East Tennessee State University
Archives of Appalachia
Box 70295
Johnson City, TN 37614-0138
Request Information here.
Telephone: (423) 439-4338
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Title: |
The Cass Family Business Collection |
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Collection Numbers: |
Accession No. 76 L. C. No. MS 82-565 |
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Physical Description: |
2 linear feet (4 manuscript boxes) |
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Creator: |
The Cass and Panhorst Families |
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Repository: |
Archives of Appalachia, East Tennessee State University |
Provenance: The Cass Family Business Collection was placed in the Archives of Appalachia on April 25, 1980 by Alvin Gerhardt, Executive Director, Rocky Mount State Museum. The records were part of a larger collection given to Rocky Mount on December 20, 1978 by Dr. William P. Bailey, Jr.
Access: The collection is open for research.
Processing Information: Marie Tedesco completed processing, and the records were opened for research on July 2, 1980.
The Cass Family Business Collection includes records of the East Tennessee Medicine Company and Ferguson Drug Company. The East Tennessee Medicine Company was started in 1890 by Dr. Marie Hendrick Phillip Panhorst who was born on December 27, 1847 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He died on April 23, 1932 in Johnson City, Tennessee. Panhorst's father, Dr. George Phillip Panhorst, a surgeon in the Royal Dutch Navy, had formulated "home remedies" which he used in his private practice in both Europe and India. During the 1860s, the elder Panhorst died; his formulae then became the property of his son, who was trained as a physician in Amsterdam but moved to Galesburg, Illinois (date unknown). In Galesburg, M. H. P. Panhorst met his future wife, married and moved to her hometown, Jonesborough, Tennessee.
Panhorst made indigestion powders, cough syrups, and other medicines. On November 18, 1890, in exchange for 25 shares in capital stock, he transferred the rights to make and sell medicines to the East Tennessee Medicine Company. Panhorst, however, remained president of the company. After an initial period of prosperity the company took a turn for the worse. On January 27, 1894 Panhorst had borrowed $1200 on a 30 day note with interest from Mrs. Joanne L. Hunt of Jonesborough, the widow of J. J. Hunt. (During the early years of the company's existence, Mr. Hunt had served on the company's board of directors as president and treasurer). Panhorst had invested the $1200 in the company, expecting it to prosper and grow. This did not happen, however, and the East Tennessee Medicine Company could not meet its financial obligations. As a consequence, on March 5, 1894 Theodore B. Hacker, trustee of the trust deed, announced that on March 10, the company would be sold to the highest bidder for cash in hand. Because none could afford the $1200 plus interest, on March 10, 1894, Theodore B. Hacker of Jonesborough became the company's owner. During Hacker's ownership, the company moved its headquarters from Jonesborough to Johnson City, Tennessee.
In 1901 Lewis W. Cass and Joseph Worley Cass bought the East Tennessee Medicine Company for $6000. Elizabeth Cass inherited half of the company upon the death of her father, Joseph Worley Cass on February 5, 1923. Lewis W. Cass turned over his interest in the company to Elizabeth on December 6, 1923. Because she could not afford to keep the company open, she closed it in 1924 but continued to give away drugs until 1938. In that year Congress passed the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act which increased labelling requirements. Since Ms. Cass's medicines did not meet the new requirements, she stopped giving away her medicines.
Ferguson Drug Company, located at the corner of Main and Buffalo Streets, Johnson City, Tennessee, opened for business on October 13, 1916. It was a drug store, which included a soda fountain and ice cream shop. In November 1917, Joseph Worley Cass became part owner of the company. He retained this interest until his death in 1923.
Included with the Ferguson Drug Company records are the business and personal papers of Joseph W. Cass. Joseph W. Cass was a businessman who owned a printing press, a book shop, a furniture store and real estate. He also was Clerk and Master of the Chancery Court in Washington County, Tennessee, 1909-1922.
The Cass Family Business Collection records and papers cover the period 1891-1925. Included are financial records from the East Tennessee Medicine Company and Ferguson Drug Company, as well as correspondence with other companies and advertising materials. Also included are requests for information on products and listings of agents for East Tennessee Medicine Company. An Index to the collection follows the Addendum.
Cass, Elizabeth
Cass, Joseph Worley, 1865-1923
Cass, Lewis W.
Drugstores--Tennessee--Johnson City
East Tennessee Medicine Company
Ferguson Drug Company
Panhorst, Marie Hendrick Phillip, 1847-1932
Patent medicines
This series includes correspondence, March 19, 1891-January 29, 1925; financial records, February 25, 1911-November 19, 1924; printed material, and a listing of agents of the East Tennessee Medicine Company, date unknown.
Subseries I-A, CORRESPONDENCE, 1891-1925, Boxes 1-2.
This subseries includes correspondence of East Tennessee Medicine Company, March 19, 1891-January 29, 1925; included are personal correspondence requesting products and inquiries to the company, and correspondence with other companies and East Tennessee Medicine Company. This subseries is arranged alphabetically.
Subseries I-B, FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1911-1924, Box 2.
This subseries includes financial records of East Tennessee Medicine Company, February 25, 1911-November 19, 1924; included are statements, invoices, shipping bills, and a statement of cost of production. These files are arranged alphabetically.
Subseries I-C, PRINTED MATERIAL, ND, Box 2.
This subseries includes printed material of East Tennessee Medicine Company and included are form letters and advertising materials such as place cards and coupons. Also included is a list of agents for the East Tennessee Medicine Company.
This series includes correspondence, September 7, 1916-February 24, 1921; legal documents, September 7, 1916-October 25, 1919; minutes of the stockholder meetings of Ferguson Drug Company, October 2, 1916 and November 5, 1917; and financial records of Ferguson Drug Company, January 7, 1915-August 14, 1919.
Subseries II-A, CORRESPONDENCE, 1916-21, Box 3.
This subseries includes correspondence of Ferguson Drug Company, September 7, 1916-February 24, 1921. It includes correspondence of other companies with Ferguson Drug Company. The files are arranged alphabetically.
Subseries II-B, LEGAL DOCUMENTS, 1916-19, Box 3.
This subseries contains legal documents of the Ferguson Drug Company, September 7, 1916-October 25, 1919, and it covers licenses, rent agreements, and contracts. Also included are the minutes of the stockholder meetings of Ferguson Drug Company, October 3, 1916 and November 5, 1917. This subseries is arranged chronologically.
Subseries II-C, FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1915-1919, Box 3-4.
This subseries contains financial records of Ferguson Drug Company, January 7, 1915-August 14, 1919 and includes statements, invoices, shipping charges, and tax reports. The files are arranged alphabetically.
This series includes correspondence, May 22, 1907-February 22, 1922 and financial records, March 15, 1905-January 23, 1923 of Joseph W. Cass.
Subseries III-A, CORRESPONDENCE, 1907-1922, Box 4.
This subseries contains correspondence of Joseph C. Cass, May 22, 1907-February 22, 1922. It includes personal correspondence and personal financial correspondence. The files are arranged in alphabetical order.
Subseries III-B, FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1905-1923, Box 4.
This subseries contains financial records of Joseph W. Cass, March 15, 1905-January 1, 1923 and includes statements, bank drafts, and invoices. The files are arranged alphabetically.
This series includes correspondence, March 19, 1891-January 29, 1925; financial records, February 25, 1911-November 19, 1924; printed material, and a listing of agents of the East Tennessee Medicine Company, date unknown.
Subseries I-A, CORRESPONDENCE, 1891-1925, Boxes 1-2.
Box 1 - Folder #:
1. Correspondence "A" - April 16, 1915-November 7, 1921.
2. Correspondence "B" - August 23, 1909-January 4, 1924.
3. Correspondence "C"-"F" - March 4, 1913-January 13, 1924.
4. Correspondence "G"-"J" - January 25, 1914-February 13, 1923.
5. Correspondence "K"-"L" - November 4, 1913-March 7, 1923.
6. Correspondence "M"-"Q" - November 18, 1910-December 8, 1923.
7. Correspondence "P"- March 19, 1891-January 29, 1925.Box 2 - Folder #:
1. Correspondence "R"-"S" - October 19, 1912-January 21, 1924.
2. Correspondence "T"-"U" - October 16, 1912-January 21, 1924.
3. Correspondence "W"- October 1, 1891-November 13, 1920.
4. Correspondence, China companies - September 8, 1909-April 29, 1921.Subseries I-B, FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1911-1924.
Box 2(cont.) - Folder #:
5. Financial records, "A"-"B" - December 8, 1913-September 3, 1924.
6. Financial records, "C"-"F" - November 21, 1913-October 6, 1924.
7. Financial records, "G"-"J" - December 24, 1913-September 10, 1924.
8. Financial records, "K"-"M" - February 24, 1917-October 6, 1924.
9. Financial records, "N"-"P" - November 5, 1913-October 6, 1924.
10. Financial records, "R"-"T" - February 25, 1911-November 19, 1924.
11. Financial records, "W"-"Y" - October 30, 1913-July 21, 1924.Subseries I-C, PRINTED MATERIAL, ND.
Box 2(cont.) - Folder #:
12. Printed material, originals.
13. Printed material.
14. Agents, East Tennessee Medicine Company.
This series includes correspondence, September 7, 1916-February 24, 1921; legal documents, September 7, 1916-October 25, 1919; minutes of the stockholder meetings of Ferguson Drug Company, October 2, 1916 and November 5, 1917; and financial records of Ferguson Drug Company, January 7, 1915-August 14, 1919.
Subseries II-A, CORRESPONDENCE, 1916-21.
Box 3 - Folder #:
1. Correspondence "A"-"K" - September 7, 1916-October 26, 1919.
2. Correspondence "L"-"W" - October 13, 1916-February 24, 1921.Subseries II-B, LEGAL DOCUMENTS, 1916-19.
Box 3(cont.) - Folder #:
3. Legal Documents, September 7, 1916-October 25, 1919.
Subseries II-C, FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1915-1919, Box 3-4.
Box 3(cont.) - Folder #:
4. Financial records "A"-"B" - November 8, 1916-June 2, 1919.
5. Financial records "C"-"G" - October 7, 1916-July 9, 1919.
6. Financial records "H"-"J" - January 15, 1915-February 25, 1919.
7. Financial records "K"-"L" - September 30, 1916-May 1, 1919.
8. Financial records "M"-"R" - September 12, 1916-July 2, 1919.Box 4 - Folder #:
1. Financial records "S"- September 7, 1916-May 17, 1919.
2. Financial records "T"-"W" - October 2, 1916-August 14, 1919.
This series includes correspondence, May 22, 1907-February 22, 1922 and financial records, March 15, 1905-January 23, 1923 of Joseph W. Cass.
Subseries III-A, CORRESPONDENCE, 1907-1922.
Box 4(cont.) - Folder #:
3. Correspondence "A"-"J" - May 22, 1907-February 22, 1922.
4. Correspondence "K"-"L" - May 23, 1910-November 9, 1920.
5. Correspondence "M"-"W" - March 31, 1909-January 31, 1922.Subseries III-B, FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1905-1923.
Box 4(cont.) - Folder #:
6. Financial records "A"-"B" - March 23, 1905-November 10, 1922.
7. Financial records "C" - April 2, 1906-January 1, 1923.
8. Financial records "D"-"L" - June 23, 1911-January 1, 1923.
9. Financial records "M"-"W" - March 15, 1906-January 1, 1923.
Provenance: Copies of additional documents relating to the East Tennessee Medicine Company were donated to the Archives of Appalachia on February 20, 1986 by William P. Bailey, III.
Included are copies of the following: formulae on Dr. Panhorst's medicines; transfer of rights to make and sell formulae by Panhorst to the East Tennessee Medicine Company, November 18, 1890; a trust deed in which Panhorst made T. B. Hacker trustee of East Tennessee Medicine Company properties, January 27, 1894; and a deed of sale from Lewis Cass to Elizabeth Cass, December 6, 1923.
Box 4(cont.) - Folder #:
10. Legal documents and formulae, 1890-1923.
Agents for East Tennessee Medicine Company: 2-14.
Correspondence, Joseph W. Cass: 4-3, 4-4, 4-5.
Correspondence (Cass) Ferguson Drug Company: 3-1, 3-2.
Correspondence, East Tennessee Medicine Company: 1-1 thru 1-7, 2-1 thru 2-4.
Cost of production estimate, East Tennessee Medicine Company: 2-6.Financial records, Joseph W. Cass: 4-6 thru 4-9.
Financial records (Cass) Ferguson Drug Company: 3-4 thru 3-8, 4-1, 4-2.
Financial records, East Tennessee Medicine Company: 2-5 thru 2-11.
Legal documents, Cass-Ferguson Drug Company: 3-3.
Minutes, stockholders meetings, Ferguson Drug Company: 3-3.Printed material, East Tennessee Medicine Company: 2-12, 2-13.
Post card, Mt. Mitchell Station, Mt. Mitchell Railway: 1-2.
Shipping, state of cost, East Tennessee Medicine Company: 2-10.
Tax statements, Ferguson Drug Company: 4-2.
MTC 07/01