Manuscript Letter Copy Book of Cigar Manufacturer, Samuel E. Stauffer, of Adamstown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1885-1886 by Stauffer, Samuel E

quarto, 496 pp., + 3 pp partial index at front, miscellaneous notes on endpapers, bound in original half leather over dark cloth boards, some pages torn, creased, and chipped, particularly at front, some damp staining to the top edge of some of the leaves, binding worn at the corners and spine, with spots of surface loss, and bottom of the spine chipped.

Stauffer when writing the dates of his letters gives the month and day, but only the last digit of the year, a "5" or "6", making it difficult to determine the years of the ledger. However, on numbered page 448, two copies of short notes show the date for the year 1886, thus the letters in his book are dated from 27 June 1885 to 26 February 1886.

The letter-copy book has in many cases multiple letters on a single page, and sometimes even 3 or 4 short letters recorded on a single page, giving approximately 750 plus letters in all in the volume, over the course of only eight months of business, showing that Stauffer's was a very busy cigar business. Customers appear to be from New England (MA), the Mid-Atlantic (PA, MD, NY), the South (NC, VA), Midwest (IN, IL, OH) and as far west as Denver, Colorado, Lincoln, NE, and elsewhere.

Samuel E. Stauffer (1848-1905)

Samuel E. Stauffer was born on 2 December 1848, the son of Jacob Nissley (1801-1861) and his wife Catherine (1803-). Samuel appears to be one of at least eleven children born to his parents. In 1850 and 1860, the family is found living in West Donegal, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where Samuel's father was listed as a farmer.

Like his father, Samuel E. Stauffer was a farmer, who also worked in a cigar shop (1880) and as a truck farmer (1900), however a Lancaster newspaper article of 1881, states he was a cigar manufacturer. Internet searches find him as a writer on agricultural topics (fruit trees) in a state government publication (Annual Report of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Part 2, for 1900) an in another earlier trade journal (The Pet-stock, Pigeon, and Poultry Bulletin, Volume 10 for 1880) he is shown in the business of selling pigeons, eggs, and chickens. The letter copy book offered here is dated from 1885-1886, when Stauffer was still in the cigar business. It records his various customers, types or brand of cigars sold, quantity ordered, and costs.

Stauffer married Mary A. Regar (1852-1918) about 1875 or 1875. She was the daughter of butcher Henry Regar and his wife Catherine, of Adamstown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Together the couple had at least six children: Elizabeth (1875-), Kate (1877-), Daisy (1879-), John (1884-), and Cleveland (1891). Samuel E. Stauffer died in Reading, Pennsylvania on 10 June 1905 and was buried int Cedar Grove Cemetery, in Adamstown. When Mary died in 1918, she was buried with her husband.

Stauffer's obituary published on 13 June 1905 in the News-Journal of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, stated that he was engaged in the cigar making business for fifteen years, and also conducted a poultry farm. He spent the great part of 1904 in Mexico, where he managed a tobacco and rubber plantation, and at the end of his life, died in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he had been working as a cigar salesman. He also was listed as a school-teacher in Lancaster County and a Justice of the Peace for twelve years.

According to Franklin Ellis and Samuel Evans' "History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania" (Philadelphia: 1883), there were more than one hundred firms engaged in buying and packing tobacco in Lancaster County, with over a hundred specially built tobacco warehouses to hold the crop and make cigars. The various firms not only bought and packed the crop of Lancaster, but also three-fourths of Pennsylvania's crop, as well as some from Connecticut, New York and Wisconsin. Lancaster tobacco men grew more than half of Pennsylvania's tobacco. The industry started in the 1830s and in 1879 had the largest crop known to any county at 18 million pounds. These tobacco firms provided considerable employment in Lancaster County, keeping workers busy in the warehouses and cigar factories even in the winters, where they produced millions of cigars. This Letter Copy Book gives a look at the business one of these cigar companies that manufactured, sold, and shipped cigars throughout the United States.

Sample Quotes:

"July 13th [188]5

Messrs. Lewis [Breme]& Sons

Philada., Pa.

Gentlemen,

I have yet 3c 30 m Carmen on hand which I worked on hand thinking that you might order at some time, but when last to see you, you thought you could not handle any more. Should you want them will send them for $16.25 which is cost and terms to be such, namely pay when you have sold them.

They are three nice cases. If you can use them, please help me out. I will not [make] any more unless ordered.

Very resp., Samuel E. Stauffer"

"Reinhold's [Station] July 18th [188]5

Eight (8) cases cigars

Mkd. No. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11. W. Bros. & Co.

Phil. & Boston Steamship Line

Weight NO. 1 -160, 2-168, 4-302, 5-280, 7-145, 8-155, 10-293, 11-164, total 1667 pounds.

Wheeler Bros & Co. Boston, Mass.

Samuel E. Stauffer"

"July 18th [188]5

Messrs. Wheeler Bros & Co.

Boston, Mass.

Gentlemen,

I have shipd you several of my brands today by Rail from Reinhold's Station R & C. R.R. via Phil & Boston Steamship line from Philada I have yet some of my cheaper brands which I will get ready some time following week, also few brands beautiful put up at low prices. Mr. Knowlton always paid freight & hope that this is understood between you and I, that at these prices I do not expect to pay any freight, nor charges. Since Mr. K. has sold for me, prices are considerable lower on account of large reductions in wages. Case No. 1 are Sumatra goods, No. 8 hand work long filler, Havana seed W. binders. Any of these goods can be changed in brands by paying the difference should they cost more. Of my brands outside Case No. 8 can furnish 15 to 20 m per day. Always let me know in time in case of larger orders, as first come, first served. Do you advance any money on shipment, if so, am always able to use funds?

Hope to hear from you favorable and awaiting your future kind large orders.

[Very] Resp., Samuel E. Stauffer"

"July 20th [188]5

Messrs. Brown & Patrick

Lincoln, Neb.

Gentlemen,

Your kind favor rec'd, would say have shipd the last case July 16., Star Union line via Harrisburg, PA, via Chicago C.B.R.R. Please watch the time and see if this won't carry quicker to your place.

Will have another ½ case finished this week so in case you order will be ready to ship it same day.

Am very resp., Samuel E. Stauffer

Gent. Before closing this I rec'd your favor 17th inst., dft enclosed $77.60 in full for bill June 16th, thanks.

Very resp., Samuel E. Stauffer"

"July 20th [188]5

Mess. B. P. [Braushe] & Co.

Denver, Colo.

Gentlemen,

Your kind favor 14th rec'd, saying the ½ case cigars received were irregular, and rough, and could not use them. Please take my word and honor, that you have rec'd a cigar at price that profits are not worth mentioning and one made of [Comb.] filler, Havana seed wrapper & binder. Our Mr. Steencock mentioned to me to give you something good which I thought I did. Sorry I could not satisfy you. Should you be able which I think you will be, please use it at your own reasonable reduction. Would not like to have it returned. Let me hear from you in regard to it.

Am yours very Resp., Samuel E. Stauffer"

"July 24th [188]5

Mr. Herman Glass

Evansville, Indiana

My Dear Sir,

With the 2 sample each of Plantation, Royal Tiger, & Pet, I have sent you c/20 each, White Swan & Purity, Price of Purity $16.00, same long filler $20.00, and Price of White Swam $21.00. This is a hand made long filler.

Please examine. Awaiting your future kind orders.

I am very resp., Samuel E. Stauffer"

"July 25th [188]5

Mess. Fred. Dought & Co.

Muscatine, Iowa

Gentlemen,

I again have taken the liberty of sending you 50 each cigars of following brands:

Namely Try Me 13.50 - 3 off cash

" Wht. Swan 18.50 - "

" Purity 15.50 - "

" Royal Tiger 15.00 - "

" Charrots 16.00 - "

White Swam & Charoots are long filler hand worked. These brands you can change to any label you may see fit. Besides will give you control of the same. I have no agent to travel through your country. Reference as to trustworthy, and truthfulness will again refer you to our friend Mr. Peter Mussa Jr. of your city. Awaiting a reply…

I am yours very Resp., Samuel E. Stauffer"