Welcome to my Harrison, Ohio bottle page. Finding all the local bottles is a great interest to me. I think I have them all. If anyone has knowledge of Harrison bottles other than those shown or mentioned, please let me know.

K. Friederich Distilling / Harrison, Ohio

In 1888, Kosmas Friederich opened his distillery in Harrison. The bottle on the right is of the style and type first used and is rare. It is blown in a mold and has a hand tooled top. It came with a cork wrapped glass stopper.

His son George Friederich takes over operation. Sometime around 1900 the bottle used changes to the type on the left. It is scarce but there were many more of this type made than the former. It is machine made and has a ground lip, and comes with a threaded, cork lined pewter cap. (Pewter cap is rare)
In 1919 prohibition closes the distillery.

West Side Druggist / Harrison, Ohio.

Will Yeager opens Harrison Ohio's "West Side" drug store in 1890. The 3 bottles at the left are blown in mold with applied lip. In 1900, Sam A. Barrow takes over ownership. He chooses a slightly different bottle design but is still blown. In 1903 Rudolph Kern takes over. In 1943 he retires and his son, Rudolph Kern Jr. takes over. The pyroglazed bottle on the right is from the 1940's / 50's, and is machine made. All are common with the Sam A. Barrow being slightly more scarce.

Ward's Liniment.

The history of Ward's Liniment begins in the early 1850's when Richard Ward of Harrison, Ohio concocted an all-purpose Liniment which he sold under the names, "Ward's Botanical Liniment", and "R. Ward's Botanical Liniment". Ward was called doctor, but in reality was not a physician.

On July 16^th, 1856, Ward sold his formula to J. H. Sands for $5.00. Sands was provided labels from Wards own supply, and was given the sole right to manufacture and sell the product in Minnesota Territory. Sands moved to Winona, Minnesota Territory and the product quickly gained wide popularity. When the labels supplied by Ward ran out, Sands printed new labels with the legend, "Wards Celebrated Liniment".

In 1867 Ward again sold the rights to his Liniment, selling the trade rights of "Wards Celebrated Liniment" in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin to J.R. Watkins of Plainview, Minnesota.

Ward also supplied Watkins with bottles embossed, "Ward's Liniment", and agreed that he would patent the formula. Unfortunately for Watkins, the formula was never patented.

Watkins sold the Liniment using Ward's labels and bottles until the supply was exhausted, then made his own bottles and labels featuring his own name, "Watkins Liniment".

Watkins threatened to sue Sands for use of the trade name in 1868. Sands, who could not afford the expense of a trial, began calling his product "J.H. Sands Celebrated Liniment".

On May 14^th 1870 Watkins registered two trademarks, "Dr. Ward's Vegetable Anodyne Liniment", to be used on the paper labels, and "Dr. Ward's Liniment", to be embossed on the side panels of the bottles.

By 1885 Watkins had built an empire from the sales of his Liniment. The company is still in business today and their web site can be seen at http://www.watkinsonline.com/default.cfm

The Bottle pictured was found in a privy in Harrison. It is Iron Pontilled, so it is from the earliest years of production. Its location would indicate that it was one of the original Richard Ward bottles.

If anyone has any information on Richard Ward of Harrison Ohio circa 1850's I would be most interested.

Below is another Ward's Botanical Linament. (Notice how the word "linament" is spelled differently) This one has an open pontil and is probably even earlier than the one above. This one was also found in Harrison. It has a greenish cast and has more bubbles than any bottle I have ever seen. So many I am afraid to tumble it.
(You know I will try to tumble it though)

Yep, I tumbled it. I was holding my breath on this one ! There are so many bubbles that bubbles are on top of other bubbles.
 It held tight ! No bubble trouble !!!

Below, two examples from Loos Dairy in Harrison, Ohio.
(More pics of painted label (pyroglazed) Loos bottles to come.)

Below, an add for Dr. J.P. Marvin, and one of his bottles, tumbled to shine like the day it was made.

Dr. Thomas, still to come.

Lawrenceburg, Indiana Bottles.

Below, John C. McCullouch and E.E. Ferris Pharmacy bottles.

Below, circa 1890 Hutchinson type soda bottles.

W.F. Ritzmann, Lawrenceburg, IND.

Below, Kuntz and Ritzmann, Lawrenceburg, IND.

Below, Circa 1870 - 1880 squat type blob top soda.

J. Foshag, Lawrenceburg, Ind.

Thats it for now. Keep checking back for more local stuff.
 I have Brookville Indiana bottles still to post.