David C. Brady

BRADY’S FAMILY BITTERS

Louisville, Kentucky

“EVERY BODY TAKES IT!”

06 April 2013 (R•120713-Louisville ads) (R•101918) (R•050319)

It was interesting to find out that Brady’s Family Bitters was being sold in Houston in 1869. Quite a few issues of The Houston Telegraph, which was issued daily, had a really nice advertisement for the product (see below). I suspect is was being shipped right down the Mississippi to New Orleans, where it was then transported to Houston and Allen’s Landing for off-loading. Their Trade Mark slogan was “Every Body Takes It!”

Advertising Trade Card – Ben Swanson

Read: Agents and Distributors of Brady’s Family Bitters

The earliest listing I could find for the Brady’s Family Bitters was in the Louisville Democrat newspaper in 1862. By 1863, David C. Brady was selling Brady’s Celebrated Family Bitters under the moniker, D.C. Brady & Co. and was located at a wholesale warehouse on 226 Main Street in Louisville, Kentucky. Later David C. Brady and Brady’s Family Bitters was advertised in many Louisville directories and regional newspapers up until 1878 or so. He disappears after that though there are listings for a D.C. Brady in the railroad passenger business in the the mid 1880s in Louisville.

I did however find a newspaper notice stating that D.C. Brady & Co. once had property in Louisiana that was sold at public auction to satisfy a state suit. This could have pushed Brady to Louisville if it is the same person. I also see evidence that Brady was from Ireland.

Brady also put out Brady’s Nerve Bitters (pictured below), Brady’s Sarsaparilla & Blood Purifier, Brady’s Ague Tonic, Brady’s Liniment for Man and Beast and Brady’s Dutch Schnapps (image further below)

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

B 193  BRADY’S FAMILY BITTERS, Circa 1865

BRADY’S // FAMILY / BITTERS // f //
10 x 2 3/4 (7 1/4) 1/4
Square, Amber and Yellow-olive, LTC, Applied mouth, 3 sp, Rare
Manufactured by D.C. Brady & Co. No. 226 Main Street, between 2nd and 3rd. (Louisville, Kentucky)
Louisville Kentucky City Directory 1865 Advertisement: “Everybody takes it! Brady’s Family Bitters.”

1863 Louisville, Kentucky newspaper advertisement for Brady’s Celebrated Family Bitters

1863 Louisville, Kentucky newspaper advertisement for Brady’s Nerve Bitters

1863 Louisville, Kentucky newspaper advertisement for D. C. Brady & Co.

Brady’s Family Bitters advertisement – The Houston Telegraph, Thursday, July 8, 1869

Listing for David C. Brady – Brady’s Family Bitters – City Directories for Louisville, Kentucky, 1865

BRADY’S FAMILY BITTERS in a very dark red amber with puce tone – Meyer Collection

BRADY’S FAMILY BITTERS in a very lemony yellow olive (possibly unique color) – Meyer Collection

“BRADY’S – DUTCH / SCHNAPPS – LOUISVILLE. KY”, a Midwest glasshouse, 1865 – 1875. Golden honey coloration, square with beveled corners, applied sloping collar – smooth base, ht. 9 ½”, perfect; (some washable interior content residue). Put out by D.C. Brady, the same company that produced the rare Brady’s Family Bitters. An extremely rare bottle! Found in the basement of an old Indiana drugstore built about 1850. – American Glass Gallery

“BRADY’S / NERVE BITTERS”, (B-196), American, ca. 1865 – 1875, bluish aqua, 9 1/4”h, smooth base, applied double collar mouth, Perfect condition. Extremely rare, especially in this attic found condition. – Glass Works Auctions | Auction #98

Select Listings:

1859: Newspaper notice (below) stating that D.C. Brady & Co. property in Louisiana is being sold at public auction to satisfy state suit. – Sugar Planter, Saturday, July 9, 1859

1863: Louisville, Kentucky newspaper advertisement (above) for Brady’s Celebrated Family Bitters, D.C. Brady & Co., Proprietors, Wholesale Warehouse No. 226 Main Street, Louisville, Kentucky

1863: Louisville, Kentucky newspaper advertisement (above) for Brady’s Nerve Bitters, D.C. Brady & Co., Proprietors, Wholesale Warehouse No. 226 Main Street, Louisville, Kentucky

1863: Louisville, Kentucky newspaper advertisement (above) for D.C. Brady & Co., Wholesale Produce, Storage and Commission Merchants, Wine & Liquor Dealers and Manufacturers of Brady’s Family Bitters, 226 Main Street, Louisville, Kentucky

1865: Listing for David C. Brady – Brady’s Family Bitters, 69 W. Main, Louisville, Kentucky – City Directories for Louisville, Kentucky, 1865

1866: Listing for D.C. Brady & Co. (David C. Brady & –), manufacturers of Brady’s Family Bitters and wholesalers in wines, liquors & cigars, 69 W. Main, Louisville, Kentucky – Louisville, Kentucky City Directory

1867: Listing for D.C. Brady & Co. (David C. Brady & –), manufacturers and wholesale dealers, 46 4th Street, Louisville, Kentucky – Louisville, Kentucky City Directory

1869: Newspaper advertisement (above) “Everybody Takes it” Brady’s Family Bitters, Manufactured by D.C. Brady & Co., No. 37 Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky – The Houston Telegraph, Thursday, July 8, 1869

1870-71: Listing for D.C. Brady & Co. (David C. Brady & –), manufacturers of Brady’s Family Bitters and Cocktail Bitters, 37 Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky – Louisville, Kentucky City Directory

1878: Newspaper notice (below) Brady’s Family Bitters – Quad City Times (Davenport, Iowa), Wednesday, January 23, 1878