I have to admit, that one of my favorite old glob fifths is the J.MOORE(t-90). The E. Chielovich J. Moore. This is a great looking early fifth, that comes in a royal flush of colors, and they are usually very crude. There are enough of them around that a collector can hope to own one, and heaven forbid, maybe even dig one.
It has been stated in past publications that George H. Moore (actually a nephew of Jesse Moore) sent his hit man, and brother in law, Cornelius Deweese, to San Francisco to increase the sales of the popular Jesse Moore Old Bourbon. ( Hey Elias, don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out).
After reading an article published by Gordon E. White, great grandson of Jesse Moore, it seems like there is a slightly different story to be told.
It has been stated in past publications that George H. Moore (actually a nephew of Jesse Moore) sent his hit man, and brother in law, Cornelius Deweese, to San Francisco to increase the sales of the popular Jesse Moore Old Bourbon. ( Hey Elias, don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out).
After reading an article published by Gordon E. White, great grandson of Jesse Moore, it seems like there is a slightly different story to be told.
Mr. White reports that G.H. Moore went to San Francisco in 1875 to check on the business and found salesman Henry B. Hunt to be the better man, turned the management of the agency over to him, and it was Moore that gave E. Chielovich the boot. Deweese came in a bit later in 1875 to oversee the agency. They took Hunt on as a partner in 1876 and that partnership took over the distribution of Jesse Moore whiskies out of San Francisco. Deweese, the silent partner and overseer, stayed in San Francisco until 1887
Henry B. Hunt sounds like an interesting fellow, read the clip from Wilson's Spirits of the old West. He certainly found favor quickly with G.H. Moore. I guess "upwardly mobile" is the present definition for a brown nosing, back stabbing salesman, that gets his boss canned and takes over his job. Who cares if he did such a great job!! Sorry, I like ol' Chielovich. I hardly know a thing about him, but what's not to like. I guess it's that bottle!! WOW! It must be that pre-1875 thing again.
Ol' Elia Chielovich really did try to do a decent job. I have found his name mentioned as a saloon proprietor/owner in
several early Nevada boom towns. That seemed to be his gimmick, he went to Hamilton and to Pioche and probably other Nevada towns and opened saloons that gave him a retail outlet for his J. Moore whiskey. He must have had a presence in or around Columbus or Teels Marsh, as his fifth is prevalent in this area as well. Austin, Nv. is J. Moore country, and of course Virginia/Gold Hill... major J. Moore country. Sprucemont, Nevada, another early town, is littered with broken J. Moores. I guess this saloon thing was not uncommon. Our man Jno. C. Morrison had a saloon on Main Street -Columbus. In case you wondered how those Clubhouses got there.J. Moores are widely found in Utah. There has been a long standing story that 5 whole J. Moores came out of construction site in Salt Lake in the 1960's. They were dispersed by a local bottle dealer. There have been quite a few broken ones found in Alta, Utah. Southern Utah produced several broken ones and a beautiful mint greenish amber example. One whole one and a pile of broken ones were found in the northwest part of the state. S.L. Tibbles, a saloon operator and liquor dealer in the 'Hell on wheels" town of Corinne advertised J. Moore whiskey in 1872-1873. William Driver, a druggist from Ogden, Utah, had shipments of product from Chielovich in 1875. That 7 year old bourbon would certainly be a good cure for 'stiff elbow'.
I can't begin to acknowledge all of the California locations that J. Moores have been located. Or if they have been found in Oregon. My point here being, if Chielovich did such a bad job of distributing, they sure seem to be all over the west. I think he got "nudged" out just before the brand really took off. "Thanks for all your hard work, see you around".
Pioche was a rollicking town in 1872. The Cosmopolitan Saloon is advertising J. Moore in Oct. of 1872. Elia was having a bit of trouble with his lot on Main Street. Guess he got it worked out, his is listed as a saloon operator in 1873.
And whoever said "The Donald" (Trump)was original...? YOU'RE FIRED ELIAS !! Fired approx late 1875. After that it was Jesse Moore and Cutter (Hotaling) domination almost everywhere in the West.
ReplyDeleteAP
Those fine bottles turn up from time to time in just about every valley town. Usually, for me anyway, they are busted all to hail. We did dig mint ones in Davis(ville) and Broderick a town once called Washington, and now West Sacramento. That was a good many years ago, when a nice example of the Chielovich might bring 500 Samolians. Things is bit "diffunt" these days.
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine that Corinne well earned it's 'Hell on wheels" reference, especially considering that for a population of around a thousand souls it had 15 saloons and 16 liquor stores in it's late 1860s to mid '70s heyday. That, and it's non-Mormon population made for a very lively camp. Sadly, it's existence as a wild and wooly town was far too shortlived.
ReplyDeleteAny diggin' remaining to be had at Corinne? Have tools, will travel.
OldCutters, You'll also need a dredge or pump and a wetsuit to dig Corrine, as that place has the wettest holes in the West ! Apparently the town clowns divert water from the river each yr to flood the town and everyone has their own little mini canal to flood/irrigate their lots.
ReplyDeleteAP
I see. "Whaling", as it were. "Super Soakers" are no fun.
ReplyDeleteTom, do you still have that super nice Chielovich that the Sierras dug a few years ago? As I remember, it was a super example in a great green or olive gteen coloration and crude, maybe whittled? Was the nicest Moore I had ever seen!
ReplyDeleteTom's example is the best J. Moore I've seen and possibly the nicest 5th I've ever seen period !
ReplyDeleteThat Moore is a premeire specimen, but likely not the nicest fifth "out there". Close, maybe, but their are others with different embossing. Hail, they're all unique in their own way. No two are exactly alike, yet some share all the "worts" that we like the best. Gnarly bubbles, crooked necks, hammer whittle, off the wall color, cockeyed "slobber" tops, and all that other bad stuff.
ReplyDeleteFrom the May 1874 Wine Dealers Gazette: A good story is told of Capt Hunt, the partner of E. Chielovich & Co. A few month ago, when he was in Oroville, his old stomping ground, he entered a high-toned saloon, just as a rival solicitor was retiring, who had taken orders for almost $100. worth of goods. Captain Hunt, on learning that fact, and espying a copy of the Wine Dealers Gazette on the table, casually glanced over it and said, " He doesnt represent a respectable house in San Francisco, according to the Gazette". "Yes he does. I used to know mssrs.------ years ago, when he was in Sacramento". Said Hunt... "I'll bet the drinks for the crowd that you can't find them in this paper." "I'll take that". In looking over the Gazette, that firm's name did not appear, but Hunt's three-barrel cut stood out prominently. The result was that Capt Hunt, representing a live house, got the order. It is well known to the trade that we have never encouraged solicitors, (members of a firm are of course excepted) but the shrewdness exhibited in this case is worthy of remark, and all who know Capt Hunt will appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteAP's take: Ok, so we can see as early as 1874 Hunt was a smooth operator and in like flynn with this company. He even had the media supporting him ! He was a Capt and was well established in Ca. since the Gold Rush days. I dont think Chielovich stood a chance, no matter how much he J. Moore he sold.
AP
Dennis, Yes I still have that gnarly J. Moore, and someday I will show you guys another fifth that tops it !
ReplyDeleteAP
Hey A.P.
ReplyDeleteThat is an interesting clip from the Gazette. I had forgotten that Hunt was titled Capt. Hunt. Do you know if it was a real commission, or one of those honorary titles of the day?
ie: Capt. Sutter, Col. Sanders.
Regardless, sounds like he was a smooth operator. It also mentions he was a partner with Chielovich & Co. That would make his new partnership with Moore easier to understand.
So I guess the only thing I have against Cap. Hunt is the demise of the J.Moore fifth. Which is the only thing I had against him in the first place.
The way the product took off, a couple of more years of J. Moores, instead of Jesse Moores, Hail! They would be as common as Circles or Star/Shields. I could have a nice line up of that beautiful J.Moore fifth. Probably still couldn't afford a green one though!!
Sole Agent, I agree. The E. Chielovich J. Moore would be as common as the Moore Hunt 1/5s had he retained the sole agency for another 3-5 yrs.
ReplyDeleteAs for being a Capt. I dont think it was a real commission. He was captain of the Oroville Guards during his time in that town.
I have a good article on him that I will try and upload to the blog
AP