On May 1, 1905, Paul Laurence Dunbar in Dayton was billed for recent purchases from a local brewery. He was 32 years old and sharing a home with his mother. Paul was suffering from tuberculosis and had less than a year to live.
Statement
Dayton, O. May 1, 1905
Paul Dunbar
The Dayton Breweries Co.
Doing Business as Schwind Brewery Company
Statement from Dayton Breweries Company, May 1, 1905. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).
The invoice shows that Paul purchased one dozen pints of beer or ale on March 3, 7, 16, 18, 25, and 28, and two dozen pints on March 31 (for a total of 96 pints). The following month, he bought one or two dozen pints of beer or ale on April 4, 6, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22 and 27 (for a total of 156 pints). Schwind's bottled beer was believed to have medicinal qualities.
The Schantz-Schwind Brewing Company is one of Dayton's solid business concerns and ranks among the first in the sale of its products in this city. Its products are Pilsener and lager beer, Pilsener bottled beer which has no equal in its recuperative qualities for convalescents as well as healthy persons, and manufactured ice, all of which are promptly delivered to all parts of the city.
"Fine Quality is the Wall of Protection Dayton Brewers Throw Around the City." The Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio). December 20, 1902. Page C5.
The bill from Schwind showed an amount due of $12.60, and Paul made a payment a few days later. He included a handwritten note with his check, and someone at the brewery returned it with "Thanks" written at the bottom.
Gentlemen - Enclosed find check for Twelve dollars and fifty cents. Please acknowledge receipt and oblige.
Paul Laurence Dunbar to Dayton Breweries Company, May 10, 1905. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).
During his final years in Dayton, Paul wrote many checks to Schwind Brewery, and each one was about $6 to $13. In addition to his patronage of Schwind, Paul also had an account with another liquor dealer in Dayton.
Dayton, O. August 1, 1905
Paul Dunbar
In Account With
The Fred Kette & Sons Co.
Fine Whiskies and WinesStatement from Fred Kette and Sons Company, August 1, 1905. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).
A statement from Kette indicates that, in eight purchases made between July 14 and 31, 1905, Paul bought eight quarts of rye, one quart of gin and one bottle of burgundy. An advertisement in a Dayton newspaper indicates that Kette marketed an alcoholic beverage as a cure for indigestion.
ROYAL PEPSIN BITTERS CURES DYSPEPSIA
For Sale at All Leading Bars, Drug Stores and Dealers Generally
The Fred Kette & Sons, the Local Distributors, Dayton
Advertisement. The Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio). February 11, 1905. Page 4.