Dr. Mampe’s Herb Stomach Bitters from Oshkosh
02 June 2014 (R•042919)
After the pretty lady’s legs we’ve been looking at, I wanted to take a moment and look at a squat little fellow from Oshkosh, Wisconsin that is more like a bull dog in stature. The Dr. Mampe’s Herb Stomach Bitters, put out by John Thielen, definitely has that German look that you see with the Carl and Ferdinand Mampe bitters and liquor bottles with the prominant embossed elephant.
Read: Wicker Visit – Austin Healey’s and Elephants.
Not a big stretch to think that they are related.
Read: Dr. Mampe’s Herb Stomach Bitters of Wisconsin, You Make the Call.
Another reason we are looking at Wisconsin, is the extremely rare bitters bottle that sold last night on ebay. That story will wait for another day.
Top color picture: Collection of Frank Wicker
Carl and Ferdinand Mampe bitters and liquor bottles with the prominant embossed elephant – Wicker Collection
My example of the Dr. Mampe’s Herb Stomach Bitters has been sitting alone for almost a decade on a shelf in my aqua room since it joined my collection, as I won it in the FOHBC live auction at the 2004 Memphis Expo. Let’s put a little light on this portly guy. The Carlyn Ring and W. C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:
M 26 DR. MAMPE’S / HERB STOMACH BITTERS // f // JOHN THIELEN / SOLE AGENT / OSHKOSH, WIS. // f //
6 3/4 x 3 1/4 x 3 (5 1/2) Rectangular, NSC, Aqua – Common, Clear and Blue aqua – Scarce, Citron green – Extremely rare
Embossing on (slightly) narrower sides.
Advertisement: John Thielen, Sole Agent for the sale of Dr. Mampe’s Herb Stomach Bitters – Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, November 11, 1891
John P. Thielen was born in Germany in 1849 and was the son of Peter Thielen (1810-1887). Peter and his son John, immigrated the United States around 1864 from Neuenberg, Germany. John Thielen’s bothers and sisters included, Anna (1835 – 1900; m. Nicholas Faugsten) of Oshkosh, Frank X. (1840 – 1914; m. Magdelna) of Oshkosh, Catherine (1844 – 1921; m. August Timm) of Chicago, Illinois and then moved to Stevens Point, Wisconsin after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and Paul Thielen (1845 -1894; m. Mary).
Our subject, John P. Thielen, married Johanna “Anna” Sonnenberg of Oshkosh, and they were married for 65 years until 1921 when the family relocated to Los Angeles, California. John P. Thielen died in 1934 at 84 years old in Los Angeles of heart trouble.
During his years in Oshkosh, John Thielen may have run the largest and best stocked wine and liquor house in town. John first got his start with Weidener and Thielen and eventual went out using his own name selling imported and domestic wines, liquors, gins, brandies, cordials, ales, porters and whiskies. His specialities included “Silver Spring” pure rye whisky, Badger Club and of course, his Dr. Mampe’s Herb Stomach Bitters. Business was strong in northern Wisconsin and Michigan. He was also president of the Silver Spring Distillery Company. This company was organized in 1892. The Dr. Mampe’s bitters was certainly a late 19th century brand that looks good in any bitters collection despite its ungainly proportions.
Select Timeline Events
1849: John Thielen born in Neuenberg, Germany.
1864: John Thielen arrives in United States.
1870: Marriage to Johanna “Anna” Sonnenberg of Oshkosh. John Thielen listed as laborer in 1870 US Federal Census.
1873: P. Thielen & Son (Paul & John Thielen), grocer – Wisconsin Business Directory
1880: Main Street, Oshkosh, Winnebago, Wisconsin – John Thielen living with wife and four children. He works at a saloon. 1870 US Federal Census.
1884: Weidner & Thielen, (August Weidner and John Thielen) liquors, 26 and 28 Washington streets. also 186 Main street, Firm dissolves in 1886.
1885: Musician: Member of the OLD ARION BAND – Clarinet player. In his daughter’s obituary stated her father as a master musician; he was also a member of the Butterick Orchestra; his brother Frank was a singer.
1891: John Thielen, liquors, 146 Main, moves to Washington Street (see advertisement below) Dr. Mampe’s Herb Stomach Bitters mentioned – Oshkosh City Directory
John Thielen, wines and liquors moves to Washington Street – Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, 11 November 1891
1893: John Thielen, wholesale liquors, 26-28 Washington. Brother Frank X. Thielen has saloon and grocery at 150 Main – Oshkosh City Directory
1897: John Thielen advertising cover mentions Dr. Mampe’s Herb Stomach Bitters (see below).
1897 John Thielen advertising cover mentions Dr. Mampe’s Herb Stomach Bitters – Joe Gourd Collection
1903: John Thielen, wines and liquors, distiller, 26 Washington (two brothers running sample rooms on Main street) – Oshkosh City Directory
1912: John Thielen, wholesale wines and liquors, 26-28 Washington – Oshkosh City Directory
1920: John Theilen, residence Los Angeles. 1920 US Federal Census
Former Local Man Dies in the West – John Thielen 1934 obituary
1934: John P. Thielen died in 1934 at 84 years old in Los Angeles of heart trouble (see above obituary).
Dr. Mampe’s Herb Stomach Bitters – Meyer Collection
Dr. Mampe’s Herb Stomach Bitters – Meyer Collection
Two Dr. Mampe’s Herb Stomach Bitters. One in blue aqua and the other in an odd apple green – Wicker Collection
John Thielen profile – Pen and Sunlight Sketches of The Principle Cities in Wisconsin – 1893
A large group of boarders are gathered in front of the Phoenix House, 234 Main Street, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Joseph Schneider, the owner, is standing to the left of the door; his sons, William and Joseph, Jr. are standing beside him. Daughter Irene Schneider is sitting in an upstairs window. Other men identified on the back of the photo are: Frank Schmidt; Jo Jo; Leo Meitinger; J. Hesig; John Thielen; Angus Monroe; John Marx; Joseph Marx; Mark Marx; Lary; and J.D. Rose. A few of these men are listed in either the 1889 or 1891 Oshkosh City Directory as residents.
