Passing Bell Buoy, Boston Harbor

Trade card. Copyright, Bufford, Boston, Massachusetts. Circa 1890s.

Price:  $4.00

Nellie Lee’s Card

An illustration of a paddle wheel steamer passing a bell buoy in Boston Harbor:  This trade card was never printed with any particular company information. It’s just a sample card that had come into the possession, as we see from the reverse, of young Nellie Lee.

On the subject of buoys, there were a number of different types:  gas, whistling, can, nun, ice, spar and bell – this is info from a 4-column spread in The Boston Globe in 1889. The article’s author, John Collier, had gone out on Verbena, one of the steamers used for buoy supply and inspection, and had interviewed her captain, Charles I. Gibbs. Here are just a few excerpts, if you have time:

Buoys are like boys….

Below, Captain Gibbs, explaining some of the different buoys, the maintenance and some of the problems encountered:

Illustrations of an old bell buoy and an automatic whistler:

Sources:  Collier, John. “On the Verbena…Buoys and Beacons Visited by a Reporter….” The Boston Globe, June 9, 1889. Sunday, p. 17. (Newspapers.com).

Fog bell. n.d. wikipedia.org. (accessed September 22, 2024.)

E. K. Reynolds, Norwich CT Trade Card

Trade card, lithograph by Bufford, Boston, Mass. Circa 1878 – 1890.

Price:  $15.00

“After the race – off City Point, Boston Harbor.”

“E. K. Reynolds, French China, Grockery, Glass Ware & House Furnishing Goods.  Norwich, Conn.”

Yep, that’s a typo there – of course, they meant Crockery. And in checking the internet, this card is the only one that we see right now for E. K. Reynolds. It’s in good condition, other than the white mark, top left-hand side of the card, which is paper that had gotten stuck to it, at some point. The lithograph company name is printed in the waves there on the bottom right.

Edward Kennard Reynolds was born December 3, 1834 in Cecil County, Maryland. He married Fannie Foster and they had two daughters, Bennibel and Nellie. Edward died September 5, 1884, and from city directories, Nellie carried on the family business for a while. The last mention found (in a quick directory search) is for Mrs. E. K. Reynolds, in 1890, business address 159 Main and 17 Shetucket. The earliest directory found was for 1878.

Sources:  Price, Lee & Co. Steadman’s Directory, Norwich, 1878. No. 18. P. 199. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995.

Price, Lee & Co. Steadman’s Directory, Norwich, 1890. No. 30. P. 402. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 05 June 2020), memorial page for Edward Kennard Reynolds (3 Dec 1834–5 Sep 1884), Find a Grave Memorial no. 92408525, citing Yantic Cemetery, Norwich, New London County, Connecticut, USA ; Maintained by Northern Neighbors (contributor 47033135) .

Brown & Dawson, Druggists

Brown And Dawson Druggists Syracuse NY tc1

Trade Card, circa 1887. Syracuse, New York.

Price:  $15.00     Size:  About 2 and 5/8 x 4 and 3/8″

“I use Toilet No. 13 Cologne. Made by Brown & Dawson, Druggists, No. 13 South Salina Street, Syracuse, N. Y.    Fragrant!    Delicious!”

Yikes, delicious?! Not how we would describe perfume or cologne today, I don’t think. Wonder if they named it number 13 after their address? In any case this is the second Bufford trade card of the same design (see prior post) and we’ll see what we can find for Brown & Dawson.

The 1879 city directory shows W. L. Brown and E. S. Dawson, Jr., Druggists.

W. L. was living at 223 Genesee Street in Syracuse in 1880, per the Federal Census, occupation Druggist. He was born in New York, about 1845. Married to Gertrude F., about five years his junior. Their children on this census are Garrett, Mabel and Guy, ages ten to three. Also in the household are Minnie Carey, domestic servant, and James Burrell, boarder.

The 1870 Federal Census for Syracuse reveals that W. L.’s given name is Willet (spelled with two t’s here). He’s there with wife Gertie, other family members Rebecca and Frank, and a Sarah Elmendorf, maybe a servant or border.

We also see Find A Grave has an entry for him, and this shows his wife’s maiden name was Garrett. And the 1910 Federal Census shows that Willet Brown is still operating as a druggist.

So, who was E. S. Dawson, Jr?

We went to Google eBooks to find that he was Edward S. Dawson, Jr. and how nice to find a biography and a photo. Edward was born September 29, 1852 in Syracuse and got into the pharmacy business as a bottle washer at age 16, eventually partnering with Willet Brown in 1887.  See The Pharmaceutical Era, Vol. 35  for the full account.

Edward S. Dawson Jr

Sources:  Boyd’s Syracuse City Directory, 1879 – 1880. p. 92. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995.

Year: 1880; Census Place: Syracuse, Onondaga, New York; Roll: 908; Family History Film: 1254908; Page: 496A; Enumeration District: 222; Image: 0292. (Ancestry.com)

Year: 1870; Census Place: Syracuse Ward 6, Onondaga, New York; Roll: M593_1063; Page: 364A; Image: 118471; Family History Library Film: 552562. (Ancestry.com)

Find A Grave Memorial #74337313. (findagrave.com). Web accessed May 22, 2016.

Year: 1910; Census Place: Syracuse Ward 12, Onondaga, New York; Roll: T624_1057; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 0152; FHL microfilm: 1375070. (Ancestry.com)

Kennedy, Ezra J., Ph. C. (ed.). (1906) The Pharmaceutical Era, Vol. XXXV. p. 417. (Google eBook).

Page & Nunn, Brockton, Mass

Page And Nunn Brockton Mass tc1

Trade Card, circa 1882, Brockton, Massachusetts.

Price:  $15.00             Size:  About 2 and 5/8 x 4 and 3/8″

“Page & Nunn, Manufacturers of the Purest and Finest Confectionery, 427 Main St., Brockton, Mass.        D. L. Page.     F. T. Nunn.”

A trade card in what we like to call the “Breakthrough” style (see category under this name for more) and we couldn’t resist putting this one up after the Lupe Patton post because of the hairstyle and angle of the pose (he he). This was done by the well-known lithography firm Bufford of Boston, Mass. This particular design of the beautiful child with the soulful brown eyes may have been a popular choice back in the day:  We have another that will go up next, advertising a different company.

Dudley and Frederick

Page & Nunn were Dudley L. Page and Frederick T. Nunn according to the 1886 Lowell, Mass. city directory. Dudley was living in a house located on Humphrey “near Dracut line” and Fred was rooming at the shop, which was located at 46 Merrimack in Lowell. They appear in the 1888 Lowell directory, as well.

Page & Nunn Ad 1886

1882 in Brockton

But per our trade card Page & Nunn were found in the Brockton city directory 1882 with the business address same as on the card. There was supposed to be an ad for them on page 456, but evidently it never got submitted. The 1882 shows Dudley was living in a house in Lowell, and Fred was rooming at the Star Building on Main St. in Brockton.

A little more on Dudley

Dudley L. Page was found on the 1880 Federal Census for Lowell, living with his widowed mother, Ann Page, at 42 Church St. Dudley is listed as married, born in New Hampshire about 1846. Also in the household are grandchildren of Ann:  Lucien, Lena and Archie McLoon.

Sources:  John Henry Bufford. n.d https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_Bufford (accessed May 22, 2016).

Sampson, Murdock & Co.’s The Lowell Directory, 1886, No. XXXV. p. 460, 473, 828. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995.

C. F. Copeland’s, The Brockton City Directory, 1882. pp. 155 and 161. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995.

Year: 1880; Census Place: Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts; Roll: 545; Family History Film: 1254545; Page: 563D; Enumeration District: 469; Image: 0628. (Ancestry.com)

J. I. Case Threshing Machine Co.

J I Case Threshing Machine Co tc1

“Compliments of J. I. Case Threshing Machine Co. Racine Wis. Send for Catalogue.”

Two travelers crossing a stone bridge in wintertime. The lithography company is Bufford, whose name shows halfway cutoff at the bottom left. This trade card is probably from the 1880s or ’90s. This is one of those posts that, in particular, could lead to hours of fascinating reading, if one has the time. According to the company’s ad in the 1929 city directory, the J. I. Case T. M. Co. was founded in 1842. It continued through many incarnations till the 1990s when it merged with CNH Global.

Founder Jerome Increase Case (1819 – 1891)

Jerome Increase Case

A full page ad from the 1929 Racine, Wisconsin city directory. There’s Old Abe’s likeness in the center; she was the famous eagle from the Wisconsin 8th Volunteer Infantry.

J I Case 1929 Ad

The real Old Abe with her color guard in Vicksburg, 1863.

Old Abe 1863

Our trade card at top, though not in the best of shape is, at the time this post was put up, the only one in it’s particular style, showing online. Although there are a few others that can be found, that are even more to the point, as they advertise some of the J. I. Case farm equipment being sold at the time. The “stone bridge” is a pretty common fixture in old trade cards, postcards and other ephemera. Our card was likely one of a set of winter scenes.

Trade card, J. I. Case Threshing Co. Circa 1880s – 1890s.

Price:  $25.00              Size:  3 x 4 and 1/4″

Sources:  Case Corporation. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_Corporation (accessed February 4, 2016).

John Henry Bufford. n.d https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_Bufford (accessed February 4, 2016).

CNH Industrial. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNH_Industrial (accessed February 4, 2016).

Jerome Case. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Case (accessed February 4, 2016).

Wright’s Racine (Wisconsin) City Directory, 1929, Vol. XXXI. p. 3. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995.

Old Abe. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Abe (accessed February 4, 2016).

Corey & Stewart, Newark, NJ

Corey & Stewart Newark NJ tc1Corey & Stewart Newark NJ tc2

“Corey & Stewart, Fashionable Hatters and Furriers. 711 & 713 Broad Street. Newark, N. J.”

As of the date of this post, no other trade cards were found online for Corey & Stewart, which is a little surprising because they were a very successful firm. It’s another lithograph print by Bufford (new category going up) and a great design, in black on pale green, of the Roman ruins of Pompeii in the moonlight with an insert of a very fashionable couple on horseback.

The wonderfully detailed description below (we expect nothing less from the time period it was written, but thank you) is from William F. Ford’s The Industrial Interests of Newark, N. J….(1874) and reveals that Corey & Stewart was established in 1852 by James W. Corey, who was joined by James H. Stewart in 1863.

Corey & Stewart   

Corey & Stewart Ad 1870    An 1870 city directory showing the  “magnificent iron front building”  described above.

1868 and 1869 directories show they were located at 232 Broad Street, and by 1870 at 711 – 713 Broad St. The old address is also noted in the above directory ad. Listings were found for Corey & Stewart through the year 1896.

Trade Card for Corey & Stewart, Newark, NJ. Circa 1870 – 1896.

Price:  $25.00           Size:  About 5 and 1/4 x 3 and 1/8″

Sources:  Ford, William F. The Industrial Interests of Newark, N. J., Containing an Historical Sketch of the City…New York: Van Arsdale & Co., 1874. p.242. (Google eBook).

A. Stephen Holbrook’s Holbrook’s Newark City Directory, 1869. p. 155. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989).

A. Stephen Holbrook’s Holbrook’s Newark City Directory, 1870. p. 169. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989).

A. Stephen Holbrook’s Holbrook’s Newark City Directory, 1896. p. 330. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989).

I. Rice Sons, Rochester, NY

I Rice & Sons Rochester NY tc1I Rice & Sons Rochester NY tc2

“Established in 1852. I. Rice Sons, Dealers in Men’s and Boys’ Ready-Made Clothing, Cloths, Cassimeres, Vestings, &c., 29 East Main Street, Rochester, N. Y.”

At first glance, you might wonder if the  “I. Rice Sons”  without “&” printed on this trade card was a printing error, but not so, as we will see:  In browsing city directories we find that I. Rice was Israel Rice. His son Leopold worked with him for awhile, as the 1870 finds them under I. Rice & Son. By 1875, if not earlier, sons Henry and Seligman ran the business, hence the name I. Rice Sons appearing on this trade card.

A not all-inclusive directory timeline…

1864 – Israel Rice, clothier, 15 Main, home 8 Pleasant.

1870 – Israel Rice & Son (L. Rice)  “clothers” (clothiers) 15 Main, house 12 Pleasant.  Leopold Rice (I. Rice & Son), h. 11 Pleasant.

1874 – Israel Rice & Son. 15 Main St.

1875 – Israel Rice, 15 W. Main, house 12 Pleasant.   I. Rice Sons (L. H. and S. Rice) clothiers, 15 E. Main.

1878 – Henry Rice (Rice & Wolff) and (I. Rice Sons) house 4 Clinton Place. Israel Rice (I. Rice Sons) house 12 Pleasant. Seligman Rice (I. Rice Sons) 29 East Main.

1882 – I. Rice Sons (H. and S. Rice) clothiers, 29 E. Main.    Henry Rice & Co. (M. H. Lempert) hats and caps, 54 Mill and (I. Rice Sons) house 23 William.     Israel Rice, house 12 Pleasant.     Seligman Rice (I. Rice Sons) 29 East Main, house 1 Rome.

1884 – Henry Rice & Co. (M. H. Lempert) hats and caps, 110 Mill and (I. Rice Sons) house 28 William.   Israel Rice, 94 E. Main, house 13 (or 12) Pleasant.    I. Rice Sons (H. and S. Rice) clothiers, 94 E. Main.

The Litho company

“Bufford Boston”  that appears in small lettering at the bottom left of the trade card refers to John Henry Bufford (1810 – 1870) lithographer. By the time this card was printed the business was being run by his sons, Frank and John, Jr. We have another trade card by Bufford, Laurel Cottage’s very first post (!) entitled Princess Louise.

What’s on the back?

The back has an intriguing scrap of paper glued to it, maybe it was by accident or maybe the original collector was trying to make the card sturdier. Anyway, it appears that the trade card must have been laying on top of the classified section of a newspaper and the partial ad transferred over – in reverse. You have to hold it to a mirror to read it easily. The wording is:

“White Steamer, 20 h.p tour…top, shield, speedometer and…cost 3,000.00 reasonable price.”  And above that something about Chicago – maybe it was listed in a Chicago paper….Ahhh, a car – the White Steamer!

Trade Card, I Rice Sons. Rochester, NY. Circa 1878 – 1882.     

Price:  $15.00        Size:  About 2 and 5/8 x 4 and 1/2″

Sources:  Andrew Boyd’s Boyd’s Rochester and Brockport Directory, 1864-5. p.182. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989.)

C. C. Drew’s Rochester Directory, 1870. No. 21. p. 177. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989.)

Sampson, Davenport & Co.’s New York State Business Directory, 1874. p. 532. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989.)

Drew, Allis & Company’s Rochester Directory, 1875. No. 25. p. 265. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989.)

Drew, Allis & Company’s Rochester Directory, 1878. No. 29. p. 277. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989.)

Drew, Allis & Company’s Rochester Directory, 1882. No. 33. pp. 359-359. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989.)

Drew, Allis & Company’s Rochester Directory, 1884. No. 35. p. 428. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989.)

John Henry Bufford. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_Bufford. (accessed November 14, 2015).

Princess Louise

Louise

Nellie H. Bonney trade card showing a beautiful print of Her Royal Highness, the Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll. Miss Bonney can be found in various Haverhill, Massachusetts city directories and also on the 1880 Federal Census taken in Haverhill, showing her occupation as milliner,  and born about 1844. To the bottom right of the drawing is the lithographer’s last name and location:  Bufford, Boston. This print was produced by John Henry Bufford (1810-1870) an artist, lithographer, and publisher of prints. It is uncertain who was the actual artist of this work.

Trade Card. Nellie H. Bonney, Milliner. Haverhill, Mass. Circa 1880 – 1885.

Price:  $25.00     Size:  About 2 and 5/8 x 4 and 1/2″

Sources:  Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Louise,_Duchess_of_Argyll. (accessed November 14, 2015).

John Henry Bufford. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_Bufford (accessed November 14, 2015).

Year: 1880; Census Place: Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts; Roll: 529; Family History Film: 1254529; Page: 25D; Enumeration District: 182; Image: 0476. (Ancestry.com)