Chattanooga Medicine Company
Cardui the Woman's Tonic
purchased harpers ferry flea market $5
Cardui The Woman's Tonic
In 1880 Dr. McElree's Wine of Cardui was introduced, a menstrual relief product for women . To maintain the company's building reputation for quality, the new product was delivered to customers with the agreement that they would pay for it only if fully satisfied with its results. Wine of Cardui immediately became successful, as more than 6,500 women reported cures and sent payment to the company for an initial shipment of 7,000 bottles.
Chattanooga Medicine Company
The Company was founded as the Chattanooga Medicine Company on February 21, 1879. It began operations in a small unpretentious 2-story brick building located on a muddy, unpaved road called Market Street in the heart of downtown Chattanooga. At the time, the city of Chattanooga consisted of fewer than 10,000 people whose occupations often centered around the railroad and thriving river port.
The principal founder of the Chattanooga Medicine Company was Zeboim Cartter Patten who originally came from Illinois to Chattanooga by way of the Union Army. He was joined by four other charter members including Fred F. Wiehl, H. Clay Evans, Lew Owen and Theodore G. Montague, all well known Chattanooga businessmen during the period. Partnerships were common in a variety of business ventures during the period as this made it easier to amass working capital. H. Clay Evans, also a Union soldier, and Zeboim Cartter Patten had previously formed a partnership with Thomas H. Payne in the stationary business. Fred F. Wiehl began a partnership with Harry Probasco to form American National Bank & Trust while Theodore G. Montague had helped to establish the First National Bank just a decade earlier. Even today, these same names remain prominent in Chattanooga business circles. The Chattanooga Medicine Company began with $25,000 in capital which was divided into 25 shares of $1,000 each.
Chattem started The Chattanooga Medicine Company in 1879 selling Black-Draught.
In 1880 Dr. McElree's Wine of Cardui was introduced, a menstrual relief product for women . To maintain the company's building reputation for quality, the new product was delivered to customers with the agreement that they would pay for it only if fully satisfied with its results. Wine of Cardui immediately became successful, as more than 6,500 women reported cures and sent payment to the company for an initial shipment of 7,000 bottles.
Customers were so pleased with the new products that their subsequent communications to the company were massive, and the Chattanooga Medicine Company "quickly became the largest generator of mail in the Chattanooga area and was assigned its own government-paid post office on the premises.
(According to tradition, Wine of Cardui originated among the Cherokee Indians.)
Chattem, Inc. manufactures and markets a diverse array of brand name pharmaceuticals, toiletries, and cosmetic items. Focusing on smaller product lines that it can market without competing directly against other giant companies in the business, Chattem has had a successful history in helping such products flourish. Over the years, it has manufactured and marketing name-brand products such as Black-Draft, Wind of Cardui, Pamprin, Premsyn PMS, Norwich Aspirin, Sun-In, Ultraswim Shampoo and Conditioner, Bullfrog Sunblock, Flex-all 454, Icy Hot, Benzodent, pHisoderm, MUDD Facial Masque, Corn Silk, Gold Bond Medicated Powder and Lotions, Love's Fragrances, Quenchers, and Baby Soft cosmetics lines.
. With a continually increasing list of successful product offerings, and with sales divisions already operating in the United States, Canada, and Europe, Chattem seemed to possess the resources to achieve its goals.
The principal founder of the Chattanooga Medicine Company was Zeboim Cartter Patten who originally came from Illinois to Chattanooga by way of the Union Army. He was joined by four other charter members including Fred F. Wiehl, H. Clay Evans, Lew Owen and Theodore G. Montague, all well known Chattanooga businessmen during the period. Partnerships were common in a variety of business ventures during the period as this made it easier to amass working capital. H. Clay Evans, also a Union soldier, and Zeboim Cartter Patten had previously formed a partnership with Thomas H. Payne in the stationary business. Fred F. Wiehl began a partnership with Harry Probasco to form American National Bank & Trust while Theodore G. Montague had helped to establish the First National Bank just a decade earlier. Even today, these same names remain prominent in Chattanooga business circles. The Chattanooga Medicine Company began with $25,000 in capital which was divided into 25 shares of $1,000 each.
Chattem started The Chattanooga Medicine Company in 1879 selling Black-Draught.
In 1880 Dr. McElree's Wine of Cardui was introduced, a menstrual relief product for women . To maintain the company's building reputation for quality, the new product was delivered to customers with the agreement that they would pay for it only if fully satisfied with its results. Wine of Cardui immediately became successful, as more than 6,500 women reported cures and sent payment to the company for an initial shipment of 7,000 bottles.
Customers were so pleased with the new products that their subsequent communications to the company were massive, and the Chattanooga Medicine Company "quickly became the largest generator of mail in the Chattanooga area and was assigned its own government-paid post office on the premises.
(According to tradition, Wine of Cardui originated among the Cherokee Indians.)
Chattem, Inc. manufactures and markets a diverse array of brand name pharmaceuticals, toiletries, and cosmetic items. Focusing on smaller product lines that it can market without competing directly against other giant companies in the business, Chattem has had a successful history in helping such products flourish. Over the years, it has manufactured and marketing name-brand products such as Black-Draft, Wind of Cardui, Pamprin, Premsyn PMS, Norwich Aspirin, Sun-In, Ultraswim Shampoo and Conditioner, Bullfrog Sunblock, Flex-all 454, Icy Hot, Benzodent, pHisoderm, MUDD Facial Masque, Corn Silk, Gold Bond Medicated Powder and Lotions, Love's Fragrances, Quenchers, and Baby Soft cosmetics lines.
. With a continually increasing list of successful product offerings, and with sales divisions already operating in the United States, Canada, and Europe, Chattem seemed to possess the resources to achieve its goals.