Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-14
WHOLESALE DRUGS.
Berry, DemOvtIIe a CO.-An Old Es-
tabIished Ente-prise.

| Berry DemoF1lie a Co.-An Old Is
tabIished Enterprise.
Forty years ago DR.. W. W. Berry opened
a drug house in Nashville, his rade, even
at that early day, being a combination of
wholesaling and retailing. His store then
stood upon the same lot occu pied by the
house Of Berry, Demoyille & Co., south
side Of the Square, Nos. and 5. As
nearly as we can ascertain, DR.. Bery's es-
Establishment was not especially pretentious
compared with the house of to-day it was
small-but a rapidly growing trade was
attracted, and the business prOspered to an
extent in every way satisfactory DR.. Ber-
" continued in business alone fog. ten
years, when his brother became an ascot.
ate in the house under the firm name Of
w. w. & J. D. Berry. Such il remained
until 1851, when the last named gentleman
withdrew from the house, leaving its man
agement as before.
The next change that occurred in the
style Of the house was two year, later-in
1S53-When Mr.. j. +. DemoVills became
cO-parter, under the firm name Of w. w.
Berry & DemOVille. These gentlemen
transacted a very large business during the
following years, until after the outbreak Of
the war. Necessarily it stopped the opera
tons of this house as it did those Of nearly
every other prominent interesI, and the
firm and business was not revived until
1866, then under the firm style Of Berry,
DemoYille & Co., J. w. Bright and S. S.
Wharton being the Incoming partners.
The co-partnership then rem aimed I'M
changed until the death Of Mr.. Bright in
1859, when Mr.. D. d. Phillips succeededto
his interest. More recently aimother Co
partner has been admitted in the person Of
w. w. Berry, Jr., son of the senior member,
and these gentlemen now compose the house
Of Berry, DemOville & Co., a no lse that has
a reputation and trade extending from the
Ohioto the Gulf The case could not well
be otherwise when we reflect that ever
since 1885, with, the exception namely the
house has been prominently before the
trade Of the South as among The leading
jObbeTs Of drugs in the county. As we
have said the same ground location has
been occupied for forty years, out in the
meantime ebuilding has been completely
worn out, and the one now in use gives evil
dence Of having almost trod in he footsteps
Of its predecessor. Its scars ara honorable,
however; they have been gained in sharp,
active business warfare, and bespeak a
career not without usefulness and influence.
Not only are the firm jobbers Of drugs and |
druggists sundries of all kinds, but they |
also manufacture to a considerable extent, |
perhaps the leading articles being "Ran- |
gum Root Liniment" DemOHille's Pills, |
Orange Bitters, Demoyille's Cough Mix |
ture, Compound Dysentery Cordial, and |
Jaundice Tonic. This by no means COM |
pletes the list, but simply serves as indica-
ton Of the general range Of preparations
In addition 20 these Of /
their own make, the firm also sell immense |
quantities Of all the most prominent pro
prietary remedies of the day, representing /
a thousand laboratories and countless prep
aratiOns.
The trade Of the house is, naturally
enough, in great part confined to Teunes-
see, Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama, and
perhaps the greater portion Of the sales are
made directly at the house, without the in
tervention Of the persuasive powers Of trav-
cling statesmen. About twenty persons, all
told, are employed in the house, some in
one department, others in another, and the
scene presented 10 a visitor is singularly
busy one, though in justice to truth, we |
may say that there is nothing peculiarly at
iractiye in the appearance of drugs in orig
lnal packages, or anything specially capti-
waiting in the Odor that enlanates from
hem.
All Of the firm have been connected with
he business a great many years. Messrs.
Wharton and Phillips obtained their bust
ness training in the house, and all unite in
is management. Mr.. DenOville came
here from Virginia in 1888, and since 1885
las been constantly connected with this
house, except for about six years, during
which time be was at Huntsville, Ala.
The business Of Berry, Demoville & Co.
S Of character in keeping with the age Of
he house, its experience and its facilities.
Known and liked, it has won popularity by
ms iness-like, honorable effort.