The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-03-25
A Famous Pill Doctor.

benjamin Brandreth, the proprietor
of Brandreth's pills, died suddenly at
his residence in Sing Sing yesterday
morning, of appoplexy. He rose at the
usual hour yesterday and went to the
factory which adjoins his house. While
in the mixing room, engaged in giving
orders to the workmen, he was suddenly
stricken down and became speechless.
Medical aid was summoned and the dy-
ing man removed to the house he ex-
pired twenty minutes later. kilograms
were at once sent to his manager, j. S.
Baker, at No. 2O4 Canal street. and to
the members of his family in this coun-
try and England. The date of the flu
neral has not yet been fixed, but it is
expected to take place on Saturday
next.
Mr.. Brandreth was born in England,
where his father and grandfather before
him had been engaged in the pill bust
ness in limited way. Benjamin was
the first of the family to conceive the
idea of charging the business by the
free use Of printers ink. In 1885 Ben
,jamin came to this country and began
manufacturing and advertising on
scale that Immediately attracted atten-
ton. He contracted friendship with
James Gordon Bennett, who was then
es tablishing the Herald, in the columns
of which sheet Brandreth's cathartic
pills grew greatly into notoriety. At
that time column of advertising could
be had at the price of a single square of
the present day. From 1910 to 1855
the pills rose rapidly in favor, great guam
titles being shipped to the West and
South. A trade was also built up with
South America and foreign countries.
In the years Immediately preceding the
war Brandreth's bills for advertising
reached as high as $50, 600 and $4,000
year. The English branch of the
house, conducted by one of the sons, ex-
pended as high for this purpose as
$4,000 annually. Brandreth's success
brought host of competitors into the
business, some of whom in the end
made larger fortunes than himself.
Since the war the firm largely decreased
their advertising, and depended on the
steady demand which their former efforts
had created.
Brandreth's first store was on Spruce
street, where he remained for ten years,
moving in 1915 to Hudson street, and
from there to the present location, at
tho corner of Canal street and Broad
way, in 1852. Mr.. Brandreth was twice
elected to the State Senate, and his
eldest son, the Hon. George A. Brand
reth, has served four times in the
Assembly. OF his fourteen children,
thirteen are living, namely, six sons
George A, Colonel Frank, Henry d.,
the head of the Liverpool house, VII
liam, of the Mining Exchange, Charles
A., and Ralph, and seven daughters,
viz: Mrs. H. c. Symons, wife of Maj.
81 mons, Mrs E. A. McAlpine, Mrs. II.
Bacon, of Goshen, N. Y, Mrs. Henry
L. Green, and the Misses Gertrude,
Belle and Florence Brandreth. unmar-
RED Mr.. Brandreth married in Eng
land before coming to this country.
His wife was a Miss Graham. In pri-
vate life he was amiable, sociable, and
despised show and ostentation of all
kinds. He was frequently asked to
contribute sketches of his life to adver-
Using agents, and writers of biographi-
cal pufs, but invariably refused lie
was vestryman and leading member of
one of the Episcopal churches OF Sing
Sing. Mr.. Brandreth's estate is esti-
mated at from 100000 to 100000.
N. Y. Times