Dr. Stoever’s Bitters – Lancaster & Philadelphia

THE OLD STANDARD !

12 October 2015 (R•101615) (R•111015) (R•031119) (R•090219) (R•031220)

I was able to add an extremely rare “Lancaster, PA.”, Dr. Stoever’s Bitters to my collection this past weekend from the Nolt Collection of Whiskey Memorabilia auctioned off by Conestoga Auction Company in Manheim, Pennsylvania. I had the “Philadelphia” variant of the bottle where the city line embossing shows a plate line where the name has been changed from LANCASTER, PA., so adding the Lancaster variant was cool.

Read: Jeremiah Rohrer – Nolt Collection of Whiskey Memorabilia

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

S 198 DR. STOEVER’S / BITTERS // ESTABLISHED 1837 //
KRYDER & CO. / LANCASTER, PA // f //
L…The Old Standard 1837 Dr. Stoever’s Celebrated Tonic
9 1/2 x 2 1/2 (6 7/8) 1/2
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied Mouth, Extremely rare

S 198.5: Dr. Stoever’s Bitters, Kryder & Co., Lancaster, PA. Established in 1837. Embossed Lettering on Light Amber Bottle, 9 .”( Note: Extra piece of glass molded into neck.) Nolt Collection – Conestoga Auction Company

S 198.5: Dr. Stoever’s Bitters, Kryder & Co., Lancaster, PA. Established in 1837. Embossed Lettering on Amber Bottle, 9 1/2 .” Nolt Collection – Conestoga Auction Company – Meyer Collection

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

S 199 DR. STOEVER’S / BITTERS // ESTABLISHED 1837 //
KRYDER & CO. / PHILADELPHIA // f //
L…The Old Standard 1837 Dr. Stoever’s Celebrated Tonic Bitters
9 1/2 x 2 1/2 (6 7/8) 1/2
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied Mouth, Rare
Note: The city line embossing shows a plate line where the name has been changed from LANCASTER PA.
Public Ledger (Philadelphia) September 26, 1883
Stoever’s German Tonic Herb & Cocktail Bitters

S 199: Dr. Stover’s Bitters, Kryder & Co., Philadelphia. Established in 1837. – Meyer Collection

An unlisted, partially labeled, Kryder’s Celebrated German Bitters. Manufactured by C. H. Kryder, King Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Nolt Collection – Conestoga Auction Company

Full page advertisement for Dr. Stoever’s Tonic Herb Bitters, The Old Standard, Established 1837, Manufactured by Kryder & Co., No. 121 North Third Street, Philadelphia – 1869 Directory of Lancaster County

Dr. John Frederick Stoever, Charlers H. Kryder, William M. Huey and Amos H. Christ

Dr. Stoever’s Celebrated Tonic Herb Bitters originated from Dr. John Frederick Stoever in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1837. Stoever was born on August 1, 1776 in Manheim, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. As noted above, both variants of the bottles are embossed, “Established 1837” and this date appears in advertising.

At some point, probably around 1858 or so, Charles H. Kryder takes over the brand in Philadelphia. We have seen a letterhead dated October 18, 1869 from Kryder & Co., 121 North Third Street in Philadelphia. A. H. Christ, John L. Bowman and William M. Huey are partners for “The Old Standard Remedy.”

Kryder was born in Pennsylvania around 1815. By 1860, he had relocated to Lancaster, Pennsylvania from Philadelphia and marketing of the Dr. Stoever’s Bitters brand began in earnest. His son, Theodore O. Kryder was listed as a general agent for the bitters. He may have used labeled bottles only, up until and at this time. The dates are fuzzy here but it mostly fits together. Kryder & Company first appears in advertising in 1868. This would put the Philadelphia embossed bottle before the Lancaster bottle. They both were probably made in the same 3-year period, around 1868. Kryder also put out Kryder’s Celebrated German Bitters (see example above) from a King Street address in Lancaster.

Charles Kryder must have known other local bitters merchants like Jeremiah Rohrer (Rohrer’s Wild Cherry Tonic), Benjamin Mishler (Mishler’s Herb Bitters), John Hart (Canteen Bitters), Reinfried & Lesher (Dr. Maton’s Celebrated Herb Bitters) and Dr. Samuel B. Hartman (later purchased Mishler Herb Bitters). Many had addresses on King and Queen Street in Lancaster. Evan Mishler was even representing the Dr. Stoever’s Bitters brand, and Mishler’s Herb Bitters in Reading, Pennsylvania for his Uncle Benjamin in Lancaster, Penn. You can see his name on some of the advertising further below.

In 1870, Charles Kryder moves his Kryder & Company to 121 N. Third Street and then in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Advertising states, “Manufacturers of Dr. Stoever’s Celebrated Tonic Herb Bitters.” This must now be the Philadelphia variant. The Lancaster embossing being earlier. It is also extremely rare and the Philadelphia variant is just rated rare in Ring & Ham.

Advertisement: Kryder & Co., Manufacturers of Dr. Stoever’s Celebrated Tonic Herb Bitters, 121 N. Third Street, Philadelphia – 1870 & 1871 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory

By 1875, Huey and Christ (William M. Huey and Amos H. Christ) have taken over the Dr. Stoever’s Bitters brand. They are located on 121 North Third Street and then 1207 Market Street. They are also the manufacturers of Bailey’s Pure Rye Whiskey, Dr. Stoever’s Tonic Herb Bitters and Dr. Stoever’s German and Cock-Tail Bitters. The are also importer of wines, brandies and gins. You can see their building and letterhead below.

Huey & Christ Building

1886 letterhead from Huey & Christ noting Dr. Stoever’s Tonic Herb Bitters and Dr. Stoever’s German and Cock-Tail Bitters – Joe Gourd Collection

Based on the letterhead above we have added two new listings in Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

Letterhead
S 199.1 DR. STOEVER’S TONIC HERB BITTERS, Huey & Christ, Wm. M. Huey, Amos H. Christ, Importers. Sole Proprietors of Bailey’s Pure Rye Whiskey and Dr. Stoever’s Tonic-Herb, German and Cocktail Bitters, 1207 Market St., Philadelphia, July 26, 1886. See S 198.5 and S 199 in Bitters Bottles Supplement. See s2S 199.2

Letterhead
S 199.2 DR. STOEVER’S GERMAN AND COCK-TAIL BITTERS, Huey & Christ, Wm. M. Huey, Amos H. Christ, Importers. Sole Proprietors of Bailey’s Pure Rye Whiskey and Dr. Stoever’s Tonic-Herb, German and Cocktail Bitters, 1207 Market St., Philadelphia, July 26, 1886. See S 198.5 and S 199 in Bitters Bottles Supplement. See s2S 199.1

Overall, some pretty nice bitters squares that now have a story, or at least most of a story.

Select Listings

1776: John Frederick Stoever, Birth 1 Aug 1776 in Manheim, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

1815: Charles H. Kryder born in Pennsylvania.

1836: Dr. Frederick Stoever, Mrs. B. Stoever, David P. Stoever, Twenty First Street South, Philadelphia – Boyd’s Blue Book: A Directory from Selected Streets of Philadelphia

1837: Dr. Stoever’s Bitters embossed “Established 1837.”

1858: Charles H. Kryder, liquors, 408 Merchant (Theo O. Kryder, salesman, 259 Market) – McElroys Philadelphia City Directory

1860: Charles H. Kryder, Innkeeper, age 47, born about 1813, born Pennsylvania, home in 1860: Manheim, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, wife: Olevia (46), Children: Addie (23), Clara (13), Mary (11) – United States Federal Census

1861: Theodore O. Kryder appointed as US Postmaster in Neffsville, Lancaster, Pennsylvania on 28 January 1861.

1863:  Dr. Stoever’s Stomach Bitters advertisement, for sale by Cheap John. (see below).

Dr. Stoever’s Stomach Bitters advertisement, for sale by Cheap John. – Reading Times, Thursday, January 1, 1863

1863-1864: Charles Kryder, bitters, h Walnut and S. Queen (Theodore O. Kryder, h 30 W. Walnut) – Gopsill´s Directory of Lancaster, Harrisburg, Lebanon and York

1865-1866: Charles H. Kryder, patent medicines, N Queen c Walnut, Lancaster, Pennsylvania – Gopsill´s Pennsylvania State Business Directory

1866: Charles H. Kryder, Herb Bitters, Theodore O. Kryder, Commercial Broker, both N. Queen – US IRS Tax Assessment

1867: Stoever’s Bitters advertisement, Represented by E. Mishler in Reading, PA. (see below).

Stoever’s Bitters advertisement, Represented by E. Mishler in Reading, PA. – Reading Times, Monday, December 9, 1867

1868: KRYDER & CO., (T.O. Kryder) Liquors and Dr. Stoever’s Bitters, 12 E. King (Martin M. Kryder, clerk) (C.H. Kryder, bookkeeper) – Lancaster Pennsylvania City Directory

1868: An Agreeable Surprise. C. H Kryder presented tithe gold hunting case watch – Reading Times, January 23, 1868 (see below)

An Agreeable Surprise – Reading Times, January 23, 1868

1868: Dr. Stoever’s Stomach Bitters advertisement, The Old Standard! Manufactured by Kryder & Co., Lancaster, PA. Represented by E. Mishler in Reading, PA. (see below).

Dr. Stoever’s Stomach Bitters advertisement – Reading Times, Thursday, November 19, 1868

1869: Full page advertisement (Above in post) Dr. Stoever’s Tonic Herb Bitters, The Old Standard, Established 1837, Manufactured by Kryder & Co., No. 121 North Third Street, Philadelphia – 1869 Directory of Lancaster County

1870: Charles H. Kryder, age 58, wholesale liquor dealer, born about 1812, birthplace Pennsylvania, home in 1870: Philadelphia Ward 20, District 66, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wife: Sarah (34), Children: Mary (21) – United States Federal Census

1870-1871: Charles Kryder, 1544 Park Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (see advertisement below) Kryder & Co., Manufacturers of Dr. Stoever’s Celebrated Tonic Herb Bitters, 121 N. Third Street, Philadelphia – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory

1875: Huey and Christ (William M. Huey and Amos H. Christ), 121 North Third St., Manufacturers of Bailey’s Pure Rye Whiskey and Dr. Stoever’s Tonic Herb Bitters., Importer of wines, brandies and gins. – Philadelphia City Directory also Bonfort’s Wine and Liquor Trade Directory for the United States

1877: Advertisement: Huey & Christ selling Dr. Stoever’s Tonic Herb Bitters – Reading Times, Thursday January 11, 1877

Advertisement: Huey & Christ selling Dr. Stoever’s Tonic Herb Bitters – Reading Times, Thursday January 11, 1877

1880: Charles Kreider, age 65, liquor dealer, born about 1815, birthplace Pennsylvania, home in 1880: Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Wife Sarah (43), Children: Sarah O. (4) – United States Federal Census

1884-1888: Charles H. Kryder, German Bitters, wines and liquors, 11 e King – Farris Lancaster City Directory

1891: Charles H. Kryder dies on 24 July 1891

1897: Dr. Stoever’s Bitters advertisement, Huey & Christ (see below).

Dr. Stoever’s Bitters advertisement, Huey & Christ – Lebanon Daily News, Saturday, July 3, 1897