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V12 2009 INDEX       E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 12, Number 11, March 15, 2009, Article 10

LOCATION OF CIVIL WAR HUNTING PARTY VIGNETTE SCRIP ISSUER FOUND

Last week Steve Whitfield asked for assistance in identifying the location of the issuer of a Civil War era scrip note. -Editor


Walt Weigand writes:
Regarding the locale of Bloomers' Hotel & Restaurant, the 1860 Census for the 9th Ward, Buffalo, Erie Cty, NY has: Tooker T. Bloomer, age 45, Hotel Keeper. He is listed with a wife, 3 children, 3 Smith's [possibly boarders or relatives], and 6 "servants" [ie, hired help]. His real estate is valued at $16,500 and his personal estate at $4000 making him very well-to-do for the period.


Hunting Party vignette


Wendell Wolka writes:
According to the 1860 Federal Census, Tooker T. Bloomer was a hotel keeper in Buffalo, NY. He was born in 1815 in New York. His profession in the 1850 census, which also lists him as living in Buffalo, is listed as "Sailor." He no longer appears in Census records beginning in 1870. It appears that his wife Adelia, had taken over the hotel by 1870. This suggests that T.T. Bloomer passed away sometime before the 1870 census.


Kay O. Freeman writes:
Bloomer's was located on West Eagle Street, Buffalo, NY. It was run by Tooker T. Bloomer. Bloomer died March 7, 1867, in Buffalo, of paralysis - had been unwell for a year or more. Bloomer was born @ 1815 in Ulster County, NY. In the 1850 US, Erie County, Buffalo census, Bloomer's occupation is listed as "sailor." However, in 1849, he seems to have been a "steward" (implying food service) on the steam ship "St. Louis" which plied the Great Lakes to Chicago. In March 1850, there is a fire in Buffalo that somewhat affected "Bloomer Hall." By the 1860 census, Bloomer's occupation is "hotel keeper." Bloomer's widow and sons keep up the hotel after his death according to 1870 census. By 1880 census, family not in hotel business. I think this dates the bill between after 1850 to before 1867.

I am not sure if Tooker Bloomer's middle initial "T" could stand for Thorn or Tucker. Internet genealogy a little murky; but Tooker's father seems to have married twice, both times to women whose last names, given above, start with "T."

I think the artist of the hunting party picnic vignette must have worked for John Sage & Sons in Buffalo. It seems to be original work. It does not seem to be based on A.B. Durand or Currier & Ives. Possibly, Erie County Historical or other Buffalo sources would know names of artists or engravers who worked for Sage.

John Sage was born 1807 in Massachusetts. His occupation is "music store" in 1860 Buffalo census. Internet search for his firm lists examples of sheet music - which seem to have been illustrated also. In 1870 Buffalo census, Sage and his son, John B. Sage, are listed as "lithographers". Another son, William S. Sage, is "store clerk"; but living in the household of a lithographer.

It is a very nice example of obsolete money.


I was introduced to Kay Freeman by Katie Jaeger at the 2008 Baltimore ANA convention. She's a thorough researcher who "knows where the skeletons are buried". Many thanks to all our readers who responded with assistance. This is indeed a nice piece of scrip, with an interesting history behind it. I never met or heard of a "Tooker" before - unusual name. -Editor




Wayne Homren, Editor

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