This ad is from 1881 in the New York Clipper. Since the firm was in Chicago, the street salesmen could order things from their catalogue. Most of the items mentioned do not seem like the pots-and-pans sort of goods that a travelling pedlar might sell in the country. These items are flashy: jewelry, pocket-knives, canes, tricks "and everything you desire" (a tall order, that). There are also notions (for sewing, which are practical) and some lovely brocade handkerchiefs (which are not so practical).
I always wonder about the people in the pages of old newspapers - what they were like and what happened to them afterwards.Louis Zitterbart was born in Bohemia in 1838, according to the 1880 census. This ad appeared in the New York Clipper in May 1864. Louis had been gone from home since about 1858, when he would have been 20 years old.
He was probably the son of Fidelis Zitterbart, a musician living at 258 Pennsylvania Avenue, Pittsburgh at least from the early 1860s to the mid-1880s. The elder Zitterbart was a composer and either he or his son Fidelis was the conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphonic Society in the late 19th century.
George Blumenschein - the agent mentioned in the ad - was a tavern keeper in Pittsburgh, who may have been a relative or friend of the Zitterbarts. It is not clear why an intermediary was needed, but since Louis had not been in touch with his family (suggesting a possible falling-out), there may have been some need for a mediator.
By 1880 Louis Zitterbart - the itinerant son - had settled down in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the leader of the Cleveland Grays Band, was married and had several children.
SOURCES
Allgeheny County: A Sesqui-Centennial Review (Pittsburgh, 1938), p. 55.
The Cleveland Directory for the Year Ending June 1880 (Cleveland, 1879) p. 552.
Directory of Pittsburg and Allegheny Cities (George H. Thurston, 1860), p. 348, Google Books link here .
The Musical Year-book of the United States (G.H. Wilson, 1884), p. 26. Google Books link here
Fidella [sic] Zitterbart household, 1860 US Census, PittsburghTwp,, Allgeheny, PA; p. 898, #713/714, Series M653, Roll 1066.
George Blumenschein household, 1860 US Census, Pittsburgh Ward 3, Allegheny, PA; p. 287, #562/687, Series M653, Roll 1058.
Louis Zitterbart household, 1880 US Census, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio; p. 263B, FHL Film #1255005, NA Film #T9-1005.
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Thank you to RE Ausetmkt of Bad Gals Radio for the triple award(s), I really appreciate them!
11 comments:
Lidian,
It seems you missed your calling to be detective! You have an uncanny ability to delve right into the hidden details of a story. Do you like reading mystery novels as well? Great post!
Maureen
As a matter of fact, Boscov's, a well-known department store in the Mid-Atlantic states, started out as a peddler's route around Reading, PA.
You Are The Best !
Maureen - Thank you! You are very astute, not only do I love mytery novels, I have a first draft of a Victorian mystery novel, thanks to NaNoWriMo '08, which I am about to start rewriting(and may have to cut back on VDM a bit therefore). I also really would like to gather up all the mystery stories from VDM and expand them as a book.
Exaggerator - That is fascinating, thank you - didn't know that! I wonder if any other stores started out that way.
RE - Aww...thank you! :)
Great post. There are so many stories out there. My grandfather religiously clipped newspapers and one of these days I want to sit down and go through his collection.
I'm thrilled to hear you are at work on a novel. Good for you!
The way you ferret out stories from these little snippets of facts... It's always inspiring to read your blog and see how much they can yield. Thanks, Lidian. - Melissa
Frogs in my Formula - That sure sounds like a great collection! And - yes, I need to print out that draft and get back to it. I intend to, have been thinking a lot about how to balance it with the blogs...
Bellanta - Thank you. I am inspired so much by Joe Gould's Oral History (which he never wrote) or rather his idea of what history really is...I am going to write about that later this year. And though he never tracked down tiny ads, I think he too would have liked the history that we can find in them.
Have you read Mayhew's account of the london poor. He lists all sorts of costermongers selling different stuff. Birds nests, eel, sheep's feet. I would love to go back in time and just smell the London air!
Bearded Lady - I have read some Mayhew (it is such a massive work) and mean to go back and read LL and the LP properly. My children have roots in the Victorian East End of London on both sides (my gg grandmother was born in Shadwell).
Louis Zitterbart left Pittsburgh in 1959 with his mother to go to Americus GA, as a band leader for the town. He was Fidelis Zitterbart's nephew, not his son. Louis became a confederate musician and band leader in the 4th GA infantry all through the war and was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness. If you know of any descendants, I have been trying to find a living relative for years.
Richard
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