Reference to an unlisted De Havens Wild Cherry Bitters – Chicago
For the Convenience of Hotels and Saloon Keepers
28 February 2015 (R•040819 -R&H Listing)
Many of the old-time druggists make up bitters by putting wild cherries, together with the inner bark of the wild-cherry tree, into whiskey. This is a fine spring tonic, and some prefer it to sassafras tea. It is good for almost any ailment, in a pinch, and even families who are notoriously dry keep a quart of bitters in case of sudden sickness. A mixture of whiskey and rock candy is popular too but is not so highly recommended as the famous wild-cherry bitters.
The source for the paragraph above is unknown as I had it tucked away with these clippings of an unlisted De Havens Wild Cherry Bitters from Chicago. All three advertisements are from 1870 and most likely are related to a J. C. (or Z) De Haven who was born in 1816 or so in Pennsylvania and was a liquor merchant with his depot at 182 Washington Street. He called his Wild Cherry Bitters the “Best Tonic in the World” and said it was put up in cases of a dozen for the convenience of hotels and saloon keepers. I wonder what the alcohol content was?
Follow-up: J. Z. De Haven—lived for many years in Philadelphia —removed to Charlestown in 1866—and now lives in Chicago. One son, Rhodes De Haven, m. and also lives in Chicago.
De Haven’s Wild Cherry Bitters advertisement, Manufactured and for sale by J Z De Haven, 182 Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois – Sioux City Daily Times, June 29, 1870
De Haven’s Wild Cherry Bitters advertisement, Depot 182 Washington Street, Chicago – Cedar Falls Gazette, Friday, August 5, 1870
De Haven’s Wild Cherry Bitters advertisement, Depot 182 Washington Street, Chicago – Janesville Daily Gazette, Saturday, October 22, 1870
The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles Supplement 2 is as follows:
Advertisement
D 39.5 De HAVEN’S WILD CHERRY BITTERS, Depot 182 Washington St. Chicago, Ill., For Sale by Druggists
Cedar Falls Gazette, Friday, August 5, 1870
It’s tempting to try to tie the DeHaven’s Wild Cherry Bitters to the DeHaven’s Dyspepsia Destroyer or “D. D. D.”. That is not the case.
DeHaven’s Dyspepsia Destroyer or D D D – eBay (jerseynotsobad)
D.D.D. DeHaven Dyspepsia Destroyer trade card
Select Listings:
1869: J. C. DeHaven, Druggist, 390 Broadway – Council Bluffs Iowa City Directory
1870: J. C. DeHaven, Liquor Merchant, 54 years old, born in Pennsylvania about 1816, living Chicago Ward 12, Cook, Illinois – 1870 United States Federal Census
1870: Advertisment (above) De Haven’s Wild Cherry Bitters , Manufactured and for sale by J Z De Haven, 182 Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois – Sioux City Daily Times, June 29, 1870
Read about some more Wild Cherry Bitters:
Dandelion & Wild Cherry Bitters – Iowa
Dr. Mackenzie’s or Dr. McKinzie Wild Cherry Bitters
Dr. Rufus F. Hibbard’s Celebrated Wild Cherry Bitters
Dr. Wood’s Sarsaparilla & Wild Cherry Bitters
Hungarian Blackberry Juice and Wild Cherry Bitters – Tucumcari or Six-Shooter Siding
Dr. Harter’s Wild Cherry Bitters Cast Iron Advertising Lemon/Lime Juicer
Dr. Harter’s Wild Cherry Bitters and the Bottle Gods
H.P. Herb Wild Cherry Bitters – Another Roped Corner Fancy Gent
