Hibernia Bitters, Herman Braunschweiger & the Bumsted guy

11 December 2013 (R•121317)

I couldn’t help but notice a really nice example of a Hibernia Bitters currently on ebay. The bitters was produced by Braunschweiger & Bumstead (should be spelled Bumsted) from San Francisco, Califiornia It brought back fond memories of when I obtained my example (pictured above) from the 3-part Bryan Grapentine auction conducted by Jeff Wichmann and American Bottle Auctions back in 2006 and 2007. See ebay listing: “Ridiculously Rare” Western Applied Top Bitters San Francisco, Cal “HIBERNIA”. The ebay bottle is pictured below. Seller: Diggin8s (100%) I thought that this might be a good time to investigate this rare ‘Western’ square and to find out who was Braunschweiger and Bumstead? Sounds like a comedy team. The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:

H 113  HIBERNIA BITTERS

HIBERNIA BITTERS / BRAUNSCHWEIGER & BUMSTEAD. / SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. // f // f // f /
10 x 2 3/4 (7 1/4) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTCR, Applied mouth, Very rare

Extremely rare yellow Hibernia Bitters from the Richard Siri collection. Photos by Alan DeMaison

As suspected, the ‘western boys’ have already been over this topic from a couple of angles but that didn’t stop me from looking around. I’ve ‘corraled’ some of their fine work and added a little bit of my research. Of course, it is also fun to learn more about a bottle in your collection and by doing the research work yourself, it anchors the bottle a little more firmly in your memory.

Read: Bumstead, You’re Fired!!! (Western Glob Top Whiskies)

Read: Braunschweiger Sample Salesman Bags Turn up in Idaho (American Bottle Auctions)

Read: The Braunschweiger Family Tree – bad apple and all (Western Whiskey Tool Top Gazette)

Read: Contrasting colors of Western Squares (Western Bitters News)

Select Braunschweiger Timeline Events

What interested me most here was the rise of Herman Braunschweiger (pictured below) and his ‘good for nuthin’ son, Herman Jr.

1839: Herman Braunschweiger born 24 October 1839 in Braunschweig, Germany.

1868: Herman Braunschweiger Naturalized as Citizen of the United States in New Orleans, Louisiana on 25 May 1868.

1875 – 1876: A. Fenkhausen & Co. (Amandus Fenkhausen & Herman Braunschweiger), importers and jobbers wine and liquors, NW cor Front and Sacramento, City Directories for San Francisco, California

1880 – 1881: Fenkhausen & Braunschweiger (Amandus Fenkhausen and Herman Braunschweiger) (Edward H. Bumsted, traveling agent) importers wines and liquors, 414 front, City Directories for San Francisco, California

1882: Braunschweiger & Bumsted, San Francisco, “Hibernia Stomach Bitters,” “Golden Anchor,” “Golden Chief,” “Golden Rule,” “Golden Cupid,” and “Silver Wedding” liquors. Filed and recorded April 21, 1882, – Report, Oregon. Office of the Secretary of State

1882 – 1884: Braunschweiger & Bumsted (Herman Braunschweiger and Edward H. Bumsted) importers and wholesale dealers wines and liquors, 223 California, City Directories for San Francisco, California

1884: Dissolution of Copartnership between Herman Braunschweiger and Edward H. Bumsted (see below), August 9, 1884, Daily Alta California, 11 August 1884

1884: Certificate of Copartnership for Braunschweiger & Co. (see above), August 9, 1884, Daily Alta California, 11 August 1884

1888: Braunschweiger & Co. (Hermann Braunschweiger) (Edward Braunschweiger, assistant bookkeeper) importers and wholesale Dealers wines and liquors, 223 California, City Directories for San Francisco, California

1891 – 1894: Braunschweiger & Co. (incorporated),  importers and wholesale dealers wines and liquors, 223 California, City Directories for San Francisco, California

1895: Wedding of Edward Braunschweiger to Louise Rau, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 April 1895

1896 – 1904: Braunschweiger & Co. (Herman Braunschweiger), Herman Braunschweiger, president, Edward Braunschweiger secretary and treasurer, importers and liquor merchants, 5 – 7 Drumm, tel. Main 1646, City Directories for San Francisco, California

1896: Young Hermann Braunschweiger Jr. scandals (see below). Read ‘Young Hermann Braunschweiger’s Queer Marriage’ and ‘Braunschweiger in Trouble Again, Attacks his Wife’s Niece’.

Young Hermann Braunschweiger’s Queer Marriage – San Francisco Chronicle, August 8, 1896

Braunschweiger in Trouble Again, Attacks his Wife’s Niece – San Francisco Chronicle, September 11, 1896

BRAUNSCHWEIGER’S MIND

Judge Sanderson Decides That Sadie Nichols’ Husband Is Not Insane. 

He Is Irrational When He Is Intoxicated, but Not a Subject for an Asylum.

Herman Braunschweiger Jr. was before Judge Sanderson yesterday on a charge of insanity preferred by his father. Braunschweiger is the young man who a few days ago went on a spree and married Sadie Nichols, the keeper of an Eddy-Street lodging-house. Mrs. Braunschweiger Jr. was in court yesterday and testified in her husband’s behalf.

The mother of the accused testified that her son is 24 years of age; has at times had an over-fondness for drink, and that she considered him weak-minded. This mental weakness, she says, is worse when he is drinking. She considers that his impaired intellect is due to an attack of heart trouble, which the young man experienced when a boy. Last May young Braunschweiger went to the Home of the Inebriates for treatment for the liquor habit, since which time he has held himself straight until last week, when he again began to drink heavily, and during his spree married Sadie Nichols.

Mrs. Braunschweiger said she feared that Herman might commit suicide, as he had said he felt very bad over the shame he had brought on his family. The father of the young man also was fearful as to his son’s life.

Braunschweiger Sr. testified that when his son was drinking he did not know what he was doing. He said that if the young man had been sober he would never have married Sadie Nichols. The witness reluctantly acknowledged that there was a taint of insanity in the family, and said he devired to have his son placed in some institution where he could be taken care of.

William Craig, an attorney, and an old friend of the family, testified that two cousins of Herman Braunschweiger Sr. had committed suicide while confined in an asylum, and that an uncle of the accused was now confined in Folsom prison, because of a forgery committed while temporarily deranged.

The accused spoke in his own behalf, saying that he had been drinking before the marriage and afterward, but that he was sober when the ceremony was performed. He claimed to be sane and said he could take care of himself. He acknowledged having taken treatment for the liquor habit.

Sadie Nichols, or Mrs. Braunschweiger Jr., corroborated her husband’s testimony as to his condition at the time of the wedding. She said it was not a hasty marriage, but that the matter had been talked over between herself and her husband several times before. She did not believe him insane and had never noticed anything to indicate that such was a fact.

Judge Sanderson, after listening to all the evidence, ordered the prisoner released. His Honor said that, although the young man might be irrational when drinking, he was no fit subject for an insane asylum.

Braunschweiger Jr. at once left the courtroom with his wife.

San Francisco Call, 13 August 1896

1902: Modern Building on Drumm Street announced. Will cost at least $40,000! (see image), San Francisco Chronicle, Sunday, March 28, 1902

Braunschweiger Building – Modern Building on Drum Street – San Francisco Chronicle, Sunday, March 28, 1902

1906: The 1906 quake destroyed the company premises but Herman rebuilt and continued the business until retirement in 1913

1908 – 1912: Braunschweiger & Co. (Inc) Edward Braunschweiger pres and genl mgr, importers and wholesale liquor dealers, 1328 Howard, City Directories for San Francisco, California