Nicholas Longworth – Catawba Wine Bitters

Posted on 2 March 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Nicholas Longworth – Catawba Wine Bitters

Cincinnati, Ohio

02 March 2019

Nicholas Longworth was an influential figure in the early history of American wine, producing sparkling Catawba wine from grapes grown in his Ohio River Valley vineyard on hills north of Cincinnati. He was also responsible for Catawba Wine Bitters, and the bottles embossed with the cluster of grapes. Highly desirable to collectors.

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows. The listing may want to be updated.

C 85  Catawba Wine Bitters
CATAWBA / WINE // motif bunch of grapes // BITTERS // motif bunch of grapes //
P.H. Drake & Co. New York Depot 53, 55 & 57 Park Place New York
9 3/8 x 2 3/8 (6 3/4) 1/4
Square, LTC & LTCR, Applied mouth, Green with and without Metallic pontil mark – Rare;
Amber and Puce and without Metallic pontil mark – Extremely rare

Nicholas Longworth

Nicholas Longworth was the founder of the prominent Longworth family in Ohio and considered the first millionaire in Cincinnati. He was also known as the “Father of the American Grape Culture.” Among his many other attributes, Longworth was an attorney, banker, merchant, horticulturalist, abolitionist, author, and an art collector.

Nicholas Longworth was born on January 16, 1783 in Newark, New Jersey. His mother was Apphia Davis Vanderpoel. His father, Thomas Longworth was a Tory or Loyalist who were American colonists who stayed loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolutionary War. Their very existence was complicated as every British Functionary who refused to betray the trust placed in him was consider a traitor by the Patriots.

By the time Nicholas was born, fines and property confiscations had depleted the family funds. This left young Nicholas with an early life of comparative poverty. Thinking ahead, it was decided to teach Nicholas a trade and give him an opportunity to work with either of his two elder brothers, Joseph and Archibald. One had gone north and the other south. Nicholas chose to move to South Carolina for a brief period where he was a clerk in his elder brothers store. It was said that a careful inventory of young Nicholas’ belongings when he set forth to cross the Alleghenies was, “Six coats, black and blue; one dozen plain and fancy waistcoats; four pairs of silk and eight woolen breeches, six dozen plain and ruffled shirts; and a like number of hose and handerchiefs with cravats.”

“Six coats, black and blue; one dozen plain and fancy waistcoats; four pairs of silk and eight woolen breeches, six dozen plain and ruffled shirts; and a like number of hose and handerchiefs with cravats.”

After a spell, Longworth would leave South Carolina, arriving in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1803. Cincinnati at this point was just a burgeoning town and soon to be a city. 1803 was also the same year Ohio was granted statehood. There, he married Susanna Conner, née Howell, three years his junior who was the daughter of Silas and Hannah (Vaughan) Howell, on Christmas Eve, 1807.

Longworth was a little man, and eccentric in dress, speech, and manner. He was also strong-willed and successful, so that he could afford to do as he wished. Longworth, even with all his interests, was never a political candidate nor held any political office. He was also not a faithful member of any religious organization. Grape-growing would soon dominate his life.

Longworth first studied law under Judge Jacob Burnet, a well-known lawyer of great standing. Burnet was a member of the Territorial councils of Ohio from 1799–1802 and served in the Ohio State House from 1814–1816. He was considered the ‘father of the Ohio constitution’ and was an associate justice of the Ohio Supreme Court from 1821 until his resignation in 1828 to serve as United States Senator.

Even without a formal education, Longworth studied hard and applied himself and was admitted to the bar in Ohio. He practiced as an attorney until 1819 in Cincinnati while buying large tracts of land. He next ventured into real estate, flipping property as his real estate dealings proved more lucrative than law. The property that he bought for a song all those years was now worth millions, and Longworth joined John Jacob Astor as one of the two largest taxpayers in the United States.

Believing Cincinnati to be an ideal location for grape cultivation, Longworth established viticulture as a successful venture on the hills adjoining the city. Along the main highway from east to west during the period of early settlement, Ohio had inevitably seen repeated trials of viticulture, suggested by the combination of southward-facing slopes and broad waters. Longworth would finally make it work.

Planting hundreds of acres and building a large wine-house, Longworth started his vineyards in 1813 and by 1820 became more serious about producing wine that would be a commercial success. At first, he was using foreign vines exclusively and was somewhat unsuccessful until 1828, when he introduced native vines or their seedlings and produced, from the Catawba, and Isabella grape, a wine of a high marketable value. He was also well-known for his experiments with strawberries and published “Buchanan’s Treatise on the Grape, with an Appendix on Strawberry Culture” in 1856.

Besides being a pioneer and leading horticultural expert in his section, Longworth was recognized as an authority in national horticultural matters. His writings, though individually short and now out of date, exercised a wide influence in his day. He might be compared to Isidor Bush who put out Missouri IXL Bitters.

Longworth planted a vineyard of Catawba on the Mount Adams hillside and began making a sparkling wine from the grapes using the traditional method used in Champagne. From the 1830s through the 1850s, Longworth’s sparkling Catawba was being distributed from California to Europe where it received numerous press accolades. He was then producing 100,000 bottles of sparkling Catawba a year and advertising nationally. In the 1850s, a journalist from The Illustrated London News noted that the still white Catawba compared favorably to the hock wines of the Rhine and the sparkling Catawba “transcends the Champagnes of France.” The illustration above represents the Longworth vineyard from the Harper’s Weekly, 24 July 1858.

In the mid-1850s, Longworth sent a case to American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, then living in New York City, who wrote a poem dedicated to Nicholas Longworth titled ‘Ode to Catawba Wine.’

This song of mine
Is a song of the Vine
To be sung by the glowing embers
Of wayside inns,
When the rain begins
To darken the drear Novembers.

It is not a song
Of the Scuppernong,
From warm Carolinian valleys,
Nor the Isabel
And the Muscadel
That bask in our garden alleys.

Nor the red Mustang,
Whose clusters hang
O’er the waves of the Colorado,
And the fiery flood
Of whose purple blood
Has a dash of Spanish bravado.

For the richest and best
Is the wine of the West,
That grows by the Beautiful River,
Whose sweet perfume
Fills all the room
With a benison on the giver.

And as hollow trees
Are the haunts of bees,
Forever going and coming;
So this crystal hive
Is all alive
With a swarming and buzzing
and humming.

Very good in its way
Is the Verzenay,
Or the Sillery soft and creamy;
But Catawba wine
has a taste more divine,
More dulcet, delicious and dreamy.

There grows no vine
By the haunted Rhine,
By Danube or Quadalquivir,
Nor on island or cape,
That bears such a grape
As grows by the Beautiful River.

Drugged is their juice
For foreign use,
When shipped o’er
the reeling Atlantic,
To rack our brains
With the fever pains,
That have driven the
Old World Frantic.

To the sewers and sinks
With all such drinks,
And after them tumble the mixer,
For a poison malign
Is such Borgia wine,
Or at best but a Devil’s elixir.

While pure as a spring
Is the wine I sing,
And to praise it,
one needs but name it;
For Catawba wine
Has need of no sign,
No tavern-bush to proclaim it.

And this Song of the Vine,
This greeting of mine,
The winds and the birds shall deliver
To the Queen of the West,
In her garlands dressed,
On the banks of the Beautiful River.

The growing tide of German immigrants coming down the Ohio Valley to Cincinnati liked his wine. Longworth had found a lucrative market and the new German immigrants wanted an affordable, drinkable table wine to continue with the traditions of their homeland, so he enjoyed a virtual monopoly. By this time, Longworth would become one of the wealthiest people in the United States.

A visit to one of Nicholas Longworth’s wine cellars in 1851 revealed 75,000 bottles of sparkling Catawba, and 40,000 or so gallons of wine in casks varying from 40 to 50 gallons each. The cellar was 120 feet long, 40 feet wide and 40 feet deep. Longworth was preparing to double in size his capacity the following spring.

In 1853, Nicholas Longworth partnered with Caspar Zimmermann (Longworth & Zimmermann) to sell the Longworth wines wholesale. They were located at 177 Sycamore in Cincinnati. Anthony, John and Phillip Zimmermann were also part of the business according to a listing in a Cincinnati directory that year. By 1858, the enterprise was called Zimmerman & Co. and was being run by John, Phillip and Anthony Zimmermann. Their ‘chemical laboratory’ was located on the north side of 6th between Freeman and Canal. You see, Longworth wanted to jump on the profitable bitters bandwagon so he needed a partner and laboratory reference so he could call his product a medicine.

In 1859, the first advertisement for Cordial Catawba Bitters was found in a Buffalo, New York newspaper. The bitters was noted for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Purpose and was being manufactured pure, by Zimmermann & Co., Manufacturing Chemists of Cincinnati, Ohio. They were noted as the successors to Longworth & Zimmermann. By this time, Longworth was fading due to health issues. Longworth’s Catawba Bitters was said to be made from pure Catawba Brandy and warranted to cure the worst cases of Dysentery and Diarrhoea. The ads many times were directed to Civil War soldiers as a remedy for change of climate and fatigue.

There is another Catawba Wine Bitters advertisement for Longworth & Grew, Cincinnati, Ohio noting that George T. Grimes as the Sole Agent in San Francisco. This is puzzling with all the Zimmermann references as there is no reference to a “Grew” in Cincinnati directories who might fit the bill. There is however a J. & B.L. “Crew” noted as grocers on the southwest corner of 3rd and Elm (J. Crew and B. L. Crew) in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1860. This is more likely the reference in the advertisement above.

Another advertisement in 1859 states that J. C. Spalding was selling, from the cargo of the American ship Josiah Bradley, 100 cases of London Jockey Club House Gin and 50 cases Catawba Wine Bitters in Hawaii. So, if you are a digger, and are looking for pontiled examples, might I suggest you head to Buffalo or Honolulu. We see the last advertisements for Catawba Wine Bitters in 1865 in the Black Hawk Daily Mining Journal where cases of the bitters were being sold by J. P. Henry.

I would like to add that I can not say with 100% certainty that the Catawba Wine Bitters bottles that I have associated with Nicholas Longworth are correct but I am pretty darn sure. We will just have to wait until a labeled example is found.

The popularity of Longworth’s wine encouraged a flurry of plantings along the Ohio River Valley and up north to Lake Erie and Finger Lakes region of New York. Longworth would also encourage artists to paint scenes of the Ohio River Valley, and the Ohio River Valley Wine Trail (formerly the Nicholas Longworth Wine Trail), in Southwest Ohio.

In Cincinnati, the Taft Museum of Art on Pike Street now occupies the former residence of Nicholas Longworth. Considered a National Historic Landmark built around 1820 for prominent businessman Martin Baum, it is the oldest domestic wooden structure and is considered one of the finest examples of Federal architecture in the Palladian style in the country. Longworth, during his habitation of the mansion hired African American painter Robert S. Duncanson to paint landscape murals in the foyer, now considered as one of the finest suites of domestic murals dating from before the Civil War. Longworth supported Duncanson, America’s first famous black artist, as a mentor and financed the artist’s trip to Europe where he sold paintings to the Queen of England and other dignitaries. Landscape with Rainbow, 1859 is represented below.

With his success in wine making, Longworth participated in charitable giving throughout Cincinnati, including a noteworthy donation to the land which the Cincinnati Observatory is built on. He was kindly but eccentric and gave much money to what he called the “Devils Poor.”

Longworth was also the great-grandfather of U.S. Congressman Nicholas Longworth IV (a United States House of Representatives from Ohio), and the grandfather of Civil War Union General Nicholas Longworth Anderson.

Nicholas Longworth would die on February 10, 1863 at the age of 80. At his death, his property was valued between $12 and $15 million dollars.

Gallery

The Cincinnati Grape Varieties

The Planters Banner, Thursday, August 11, 1853

Select Listings:

1783: Nicholas Longworth I, Birth Date: 16 Jan 1783, Birth Place: Newark, Essex County, New Jersey – U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
1830: Nicholas Longworth, Home in 1830: Cincinnati Ward 3, Hamilton, Ohio – 1830 United States Federal Census
1840: Nicholas Longworth, Home in 1840: Cincinnati Ward 1, Hamilton, Ohio – 1840 United States Federal Census
1850: Nicholas Longworth, Age: 67, Birth Year: abt 1783, Birthplace: New Jersey, Home in 1850: Cincinnati Ward 1, Hamilton, Ohio, Value of Real Estate: $2,000,000, Household Members: Nicholas Longworth 67, Susan Longworth 64, Eliza Longworth 33, John L Stetenous 18, Thomas D Carneal 64, Sallie Burk 30, Margarete, Hutchison 45, Mary Jones 25, Eliza Jones 22, Elia Durary 25 – 1850 United States Federal Census
1851: Newspaper notice (below) Visit to N. Longworth’s wine cellars – The Sunbury Gazette, Saturday, November 29, 1851

1853: Longworth & Zimmerman (Nicholas Longworth and Caspar Zimmermann) (also Anthony, John & Phillip Zimmermann), wholesale wine dealers, 177 Sycamore, Cincinnati, Ohio – Williams Directory Company, 1853
1858: Zimmerman & Co. (John, Phillip & Anthony Zimmermann), chemical laboratory, n.s. 6th b. Freeman and Canal, Cincinnati, Ohio – Williams Directory Company, 1858
1858: A menu from the Gibson House, Cincinnati, dated 15 November 1856. Sparkling Catawba from the local vineyards is listed on the same terms as some distinguished grandes marques  from Champagne; so, too, among the “Hocks,” one finds “Buchanan’s Catawba” listed along with Marcobrunner and Rudesheimer. – California State University, Fresno, Library

1859: Newspaper advertisement (below) Cordial Catawba Bitters for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Purposes, Manufactured Pure, by Zimmermann & Co., Manufacturing Chemists of Cincinnati, O. And Successors to Longworth & Zimmermann – Buffalo Courier, Monday, July 11, 1859

1859: Newspaper advertisement (below) J.C. Spalding selling from the cargo of the American ship Josiah Bradley 100 cases London Jockey club house gin and 50 cases Catawba wine bitters – The Pacific Commercial Advertiser (Hawaii), Wednesday, September 28, 1859

1860: Nicholas Longworth, Age: 78, Birth Year: abt 1782, Birth Place: New Jersey, Home in 1860: Cincinnati Ward 1, Hamilton, Ohio, Post Office: Cincinnati, Dwelling Number: 470, Family Number: 773, Real Estate Value: $1,500,000, Personal Estate Value: $200,000, Household Members: Nicholas Longworth 78, Susan Longworth 73, John L Stettimers 27, Mary L Stettimers 24, Eloise Stettimers 3, Henry O Stettimers 1, Margret Hidson 45, Bridgt Odonnell 20, Johanna Nolan 19, Christopher Stemfelt 22 – 1860 United States Federal Census
1860: P Zimmermann, Wine Merchant, Age: 33, Birth Year: abt 1827, Gender: Male, Birth Place: Bavaria, Home in 1860: Delhi, Hamilton, Ohio, Post Office: Cincinnati, Dwelling Number: 243, Family Number: 251, Occupation: Wine Merchant, Personal Estate Value: 300, Household Members: P Zimmermann 33, Augusta Zimmermann 35, Ferdinand Zimmermann 5, Antone Zimmermann 3 – 1860 United States Federal Census
1860: Newspaper advertisement (below) Cordial Catawba Bitters for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Purposes, Manufactured Pure, by Zimmermann & Co., Manufacturing. Chemists of Cincinnati, O. And Successors to Longworth & Zimmerman – Buffalo Courier, Friday, February 3, 1860

1860: Newspaper advertisement (below) Catawba Wine Bitters, Longworth & Grew, Cincinnati, Ohio, Geo. T. Grimes, Sole Agent for San Francisco – Sonoma Democrat, March 1860

1860: J. & B.L. Crew, Grocers, s.w.c. 3d and Elm (J. Crew and B.L. Crew), Cincinnati, Ohio – Cincinnati, Ohio, City Directory, 1860
1861-1865: Zimmermann & Co., (John, Philip & Anthony Zimmermann), Manufacturers of Catawba Wines and Brandies, 586 and 588 W. 6th, Cincinnati, Ohio – Cincinnati, Ohio, City Directory, 1861
1863: Nicholas Longworth I, Death Date: 10 Feb 1863, Death Place: Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, Cemetery: Spring Grove Cemetery, Burial or Cremation Place: Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, Spouse: Susannah Longworth, Children: Elizabeth (Longworth) Flagg (1809-1891), Joseph Longworth (1813-1883), Mary (Longworth) Stettinius (1808-1837), Catharine (Longworth) Anderson (1815-1893) – U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
1863: Newspaper advertisement (below) George W. Pomroy selling Catawba Wine Bitters, Zimmerman & Co., late Longworth & Zimmerman – Hartford Courant, Saturday, May 16, 1863

1863: Newspaper advertisement (below) Longworth’s Celebrated Catawba Bitters for sale by Geo. W. Pomroy, Sole Agent, Hartford, Ct. – Hartford Courant, Tuesday, August 4, 1863

1863: Newspaper advertisement (below) Native Wines and Brandy for the Holidays, Zimmermann & Co. native wine and brandy depot, No. 22 Duane Street, late partners to N. Longworth, Cincinnati – The New York Times, Thursday, December 31, 1863

1866: Newspaper advertisement (below) Wines, From the Longworth Vineyards and Wine House, Cincinnati, W.P. & F.P. Anderson, Proprietors – The Montgomery Advertiser, Saturday, December 29, 1866

1867: Zimmermann & Co., (Philip Zimmermann) Manufacturers of Sparkling Wines and Brandy, and Dealers in Whisky, 168  W.Court, Cincinnati, Ohio – Cincinnati, Ohio, City Directory, 1867
1868-1869: Longworth’s Wine House, W.P. Anderson, Proprietor, 113 E. 6th, Cincinnati, Ohio – Cincinnati, Ohio, City Directory, 1868, 69
1870: Philipp Zimmermann, Distillery, Age in 1870: 43, Birth Year: abt 1827, Birthplace: Bavaria / Bayern, Dwelling Number: 425, Home in 1870: Cincinnati Ward 18, Hamilton, Ohio, Father of Foreign Birth: Y, Mother of Foreign Birth: Y, Male Citizen over 21: Y, Personal Estate Value: 100,000, Inferred Spouse: Augusta Zimmermann, Inferred Children: Ferdinand Zimmermann, Anton Zimmermann, Fred Zimmermann, Regina Zimmermann, John ch Zimmermann, Household Members: Philipp Zimmermann 43, Augusta Zimmermann 35, Ferdinand Zimmermann 16, Anton Zimmermann 12, Fred Zimmermann 10, Regina Zimmermann 5, John ch Zimmermann – 1870 United States Federal Census
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Missouri IXL Bitters – Isidor Bush

Posted on 27 February 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Missouri IXL Bitters – Isidor Bush

27 February 2019

Isidor Bush (or in Europe, Busch) has his name on the extremely rare Missouri IXL Bitters bottle which to me is quite amazing. I’ve only personally seen this bottle once and that was at the FOHBC 2015 Chattanooga National Antique Bottle Show when bitters collector, Brad Shultis, carefully unwrapped the bottle to show me. The image at the top of the post was taken at the show. Actually, there is so much more to this bottle and the man behind it.

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

M 104.5  Missouri IXL Bitters
MISSOURI IXL in frame BITTERS // f // ISODOR (Spelled ISIDOR on bottle) BUSH & CO. // sp //
9 x 2 1/2
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 3 sp, Extremely rare
Example was dug in Pekin, Ill. with 1860s items. Name correctly spelled on bottle.

Isidor Bush

Isidor Bush was born in the Prague, Bohemia on January 15, 1822. He was the great-grandson of Israel Honig Edler von Honigsberg, who was the first Jew raised to nobility in Austria. As a child, Isidor was favored by his father Jacob as his mother, Fredericka had died when he was only three years old. Isidor Bush was privileged and was able to surround and associate himself with many Jewish intellectuals while growing up.

Bush was somewhat of a Renaissance man in that he was, among other things, an author, publisher, journalist, grocer, banker, railroad freight agent, politician, abolitionist, insurance agent, civic leader, philanthropist, capitalist, patriot, wine and liquor merchant,  and a viticulturalist, one of the first grape growers and wine producers in Missouri.

When Isidor was fifteen years old, he moved to Vienna and worked at Schmid’s Oriental Printing Establishment, which his father had acquired. At this young age, Bush became engrossed in the printing business and turned to the study of languages. Soon he could read and write in Greek, Latin and Hebrew along with his native German. For six years (1842–47), Bush edited and published the Kalendar und Jahrbuch für Israeliten among many other important works. Eventually, Bush became a partner and a leading book pioneer and publisher in Vienna and the firm was renamed Schmid and Busch.

With the Austrian Empire Revolution in 1848, Bush had to flee to America and settled in New York City along with many other liberal Jewish intellectuals. He arrived on January 8, 1849 with his wife Theresa Taussig who he married in 1844 and their son Raphael. There Bush opened a store that sold newspapers and stationery. On March 30, 1849, Bush founded and published the first issues of Israel’s Herald, the first Jewish weekly in the United States which was patterned after the journal he had published in Vienna. Unfortunately, the effort failed financially, so Bush had to stop operations after only three months.

With little available funds, Bush moved to St. Louis, Missouri in the summer of 1849 where his wife’s family, the Taussig’s had settled. There Bush entered into partnership with his wife’s father Charles Taussig, in the firm of Bush & Taussig. They were one of the leading merchants in the city specializing in groceries and hardware located at Carondelet and Park Avenue. Bush and Taussig would run the general store successfully on the south end of St. Louis for many years.

Isidor Bush became a naturalized citizen in 1854 and ardently opposed slavery and championed the Union cause. In 1857, Bush helped incorporate and was made president of the Peoples’ Savings Bank in St. Louis. In the late 1860s he was also president of the Mechanics Savings Bank, and later served as actuary for the German Mutual Life Insurance Company.

When the Missouri Convention was called to determine whether the state should join in the secession movement, Bush was chosen a member on the Unconditional Union ticket, and was made a member of the Committee of Nine, to which most important matters were referred such as abolishing slavery and forming a new constitution. He was also elected a member of the Missouri state board of immigration to repair losses in population resulting from the war, which post he retained for twelve years.

Despite many successful endeavors, Bush never really became a wealthy person in the traditional sense. He certainly suffered his share of financial setbacks but typically was able to rebound, take care of his debts and move on. He was always on the forefront of thought and innovation and prospered sufficiently to position him as a leader in the Jewish Community and the city of St. Louis. One of those associations that Bush was prominent in was the B’nai B’rith, the famous national Jewish fraternal and philanthropic organization. His achievements within the organization were substantial. Bush also served on the City Council and Board of Education in St. Louis as he held public education in high regard.

Bush apparently suffered physical disabilities in a fire when he was a child that prohibited full military service, so he assisted the Union cause in other ways. When Gen. John C. Fremont (the Pathfinder) took command in 1861, with headquarters in St. Louis, Bush was made his secretary and aide-de-camp, with the rank of Captain. He submitted to Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase a plan for a government loan of one hundred million dollars, similar to the famous Rothschild premium loans of Austria. Chase feared its rejection by Congress, but was impressed with Bush’s financial genius, and offered him a Treasury clerkship.

Bush refocused after the Civil War back to St. Louis, and became for six years the auditor and general freight and passenger agent for the St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad Company. He later would become director of the railroad, serving until 1865 when the line was taken over from New York by financier Jay Gould and the State foreclosed its liens on the railroad.

Next, Bush partnered in the real estate firm of Barlow, Valle & Bush. Interesting enough, Bush was able to purchase many tracts of land south of the city in Jefferson County that were next to the railroad tracks and Mississippi River. The first tract was purchased in February and March 1865 and included 241 acres near the present-day town of Pevely. He had become familiar with this land during his years with the Iron Mountain Railroad. This land was ideal as his research assured him that the land was adaptable for growing grapes and fruits while having an excellent steamboat landing.

Owning this land would play out as Bush became interested in wine-making and created the Isidor Bush Wine Company. He called all his land “Bushberg,” which of course he named after himself. The image above shows the town of Bushberg facing the river in 1880. It was at one time a thriving community complete with steamboat landing, railroad station, post office, wood yard, hotel and a saloon. The image below shows the Isidor Bush house. Both images courtesy of the Missouri Historical Society.

Bush even had the foresight to send his son Raphael to apprentice with viticulturalists in Hermann, Missouri and Cincinnati, Ohio to learn the trade. Their grocery business had suffered during the Civil War and the senior Bush wanted to spare his son from the whims of commercial life. He also felt that agriculture was a more noble Jewish pursuit.

By 1868, the vineyard had nine acres with 20 varieties of grapes. That year the vineyard purchased the post office to handle its growing mail-order business as the company was extremely successful in raising grapes and became known for its products. Before long, Bush was considered a leading expert in viticulture. He even sent large quantities of cuttings from his vineyards to France to replace the ravages there by phylloxera as his wild American vines had a greater resistance to the root louse. In 1871, Bush hired Gustavus E. Meissener who was operating a nursery in Waterloo, Iowa to become his foreman at Bushberg. He would eventually become a partner in the wine growing and vineyard business. You can see his name on the catalogue below.

Bush, after years of preparation, published his first catalogue of grapes in 1869-70 called the Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue of Grape Vines, Small Fruit and Seed Potatoes. The vineyards’ reputation had spread in the 1870s so The Bushberg Catalogue evolved and only focused on grapes. This catalogue went through a number of generations and was translated into several languages with international acclaim. The catalog contained two major sections. The Grape Manual’ contained a history of grape culture and the latest information about grape growing, and the ‘Descriptive Catalogue’ described and listed native varieties, histories and characteristics. Later editions included testimonials from prominent grape growers, horticulturalists and agriculture official plus related advertising to the trade.

In 1870, Bush and his son Raphael organized the firm of Isidor Bush & Son to run the wholesale and retail trade which grew into one of the most successful wine and liquor enterprises in St. Louis. Their primary address was 314 Elm Street. It was during this period that the Missouri IXL Bitters was produced. I have only seen one example. I believe it was dug in Pekin, Illinois before it came to its present owner.

The northern California wine business was rapidly growing by the end of the 1800s and impacted the Bush wine business. There seemed to be less demand for his vines and his research. The vineyard would close in 1895. The town of Bushberg would cease to exist.

Isidor Bush died in St. Louis on August 5, 1898 and is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery. His wife Theresa had previously died in 1893. Isidor Bush was a admired person and was considered one of St. Louis’s finest citizens. He also had his name on a bitters bottle.

Stock certificate for $200 of stock of Frederic Munch [Friedrich Muench] in the Bluffton Wine Company, signed by Isidor Bush and George Husmann, May 25, 1867 – Muench Family Papers, Missouri History Museum Archives, St. Louis, Missouri.

Select Listings:

1822: Isidor Bush, Birth Date: 15 Jan 1822, Birth Place: Prague, Okres Praha, Prague Capital City, Czech Republic – U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
1850: Isidor Bush, Merchant, Age: 28, Birth Year: abt 1822, Birthplace: Austria, Home in 1850: St Louis Ward 3, St Louis (Independent City), Missouri, Gender: Male, Family Number: 793, Household Members: Isadore Bush 28, Theresa Bush 25, Raphael Bush 5, Alfred Young 15, Charles Taussig 31 – 1850 United States Federal Census
1857: Bush & Taussig (Isidor Bush), wholesale and retail grocers and hardware dealers, se. c. Carondelet and Park Ave., St. Louis – St. Louis Directory, R.V. Kennedy & Company, 1857
1863: Isidor Bush, General Agent, St. Louis & Iron Mountain Railroad, office, cor. Main and Plum, St Louis, Missouri – St Louis, Missouri, City Directory, 1863
1864-1865: Isidor Bush, general freight and passenger agent Iron Mountain Railroad, r. Fulton, bet.Barry and Marion, St Louis, Missouri – St Louis, Missouri, City Directory, 1865
1865: Isidor Bush, Insurance Agent, Tax Year: 1865, State: Missouri – U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918
1870: Isidor Bush, Grape Grower, Age in 1870: 49, Birth Year: abt 1821, Birthplace: Austria, Dwelling Number: 178, Home in 1870: Joachim, Jefferson, Missouri, Personal Estate Value: 21865, Real Estate Value: 50000, Inferred Children: Raphiel Bush, Household Members: Isidor Bush 49, Raphiel Bush 26, Theresa Bush 47 – 1870 United States Federal Census
1870: Isidor Bush & Son, Wine Manufacturer and Dealer, 22 S. Main, St Louis, Missouri – St Louis, Missouri, City Directory, 1870
1878: Isidor Bush & Co. (Isidor Bush, Raphael Bush), Wines, Elm, se cor. 4th, St Louis, Missouri *also Isidor Bush & Son & Meissner) – St Louis, Missouri, City Directory, 1878
1880: Isidor Bush, Nurseryman, Age: 58, Birth Date: Abt 1822, Birthplace: Austria, Home in 1880: Joachim, Jefferson, Missouri, Dwelling Number: 433, Marital status: Married, Spouse’s name: Teresa Bush, Father’s Birthplace: Austria, Mother’s Birthplace: Austria, Household Members: Isador Bush 58, Teresa Bush 56 – 1880 United States Federal Census
1882-1885: Isidor Bush & Co. (Isidor Bush, Louis Klein, Raphael Bush), Liquors, Wholesale, 314 Elm, se cor. 4th, St Louis, Missouri *also Isidor Bush & Son & Meissner, (Isidor Bush, Raphael Bush, Gustavus E. Meissner), winegrowers, vineyards, Bushberg, office 314 Elm – St Louis, Missouri, City Directory, 1882, 1883, 1885
1887: Isidor Bush & Co. (Isidor Bush, Louis Klein, Raphael Bush), Liquors, Wholesale, 213 and 215 S. 2d, St Louis, Missouri *also Isidor Bush & Son & Meissner) – St Louis, Missouri, City Directory, 1887
1893:  Newspaper Notice (below) Theresa Bush death. – St. Louis Post Dispatch, Saturday, July 15, 1893

1898: Isidor Bush, Death Date: 5 Aug 1898, Death Place: Saint Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri, Cemetery: Bellefontaine Cemetery, Burial or Cremation Place: Saint Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri, Spouse: Teresa Bush – U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
1898: Newspaper Notice (below): Death of Isidor Bush – St. Louis Post Dispatch, Friday, August 5, 1898

Posted in Bitters, Civil War, Digging and Finding, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Publications, Questions, Wine & Champagne | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Garry Owen Strengthening Bitters – Ball, Lyons & Co.

Posted on 24 February 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Garry Owen Strengthening Bitters

Ball, Lyons & Co. and I. L. Lyons & Co., New Orleans

24 February 2019

Did you know that Garry Owen Strengthening Bitters was named after an Irish tune for drinking and a quickstep dance? The song was selected as a marching tune for American military formations, including General George Armstrong Custer’s 7th Cavalry Regiment. Listen to Tune.

Isaac Lazarus Lyons was born in 1837 and educated in Columbia, South Carolina. His father was Jacob C. Lyons who would open and run a successful grocery store in Columbia in 1827. The business earned its reputations as an oyster saloon for students from South Carolina College.

Isaac would spend his childhood in Columbia moving to New Orleans just before the outbreak of the Civil War. He enlisted in the Confederate Army as a private, saw a great deal of service and was later promoted to Captain.

After the war, Lyons returned to New Orleans and in 1866 engaged in the wholesale drug business under the firm name of Tucker & Lyons. In 1867, Ball, Lyons & Co. formed when Joseph Tucker retired disposing of his interest to William Ball, late of Wheelock, Finlay & Hall. By 1869, Ball, Lyons & Co. was run by partners, William Ball, Isaac L. Lyons and W.H. Dashiell. They were listed as wholesale and retail druggists located at 42 and 44 Camp, and 115 and 117 Gravier Streets in New Orleans, Louisiana. They carried a large stock of drugs, medicines, chemicals, patent medicines, paints, oils, varnishes, brushes, perfumery, cosmetics, fancy goods, soaps, surgical instruments, window glass, glassware etc. plus pure liquors, wines, ales and porters. They really had quite an operation.

I. X. 7. X. 69.

1869 is also the first year we see advertising for the celebrated Garry Owen Strengthening Bitters which is usually accompanied by the cryptic typography, I. X. 7. X. 69 which I suspect is a reference to the bitters inception date and maybe the 7th Calvary. The bitters were advertised as being manufactured at home from the best and purest materials based on Peruvian Bark.

The bitters was directed to travelers, pioneers, miners, sea-going men, pilots and all persons navigating rivers, lakes and bayous and for persons living on the same as they may inhale the fog which was injurious to the nervous system of man. The bitters was said to be a sure preventative and cure for swamp fevers, bowel complaints and that it would cure the bites of serpents or venomous insects.

It was also particularly recommended to females as a mild, agreeable, strengthening tonic. Of course it was said to cure a number of other afflictions such as dyspepsia, indigestion, liver complaint, jaundice, nervous debility, chronic diarrhea, scrofula, ulcers, spinal diseases and all diseases arising from derangement, oil the liver, impurity of the blood or affection of the intestines or kidneys. Basically, the bitters would fix any problem.

Ball, Lyons & Co. were also listed as the proprietors of Pure Cod Liver Oil, Essence of Jamaica Ginger, Flavoring Extracts, Nectar Syrup, Abraham’s Tetter and Ringworm Ointment, Abram’s Compound Arnica Liniment and Abram’s Southern Vegetable Chill Tonic. They also represented Dr. Benjamin Brodie’s Astringent Cordial, Dr. Lecock’s Cough Elixir, Abram’s Compound Concentrated Fluid Extract of Buchu, Abram’s Compound Fluid Extract of Sarsaparillsa with Iodine of Potassium and Elixir of Calisaya and Iron.

In 1874, the partnership between Ball and Lyons ends and I. L. Lyons & Co. is announced as the successor to Ball, Lyons & Co. They remain at the corner of Gravier and Camp Streets and were listed as wholesale druggists and manufacturing chemists. They would operate for decades with great success as the images below indicate.

Isaac L. Lyons began selling his nectar syrup to K & B Drugstores in the 1880s, who made it into nectar sodas, nectar cream sodas, and nectar ice cream sodas at their fountains. As in Cincinnati, this became a very popular flavor and other drugstores – Schweighardt’s, Bradley’s, Berner’s, and Walgreen’s – bought the syrup from Lyons and served this flavor. By the turn of the 20th century nectar sodas were a signature flavor of New Orleans.

Isaac L. Lyons was very prominent in New Orleans and was identified with many charitable and civic movements in his home city and was a member of the first board of control of the National Wholesale Druggists Association in 1882. He was at one time a director of Kingsley House, and was connected for a long time with the child welfare movement. He was a member of the Chess, Checker and Whist Club, the Boston Club and the Country Club.

Isaac L. Lyons would die after a prolonged illness at 86 years old on November 14, 1923 at his residence on 2344 St. Charles Avenue.

Garry Owen Strengthening Bitters

Two (2) full-column Garry Owen Strengthening Bitters advertisements, Ball, Lyons & Co. – The Times Picayune, Wednesday, October 6, 1869 and Thursday, June. 23, 1870

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

O 96  Garry Owen Strengthening Bitters
GARRY. OWEN / STRENGTHENING / BITTERS // BALL LYONS & CO /
NEW ORLEANS, LA // SOLE / PROPRIETORS // f //
9 1/8 x 2 3/4 (6 3/4)
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, scarce
Garry Owen was the marching song for Custer’s Seventh Cavalry.

I. L. Lyons & Co. advertising noting Garry Owen Strengthening Bitters – Central America, Edward A. Lever, 1885

Select Listings:

1827: New Grocery Store, Jacob C. Lyons in Columbia, South Carolina – Columbia Telescope, 09 November 1827

1837: Isaac Lazarus Lyons, Birth: 1837, South Carolina, Father: Jacob Cohen Lyons, Mother: Louisa Elizabeth Lyons, Spouse: Eva Lyons, Children: Randolph Lyons, George J. Lyons – U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
1850: Isaac Lyons, Age: 13, Birth Year: abt 1837, Birthplace: South Carolina, Home in 1850: Columbia, Richland, South Carolina, Household Members: Jacob C Lyons 43, Louisa Lyons 37, Isaac Lyons 13, Rachel Lyons 12, Louisa Lyons 8, Randolph Lyons 5, Isabella Lyons 4, Jacob Lyons 3, Theodore Lyons 0 – 1850 United States Federal Census
1860: Isaac Lyons, Clerk, Age: 23, Birth Year: abt 1837, Birth Place: South Carolina, Home in 1860: Philadelphia Ward 5 Southern Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Post Office: Philadelphia, Dwelling Number: 531, Family Number: 695, Household Members: Isaac Hart 70, Abraham Hart 50, Louisa Hart 40, Isaac Lyons 23, Mary McBride 18 – 1860 United States Federal Census
1867: Newspaper Notice (Below) Ball, Lyons & Co. formed. Mr. Joseph Tucker retires from the drug firm Tucker & Lyons disposing of his interest to Wm. Ball, late of Wheelock, Finlay & Hall. J.L. Lyons – The Times Democrat, Sunday, December 8, 1867
1868: Tucker & Lyons (I.L. Lyons) New Orleans, Louisiana – New Orleans, Louisiana, City Directory, 1868
1868: Ball, Lyons & Co. (J.L.. Lyons) – New Orleans, Louisiana – New Orleans, Louisiana, City Directory, 1890
1868: Newspaper Advertisement (Below) Ball, Lyons & Co., Wholesale Druggists (W. Ball, L.H. Lyons, W.H. Dashiell) – The Times Picayune, Tuesday, February 25, 1868

1869: Ball, Lyons & Co. (William Ball, I. L. Lyons, W.H. Dashiell), wholesale and retail druggists, 42 and 44 Camp, and 115 Gravier, New Orleans, Louisiana – New Orleans, Louisiana, City Directory, 1869
1869: Newspaper Advertisement (above in post) Full-column Garry Owen Strengthening Bitters advertisements, Ball, Lyons & Co. – The Times Picayune, Wednesday, October 6, 1869
1870: Newspaper Advertisement (above in post) Full-column Garry Owen Strengthening Bitters advertisements, Ball, Lyons & Co. – The Times Picayune, Thursday, June. 23, 1870
1872: Ball, Lyons & Co. (William Ball and I. L. Lyons), wholesale and retail druggists, 42 and 44 camp, New Orleans – New Orleans, Louisiana, City Directory, 1872
1874: Newspaper Notice (below) Dissolution of Copartnership between William Ball and J.L. Lyons – The Times Picayune, Thursday, January 29, 1874

1875: Newspaper Advertisement (below) I. L. Lyons Successor to Ball, Lyons & Co., Wholesale and Retail Druggist, Corner Gravier and Camp Streets – The New Orleans, Bulletin, Wednesday, September 1, 1875

1880: Isaac L. Lyons, Druggist, Age: 42, Birth Date: Abt 1838, Birthplace: Georgia, Home in 1880: New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, Street: North St Charles Street, House Number: 497, Dwelling Number: 10, Spouse’s name: Ellen J. Lyons, Father’s Birthplace: Georgia, Mother’s Birthplace: Georgia, Household Members: Isaac L. Lyons 42, Ellen J. Lyons 32, George J. Lyons 8, Eva J. Lyons 4, Issac L. Lyons 5/12, Thomas H, Lyons 30, Lucius F. Lyons 25 – 1880 United States Federal Census
1885: Newspaper Advertisement (above in post) I. L. Lyons & Co. advertising noting Garry Owen Strengthening Bitters – Central America, Edward A. Lever, 1885
1890: City Directory Listing (Below) I. L. Lyons & Co., Successors to Ball & Lyons, Importers, Wholesale and Retail Druggists, Proprietors of Garry Owen Bitters, 42 and 44 Camp Street, 109-117 Gravier, New Orleans, Louisiana – New Orleans, Louisiana, City Directory, 1890

1895: I. L.Lyons & Co. (I.L., J.C. and Theadore H. Lyons and John W. Phillips), drugs, 222 and 226 Camp, telephone 794, New Orleans – New Orleans, Louisiana, City Directory, 1895
1900: Isaac L Lyons, Wholesale Drug Store, Age: 63, Birth Date: May 1837, Birthplace: South Carolina, Home in 1900: New Orleans Ward 10, Orleans, Louisiana, Ward of City: 10, Street: St Charles Avenue, House Number: 2344, Spouse’s name: Eva J Lyons, Marriage Year: 1867, Father’s Birthplace: Pennsylvania, Mother’s Birthplace: Pennsylvania, Household Members: Isaac L Lyons 63, Eva J Lyons 52, George J Lyons 28, Frellsen H Page 23, Eva L Page 24, Frellsen H Page 2/12, Angele Hazeur 47, Babette Hopkins 59, Sarah Carston 23, Dennis Burns 31 – 1900 United States Federal Census
1902: City Directory Listing (Below) I. L. Lyons & Co., (I.L. Lyons, J.C. Lyons, Theodore H. Lyons and John W. Phillips), Importers, Wholesale and Retail Druggists, Proprietors of …, 222, 234 and 226 Camp Street and 529 – 546 Gravier Street, New Orleans, Louisiana – New Orleans, Louisiana, City Directory, 1902

1910: Isaac L Lyons, Wholesale Retail Druggist, Age in 1910: 72, Birth Year: abt 1838, Birthplace: South Carolina, Home in 1910: New Orleans Ward 10, Orleans, Louisiana, Street: Scharles Avenue, Marital status: Married, Spouse’s name: Eva Lyons, Father’s Birthplace: South Carolina, Mother’s Birthplace: Pennsylvania, Employer, Employee or Other: Employer, Household Members: Isaac L Lyons 72, Eva Lyons 63, Randolph Lyons 30, Eva Page 32, Henry Page 10, Lyons Page 5, Henrietta Lyons 45, Barbara Hawkins 75, Angele Hazur 70, Mary Oubre 28, Mathilde Wiggley 28, David Jones 33 – 1910 United States Federal Census
1923: Isaac Lazarus Lyons, Death 14 Nov 1923 (aged 85–86), Burial, Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana – U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Civil War, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Khoosh Bitters – The Great Tonic of the Age

Posted on 22 February 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Khoosh Bitters

The Great Tonic of the Age – The King of Bitters

22 February 2019

Not much attention is paid to Khoosh Bitters here in the United States as it is an English brand. I certainly understand collecting bottles from your own country, or region, or state or city, or town, as many bottle collectors do. I’m a bit of an ‘all-over-the-place’ collector, meaning that if I see or really like a bottle that has story and visuals to boot, I’m on it, and it is represented on my shelf in most cases. That is my Khoosh Bitters example at the top of the post in a topaz coloration. Great looking bottle though it is an odd size compared to most American bitters.

Product advertising states that Khoosh Bitters was held in great repute in India, both by natives and Europeans alike and that it had been used in the Indian empire from time immemorial. Apparently the name “Khoosh” is Indian with no English translation.

The label for Khoosh Tonic Bitters was trademarked in 1881 by Henry Davis & Co. in Liverpool, England. The trade mark shows a young Indian lady sitting on a tiger in an exotic locale. The woman is in control and in allegiance with the wild beast as she waves a banner with “Health” emblazoned on it.

The following year, in 1882, we see Khoosh Bitters advertised in London newspapers as ‘The Great Tonic of the Age’ and ‘The King of Bitters’. The bitters were being sold wholesale by the Khoosh Tonic Bitters Company, Limited at 12 Goree-piazzas in Liverpool and 24 King William Street in London. There is also a second product in that we now have a Khoosh Tonic Bitters and a Khoosh Bitters mentioned separately in the same advertisement. At the retail level you could buy a bottle for 4 pounds and get a sample bottle for 1/-.

The Khoosh Tonic Bitters Company published this 20-page Khoosh Bitters Tonic booklet in 1882. Click to read. The front and back covers are shown below along with two opening pages. I suppose the tiger represents the bad as Indian hunters on elephants are loading, aiming and shooting their rifles. So, buy and take Khoosh Tonic Bitters to kill that beast within you whether it be indigestion, liver disease, jaundice, heartburn, dyspepsia or the myriad of other afflictions this bitters was reported to cure. Or you could take it as an appetizer by adding a little in your tea, coffee, cocoa, or milk; and “unless taken in excess does not interfere with the colour, flavour or bouquet of the most delicate wines or liquors.” It was also strongly recommended to be taken in a wineglass of water half-an-hour before breakfast. The proprietors had all bases covered.

This was a women’s product with a method to deliver alcohol under the guise of medicine, like most bitters. “Nothing tries or irritates a man’s temper more than a sluggish liver”, so give him some Khoosh Tonic Bitters!

Here below is the text from an advertisement disguised as a medical article within The Monthly Magazine of Pharmacy, Chemistry, Medicine in 1883.

THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF PHARMACY, CHEMISTRY, MEDICINE, 1883

KHOOSH BITTERS

Khoosh Tonic Bitters are being sold largely all over the Kingdom, They are bitters of the most excellent and harmless character, and prior to being introduced here have been held in great repute in India, both by natives and Europeans. The name “Khoosh” is Indian, but the English meaning of the word we do not know. The trade mark, we might also say, is Indian, in as much as it consists of a tiger and young Indian lady. The young lady seems quite at home on the tiger’s back, and is waving a flag which bears the word “Health” upon it. Khoosh bitters is a good stomachic, a first rate appetiser, and of agreeable flavour. The proprietors recommend this preparation for a variety of complaints.

The circular accompanying the sample we have received says: “It does not create that nausea on the palate that is complained of in other stimulants to the appetite; it is purely vegetable, and can be taken by the most delicate constitutions of both sexes, and is suitable for both old and young, and mixes with any kind of liquid – even tea, coffee, cocoa, and milk; and unless taken in excess does not interfere with the colour, flavour or bouquet of the most delicate wines or liquors. A few drops are sufficient, but it can be taken to suit the palate. During meals it is recommended to be taken—say about a dozen drops in a half tumbler of water—and during the meal to occasionally sip. It will be found not only to increase the appetite but it cleans the palate, thus enabling the partaker to enjoy the different viands being consumed. It is also strongly recommended to be taken in a wineglass of water half-an-hour before breakfast. By its daily use it keeps the liver always active.

It is a familiar fact, and one with which nearly all old Anglo Indians are acquainted, viz., that the principal ingredient of Khoosh is the great remedy in Bengal and the North-West Provinces for liver and bile, where for ages the native “hakims” have used and prescribed it, esteeming it of high medicinal virtue for clearing the brain and lightening the liver. The ignorance of most people on this subject in this country is immense, yet by the means of Khoosh, during the hot season in India, civilians, ladies, and all people leading sedentary lives keep themselves in health, and without this tonic life would be almost unbearable.

The Khoosh Tonic is equally efficacious in this country for weak stomachs, impaired digestion, and most disorders of the liver. It acts like magic, and not only brings back the appetite, but restores the long-lost complexion, and by acting directly on the liver, creates the bloom of health. Nothing tries or irritates a man’s temper more than a sluggish liver. Hitherto we have had recourse to either a blue or a podophylon pill, which are drastic remedies. Their effects soon pass off”, and when often used produce a bad condition of the liver. It will never be otherwise, however, until the sufferer will try the Khoosh Tonic, which gives almost immediate relief, and will prevent his requiring either of the above remedies.”

This preparation is elegantly got up; it retails at 4s., on which there is a good profit to the trade. Chemists desirous of pushing this article can have circulars and printed matter on application to the wholesale houses or to the Company, at their offices, 24, King William Street, London.

The next full-page “The Famous Eastern Bitter” advertisement is from The British Foreign and Colonial Journal. It ran for most of 1890. The advertisement notes that a Gold Medal (Highest Award) was given to Khoosh Bitters at the Liverpool International Exposition in 1886. The address for the Khoosh Tonic Bitters office in London has changed.

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

K 37.5  Khoosh Bitters
// s // KHOOSH BITTERS
L…Khoosh Tonic Bitters, The Khoosh Tonic Bitters Co., 24 King William Street, London E.C. and 12 Goree Piazzas, Liverpool
8 5/8 x 2* There are several sizes of this bottle
Fancy oval, Amber, LTCR, Applied mouth and Tooled lip. Scarce (An English Bitters)

The example at the top of this post is the earlier example with KHOOSH BITTERS embossed on the shoulder. Later 20th century bottles had a bas-relief glass circle with ‘KHOOSH’ on the art-deco ringed shoulder.

This next advertisement below shows that Smith, Doolittle & Smith were selling Khoosh Bitters in Boston in 1883.

Khoosh Bitters would hit a snag in the late 1890s. In 1900, The Khoosh Tonic Bitters Company would be under a court order that forced the insolvent company into compulsory liquidation. Later brands would mimic the product as you can see from the circa 1917 bottle below that is also base embossed. If you look at the label closely, it says, “Established Over 100 Years.” That is a bit of a stretch.

Further below, a pair of 1917 Khoosh Bitters newspaper advertisements showing Khoosh Bitters as an appetizer and that a “Khoosh Wallah” delivers the bitters with his strange and magical powers.

The Khoosh Bitters Proprietary Ltd. in London is now the company associated with the product. This would be the last year for common advertising though you can find excess inventory being sold in later years.

Select Listings:

1881: Newspaper notice (below) Local Patent and Trademark for Henry Davis & Co., Liverpool – Liverpool Mercury, etc, Saturday, June 1881

1882: Newspaper advertisement (below) Khoosh Bitters, The Great Tonic of the Age, The King of Bitters, Wholesale only from the Khoosh Tonic Bitters Company, Limited, 12 Goree-piazzas, Liverpool; and 24 King William Street,London, E.C. – Liverpool Mercury, etc., Friday, December 29, 1882

1883: Newspaper advertisement (below) Khoosh Bitters, The Khoosh Tonic Bitters Company (Limited), 24 King William Street, London, E.C. and 12 Goree-piazzas, Liverpool – The Standard, Friday, March 2, 1883

1884: Newspaper advertisement (below) The King of Bitters – Liverpool Mercury etc, Tuesday, September 16, 1884

1885: Newspaper advertisement (below) The Khoosh Tonic Bitters sold in Dublin, Ireland – The Freeman’s Journal, Thursday, December 31, 1885

1888: Almanac advertisement (below) “Khoosh” The King of Bitters – Khoosh Tonic Bitters and Khoosh Bitters – Era Almanac, 1888

1900: Newspaper notice (below) Winding Up Order against Khoosh (Limited) – The Morning Post, Saturday, December 15, 1900

1917: Newspaper advertisement (below) The Test – Khoosh Bitters being sold as an Appetizer – The Observer , Sunday, November 11, 1917

1937: Newspaper advertisement (below) Khoosh Bitters being sold at The Central Salerooms – The Guardian, Saturday, November 6, 1937

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, History, Medicines & Cures, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dr. De Andries Pure Sarsaparilla Bitters – New Orleans

Posted on 19 February 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dr. De Andries Pure Sarsaparilla Bitters

E. M. Rusha – New Orleans

19 February 2019

I recently updated the post for the extremely rare Dr. Hyde’s Southern Stomach Bitters put out by Dr. Edward Caleb Hyde in New Orleans around 1868. The Dr. De Andries Pure Sarsaparilla Bitters was made during the same time period by E. M. Rusha who operated within walking distance of Edward Hyde off of Tchoupitoulas Street in New Orleans. Both of their bottles are very similar with the shape, column bevel and shoulder detail. You can see a comparison below. Maybe they were friends but they were certainly competitors with their bitters. Most likely, Hyde aped Rusha with his bitters.

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

D 35  Dr. De Andries Sarsaparilla Bitters
DR DE ANDRIES // SARSAPARILLA / BITTERS // E.M. RUSHA / NEW ORLEANS // f // 10 x 4 x 2 1/4 (7 3/8) Rectangular, LTC, Applied mouth, 3 sp, Column bevel, Olive green, Metallic pontil mark, Extremely rare; Amber and Olive amber, Rare

Edwin Morris Rusha

Edwin Morris Rusha was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 6, 1811. Rusha left his parents at the young age of fourteen and came to New Orleans, Louisiana. Considered well-educated, Rusha first found employment as a painter for a short spell. He apparently was optimistic and successful in his early endeavors as he sent for his mother when he was twenty years old. His father had died shortly after his departure from Philadelphia. Rusha was close to his mother and she lived with him until she died many years later.

When he was twenty-two years old, Edwin M. Rusha went into the wholesale liquor business on Girod Street near Tchoupitoulas. He would remain on this street for half a century selling wines and liquor. He was well-known, popular and had continued success with his various pursuits which included land sales, real estate and being a cotton factor and general commission agent. It was not uncommon to see a newspaper notice saying 50 or 100 barrels of whiskey was headed his way down the Mississippi on a steamer. Great advance advertising if you liked Kentucky whiskey.

On March 9, 1837, Rusha married Mary Ann Sherman and they remained together for fifty-three years until she died in 1890. They would have fourteen children. Some would help with clerking at the liquor store. Quite a nest and a trustful work force.

For Sale: An old Negro Woman, a good Cook and Washer, to a good master will be sold at a bargain. Apply to E. M. Rusha, 24 Girod Street

Rusha once posted a newspaper ‘For Sale’ advertisement in 1850 where he was selling “An old Negro Woman, a good Cook and Washer, to a good master will be sold at a bargain.” I don’t have an illustration but I can certainly concur up an image in my mind. Sad, but true. I guess he was a generous man as another newspaper notice thanked him for sending the editors of The New Orleans Piscayune a basket of delicious peaches that were raised in his nursery in Livingston Parish, Louisiana.

Yet another newspaper notice states that his young son “had the flesh crushed off the bone of one of his hips last evening, by being caught between the cars on the Carrolton Railroad, whilst attempting, boy-like, to help himself to an outside ride.” You see these train-hopping notes in newspapers all the time, even nowadays. The New Orleans and Carrollton Railroad was one of six short-line rail systems built to connect the city of New Orleans with surrounding neighborhoods, in this case, four-and-a-half miles to the resort village of Carrollton. It was one of the first public transit trolley systems built in the urban United States. All of these referenced newspaper clippings can be read in full in the timeline at the end of this post.

In 1854, Rusha was firmly established as an Importer of Foreign Wines and Liquors and a Dealer in Domestic Spirits. He sold a wide range of products such as a general assortment of French brandies, wines, fruits in liquor, assorted cordials, bitters, essence, peppermint, curacao etc. By 1860, he was running full-page ads within the annual New Orleans City Directory. The U.S. Federal Census that year noted that he had real estate value of $50,000 and a personal estate value of $20,000.

By 1863, we see Rusha’s first advertisement for his Dr. De Andries Pure Sarsaparilla Bitters. The 1867 advertisement and illustration below looks like some pretty happy fellows partaking in his bitters. By the way, I really do not think that there was a Dr. De Andries. This was probably a made-up name to give his brand legitimacy. Rusha could not call himself a ‘Doctor’ as Edward Hyde did with his Dr. Hyde’s Southern Stomach Bitters. You could get away with a lot more stuff back then. You know, drink this medicine that was full of alcohol that was sold at a liquor establishment so you could tell your wife that you weren’t at the saloon.

Also in 1867, Rusha takes a full-page city directory ad that is similar to the ad further above but now states that he is the Proprietor of Dr. De Andries Pure Sarsaparilla Bitters. As noted previously, he actually began selling it in 1863. He says that it is sold by grocers and druggists throughout the United States and that his bitters “are the best Preventative of Health ever introduced into this Country. As a general drink they are exhilarating; they give tone to the stomach, being free from all impurities.” He also says that his bitters are “Guaranteed to be Purely Vegetable” which might make you think there was no alcohol in it. You can bet dollars to doughnuts that his bitters was fully spiked. Another ad infers that Gen. Grant was recommending Dr. De Andries Pure Sarsaparilla Bitters for Cholera.

During all these years, Rusha was very high up in the leadership of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in New Orleans. The I.O.O.F. was (and is) a non-political and non-sectarian international secret society and fraternal order of Odd Fellowship. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Wildey in Baltimore, Maryland though its origins were much earlier in England.

Rusha left the I.O.O.F. in 1891, renouncing the secret society and joined the Catholic Church. He was in prayer with Rev. Father Cavanaugh of St. Stephen’s Church when he suffered his third stroke and died on August 24, 1893 at the age of 82. Quite a man, quite a life and quite a bitters.

Select Listings:

1811: Edwin Morris Rusha, Birth: 6 Jul 1811, Pennsylvania, – U.S. Find a Grave
1845: Newspaper notice (below) Dwelling House and Furniture, A Lot of Ground drawn by E.M. Rusha – The Times Picayune, Friday, October 17, 1845

1850: Newspaper notice (below) For Sale: An old Negro Woman, a good Cook and Washer, to a good master will be sold at a bargain. Apply to E.M. Rusha, 24 Girod Street – The New Orleans Crescent, Monday, November 25, 1850

1854: Newspaper advertisement (below) E. M. Rusha, Importer of Wines & Liquors and dealer in Domestic Spirits, Nos. 54 and 56 Broome Street (late Girod street), New Orleans, Keeps constantly on hand a general assortment of French Brandies, Wines, Fruits in Liquor, assorted cordials, bitters, essence, peppermint, Curaco etc.- The South Western, Wednesday, September 6, 1854

1856: Newspaper notice (below) Work-House and Prisons, E.M. Rusha on committee signing of on prison invoice – The New Orleans Crescent, Friday, January 18, 1856

1857: Newspaper notice (below) Receipts of Produce, Cincinnati, Steamer Susquehanna, 56 bbls whiskey E.M. Rusha – The Times Picayune, Sunday, May 3, 1857

1857: Newspaper notice (below) E.M. Rusha sends the editors of the New Orleans Piscayune a basket of delicious peaches, raised in the nursery of E.M. Rusha of Livingston Parish, Louisiana – Nashville Union and American, Saturday, July 11, 1857

1858: Newspaper notice (below) E.M. Rusha Girod Street, For Sale of Lease, Speedwell Cottage Coffee House – The Times Picayune, Tuesday, June 22, 1858

1860: E.M. Rusha, Merchant (tough to read), Age: 45, Birth Year: abt 1815, Birth Place: Pennsylvania, Home in 1860: New Orleans Ward 2, Orleans, Louisiana, Post Office: New Orleans, Dwelling Number: 685, Family Number: 1473, Real Estate Value: 50,000, Personal Estate Value: 20,000, Household Members: E M Rusha 45, Mary Ann Rusha 34, John A Rusha 21, Edward Rusha 19, Emma Rusha 17, Elizabeth Rusha 15, Joseph Rusha 13, Frederick Rusha 11, Catharine Rusha 9, Mary Rusha 7, Ida Rusha 5, Hister Rusha 1, Mary Murphy 30 – 1860 United States Federal Census
1860: Newspaper notice (below) Receipts of Produce, Cincinnati, Steamer Lecomte, 80 bbls whiskey E.M. Rusha – The New Orleans Crescent, Wednesday, November 28, 1860

1861: Full-Page City Directory advertisement (above in post) E.M. Rusha, Importer of Foreign Wines and Liquors, and Dealer in Domestic Spirits, Nos. 54, 56 and 58 Girod St., Between Tchoupitoulas and Commerce Streets, New Orleans – New Orleans, Louisiana, City Directory, 1861
1861: Newspaper notice (below) Accident to a Boy: Son of E.M. Rusha injured hitching a ride on a moving train – The New Orleans, Crescent, Thursday, February 7, 1861

1861: Newspaper notice (below) Independent Order of Odd Fellows, E.M. Rusha, Rec. Secretary – The Times Picayune, Wednesday, March 13, 1861

1861: Newspaper advertisement (below) Rusha & Hawn (E.M. Rusha and John P. Hawn, Tuscaloosa), Cotton Factors and General Commission Merchants, 42 Gravier Street, New Orleans – The Montgomery Advertiser, Monday, March 25, 1861

1861: Newspaper notice (below) Dissolution of Rusha & Hawn (see above) – The Times Picayune, Sun, April 4, 1861

1863: Newspaper advertisement (below) Dr. De Andries Pure Sarsaparilla Bitters, E.M. Rusha, No. 43 Girod, near Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans – The Times Picayune, Tuesday, October 6, 1863

1865: E M Rusha, Wine and Liquor Dealer, 41 43 45 Girod, New Orleans, Louisiana – Duncan and Co´s New Orleans Business Directory, 1865
1866: E M Rusha, Liquor Merchant, 63, 65 and 67 Girod, New Orleans, Louisiana – Denson and Nelson´s New Orleans and Mississippi Valley Business Directory and River Guide, 1866-67
1866: Newspaper advertisement (below) Just Received: 50 cases DeAndries’ Sarsaparilla Bitters and 100 cases Callahan’s Old Cabin Whiskey, Swarbrick & Co., 50 Camp Street – The New Orleans Crescent, Wednesday, January 3, 1866

1866: Newspaper advertisement (below) General Grant used to convince patrons buy Dr. De Andries Pure Sarsaparilla Bitters for Cholera – The Times Picayune, Wednesday, March 14, 1866

1867:  Full-Page City Directory advertisement (above in post) E.M. Rusha, Dealer in Wines and Liquors, Dr. De Andries Pure Sarsaparilla Bitters, Sold by Grocers and Druggists Throughout the United States, They are the best Preventative of Health ever introduced into this Country. As a general drink they are exhilarating; they give tone to the stomach, being free from all impurities. Try them. E. M. Rusha, Sole Proprietor, Depot, Nos. 63, 65 and 67 Girod Street, New Orleans – New Orleans, Louisiana, City Directory, 1867
1867: Newspaper advertisement (above in post) E.M. Rusha, dealer in Foreign Wines and Liquors and Sole Proprietor of Dr. De Andries Pure Sarsaparilla Bitters, Depot, Not. 63, 65 and 67 Girod Street, Near Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans – The South Western, Wednesday, July 3, 1867
1868-1870: E M Rusha, Liquor Merchant, 63, 65 and 67 Girod, res. 213 St. Charles, New Orleans, Louisiana – New Orleans, Louisiana, City Directory, 1868-70
1869: Directory listing (below) I.O.O.F. (Independent Order of Odd Fellows) officer for 1868 E M Rusha, R.W. Grand Lodge I.O.O.F. of the State of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana – New Orleans, Louisiana, City Directory, 1869

1870: E M Rusha, Liquor Dealer, Age in 1870: 58, Birth Year: abt 1812, Birthplace: Louisiana, Dwelling Number: 193, Home in 1870: New Orleans Ward 2, Orleans, Louisiana, Inferred Spouse: M A Rusha, Household Members: E M Rusha 58, M A Rusha 48, Kate Rusha 19, Molly Rusha 16, Ida, Rusha 14, Esther Rusha 10, Sam Rusha 8, Robt Rusha 5 – 1870 United States Federal Census
1875-1878: Edwin M. Rusha, wines and liquors, 65 and 67 Girod, r. St. Charles, cor. Bordeaux, Joseph F Rusha, clerk E.M. Rusha, New Orleans, Louisiana – New Orleans, Louisiana, City Directory, 1875
1893: Edwin Morris Rusha, Death: 24 Aug 1893 (aged 82), New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, Burial: Lafayette Cemetery Number 1, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana – U.S. Find a Grave

1893: Newspaper notice (below) Mr. Edwin M. Rusha died last Thursday – Louisianna Review, Wednesday, August 30, 1893

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, History, Liqueurs, liquor, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Sarsaparilla, Spirits, Whiskey, Wine & Champagne | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Continental Bitters – Mayer, Strouse & Baum

Posted on 14 February 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Continental Bitters

Mayer, Strouse & Baum – Philadelphia

14 February 2019

I recently came across this neat circa 1862 trade card advertisement (above) held by the The Library Company of Philadelphia for Continental Bitters put out by Mayer, Strouse & Baum which surprisingly, seems to be unlisted. The proprietors are noted as Importers of Wines, Brandies Gins &c. The primary image and the reason for the bitters name is an illustration of the Continental Hotel, at No. 116 North 3rd Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The card also shows street and pedestrian traffic, including horse-drawn carriages, an omnibus, and a man on horseback.

The Continental Hotel was tall for its time and sat prominently over the Washington Square neighborhood at a height of six stories. Located at the corner of 9th and Chestnut streets, the 700-room Continental Hotel opened its doors to the public in 1860 and featured one of the nation’s first elevators, in addition to a grand stairway crafted of polished Italian marble that ushered guests into its world of no-holds-barred extravagance.

The architect was John McArthur, Jr. who was known for being the architect of the Philadelphia City Hall. Abraham Lincoln visited Philadelphia on February 21-22, 1861 arriving from New York via Newark and Trenton to stay at the new Continental Hotel. There he talked with advisers about the rising tensions and learned of a newly-discovered assassination plot. The following morning, Lincoln went to Independence Hall to ceremoniously raise the nation’s new flag. He hadn’t prepared a speech but spoke to the issues of the day. The hotel was demolished in 1924.

There are no examples of this bitters other than this advertising reference. Bill Ham with Bitters Bottles Supplement 2 may want to list in his upcoming book.

Advertisement and Trade card
C 224.5 CONTINENTAL BITTERS, Mayer, Strouse & Braum, 116 N. 3d, Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pensylvania City Directory, 1862

Mayer, Strouse & Baum

Not much is known about Mayer, Strouse & Baum though we can see from Philadelphia city directories that they were in business from 1861-1863 at 116 North 3rd Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The partners were Jacob Mayer, Levi Strouse and Gabriel Baum who were wholesale liquor dealers and importers. It must have been challenging conducting business in the midst of the Civil War. Jacob Meyer would continue with his own operation afterwards while Strouse and Baum went into business together selling liquor.

Select Listings:

1858: Newspaper notice (below) Coat Basters Wanted at Jacob Mayer & Co’s, 116 N. Third Street – Public Ledger, Tuesday, December 14, 1858

1860: Jacob Mayer, Merchant, Age: 45, Birth Year: abt 1815, Birth Place: Germany, Home in 1860: Philadelphia Ward 12 Division 1, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Post Office: Philadelphia, Dwelling Number: 165, Family Number: 228, Real Estate Value: 10000, Personal Estate Value: 15000, Household Members: Name Age, Jacob Mayer 45, Matilda Mayer 33, David Mayer 14, Emmanuel Mayer 12, Washington Mayer 10, Marion Mayer 8, Josephine Mayer 7, Virginia Mayer 5, Charles Mayer 3, Wm Mayer 1, Morris Mayer 11, Jeannet Mayer 20, Jennie Jacobs 19 – 1860 United States Federal Census
1861: Mayer, Strousse & Baum (Jacob Mayer, Levi Strouse & Gabriel Baum), wines and liquors, 116 N. 3d, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania –  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1861
1862: Mayer, Strousse & Baum (Jacob Mayer, Levi Strouse & Gabriel Baum), liquors, 116 N. 3d, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania –  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1862
1863: Mayer, Strousse & Baum (Jacob Mayer, Levi Strouse & Gabriel Baum), wholesale liquor dealers and importers, 116 N. 3d, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania –  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1863
1863: Jacob Mayer, Dealer, Birth Year: abt 1816, Age: 47, Residence Year: 1863, Residence Place: Philadelphia Ward 12, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania, Septennial Census, 1779-1863
1864: Jacob Mayer, liquors, 116 N. 3d, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania –  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1864
1864: Strouse & Baum, wholesale liquors (Levi Strouse and Gabriel Baum), 337 N. Front, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1864
1865: Levi Strouse, liquors, 337 N. Front, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1865
1867: Mayer & Morgan, wholesale liquors, N. 3d, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania –  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1867
1870: Newspaper notice (below) Steamship Salvor, Ashcroft arrives in Charleston with 1 bbl whiskey from Jacob Mayer – Philadelphia Inquirer, Wednesday, August 10, 1870

1870: Strouse & Baum, liquors (Levi Strouse and Gabriel Baum), 122 Walnut & 17 Granite, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1870
1880: L. Strouse & Co., (Levi and Benjamin Strouse), liquors, 213 N. 3rd., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania –  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1880
Posted in Advertising, Art & Architecture, Bitters, Brandy, Gin, History, liquor, Liquor Merchant, Spirits, Wine & Champagne | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lieber’s French Cordial Bitters

Posted on 13 February 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Benjamin Lieber’s French Cordial Bitters

Philadelphia

13 February 2019 (R•041019)

I recently came across this neat advertisement (above) held by the The Library Company of Philadelphia for B. Lieber (Benjamin) showing his storefront in Philadelphia in 1849. The illustration shows that Lieber is an Importer of Brandies, Wines and Gins. His address is No. 121 North Fourth Street between Vine & Callowhill Streets in Philadelphia. The ad also notes that he specializes in Foreign Wines and Liquors, London Brown-Stout, Scotch Ale, Absinthe, Segars, &c. and that he is a Manufacturer of Punch Essence, Cordials, Lemon Syrup, Raspberry, Lavender, Rose, Blackberry and Wild-Cherry, Brandies, Bitters &c. The bitters reference set me off in a search for more information.

Closer inspection of the advertisement shows the four-story storefront adorned with signage and displays including bottles, small boxes, and broadside advertisements, predominately for French cordials and an unlisted B. Lieber French Cordial Bitters crate or sign in the center of the display window. There is also a large model cask with advertising text and stacks of labeled boxes flank the open entrance. Box labels include “Ysla de Cuba,” “Assorted Cordials,” “Glorias,” “Habano.” A clerk confers with a patron within the entrance as a laborer enters the cellar to continue to retrieve barrels of “Madeira No.1” and “Port,” which line the sidewalk. In the street, a drayman departs with his delivery of a cask of “J. Hennesy [sic] & Co. Cognac.” The illustration also includes a massive street post adorned with a weather vane designed as a Native American figure, and partial views of adjacent buildings. Another signs says wholesale & retail.

There is a listing in the Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham Bitters Bottles as follows:

L 87  LIEBER’S WINE BITTERS
B. Lieber, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Directory 1853

Bitters Bottles Supplement 2 may want to be updated per this post to say Lieber’s French Cordial Bitters or a new listing may want to be created. I did not find any reference to Lieber’s Wine Bitters and suspect both bitters are the same. No bottle examples exist that I am aware of.

The new listing by Bill Ham for the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

Advertisement
L 86.5  B. Lieber French Cordial Bitters
Benjamin Lieber, 121 North Fourth Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Full page advertisement from The Library Company of Philadelphia showing B. Lieber storefront in 1849. The illustration shows that Lieber is an Importer of Brandies, Wines and Gins etc. Closer inspection of the advertisement shows the four-story storefront adorned with signage and displays including bottles, small boxes, and broadside advertisements, predominately for French cordials and a B. Lieber French Cordial Bitters crate or sign in the center of the display window.

Benjamin Lieber

Not much is known about Benjamin Lieber who was born in England on February 26, 1813. Both of his parents were English. His wife was named Rachel. The earliest Philadelphia listing I could find was for a B. Lieber noted as an Importer of Wines and Liquors at 239 South 2nd Street in 1837. By 1849, he has a retail and wholesale establishment at 121 North 4th Street. That is the building image posted above. He also had a second outfit at 283 Market Street.

This guy moved his shop around like it was on wheels. By 1861, he is located at 123 South 2nd in Philadelphia. In 1863, he is located at 333 North 3rd. In 1864, it is 911 North 2nd. In 1866, it is 239 South 2nd. He would finally settle in 1868 at 111 S. Water in Philadelphia. The business was now called Lieber & Son as his son David joined him. They were still listed as importers of wines and liquors. They would remain at this location until at least 1872 when the pair drop off the Lieber & Son business radar. David would move into the sales business. Benjamin Lieber would die in 1903 in New York City.

Select Listings:

1813: Benjamin Lieber, Birth Date: 26 Feb 1813, Birth Place: England – U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
1837: Importer of Wines and Liquors: B. Lieber, 239 S 2d – McElroy’s Philadelphia city directory
1849: Advertising print (above). B. Lieber, Apri 1849, importer of brandies, wines, gins, brown-stout, scotch ale, absinthe, segars, &c. and manufacturer of punch essence, cordials, lemon syrup, raspberry, lavender, rose, blackberry and wild-cherry. Brandies, bitters &c. No. 121 North Fourth Street between Vine & Callowhill Streets Philadelphia. – The Library Company of Philadelphia
1849: Newspaper advertisement (below) To Country Merchants, Hotel Keepers and Others. For sale on liberal terms by B. Lieber, Importer, at 121 North Fourth Street or 283 Market Street. Note Napoleon Bitters for sale – Public Ledger, Friday, August 31, 1849

1849: Newspaper advertisement (below) Punch Essence sold by B. Lieber, 283 Market Street and 121 N. Fourth Street – Public Ledger, Friday, November 9, 1849

1850: Benjamin Lieber, Liquor Merchant, Age: 37, Birth Year: abt 1813, Birthplace: England, Home in 1850: Philadelphia North Mulberry Ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – 1850 United States Federal Census
1850: Newspaper advertisement (below) To Families, Very superior Old Brandy (1801) just arrived, 283 Market Street between Seventh and Eighth Streets, B. Lieber, Wine Merchant – Public Ledger, Friday, April 19, 1850

1851: Newspaper advertisement (below) Danzic Spruce Beer just received at B. Lieber, Wine Merchant, 283 Market Street – Public Ledger, Thursday, May 8, 1851

1853: Newspaper advertisement (below) To Confectioners, Hotels &c., B. Lieber, Wine Merchant, 283 Market Street – Public Ledger, Thursday, December 22, 1853

1856: Lieber B., wines and liquors, 283 Market ab 7th, h 101 Franklin ab Buttonwood – McElroy’s Philadelphia city directory, Volume 19, 1856
1856: Lieber Isaac, wines & liq., 441 Market – McElroy’s Philadelphia city directory, Volume 19, 1856
1860: Benjamin Lieber, Merchant, 45, Benjamin Lieber, Birth Year: abt 1815, Birth Place: England, Home in 1860: Cheltenham, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, Post Office: Cheltenham, Dwelling Number: 223, Family Number: 223, Real Estate Value: 50,000, Personal Estate Value: 11,000, Household Members: Benjamin Lieber 45, Rachel Lieber 40, David Lieber 14, Juliet Lieber 16, Flewrette Lieber 12, George Lieber 10, Washington Lieber 8, Franklin Lieber 6, Harriet Lieber 4, Clara Lieber 2, Walter S Lieber 1 – 1860 United States Federal Census
1861: Benjamin Lieber, Wholesale Wines and Liquors, 123 S 2nd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1861
1863: B Lieber, Wholesale Wines and Liquors, 333 N 3d, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1863
1864: B. Lieber, Liquor, 911 N. 2d, h Abington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1864
1866: B. Lieber, Importers of Wines and Liquors, 239 S 2d, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1866
1868: B. Lieber & Son, (Benjamin & David), Wines, 111 S Water, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1868
1869: B. Lieber & Son, (Benjamin & David), importers of wines and liquors, 111 S Water, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1869
1870: Benjamin Lieber, Wholesale Liquor Dealer, Age in 1870: 57, Birth Year: abt 1813, Birthplace: England, Dwelling Number: 367, Home in 1870: Cheltenham, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, Personal Estate Value: 10,000, Real Estate Value: 27,000, Inferred Spouse: Rachel Lieber, Inferred Children: David Lieber, Fleurette Lieber, George Lieber, Benj F Lieber, Harriet Lieber, Clara Lieber, Walter S Lieber, Morean Lieber – 1870 United States Federal Census
1870: B. Lieber & Son, Wholesale Wine and Liquor Dealer, 111 S. Water, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Gopsill´s Philadelphia Business Directory, 1870
1871-1872: B. Lieber & Son (Benjamin & David), liquors, 111 S. Water, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1872
1874: B. Lieber , Merchants, Commission, 111 S. Water, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia Trade Directory, 1874
1880: Benjamin Lieber, Liquor Merchant, Age: 67, Birth Date: Abt 1813, Birthplace: England, Home in 1880: Cheltenham, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, Dwelling Number: 82, Spouse’s name: Rachael Lieber, Father’s Birthplace: England, Mother’s Birthplace: England, Household Members: Benjamin Lieber 67, Rachael Lieber 57, Clara Lieber 22, Walter S. Lieber 20, Morean G. Lieber 18 – 1880 United States Federal Census
1900: Benjamin Lieber, Age: 87, Birth Date: Feb 1813, Birthplace: England, Home in 1900: Manhattan, New York, New York, Street: Seventh Avenue, House Number: 2145, Sheet Number: 3, Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 21, Family Number: 53, Immigration Year: 1835, Marital status: Married, Spouse’s name: Rachael Lieber, Marriage Year: 1843, Father’s Birthplace: England, Mother’s Birthplace: England, Household Members: Benjamin Lieber, Rachael Lieber – 1900 United States Federal Census
1903:  Benjamin Lieber, Death Date: 7 Jan 1903, Death Place: New York, Cemetery: Mikveh Israel Cemetery #03, Burial or Cremation Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania – U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Brandy, Cordial, History, liquor, Liquor Merchant, Spirits, Wine & Champagne | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Could this bottle be for Tobias’s Wine Bitters?

Posted on 11 February 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Could this bottle be for the Celebrated Tobias’s Wine Bitters?

11 February 2019

Robert Biro posted over on the Peachridge Glass Facebook page, a series of images for a dug Tobias & Son ladies leg cylinder with a killer iron pontil. The bottle also has a Philadelphia embossing on the base. I believe this bottle held the Celebrated Tobias’s Wine Bitters though that name is not embossed on the bottle. Roberts email consisted of the following text and bottle images:

1850s… TOBIAS & SON PHILADAS. – This two-part mold ladies leg bitters type of bottle was dug from a 1850s trash pit from downtown Savannah Ga. The bottle has an iron pontil mark and also has applied string glass around the top that is sheared off at the lip. This bottle is nine and a half inches tall and two and three-quarters inches wide. There is a photo of another bottle like this that sold at Glass Works Auctions not too long ago that has a different type of top. – Robert

 

Looking in the Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham Bitters Bottles book, there is a  listing for the following:

T33  Tobias Wine Bitters
S. Tobias, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Directory, 1845

S. Tobias & Son

Solomon Tobias was born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1790. We know that he was still in Charleston in 1818 as there is “a petition of young Solomon Tobias, Charleston, for an appointment in the army, July 4, 1818.” Later Tobias advertising states that he established his wine and liquor business in 1821, presumably in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where the Tobias wholesale wine and liquor business was carried on for many decades.

We first see a hard address and reference of S. Tobias as a Manufactory of Wine Bitters located No. 93 North Fifth Street in Philadelphia in 1837. He also took out newspaper notices the same year cautioning ‘Tavern Keepers in the Country’ to be wary of spurious Wine Bitters that were being sold as his product. He stated that he continued to label all of his barrels, kegs, demijohns, and bottles with his written signature, S. Tobias. He was probably using an unembossed pontiled cylinder bottle at this time for the bitters.

In other 1837 advertising (below), Tobias was selling Stoughton Bitters, Lavender Bitters, Tansey Bitters, Brandy, Wines, Liquors and Syrups along with his signature Tobias’s Wine Bitters. He would heavily advertise his Wine Bitters up until 1850 or so.

The Library Company of Philadelphia holds this super fine print of the S. Tobias storefront that was created by William H. Rease, artist and printed by Wagner & McGuigan lithography press in Philadelphia in 1845. The image shows the four-story storefront adorned with signage on the 100 block of North Third Street. Note the prominent sign for “Manufactory of the Celebrated S. Tobias Wine Bitters.”

Looking at the art above, you can play “I Spy” and see a patron entering one of the two open entryways at which a straw basket and wine cask are displayed across from a large-cask shaped sign which reads “S. Tobias No. 68 Importer & Dealer in Wines Liquors Cordials and Syrups.” At the other entryway, a laborer rolls a cask out the door near a worker entering the cellar. Within the store, the backs of a patron and a clerk are visible in the rear of the store in which shelves of liquor bottles, straw baskets, wine casks, and barrels are displayed on shelves, the floor, and the open display window. Other boxes, bottles, casks, and barrels are visible at the upper floor windows. Barrels and boxes, one marked “S. Tobias” line the sidewalk, near a street lamp in front of the store.

The print also shows partial views of the adjacent businesses and the signage adorning the storefronts of Charles M. Schott, dry goods (66 N. 3rd St.) and Scattergood & Whitall, druggists’ glassware (70 N. 3rd St.). A clerk is visible working at a table through the doorway of Schott, and a pulley and boxes are visible within the open doorway of Scattergood & Whitall.

Tobias became a tenant within the No. 68 North Third Street building starting in 1845 and renamed his business S. Tobias & Son in January 1847. This would have been the earliest date for Robert Biro’s bottle as the base is embossed ‘S. Tobias & Son.’ Advertising would continue through 1849 or so for the bitters.

There is also this fine full-page advertisement below in the 1848 Philadelphia Wholesale Business Directory for S. Tobias & Son showing the full front of their new store at No. 68 North Third Street, above the Arch. They are noted as Importers and General Dealers in Wines, Liquors, Cordials and Syrups and also Manufacturers of the Celebrated S. Tobias’s Wine Bitters, Wild Cherry, &c. On the ad, the S. Tobias stands for Solomon Tobias. His son was Joseph F. Tobias. They offered a wide range of liquors, wines, cordials and syrups of a very superior quality and said that Country Merchants will do well to call and examine their stock and will offer a liberal discount to those who purchase and agree to sell again.

Here is an 1849 advertisement where S. Tobias & Son were selling S. Tobias’s Wine Bitters to the western gold rush market.

In 1860 or so, the liquor business was renamed Joseph F. Tobias & Company. Joseph F. Tobias and James Carstairs Jr. were partners and importers of wines, brandies etc. located at 206 and 208 S. Front in Philadelphia. Solomon Tobias was listed as living at home so he must have retired. He would pass on in 1868.

The full-page advertisement below from the 1878 Philadelphia City Directory is for Joseph F. Tobias & Co. Wine and Spirits Merchants, No. 241 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. They were noted as direct importers of wines, brandies, Holland gins and dealers in fine old Monongahela, rye, wheat and bourbon whiskies. They were also the Sole Agents in the United States for Giesler & Co’s, Blue Seal, Blue Seal Special Dry and Dry Verzenay Champagne Wines. It says he was established in 1821 which means when his father Solomon Tobias started the business. Joseph was born five years later. Note that there is no listing for a bitters product.

Here below is a section of a panoramic view of Chestnut Street in Philadelphia. You can see the Joseph. F. Tobias storefront. Again, no special bitters sign. Jos. F. Tobias & Co. would continue in business until 1893 or so at the 241 Chestnut address though at some point he moved next door to 237 Chestnut and took on new associates, Mahlon Hutchinson and Edward P. Vogele. Joseph would die in 1902. He spent his final years living at the Aldine Hotel.

So, is this bottle for the Celebrated Tobias’s Wine Bitters? Probably so. We will not know for sure until a labeled example shows up.

Select Listings:

1790: Solomon Tobias, Birth Date: 1790, Birth Place: Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina –  U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
1818: Reference: The Papers of John C. Calhoun (Columbia, S.C., 1963) for a petition of young Solomon Tobias, Charleston, for an appointment in the army, July 4, 1818 – United States Jewry, 1776-1985, Volume 1
1821: Tobias & Co. established (1878 advertisements, see post)
1836: Joseph F. Tobias, Distiller (?), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – The Philadelphia Saving Fund Society
1837: Newspaper advertisement (below) – S. Tobias’s Manufactory of Wine Bitters – Public Ledger (Philadelphia), Monday, April 10, 1837

1837: Newspaper Notice (below) – Caution to Tavern Keepers in the Country against spurious of Wine Bitters. Continue to label all barrels, kegs, demijohns, and bottles with my written signature, S. Tobias. 93 North Fifth Street – Public Ledger (Philadelphia), Tuesday, June 27, 1837

1840: Solomon Tobias, Cordial Distiller, 66 N 3rd, Philadelphia – Philadelphia Directory, A. M’Elroy, 1840
1846: Newspaper Advertisement (below) S. Tobias, No. 68 North Third Street. Manufacturer of Tobias Wine Bitters, Wild Cherry, &c. – Public Ledger (Philadelphia), Friday, April 24, 1846

1846: Newspaper Advertisement (below) Caution to Hotel and Storekeepers: S. Tobias posting warning about bogus Wine Bitters. States that all Wine Bitters and Wild Cherry produced by him have is label, with his signature on the barrel, demijohn and bottle. States that he has only one store at No 68 North Third Street. – Public Ledger (Philadelphia), Wednesday, September 16, 1846

1847: Newspaper notice (below) S. Tobias now associated with son, Joseph F. Tobias in the Wine and Liquor Business. Now S. Tobias & Son, No 68 North Third Street. Ad starts on January 1st 1847 – Public Ledger, Thursday, January 7, 1847

1847: Newspaper Advertisement (below) Caution to Hotel and Storekeepers: S. Tobias & Son posting warning about bogus Wine Bitters – Public Ledger, Thursday, April 22, 1847

1848: Advertisement (below) S. Tobias & Son, Importers and General Dealers in Wines, Liquors, Cordials and Syrups: also Manufacturers of S. Tobias’s Wine Bitters, Wild Cherry, Brandy, &c &c, No. 68 North Third Street, above Arch, Philadelphia, Solomon Tobias, Joseph F. Tobias – The Coal Regions of Pennsylvania, E.N. Carvalho & Company, 1848

1849: Newspaper advertisement (below) Adventures to California. S. Tobias & Son selling S. Tobias’s Wine Bitters to the western gold rush market.- Public Ledger, Friday, January 26, 1849

1849: Newspaper advertisement (below) S. Tobias & Son, No. 68 Third Street,Philadelphia. Note under Cordials they are selling Wine Bitters, Tansey Bitters, Lavender Bitters and Peppermint Bitters. – Lewistown Gazette, Saturday, May 5, 1849

1850: Solomon Tobias, Merchant, Age: 65, Birth Year: abt 1785, Birthplace: South Carolina, Home in 1850: Philadelphia Dock Ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Family Number: 607, Household Members: Solomon Tobias 65, Margaret Tobias 45, George Tobias 12, Augustus Tobias 10, Edward Tobias 8, Ella Tobias 6 – 1850 United States Federal Census
1850: Joseph F. Tobias, Marriage, 10 Jan 1850, West Whiteland, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Church of the Atonement, Spouse: Mary Ann Jenneff – Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1669-2013
1860: Sol Tobias, Wine Dealer, Age: 68, Birth Year: abt 1792, Birth Place: South Carolina, Home in 1860: Philadelphia Ward 10 East District, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Post Office: Philadelphia, Dwelling Number: 896, Family Number: 988, Household Members: Sol Tobias 68, Margt Tobias 55, Amanda Tobias 21, Augustus Tobias 19, Edwd Tobias 17, Ella Tobias 14 – 1860 United States Federal Census
1860: Joseph Tobias, Carpenter, Age: 34, Birth Year: abt 1826, Birth Place: Pennsylvania, Home in 1860: Philadelphia Ward 10, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Post Office: Philadelphia, Dwelling Number: 1303, Family Number: 1394, Real Estate Value: 10,000, Personal Estate Value: 10,000, Household Members: Joseph Tobias 34, Mary A Tobias 30, J S Tobias 10, Katty Tobias 7 – 1860 United States Federal Census
1860-1863: Joseph F. Tobias & Co., (Joseph F. Tobias & Jas. Carstairs Jr.), importers of wines, brandies etc., 206 and 208 S. Front, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Solomon Tobias listed living at home) – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1864
1860: The Carstairs were a large family and all seemed to be in the liquor business. It seems that James Carstairs Jr was the original member of this company. In 1860 he is shown in partnership with Joseph F. Tobias and George W Wood, (clerk) in Jos. F Tobias & Co., another liquor dealer. – pre-pro.com
1864: Joseph F. Tobias & Co., (Joseph F. Tobias), wholesale liquor merchants, 206 and 208 S. Front, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1864
1867-1868: Joseph F. Tobias, liquors, 206 S. Front, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Solomon Tobias listed living at home) – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1868
1868: Solomon Tobias, Death Date: 27 Jan 1868, Death Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, Cemetery: Forest Hills Memorial Park, Burial or Cremation Place: Huntingdon Valley, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania –  U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
1868: Legal notice: Estate of Solomon Tobias, deceased – Intelligencer, Volume 25, 1868
1870: Joseph F. Tobias, (Office Fronts Walnut),  Age in 1870: 43, Birth Year: abt 1827, Dwelling Number: 1703, Home in 1870: Philadelphia Ward 8 Dist 23 (2nd Enum), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Inferred Spouse: Mary Ann Tobias, Inferred Children: Kate Tobias, Household Members: Joseph F Tobias 43, Mary Ann Tobias 40, Kate Tobias 18, J serieffe (hard to read) Tobias 20 – 1870 United States Federal Census
1874-1875: Joseph F. Tobias & Co. (Joseph F. Tobias), Liquors, 206 S. Front, Philadelphia – Philadelphia Trade Directory, 1874
1878: Philadelphia Directory Full Page Ad (above in post): Joseph F. Tobias & Co. Wine and Spirits Merchants, No. 241 Chestnut Street – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1878
1880: Joseph F. Tobias, Liquor Merchant, Age: 53, Birth Date: Abt 1827, Birthplace: Pennsylvania, Home in 1880: Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, Street: North Side of Locust Street, House Number: 1705, Dwelling Number: 90, Marital status: Married, Spouse’s name: Mary Anna Tobias, Father’s Birthplace: South Carolina, Mother’s Birthplace: Spain, Household Members: Joseph F. Tobias 53, Mary Anna Tobias 51 – 1880 United States Federal Census
1882: Advertisement (below) Joseph F. Tobias and Co., 241 Chestnut, Wine and Spirit, Merchants – Official Programme of the Bi-Centennial Celebration of the Founding of Pennsylvania

1889: Advertisement (below) Joseph F. Tobias & Co., Wine and Spirits Merchants, 237 Chestnut Street – Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia, Volume 2, By American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia

1889-1891: Joseph F. Tobias & Co. (Joseph F. Tobias, Joseph Tiers & Mahlon Hutchinson), liquors, 237 Chestnut, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1889
1893: Joseph F. Tobias & Co. (Joseph F. Tobias, Mahlon Hutchinson & Edward P. Vogele), wines, 237 Chestnut, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1893
1897: Joseph F. Tobias residing at Aldine Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1897
1902: Joseph F. Tobias, Birth Date: abt 1822, Birth Place: Phila, Death Date: 12 Nov 1902, Death Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Age at Death: 80, Burial Date: 16 Nov 1902, Burial Place: Laurel Hill, Street address: Haddonfield, N J – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Death Certificates Index, 1803-1915
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Spring Bitters – John W. Service

Posted on 25 January 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Spring Bitters – John W. Service

Hartford, Connecticut

25 January 2019

Bobby Conner sent me the two top-most pictures here and said, “Good morning Ferd. Here’s a bitters you may enjoy seeing. I can’t find any info on it other than Bill Steele ‘thinks’ he may have had one at one time. Enjoy.”

I’ve not seen this bottle before so I thought I would check it out. Spring Bitters was somewhat of a generic term for bitters but there are certainly a few embossed and labeled Spring Bitters out there associated with proprietors. Here is a 1935 article about “Grandma’s Spring Bitters.”

Looking at Bitters Bottles by Carlyn Ring and Bill Ham, I see S 98, Shedd’s Spring Bitters from Jamestown, New York which is a rectangular, amber bottle with a tooled lip. A labeled example is pictured below.

There is also a labeled, S 168, Spring Bitters which is rectangular and amber, another S 168 Spring & Summer Bitters put out by A.S. Davis who was an agent in Chelsea, Massachusetts.

Most interesting is a S 168.7 Spring Bitters noted in Bitters Bottles Supplement with (street address) and (city and state). It is noted as oval, aqua and has a tooled lip. I suspect this is our bottle with outdated information or incomplete information.

The new Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles Supplement 2 is as follows according to Bill Ham:

S 168.7  Spring Bitters
SPRING BITTERS / J. W. SERVICE / 243 PARK ST / HARTFORT CT // f //
7 5/8 x 3 1/8 x 1 7/8
Oval, aqua, NSC, Tooled lip, Very rare

Here are a few additional pictures Bobby sent with an outdoor setting.

John W. Service

John W. Service was born on February 21, 1858 in Worcester, Massachusetts. His father was William Service and his mother was Hellen Smith. He first married a Rebecca G. and she died in 1892. He then married Susan Ellen Aldred in 1893. His father died at the young age of 30 or so while his mother, from Scotland, died in 1910.

We first see John clerking in a drug store in the late 1870s with an Edwin Crary who had a drug store at the corner of Park and Squire Streets in Hartford, Connecticut. This leads to an almost 40 year span where he was a prominent and popular druggist, most for his own concerns at 243 and 299 Park Street in the South End of Hartford. He called his 299 store “The Modern Pharmacy.”

He probably sold his aqua Spring Bitters in the late 1880s though there was another Spring Bitters being sold at the City Hotel Drug Store on Main Street in Hartford, Connecticut in 1884, according to this Hartford Courant advertisement below. Maybe this product gave him the idea? Later in 1890, another advertisement said that various spring bitters were being sold in nearly every drug store in Hartford. “Their show windows are full of bottles of spring tonic bitters; you buy a bottle, you think that it does good.” They go on to say that all those spring bitters don’t work and you should use their Pure Wines of California Spring Bitters made by the California Wine Agency, located at 72 Trumbull Street in Hartford.

Like many druggists bottles, the typography on the Spring Bitters bottle is slanted left opposed to straight or italicized right which I find interesting. It must have been a short run since this example is the only bottle example that I, and others have seen. I also can not find any advertising for the product. I did find this picture below of his standard druggist bottle.

In 1910, with regulations severely tightened with what druggists could sell, John Service updated his druggist license to sell spirituous and intoxicating liquors, ale, lager beer, Rhine Wine and Cider at the 299 Park Street address. He had previously pled guilty to violating the provisions of his earlier liquor license and was fined $25 and costs. He was to sell these products for medicinal purposes and not to get drunk on the premises. They had taverns and bars for that. He agreed to not sell spirituous liquors in quantities exceeding one gallon, except other than distilled liquors and those in quantities exceeding five gallons. His license cost fifty dollars. Basically these drug stores, in many cases, were the first convenience stores that are everywhere today.

Though I could not find a picture of his drug stores, I did find the picture below for Lester H. Goodwin, Pharmacist located at 336 Main Street in Hartford during the same time period. If you enlarge the picture you can read that he his selling Drugs & Medicines, Mineral Waters, Soda, Poland Water, Trusses, Elastic Stockings and Supporters. His Homeopathic Pharmacy also had a sign reading “Open All Night.” His products were displayed neatly in his first floor corner shop windows.

John W. Service retired in 1917 when he sold his drug store at 299 Park Street to James DeLeo and James P. Murray, who had been his clerks, one about nine years and the other about three. He also sold his interest in the 243 address to George Robertson who had run the store and been his partner.

John Service was well known in other ways and was considered one of the earliest baseball fans and financial supporters of local clubs in Hartford. Hartford had nearly continuous baseball from 1874 to 1952, including early major league baseball teams from 1874-1877. He retired in Middlesex, Massachusetts where we last see him in 1920. He died around 1929.

Select Listings:

1858: John W Service, Birth Date: 21 Feb 1858, Birth Place: Worcester, Massachusetts, Father: William Service, Mother: Hellen Smith – Massachusetts, Birth Records, 1840-1915
1880: John W. Service, Clerk in Drug Store, Age: 20, Birth Date: Abt 1860, Birthplace: Massachusetts, Home in 1880: Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, Street: Lawrence Street, House Number: 43, Dwelling Number: 155, Marital status: Single, Mother’s Birthplace: Connecticut – 1880 United States Federal Census
1890: Pure Wines of California Spring Bitters made by the California Wine Agency, located at 72 Trumbull Street in Hartford. – Hartford Courant, Wednesday, May 7, 1890

1892: Newspaper notice (below) Mrs. Rebecca G. Service, wife of John. W. Service died…- Hartford Courant, Wednesday, June 15, 1892

1893: Newspaper advertisement (below) Richardson’s SherryWine Bitters being sold by John W. Service – Hartford Courant, Thursday, September 21, 1893

1893: Marriage John W Service, Age: 34, Birth Year: abt 1859, Birth Place: Worcester, Marriage Date: 14 Feb 1893, Marriage Place: Boston, Massachusetts, Father: William Service, Mother: Helen Service, Spouse: Susan E Aldred – Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840-1915
1893-1894: John W Service, Druggist, Street address: 243 Park, Hartford, Connecticut – Geer’s Hartford, Connecticut, City Directory, 1894
1897-1899: John W Service, Druggist, 243 & 299 Park, h 42 Allen, Hartford, Connecticut – Hartford, Connecticut, City Directory, 1897 also Geer’s Hartford, Connecticut, City Directory, 1897
1899: Newspaper notice (below) Druggist’ License for John W. Service, 299 Park Street – Hartford Courant, Wednesday, May 3, 1899

1900: John W Service, Druggist, Age: 42, Birth Date: Feb 1858, Birthplace: Massachusetts, Home in 1900: Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, Ward of City: 8th, Street: Allen Place, House Number: 70, Sheet Number: 8, Number of Dwelling in Order of Relation to Head of House: Head, Marital status: Married, Spouse’s name: Susie E Service,Marriage Year: 1893, Father’s Birthplace: New York, Mother’s Birthplace: Scotland, Household Members: John W Service 42, Susie E Service 36, Charlotte Ring 29 – 1900 United States Federal Census
1900: Newspaper advertisement (below) Dr. Holt’s Kidney Tablets sold at John W. Service, 243 Park Street and The Modern Pharmacy, 299 Park Street – Hartford Courant, Tuesday, July 24, 1900

1900 – 1903: Drug Stores: John W Service, Druggist, Street address: 243 and 299 Park, h 70 Allen Pl, Hartford, Connecticut – Hartford, Connecticut, City Directory, 1900
1905: Newspaper notice (below) John W. Service, a druggist, pleaded guilty to violating the provisions of his liquor license and was fined $25 and costs. – Hartford Courant, Saturday, October 7, 1905

1906 – 1916: John W Service, Druggist, 299 Park (Modern), Hartford, Connecticut – Hartford, Connecticut, City Directory, 1906
1910: John W Service, Druggist, Age in 1910: 51, Birth Year: abt 1859, Birthplace: Massachusetts, Home in 1910: Hartford Ward 8, Hartford, Connecticut Street: Washington, House Number: 41, Marital status: Married, Spouse’s name: Susaine C Service, Father’s Birthplace: Connecticut, Mother’s Birthplace: Scotland, Industry: Own Store, Employer, Employee or Other: Own Account, Home Owned or Rented: Own, Home Free or Mortgaged: Free, Farm or House: House, Years Married: 17, Household Members:  John W Service 51, Susaine C Service 39 – 1910 United States Federal Census
1910: Newspaper notice (below) John W. Service submits for druggists license to sell spirituous and intoxicating liquors – Hartford Courant, Friday, April 15, 1910

1910: Newspaper notice (below) death Mrs.William Service (Helen Smith), mother of John W. Service – Norwich Bulletin, Wednesday, December 28, 1910

1913: Newspaper notice (below) Burglar Enters Two Houses in South End – John W. Service – Hartford Courant, Saturday, July 5, 1913

1917: Newspaper notice (below) John W. Service Out of Drug Business – Hartford Courant, Wednesday, August 22, 1917

1920: John W Service, Age: 61, Birth Year: abt 1859, Birthplace: Massachusetts, Home in 1920: Medford Ward 2, Middlesex, Massachusetts, Street: Fells Avenue Terrace, House Number: 16, Residence Date: 1920, Marital status: Married, Spouse’s name: Susan E Service, Father’s Birthplace: New York, Mother’s Birthplace: Scotland, Household Members: John W Service 61, Susan E Service 55 – 1920 United States Federal Census
1936: Newspaper notice (below) Susan Eldredge, second wife of John W. Service dies. Notes John W. Service died about seven years ago – Hartford Courant, Tuesday, December 15, 1936

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He Sold Black Hawk Bitters

Posted on 23 January 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

He Sold Black Hawk Bitters

23 January 2019

I saw the “He Sold Black Hawk Bitters” notice below for Black Hawk Bitters in a Mexico, Missouri newspaper dated Thursday, December 2, 1915. It caught my eye as a possible unlisted bitters.

Still more arrests for selling Black Hawk Bitters that made men climb telegraph poles and throw their tools in the street!

In the notice, J.T. Gentle, a druggist from Vandalia, Missouri, was indicted on eight counts for selling Black Hawk Bitters. This is not too surprising in the 1915 pre-Prohibition temperance era as many spirits were disquised and sold as patent medicines. He said the alcohol in the bitters was sufficient to keep the product from spoiling.

In another newspaper notice, druggist, M.K. Shuggart in Iowa also had his Black Hawk Bitters seized. In court, he said it was a medicine and that it was a summer drink and should be classified with lemonade, even though the bitters was labeled 30 percent alcohol. Still more arrests for selling Black Hawk Bitters that reportedly made men climb telegraph poles and throw their tools in the street! The last from the Kansas Democrat in Hiawatha, Kansas. This is the kind of material you find in bitters researching, just like the assorted nefarious material put in a bitters bottle.

While this bitters may be unlisted, I doubt it. There are no proprietors listed and each druggist would not make his own Black Hawk Bitters. In Bitters Bottles by Carlyn Ring and Bill Ham, there is a B 114, labeled amber square for Black Hawk Stomach Bitters (Windsor’s Black Hawk Liver and Stomach Bitters) being sold by Hartz & Bahnsen, Sole Proprietors in Rock Island, Illinois in the 1890s.

The new listing by Bill Ham for the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

Newspaper article
B 113.5 BLACK HAWK BITTERS, Albert Lehman, Manufacturer
Quad City Times (Davenport, Iowa), March 20, 1867

In the follow-up Bitters Bottles Supplement there is a listing B 114.5, for a labeled amber oval square Black Hawk Stomach Bitters with a graphic of a Indian Chief in headdress. This was a tonic put out by the Columbia Chemical Co. in Saint Louis, Missouri. An example is pictured below from the Lou Hollis collection.

There was also a Black Hawk Bitters made by Meyer Bros. Drug Co. in Saint Louis, Missouri in 1914 as reported in National Association of Retail Druggists.

Any one of these bitters could be the Black Hawk Bitters referenced in the top advertisement.

Another Black Hawk Bitters

Here is another newspaper notice (represented further below) about a fellow named Albert Lehman who was the manufacturer of Black Hawk Bitters in 1867 according to the Quad City Times in Davenport, Iowa. He was arrested for Licentious Assault for the intent to commit a rape of a Regina Magnus. That was his wife.

He was arrested for Licentious Assault for the intent to commit a rape of a Regina Magnus. That was his wife.

Evidence presented said that it appeared that Regina Magnus was the daughter of Franz Staufenbeil, who at the time was engaged with Lehman to manufacture Black Hawk Bitters. In court, the assault was proved by Regina, her mother and her father.

Albert Lehmen filed an affidavit denying the assault and claiming the prosecutions malicious. In the document given by the police magistrate, Franz Staufenbeil had been previously convicted of keeping a house of ill-fame.

Another crazy bitters story. This bitters may have been the genesis of the bitters produced in the 1890s and 1900s.

Black Hawk

Black Hawk, (1767 – October 3, 1838) was a band leader and warrior of the Sauk American Indian tribe in what is now the Midwest of the United States. Although he had inherited an important historic medicine bundle from his father, he was not a hereditary civil chief. Black Hawk earned his status as a war chief or captain by his actions: leading raiding and war parties as a young man, and a band of Sauk warriors during the Black Hawk War of 1832.

During the War of 1812, Black Hawk fought on the side of the British against the U.S., hoping to push white American settlers away from Sauk territory. Later he led a band of Sauk and Fox warriors, known as the British Band, against European-American settlers in Illinois and present-day Wisconsin in the 1832 Black Hawk War. After the war, he was captured by U.S. forces and taken to the eastern U.S. He and other war leaders were taken on tour of several cities.

Just 49 years had passed since Black Hawk had been laid to rest in 1870 at Spring Lake, Utah, when members of the LDS Mormon Church robbed the contents of his grave in 1919. Accompanying the article is a photo of William E. Croft standing in the open grave, grinning ear to ear, while holding the skull of Black Hawk. While the living descendants of Black Hawk were outraged and heartbroken, their voices fell on deaf ears. Seemingly without conscience or remorse church leaders without a lick of civility made no apologies, in spite of a federal law passed in 1906 called the Graves Protection Act. Descendents of Black Hawk had no real legal recourse until the enactment of the National American Graves Protection Reparation Act, or NAGPRA, passed in 1994. (Source Marriott Library Special Collections Brigham Young University)

Read more about bitters named after Indians:

Red Cloud Bitters – One of the Chicago ‘Indians’

Red Jacket Bitters – Another Chicago ‘Indian’

He had a new variety of bitters known as Red Jacket Bitters

Lewis’ Red Jacket Bitters – New Haven, Connecticut

Barnett & Lion’s Southern Grey Jacket Stomach Bitters

Select Listings:

1867: Newspaper notice (below) Albert Lehman, the manufacturer of Black Hawk Bitters, assaulted his wife – Quad City Times (Davenport, Iowa), Wednesday, March 20, 1867

1912: Newspaper notice (below) Still More Arrests for selling Black Hawk Bitters That Made Men Climb Telegraph Poles and Throw Their Tools in the Street – The Kansas Democrat (Hiawatha, Kansas), Thursday, September 26, 1912.

1914: Blackhawk Bitters, Meyer Bros. Drug Co., Saint Louis, Missouri –National Association of Retail Druggists., 1914
1915: Newspaper notice (above) J.T Gentle, druggist from Vandalia, Missouri indicted on eight counts for selling Black Hawk Bitters –  Mexico Missouri Message, Thursday, December 2, 1915
1917: Newspaper notice (below) Havner Makes Tama Bone Dry. M.K. Shuggart asks for seized Black Hawk Bitters to be returned. Though it is labeled 30 percent alcohol, he said it was a medicine. – Evening Times Republican (Marshalltown, Iowa), Friday, August 3, 1917

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