The earlier 2-roof Holtzermann’s Patent Stomach Bitters

HOLTZERMANN’S PATENT STOMACH BITTERS

The Earlier 2-Roof Cabin

26 November 2012 (R•061014)

The later 4-roof Holtzermann’s Patent Stomach Bitters

Yesterday, I wrote about the later 4-roof (pictured directly above) Holtzermann’s Patent Stomach Bitters (read: Log Cabin Series – Holtzermann’s Patent Stomach Bitters Compound (4 Roof) and pretty much hung my hat on most of the information previously noted by Steve Sewell over at Antique-Bottles.net. The information Steve provided was fantastic though I have come across some other information that raisesa few questions. I believe the Holtzermann liquor business did, in fact, start with Jacob Daniel Holtzermann (born 1808) from Bremen, Germany and not Christopher August Holtzermann (born 1840) as Steve suggests.

J. D. Holtzermann advertisement – W.W. Reilly & Co.’s Ohio State Business Directory for 1854-5

The 1870 Federal Census (see below) does not mention a son named Christopher August Holtzermann in the Jacob Daniel Holtzermann family, unless he was omitted for some reason such as already leaving home. He could have been the first son of three and he did marry a few years earlier so this probably covers this question. Only the sons George and Louis Holtzermann are noted, and indicated as working as clerks in the liquor business, presumably with their father. I simply believe that the RootsWeb information is incorrect that Steve may have referenced or J.D. Holtzermann forgot he had a son Christopher, which I doubt. The patent records also list a J.D. Holtzermann patenting the product, not Christopher August Holtzermann.

I can almost believe my own thinking but I now find a newspaper article clipping from 1898 for the obituary of George Christopher Holtzermann. He was noted as the second son of Christopher August Holtzermann who was married to Elise Schetter. George Christopher was also listed as a grandson of J.D. Holtzermann.

Anyway, I need to untangle this. In the meantime, here are some nice pictures and information on the earlier 2-roof Holtzermann’s Patent Stomach Bitters (Note: GreatAntiquebottles.com example pictured at top of post).

Enlarged detail page advertisement of J.D. Holtzermann & Sons, Sole Manufacturer of Holtzermann’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters, Importers & Wholesale Dealers in Liquor – Piqua, Ohio – 1875 (see full page advertisement below)

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

H 155  HOLTZERMANN’S PATENT STOMACH BITTERS, Circa 1865 – 1875

// s // HOLTZERMANN’S ( sp ) / PATENT / STOMACH / BITTERS // sp // cabin // cabin // cabin // sp //
9 1/4 x 3 1/4 x 2 3/4 (5 1/8)
Rectangular cabin, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Scarce
Stylized logs like hoops on barrels

Holtzermann Listings

Jacob Daniel Holtzermann – born 1808 (Bremen, Germany) married to Johanna L. Dettmer – born 1808 (Bremen, Germany) – died 1887.

They had four children. George (born 1844), Louis (born 1850), Minnie (born 1854) and Helen (born 1856) *There is no mention of a Christopher August Holtzermann

RootsWeb info:

Christopher August Holtzermann
(born August 20, 1840 – died July 6, 1875)

Descendants of Heinrich Eberhard Holtzermann
Descendants of Christian Friedrich Schetter

Christopher August Holtzermann was born on Aug 20, 1840 in Piqua, Ohio. He was the son of Jacob Daniel Holtzermann and Johanna L. Dettmer. 

He appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Piqua, Washington Township, Miami County, Ohio in the household of his parents. He appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Piqua, Miami County, Ohio in the household of his parents.

Christopher married Elise Schetter, daughter of Heinrich Friederich Ludwig Schetter and Tibetha Gertrude Holtzermann, on Nov 26, 1863 in Piqua.

Christopher and Elise appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Piqua, Miami County, Ohio, enumerated July 1, 1870, with their children Johanna, George, Louis and Jacob and Elise’s mother and sister, Tibetha (Debertha) and Caroline. Also in the house were domestics Anna Schafer and Mary Kruise.

May 7, 1867 – Patent of 2-Roof Holtzermann’s Patent Stomach Bitters

Christopher died on July 6, 1875 in Piqua at the age of 34 years, 10 months and 16 days. He was buried on July 7, 1875 in Forest Hill Cemetery, Piqua.

Children of Christopher August Holtzermann and Elise Schetter:

*Notice conflicting dates and children below. Louis and George are constant but to young for the 1870 Federal Census.

Louis J. Holtzermann (Sep 18, 1864 – Nov, 1931)
George Holtzermann (1865 – Dec, 1898)
Johanna M. Holtzermann (Sep, 1867 – Sep, 1935)
Jacob Daniel Holtzermann (Sep 10, 1869 – Nov, 1911)

1870 – George and Louis Holtzermann both listed as liquor clerks in presumably their fathers store in Federal Census.

1875 – Illustration of J. D. Holtzermann & Sons Liquor in Piqua, Ohio

December 2, 1884 – Patent of 4-Roof Holtzermann’s Patent Stomach Bitters

Two different Coat of Arms are represented for the German Holtzermann name

Holtzermann Bitters, which are very extensively sold through Western Ohio, Indiana and Illinois – History of Miami County

Great illustration in the lower right of J.D. Holtzermann & Sons Liquor – 1875 (see detail above)

1870 Federal Census. Jacob D. Holtzermann listed as a Liquor Dealer. He was 61 years old in 1870. His sons George and Louis “Clerk in Liquor Store”, presumably the same store. His wife Johanna is also 61 years old. Both are from Hanover, Germany. Value or Real Estate: $23,100. Value of Personal Estate: $35,000.

Patent document for Jacob D. Holtzermann of Pique, Ohio dated May 7, 1867 [2-roof]

“Holtzermann’s – Patent / Stomach / Bitters”, America, 1865 – 1875. Medium to deep golden amber, rectangular cabin form, applied sloping collared mouth – smooth base, ht. 9 3/8”, R/H H#155. Certainly one of the classics of the early cabin bitters. – American Glass Gallery Auction #9

2-roof HOLTZERMANN’S PATENT STOMACH BITTERS in bright orange amber – American Bottle Auctions

2-roof HOLTZERMANN’S PATENT STOMACH BITERS in a pretty amber – Meyer Collection

Original Booz treadle type mold in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Mold boy has no heavy weight to lift other then the individual articles as they are removed from the mold and placed on the adjoining stand. Mass produced large in size heavy molds such as the Booz Bottle, Kellys Old Cabin Bitters, all of the Calabash flasks and some common whiskey bottles require the use of a treadle mold. The treadle mold is operated by the blower, opening and closing the mold by applying pressure to a lever with his foot. By using this method the mold boys job is much easier as the boys work is limited to removing the bottles from the mold as it is opened by the blower, in which the mold boy becomes a take-out helper rather then a mold boy. – Steve Sewell (Antique-Bottles.net)