Webb’s Improved Stomach Bitters Jackson, Michigan

29 March 2014 (R•033014) (R•053015)

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

“WEBB’S IMPROVED / STOMACH BITTERS. – C.E. WEBB & BRO. / JACKSON. MICH_” (with original labels), America, 1870 – 1880. Bright, light golden honey with plenty of yellowish tones in natural daylight, square with beveled corners, applied sloping collar – smooth base, ht. 9′, near mint; (a hard to see, ¼” iridescent bruise on top edge of lip, otherwise sparkling mint!) R/H #W60. A very scarce bitters, extremely rare with labels, and in a lighter color than normally encountered. Wonderful, original graphic label shows the “WEBB’S FAMILY MEDICINES” building which was located at 201 Main Street, in downtown Jackson, Mich. The rear label is approximately 60% complete and states that it is “The Best Medicinal Bitters in Use.” – American Glass Gallery – Auction 14

“WEBB’S IMPROVED / STOMACH BITTERS. – C.E. WEBB & BRO. / JACKSON. MICH_” (with original labels), America, 1870 – 1880. Bright, light golden honey with plenty of yellowish tones in natural daylight, square with beveled corners, applied sloping collar – smooth base, ht. 9′, near mint; (a hard to see, ¼” iridescent bruise on top edge of lip, otherwise sparkling mint!) R/H #W60. A very scarce bitters, extremely rare with labels, and in a lighter color than normally encountered. Wonderful, original graphic label shows the “WEBB’S FAMILY MEDICINES” building which was located at 201 Main Street, in downtown Jackson, Mich. The rear label is approximately 60% complete and states that it is “The Best Medicinal Bitters in Use.” – American Glass Gallery – Auction 14

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.

Select Listings

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.