Ihmsen’s Old Tonic Bitters – Who is Henry Ihmsen?
15 December 2013 (R•111214)
Sometimes, I suppose, I tend to drive myself crazy. I start off down one road looking for an obscure bitters, then I take a left turn down an alley because another odd bitters name catches my attention. I regain focus only to get turned around and go down yet another path chasing yet another bitters. I do all this while trying to stay focused on my main objective. With this post, I only dump information so I can go to sleep and try again tomorrow. Of course, one of you out there, might be able to help me out.
These roads and alleys are not flat nor do they occur in one time period. These searches or adventures are multi-dimensional in that the paths, alleys and roads not only go horizontal and 2-dimensional like a map, they go vertical, meaning plus or minus time periods in 3-dimensions. In this case, I have somehow gotten myself tangled up in the Ihmsen name and their confusing relationships. Consider in Pittsburgh, one Ihmsen advertisement had to add the following post script “P.S. As there are two others of the same name in the Glass Business, purchases will see that the boxes are branded C. Ihmsen Birmingham”
Listing, Ihmsen’s Old Tonic Bitters – 1870 St. Louis Directory
This latest search started with an 1870 St. Louis Directory listing (see above) for bitters merchants that pulled up a John Root’s Bitters advertisement and a Charles P. Wiggins & Brothers listing. Wiggins happened to be my immediate target but then I saw this odd, Ihmsen’s Old Tonic Bitters listing I knew I might have an unlisted bitters. The proprietor was Henry Ihmsen though he is also listed with a Charles H. Ihmsen in St. Louis. The two of them also got tangled up with the Hostetter brand as Hostetter was publishing “Caution to the Public” – “Fraudulent Imitations” advertisements in New Orleans in 1860 (see advertisement further below).
I was aware of the Ihmsen family name in the Pittsburgh region in regards to early glass houses but not associated with a bitters brand. Could they be related? Henry Ihmsen’s name does show up on a Pittsburgh Ihmsen advertisement (see further below).
Read: Argyle Bitters – Adapted for a warm climate!
Charles Ihmsen was born about 1769 in Steinbach, Westphalia, Germany. His wife, Phillipine Katrine Ney, also German, was born February 11, 1770. The couple had six sons, Jacob Charles, Thomas Oswald, Christian, Adam, Henry, and Martin; two daughters, Catherine and Mary; and a William, Phillipina’s son by an earlier marriage. Charles apparently adopted William and introduced him to the glass business when he grew up. The senior Ihmsen died on September 8, 1828.
Read: The Dating Game – The Ihmsen Glass Company by Bill Lockhart, David Whitten, Bill Lindsey, Jay Hawkins and Carol Serr
The exact relationship to Henry Ihmsen to William and Christian Ihmsen is not known.
The new listing by Bill Ham for the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:
Advertisement
IHMSEN’S OLD TONIC BITTERS, H. Ihmsen propr. 1408 N. 6th., 1870 St. Louis Directory,
1864-66: Henry Ihmsen, St. Louis, MO. 1864-1866, 251 N 2th (1864), 6th, bet. Cass Ave and O’Fallon (1866), Pre-Pro.com
1866-67: Wines & Liquors, Wholesale and Retail, Henry Ihmsen, 251 N 2 th (1864), 6th, bet. Cass Ave and O’Fallon – Directory & shippers’ guide of Kansas and Nebraska, 1866-7
1868: Henry Ihmsen, merchant, r. 829 Mound, St. Louis City Directory
1870: Ihmsen’s Old Tonic Bitters, H. Ihmsen, proprietor., 1408 N. 6th. – 1870 St. Louis Directory
1870: Death, Henry Ihmsen, Saint Louis, Age 61
Select Milestones:
1809: Birth Henry Phillips Ihmsen, about 1809
1836: Henry Ihmsen took over the Williamsport Glass Works in Monongahela (Pa) after the death of William Ihmsen. He continued to operate the glassworks for several years along with an attached store. – Glasshouses and Glass Manufacturers of the Pittsburgh Region: 1795 – 1910 by Jay W. Hawkins
1842: Henry Ihmsen of Monongahela City, Washington Co., Pa., petitioned the U. S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania for the discharge of the bankruptcy filed earlier to be executed on 15 August, 1842. – Bankruptcies in the Western District Court of Pennsylvania, Petitions of Discharge
1844: Advertisements in Pittsburgh segment (see below) for for C. and Henry Ihmsen for Window Glass, etc. – Kimball & James Business Directory for the Mississippi Valley, 1844
P.S. As there are two others of the same name in the Glass Business, purchases will see that the boxes are branded C. Ihmsen Birmingham
Pittsburgh segment: Advertisements for C and Henry Ihmsen for Window Glass, etc. – Kimball & James Business Directory for the Mississippi Valley, 1844
Cincinnati segment: Advertisement for C. Ihmsen for China, Earthen, Glass etc. – Kimball & James Business Directory for the Mississippi Valley, 1844
1859: Charles H. Ihmsen, distiller , 8 O’Fallon; bds. European Hotel, St. Louis City Directory
1860: Charles H. Ihmsen, mfr. Bitters and fancy liquors, 39 O’Fallon, r. 9th N.E. c. Hempstead, Henry Ihmsen, speculator, r. 9th N.E. c. Hempstead, Kennedy’s St. Louis Directory
1860: Hostetter says they have already commenced suit (see below) against Henry and Charles H. Ihmsen, and many others – The Times Picayune – New Orleans, Louisiana, 4 August 1860
Hostetter says they have already commenced suit against Henry and Charles H. Ihmsen, and many others – The Times Picayune – New Orleans, Louisiana, 4 August 1860
1864-66: Henry Ihmsen, St. Louis, MO. 1864-1866, 251 N 2 th (1864), 6 th, bet. Cass Ave and O’Fallon (1866), Pre-Pro.com
1866-67: Wines & Liquors, Wholesale and Retail, Henry Ihmsen, 251 N 2 th (1864), 6 th, bet. Cass Ave and O’Fallon – Directory & shippers’ guide of Kansas and Nebraska, 1866-7
C. Ihmsen & Sons, Pittsburgh, Pa. – Daily Morning Herald, 1867 (St. Joseph, Missouri),
1868: Henry Ihmsen, mer, r. 829 Mound, St. Louis City Directory
1870: Ihmsen’s Old Tonic Bitters, H. Ihmsen, proprietor., 1408 N. 6th. – 1870 St. Louis Directory
1870: Death, Henry Ihmsen, Saint Louis, Age 61
