a native of the same section of Ohio. Hiram Hendry had a college education, and at the age of twenty-two years took up the profession of pharmacy at Ashtabula, Ohio. His business and professional partner was Doctor King. In 1871 the Ashtabula Colony was organized in the Hendry and King Drug Store. Doctor King was sent by the organization to Kansas for the purpose of viewing a location where the members of the colony might settle, secure lands, and introduce the influences and ideals represented by the organization. Doctor King favored the conditions in McPherson County, and in 1872 the colony arrived, each of its twenty-five or thirty members securing government land in King City Township, in the central part of McPherson County.

Hiram Hendry was very active in the colony’s affairs from the beginning and one of its official members. In 1872, when the McPherson Town Company was organized, he became its secretary, and held that office until the company was dissolved. From participation in the affairs of the colony his interests became widespread so as to include both the town and county. He was one of the charter members of the Congregational Church of McPherson. He was also a Mason and a republican, though never a seeker for public office. The death of this honored pioneer occurred at McPherson November 20, 1907.

He married May 22, 1864, at Mansfield; Ohio, Miss Julia M. Sutherland, second daughter of Dr. A. and Maria (Bowland) Sutherland, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Hendry was born at Mansfield, Ohio, and died at McPherson, Kansas, September 7, 1901. She was active in the Congregational Church all her life. To this pioneer couple were born three children, two sons and one daughter: Alexander Sutherland; Harry Sutherland, who was born February 22, 1867; and Ada E. Hendry, who is now city librarian of McPherson.

Hendry Drug Store advertisement – Ashtabula Weekly Telegraph, January 11, 1868

Ephraim L. King

Dr. E. L. King, Physician and Surgeon – Ashtabula Weekly Telegraph, August 10, 1872

From the Ashtabula Standard, March 19th, 1886

THE CITY MOURNS

The Angel of Death Calls Suddenly, and Dr. E. L. King Peaceably Joins the ’Silent Majority’ – The Community Inexpressibly Shocked by the Sad News. – Mrs. King Prostrated by the Great Shock.

The community was inexpressibly shocked Friday morning by the announcement that Dr. E. L. King had on Wednesday, died suddenly at Tampa, while on his way to Cuba with his son, of neuralgia of the heart. At first the report was regarded as a mere rumor but was soon sadly confirmed by Mrs Sanborn who had received a telegram from Will King conveying the sad tidings, and saying that the remains would be followed home as soon as Mrs King, who was completely prostrated by the shock was able to travel.

Dr. King was born in Brownsville, Pa., in 1830. He was married at Erie, in 1854 to Miss Mary Sanborn who with one son survives him. A beloved daughter who was the pride of their heart and who they have never ceased to mourn died several years ago and now lies buried in our beautiful Chestnut Grove. The Doctor received his education at Allegheny College, Meadville. He resided for a time in Winona Co, Minn., removing from there to Monongahela City, Pa, afterwards he was for a time a professor of surgery in the old Erie street Medical College in Cleveland, from there he came to Ashtabula in 1865, where he has since lived with exceptions of winters spent at his sunny home in Florida. He has been twice elected Mayor of this city, has been for many years President of the Board of Education. He was one of our best known and highly respected citizens, and loved and revered by both rich and poor. His services were always ready at the humblest call, to the poor and needy he was always a friend in distress, giving them the same kindly care and considerate treatment with no hopes of earthly renumeration that he did his richest patients. He was a great hearted man; a beloved physician; a Christian gentleman; a loving husband; a kind father. His virtues it woud be impossible to enumerate, his memory is precious and will be enshrined in the hearts of all who knew him. The heartfelt sympathies of all go out to the stricken widow, the bereaved son. May God in his infinite compassion lovingly sustain them in the midst of the great cloud which has suddenly overshadowed their lives.

The body reached this city Monday afternoon and was immediately placed in the receiving vault at Chestnut Grove cemetery, where it will remain till Mrs King is able to come home when the funeral will be held, Dr Will remained in Florida with his mother. Owing to the absence of the family we are able to get only meager details of the Dr’s life and death. At a later date we shall give a more complete report and correct any mistakes we have made in the above hastily prepared article.

EPHRAIM L. KING, M. D., was born Feb. 17, 1830, near Brownsville, Pa., and died March 10, 1886 at Tampa, Florida, of neuralgia of the heart. After his marriage to Miss M Sanborn, of Erie, he moved with his wife to Winona, Minnesota, where he was elected sheriff, and then to the lower and upper house of legislature, where he was foremost in sustaining and carrying into effect the great educational system which lifted that state into its present prominence in the nation. Returning to Pennsylvania he completed the study of medicine. On his return home, he was appointed examining surgeon for his district.

During the fall of 1865 he came to Ashtabula, where with the exception of four winters spent in Florida, he made his permenant home. In this city he was twice elected mayor, and for twelve years served as a member of the Board of Education, most of the time as president. In the midst of his busy professional life he took up the study of law, and in 1878 was admitted to the bar as an attorney. As a physician he took his place in the front rank; his services were as fully at the comand of the poorest family. as at that of the rich. He is mourned and missed, not only by his wife and son, but by hundreds of families in our midst. He was a man of strong convictions, never substituting policy for principle. His religous creed and life began in childhood. He was born of Methodist parents, and manhood found him a profound believer in devine revelation. Like his parents he accepted and endorsed fully all the doctrines and usages of the Methodist Episcopal Church. During 1863 he went forward to the altar as a seeker of religion. Finding no relief for his anxious soul he went to his office and threw himself into the arms of the all powerful Savior, and found pardon and acceptance with God. He at once united with the church and took his place among her active workers as steward and Sunday school superintendent. His medical practice so completely filled all his time that he at last found it necessary, as he thought, to give up his active church work. The absorption of all his strength in professional duty, he at last realized as a great mistake. The last months of his life witnessed a great change. His mind and heart turned again to the ardor of former years to the holy themes and hopes of the Christian religion. Death came unexpectedly, without a moment’s warning, leaving his home desolate, save the tender memories of the fading past.

Dr E L King, ex-mayor of Ashtabula, Ohio, and son of Josiah King, of Perry
township, Fayette county, Pa., died March the 10th, 1986, at Tampa, Florida, of
neuralgia of the heart. Dr King was born on the Carson Farm near Perryopolis
and was raised in Perry township; received his education at Meadville, and in
1849 or 50 went to California in search of gold. Returning in 3 years he
married Miss Mary Sanborn, of Erie, Pa., and moved to Winona, Minnesota, wher he
represented in turn both branches of the legislature after which he returned to
his native county and completed his medical education under the preceptorship of
his brother-in-law, Dr S B Chalfant, of Uppermiddletown, Pa., graduating at the
medical department of the Western Reserve college. He then located at
Monongahela City, Pa., where he enjoyed a lucrative practice for several years,
when he moved to Ashtabula, Ohio, where he built up a practice which lead all
his competitors. But constant application to his profession told on his
physical system and compelled him to seek a home in the south during the winter
season, consequently he had been making his home for the past five years at
Orlando, Florida, during the winter. On March 9, 1896, he, in company with his
son, Dr W S King, left his wife and his home for a pleasure trip to Key West and
Cuba, in unusually good health for him. They reached Tampa the same evening and
had to wait until the next day for a vessel. During the night the Dr suffered
from neuralgia of the stomach and in the morning when about to continue their
journey he suddenly died without a word or any warning. His remains were
embalmed and expressed to Ashtabula, Ohio, where they were interred on the 22nd
and the large attendance at his funeral indicates the esteem in which they held
him. Dr King was widely known in Fayette county and his many friends sympathize
with his aged father in his bereavement.

Ashabula Colony and King City

In January, 1871, E. L. King, president, John W. Hill, vice-president, J. U. Fellows, secretary, and J. R. Williams, treasurer, organized a colony in Ashtabula, Ohio, for the purpose of locating a town in Kansas. Messrs. E. L. King, John W. Hill and Smith Edwards, were appointed a locating committee. They traveled a thousand miles over the State, and were returning homeward without having made a location, when they came into McPherson County, and decided upon the site of King City. The locating committee returned to Ohio, and about the last of May, the president of the company and about twenty-five others, started for Kansas. By June, 1872, the town contained twenty-five houses, and it is probable that if the tier of townships had not been struck off from the southern part of the county, King City would have obtained the county seat. When this was accomplished, however, in the winter of that year, its fate was a foregone conclusion. King City was surveyed by County Surveyor J. D. Chamberlain, in February 1875, it being located upon the west half of the northwest quarter, and the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 26, Township 20 south, of Range 3 west of the sixth principal meridian. The city is now virtually defunct.

‘On June 22, 1871,’ says N. S. Hoisington, ‘I came to what is now known as King City. When I arrived at the woods on Turkey Creek, where the Ashtabula colony had stopped, I found tents, covered wagon boxes, and shanties in which were also a few people who were not natives of Ohio. During the night of my arrival I experienced one of the most violent storms of wind, rain and hail I ever witnessed. The shanty in which I was sheltered, with its inmates, was nearly blown down the bank. Every man during that night was busy holding on to his tent poles. H. D. Fellows were (sic) the proprietor of the shanty in which I was housed, his boarders furnishing the provisions. Himself, N. S. and D. B. Hoisington, and D. D. Carpenter were all camped together. In Norman Allen’s tent to the south were Mr. Allen, Mrs. Mertz (cook), Miss Mary Allen, Charles Allen, and N. D. Allen. In William Morgan’s tent to the northwest were the proprietor, Jeff Beales, and William Firkey (?). West of Norman Allen’s tent was that owned by John Sample, which was occupied by himself and wife, Nellie Sample, and John Drake. L. B. Carr and R. B. Holbrook lived together in a covered wagon box, just on the southwest. Near the old road which led to King City were Albert G. Smith and ______ Gilotte, who used to run a breaking outfit, and they turned over a good many acres of sod in and around King City. Jack Thomas, who married Norman Allen’s daughter, was also one of these early pioneer’s – and a jolly fellow who kept us all good natured. Our camp was just fifteen miles from the Little Arkansas River. A mile and a half north was the ‘Brickyard Boarding House’, where lived the proprietor of the yard, William Nelson, and his family and ‘hands’, of which I was one. The brick, however, proved to be of no use outside a building, since the first rain that come would wash them all to pieces. A spot one-half a mile from the camp was selected as the site of King City. George Crissy built the first store and did a flourishing business in groceries, provisions, etc. The building was afterwards moved to McPherson Centre. Across the street (just 150 feet) R. O’Dell built a hotel, and across the way from the hotel D. B. Hoisington had his blacksmith shop. South of Crissy’s store Norman Allen, of Michigan, built the first residence, and north of the hotel Charles Anderson built another house. D. D. Carpenter, John Carpenter, Mr. Bonnell and others afterwards built residences, and Dr. S. S. Gregg held forth as a physician in a little office between the blacksmith shop and Mr. Carpenter’s house. These were all the buildings on Main street. On the street east of Main Charles Zang built a house and storeroom, and George Galvin and Harry Morris also made some improvements. South was another hotel built by William West and Fred. Albright. South of this was another residence belonging to Mr. Camp, and south of Norman Allen’s place was a house which had been moved into town by Barney Reichard. L. N. Holmberg also moved a building into King City. He, with S. E. Granger, soon started a good general store. Charles Anderson followed with a few groceries and agricultural implements. After a time John W. Hill and H. A. Hendry built a large store and put in a stock of drugs and medicines. Overhead was the public hall in which Harvey Williams organized the first Sunday school, and in which the village school was also taught. Old Father Shelly used to preach in William West’s hotel once every two weeks. * * After the two tiers of townships were taken from the south of McPherson County, however, and the county seat moved to McPherson Centre, King City fell to pieces.’

Source: William G. Cutler’s History of the State of Kansas 1883

Ashtabula, Ohio

The site of Ashtabula was settled in 1803 and incorporated in 1891. The city contains several former stops on the Underground Railroad which was used to convey African-American slaves to freedom in Canada in the years before the American Civil War. Among the stops is Hubbard House, one of the handful of termination points. Ex-slaves would reside in a basement of the house adjacent to the lake and then leave on the next safe boat to Canada, gaining their freedom once they arrived in Ontario. Its harbor has been a large ore and coal port since the end of the 19th century and continues to be to some extent with a long coal ramp draping across the horizon in the current harbor and the ore shipments unloaded from lakers that is sent down to the steel mills of Pennsylvania.

Many newcomers to Ashtabula in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were immigrants from Finland, Sweden, and Italy. Ethnic rivalries among these groups were once a major influence on daily life in Ashtabula. A substantial percentage of the current residents are descended from those immigrants. The population in the City of Ashtabula grew steadily until 1970, but has declined in recent years. [Wikipedia]

Dr. Wood’s Sarsaparilla & Wild Cherry Bitters

07 April 2014

Here is a nice and early, aqua, Dr. Woods Sarsaparilla & Wild Cherry Bitters from New York City. For the most part, the brand was sold throughout New York State from around 1844 to 1851 or so. Some of the advertisements said, “Put up and sold in large bottles, a $1, by Wyatt & Ketcham, Wholesale and Retail Agents, at retail, 192 Broadway; 311 Bleecker street, N.Y; J.W. Smith, corner Fulton and Cranberry streets, Brooklyn, and by Druggists generally throughout the United States.

The Carlyn Ring & W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:

W 151  DR WOOD’S SARSAPARILLA & WILD CHERRY BITTERS

DR WOOD’S / SARSAPARILLA / & / WILD CHERRY / BITTERS // f // f // f
9 x 3 x 2 (6) 3/4
Rectangular, Aqua, LTC, Applied mouth, Rough pontil mark, Scarce
Lettering begins and ends on bevel
Lettering reads base to shoulder and counter clock-wise

Dr. Woods Sarsaparilla & Wild Cherry Bitters advertisement – Schenectady, NY Cabinet, 1845

Dr. Woods Sarsaparilla & Wild Cherry Bitters advertisement – New York Daily Tribune, December 22, 1845

Dr. Woods Sarsaparilla & Wild Cherry Bitters advertisement – Albany, New York, 1845

Dr. Woods Sarsaparilla & Wild Cherry Bitters advertisement – New York Daily Tribune, March 19, 1846

Dr. Woods Sarsaparilla & Wild Cherry Bitters advertisement – New-York Daily Tribune, November 10, 1846

Dr. Woods Sarsaparilla & Wild Cherry Bitters advertisement – Cortland NY Democrat 1846

Dr. Woods Sarsaparilla & Wild Cherry Bitters advertisement – New York Tribune 1847

Dr. Woods Sarsaparilla & Wild Cherry Bitters – Meyer Collection

Dr. Woods Sarsaparilla & Wild Cherry Bitters – Meyer Collection

Dr. Woods Sarsaparilla & Wild Cherry Bitters – Meyer Collection

“Dr. Woods/Sarsaparilla & Wild Cherry/Bitters” Bottle, Ring W-151, aqua rectangular with wide beveled edges, pontil, (inner haze, whittled, crude, bubbly), ht. 8 3/4 in. – Skinner Auctions

Dr. E. Easterly selling Dr. Woods Sarsaparilla & Wild Cherry Bitters - United States Commercial Register, 1851

Dr. Johnson’s Indian Dyspeptic Bitters

MAINE

09 April 2014

Robert Cohen posted the following on Bottle Collectors on Facebook, “Tough, Johnson’s Indian Dyspeptic Bitters bottle, open-pontil, circa 1840, picked-up at Dover N.H. bottle show on Sunday 4/6/14. Dealer (from Maine) educated us, said that the bottle was sold by a Maine proprietor. Papers to prove it!” Robert included a few pictures, one I have added below.

Now this is pretty interesting. I have always wondered where this bottle was from? Way to go Robert! Fortunately, I have an example too which is pictured at the top of the post and further below. From the advertisement that Robert provided (below), it looks as though the proprietor is A. Johnson & Son from Brewer, Maine.

Dr. Johnson’s Indian Dypepsia Bitters advertisement provided to Robert Cohen when he purchased the bottle – Bangor Daily Whig & Courier, 02 July 1846

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:

J 46  JOHNSON’S INDIAN DYSPEPTIC BITTERS

JOHNSON’S // INDIAN // DYSPEPTIC // BITTERS //
6 5/8 x 2 5/8 x 1 1/2 (4 3/4)
Rectangular, Aqua, LTC and LTCR, Applied mouth, Rough pontil mark, Rare

Bangor, Maine, circa 1875

Abner and Isaac Samuel Johnson

A. Johnson & Son

Abner Johnson (1786-1847) was an enterprising physician who practiced in Oxford, Hancock and Washington Counties in Maine. He first introduced Johnson’s American Anodyne Liniment in 1810 when he established his business. This concoction was made from morphine, extract of hyoscyamus, alcohol and other ingredients. The bottles are common and regularly dug. The business grew and soon Johnson moved to Brewer (Bangor), Maine where he established his business as A. Johnson & Son. Brewer by the way, is the sister city of Bangor. The two are at the head of navigation on opposite sides of the Penobscot River estuary and are connected by three bridges. This would be when Johnson put out his Indian Dyspeptic Bitters using Brewer, Maine as an address. I don’t see any records of him attending school and getting his medical degree.

Years later, his son Isaac Samuel Johnson (b. 1821) took over the reins, most likely after his fathers death in 1847, and by 1881, Isaac had packed up and headed for Boston, where he opened his liniment business, I. S. Johnson & Co. on Custom House Street. He also sold Parson’s Purgative Pills and Sheridan’s Calvary Condition Powders. The bitters product was rather short-lived.

Johnson’s American Anodyne Liniment – ebay

P.P.P stands for Parson’s Purgative Pills advertisement, 1886

Parson’s Pills trade card, I. S. Johnson & Co., Boston, Mass.

U.S. Internal Revenue One Cent Private Die Proprietary stamp for I. S. Johnson & Co., Bangor Maine

Johnson’s Indian Dyspeptic Bitters – Meyer Collection

Johnson’s Indian Dyspeptic Bitters – WeLoveOldBottles.com

I. S. Johnson & Company Merchant’s National Bank check – The Maine Philatelist

I. S. Johnson & Company, Bangor, Maine advertising cover – The Maine Philatelist