Dr. Stoever’s Bitters – Lancaster & Philadelphia
THE OLD STANDARD !
12 October 2015 (R•101615) (R•111015)
I was able to add an extremely rare “Lancaster, PA.”, Dr. Stoever’s Bitters to my collection this past weekend from the Nolt Collection of Whiskey Memorabilia auctioned off by Conestoga Auction Company in Manheim, Pennsylvania. I had the “Philadelphia” variant of the bottle where the city line embossing shows a plate line where the name has been changed from LANCASTER, PA., so adding the Lancaster variant was cool.
Read: Jeremiah Rohrer – Nolt Collection of Whiskey Memorabilia
The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:
S 198 DR. STOEVER’S BITTERS
DR. STOEVER’S / BITTERS // ESTABLISHED 1837 //
KRYDER & CO. / LANCASTER, PA // f //
L…The Old Standard 1837 Dr. Stoever’s Celebrated Tonic
9 1/2 x 2 1/2 (6 7/8) 1/2
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied Mouth, Extremely rare
S 198.5: Dr. Stoever’s Bitters, Kryder & Co., Lancaster, PA. Established in 1837. Embossed Lettering on Light Amber Bottle, 9 .”( Note: Extra piece of glass molded into neck.) Nolt Collection – Conestoga Auction Company
S 198.5: Dr. Stoever’s Bitters, Kryder & Co., Lancaster, PA. Established in 1837. Embossed Lettering on Amber Bottle, 9 1/2 .” Nolt Collection – Conestoga Auction Company – Meyer Collection
The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:
S 199 DR. STOEVER’S BITTERS
DR. STOEVER’S / BITTERS // ESTABLISHED 1837 //
KRYDER & CO. / PHILADELPHIA // f //
L…The Old Standard 1837 Dr. Stoever’s Celebrated Tonic Bitters
9 1/2 x 2 1/2 (6 7/8) 1/2
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied Mouth, Rare
Note: The city line embossing shows a plate line where the name has been changed from LANCASTER PA.
Public Ledger (Philadelphia) September 26, 1883
Stoever’s German Tonic Herb & Cocktail Bitters
S 199: Dr. Stover’s Bitters, Kryder & Co., Philadelphia. Established in 1837. – Meyer Collection
An unlisted, partially labeled, Kryder’s Celebrated German Bitters. Manufactured by C. H. Kryder, King Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Nolt Collection – Conestoga Auction Company
Dr. John Frederick Stoever, Charlers H. Kryder, William M. Huey and Amos H. Christ
From my best understanding, it looks like the Dr. Stoever’s Bitters my have originated from Dr. John Frederick Stoever in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1837. Stoever was born on 1 August 1776 in Manheim, Lancaster, Pennsylvania so the dates and locales might be right. As noted above, both variants of the bottles are embossed, “Established 1837” and this date appears in advertising. There are other Stoevers though, so this is just conjecture. He is the main suspect.
At some point, probably around 1858 or so, Charles H. Kryder takes over the brand in Philadelphia. Kryder was born in Pennsylvania around 1815. By 1860, he had relocated to Lancaster, Pennsylvania and marketing of the Dr. Stoever’s Bitters brand began in earnest. His son, Theodore O. Kryder was listed as a general agent for the bitters. He may have used labeled bottles only, up until and at this time. The dates are fuzzy here but it mostly fits together. Kryder & Company first appears in advertising in 1868. I am not 100% sure if the Philadelphia or Lancaster bottle was made first. They both were probably made in the same 3-year period, around 1868. He also put out the Kryder’s Celebrated German Bitters (see example above) from a King Street address in Lancaster.
Charles Kryder must have known other local bitters merchants like Jeremiah Rohrer (Rohrer’s Wild Cherry Tonic), Benjamin Mishler (Mishler’s Herb Bitters), John Hart (Canteen Bitters), Reinfried & Lesher (Dr. Maton’s Celebrated Herb Bitters) and Dr. Samuel B. Hartman (later purchased Mishler Herb Bitters). Many had addresses on King and Queen Street in Lancaster. Evan Mishler was even representing the Dr. Stoever’s Bitters brand, and Mishler’s Herb Bitters in Reading, Pennsylvania for his Uncle Benjamin in Lancaster, Penn. You can see his name on some of the advertising further below.
In 1870, Charles Kryder moves his Kryder & Company to 121 N. Third Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Advertising states, “Manufacturers of Dr. Stoever’s Celebrated Tonic Herb Bitters.” This must now be the Philadelphia variant. The Lancaster embossing being earlier. It is also extremely rare and the Philadelphia variant is just rated rare in Ring & Ham.
Advertisement: Kryder & Co., Manufacturers of Dr. Stoever’s Celebrated Tonic Herb Bitters, 121 N. Third Street, Philadelphia – 1870 & 1871 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory
By 1875, Huey and Christ (William M. Huey and Amos H. Christ) have taken over the Dr. Stoever’s Bitters brand. They are located on 121 North Third Street. They are also the manufacturers of Bailey’s Pure Rye Whiskey (see top of post advertising and picture below) and Dr. Stoever’s Tonic Herb Bitters. The are also importer of wines, brandies and gins. You can see their building below.
Huey & Christ Building
Overall, some pretty nice bitters squares that now have a story, or at least most of a story.
Select Listings
1776: John Frederick Stoever, Birth 1 Aug 1776 in Manheim, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
1815: Charles H. Kryder born in Pennsylvania.
1836: Dr. Frederick Stoever, Mrs. B. Stoever, David P. Stoever, Twenty First Street South, Philadelphia – Boyd’s Blue Book: A Directory from Selected Streets of Philadelphia
1837: Dr. Stoever’s Bitters embossed “Established 1837.”
1858: Charles H. Kryder, liquors, 408 Merchant (Theo O. Kryder, salesman, 259 Market) – McElroys Philadelphia City Directory
1860: Charles H. Kryder, Innkeeper, age 47, born about 1813, born Pennsylvania, home in 1860: Manheim, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, wife: Olevia (46), Children: Addie (23), Clara (13), Mary (11) – United States Federal Census
1861: Theodore O. Kryder appointed as US Postmaster in Neffsville, Lancaster, Pennsylvania on 28 January 1861.
1863: Dr. Stoever’s Stomach Bitters advertisement, for sale by Cheap John. (see below).
Dr. Stoever’s Stomach Bitters advertisement, for sale by Cheap John. – Reading Times, Thursday, January 1, 1863
1863-1864: Charles Kryder, bitters, h Walnut and S. Queen (Theodore O. Kryder, h 30 W. Walnut) – Gopsill´s Directory of Lancaster, Harrisburg, Lebanon and York
1865-1866: Charles H. Kryder, patent medicines, N Queen c Walnut, Lancaster, Pennsylvania – Gopsill´s Pennsylvania State Business Directory
1866: Charles H. Kryder, Herb Bitters, Theodore O. Kryder, Commercial Broker, both N. Queen – US IRS Tax Assessment
1867: Stoever’s Bitters advertisement, Represented by E. Mishler in Reading, PA. (see below).
Stoever’s Bitters advertisement, Represented by E. Mishler in Reading, PA. – Reading Times, Monday, December 9, 1867
1868: KRYDER & CO., (T.O. Kryder) Liquors and Dr. Stoever’s Bitters, 12 E. King (Martin M. Kryder, clerk) (C.H. Kryder, bookkeeper) – Lancaster Pennsylvania City Directory
1868: An Agreeable Surprise. C. H Kryder presented tithe gold hunting case watch – Reading Times, January 23, 1868 (see below)
An Agreeable Surprise – Reading Times, January 23, 1868
1868: Dr. Stoever’s Stomach Bitters advertisement, The Old Standard! Manufactured by Kryder & Co., Lancaster, PA. Represented by E. Mishler in Reading, PA. (see below).
Dr. Stoever’s Stomach Bitters advertisement – Reading Times, Thursday, November 19, 1868
1870: Charles H. Kryder, age 58, wholesale liquor dealer, born about 1812, birthplace Pennsylvania, home in 1870: Philadelphia Ward 20, District 66, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wife: Sarah (34), Children: Mary (21) – United States Federal Census
1870-1871: Charles Kryder, 1544 Park Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (see advertisement below) Kryder & Co., Manufacturers of Dr. Stoever’s Celebrated Tonic Herb Bitters, 121 N. Third Street, Philadelphia – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory
1875: Huey and Christ (William M. Huey and Amos H. Christ), 121 North Third St., Manufacturers of Bailey’s Pure Rye Whiskey and Dr. Stoever’s Tonic Herb Bitters., Importer of wines, brandies and gins. – Philadelphia City Directory also Bonfort’s Wine and Liquor Trade Directory for the United States
1877: Advertisement: Huey & Christ selling Dr. Stoever’s Tonic Herb Bitters – Reading Times, Thursday January 11, 1877
Advertisement: Huey & Christ selling Dr. Stoever’s Tonic Herb Bitters – Reading Times, Thursday January 11, 1877
1880: Charles Kreider, age 65, liquor dealer, born about 1815, birthplace Pennsylvania, home in 1880: Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Wife Sarah (43), Children: Sarah O. (4) – United States Federal Census
1884-1888: Charles H. Kryder, German Bitters, wines and liquors, 11 e King – Farris Lancaster City Directory
1891: Charles H. Kryder dies on 24 July 1891
1897: Dr. Stoever’s Bitters advertisement, Huey & Christ (see below).
Dr. Stoever’s Bitters advertisement, Huey & Christ – Lebanon Daily News, Saturday, July 3, 1897