My grandchildrens' great uncle, Henry Yoxtheimer Jr., was born in Berks County PA in 1793, the son of Johann Heinrich (Henry) Yoxtheimer and Maria Catherine Kunrad, the 5X great grandparents of my grandchildren. Henry's brother George Adam Yoxtheimer was their 4X great grandfather and the grandfather of George Washington Yoxtheimer, about whom I have previously written.
In 1817, Henry married Margaret Mallick and had two children with her: Margaret and William. After Margaret's death in 1826, he married secondly Nancy Bacon in 1828 and had a daughter Rachel with her.
Henry Jr. was originally a potter by trade, but gradually expanded his business to include all kinds of merchandise. In 1826, he erected a large brick building to serve as a general store on Market Street in Sunbury with a warehouse in the back to store his goods. Sunbury was (and still is) a small town in the Susquehanna Valley of eastern Pennsylvania and the county seat of Northumberland County. In the early 1800's, about 1000 people lived in Sunbury and the surrounding area.
The old-fashioned general store like Henry's was at the heart of most small towns. It carried almost every large and small item that might be needed on the farm or in the home: groceries, meat, hardware, clothing, toiletries, bolts of cloth and dozens of other necessities. Almost everything was carried in bulk with few packaged or canned items. The interior would be crammed with boxes, barrels, crates, and tables holding the goods for sale. As Henry's ad indicates, he sold goods for cash or barter, a common practice, especially in rural areas. In addition to its merchandising function, the general store was often the social center of the community as well where gossip and news were spread. Someone like Henry Yoxtheimer pretty much embodied the term "pillar of the community."
The picture below is not Henry's store, but it gives you the general idea of what his place might have looked like.
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| 19th-Century General Store |
Henry owned his own canal boat, the Enterprize, which ran between Sunbury and Philadelphia, on the Susquehanna River, trading farm goods and bringing back the items his customers wanted. This ad from 1835 shows the kinds of items he traded in.
Judging by this ad in the Sunbury Gazette from 1833, Henry prided himself on being able to beat the prices of the stores in Philadelphia.
In 1838, Henry leased part of a coal field in Shamokin and offered coal to his customers as well as dry goods and produce.
In the 19th century, patent medicines were in their heyday. These pills, elixirs, tonics and liniments were among the first products promoted by the advertising industry, using techniques such as celebrity endorsements.
Although Henry's store carried a huge variety of goods, Henry seemed especially proud of his selection of patent medicines, judging by the ads he ran in the Sunbury Gazette in the 1830's and 40's, touting the availability of these miracle cures at his establishment. The ads below are typical of the dozens Henry ran over the years, relying heavily on testimonials and hyping pseudo-scientific claims of efficacy.
In 1841, Henry was elected to the Common Council of Sunbury Burough.
Henry sold his store to his son-in-law, John Frilling, in 1842.
John W Friling has this day purchased from Henry Yoxtheimer his store and entire stock of goods. The business of store will hereafter be conducted at the Old Stand. Sunbury, May 18, 1842
Henry Yoxtheimer Jr. died in Sunbury in November 1849 and is buried in the Sunbury Cemetery.
Died. In Augusta township, suddenly, on Tuesday last, Mr. Henry Yoxtheimer, aged about 55 years. The deceased was a good and useful citizen, and was for many years, engaged in the mercantile business in this place.
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