German stoneware production in Erie County, New York is not a subject that I have looked into at any great length, although the influence of migrant German potters in Erie County in the nineteenth century seems to have been prevalent throughout the area, as much as anywhere else in the United States during this period. The location that this may have been the most apparent was with stoneware production in Buffalo, where the Heiser family produced a variety of stoneware during the 1830s to the 1850s; this is a family that originally migrated from Germany to Philadelphia in 1819, and then relocated to Buffalo in 1828, which was a few years after the Erie Canal opened. Production continued with this family and other German stoneware potters in Buffalo through the 1890s.
Godfrey Heiser (1799-1885) was the first known stoneware manufacturer in Buffalo and the first member of the family to come to America. He was born in Schwalbach, Germany, in 1799, a short distance from the famed stoneware production center in Westerwald, Germany. The best known example of Heiser's surviving production is likely a jug owned by the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan, inscribed with a fish and arrow, stamped "G. Heiser Co Buffalo." Godfrey operated this business during the circa 1835-1848 period.
19th Century Stoneware Jug Made by Godfrey Heiser in Buffalo, New York
Stamped "G. Heiser Co Buffalo"
Decorated with an Inscribed Fish and Arrow
Circa 1835-1848
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Henry Ford Museum
Godfrey Heiser's Obituary
Published in the Buffalo Commercial on January 20, 1885
It was published in 1884, in a book, titled, The History of the City of Buffalo and Erie County, “Godfrey Heiser, who now lives at 209 Seneca St., came to Philadelphia from Germany in 1819 and to Buffalo in 1828. He first engaged in the lime business on Exchange Street, when it was ‘woods nearly all around him.’ He afterwards began the first pottery business in Buffalo, on the site of his present residence, where his son also conducts a grocery business. At a still later date Mr. Heiser was engaged in brewing at the same location, in connection with his brother. He retired from active business seventeen years ago [in 1867].”
In 1848 Godfrey transferred the pottery ownership to Phillip Mugler (1813-1862) and started a brewery with John Holzer on the same site that the pottery business was located between Seneca and Carroll Streets. This business became known as "P. Mugler & Co." Mugler was born in France, although he was of German descent.
According to part of Mugler's obituary, published in the May 12, 1863 issue of the Buffalo Morning Express and Illustrated Buffalo Express: "DEATH OF AN OLD RESIDENT - We are pained to learn of the death of Phillip Mugler, one of the oldest German residents of the city. Mr. Mugler came to this city from the department of Strasburg, France, of which he was a native. Although born in France, his ancestors, associations and social tastes were entirely German. As such he was widely known and highly respected by our citizens, both native and adopted."
However, it seems that Mugler may have been more of a businessman than anything else, seeing that he became a grocer in 1852. Interestingly, though, Mugler married Elizabeth (some census records called her "Margaret") Heiser (1828-1896), who was Godfrey's niece; her brother, John Heiser Jr. (1825-1856) also became involved with Mugler and stoneware production. Elizabeth, along with her father, John Heiser Sr. (b. 1795), and brother, John Jr., applied for emigration to America on April 29, 1834, arriving in Buffalo later that year.
Even so, it was the year 1835 that was certainly a monumental time for the Heisers when they established Buffalo's first stoneware business; John Jr. likely trained under his uncle before he operated the company under his name during the 1852-1856 period.
Furthermore, the 1850 United States Federal Census lists John Jr. as living in the household of Phillip and Elizabeth Mugler, where both Phillip and John Jr. are listed with an occupation of "potter." John Jr. was working for Phillip during the 1848-1852 period, seeing that some objects produced under Mugler's company, and then later with John Jr.'s ownership appear very similar in form, cobalt decoration and the way the company stamps were applied (see below).
Some Info About Phillip Mugler and John Heiser Jr.
(Left) This is Phillip Mugler (1813-1862)
(Right) This is Elizabeth Heiser Mugler (1828-1896)
Some Census Records Called Her "Margaret"
Godfrey Heiser (1799-1885) was Her Uncle
John Heiser Jr. (1825-1856) was Her Brother
Phillip Mugler Listed as a "Potter" in Buffalo, New York
John Heiser Jr. Listed as a "Potter" in Buffalo, New York
This is from the 1860 United States Federal Census
See Article for More Information
19th Century Cobalt Decorated Stoneware Crocks Made in Buffalo, New York
(Left) Marked "P. MUGLER & CO. / BUFFALO. NY"
Circa 1848-1852
(Right) Marked "J. HEISER / BUFFALO NY"
Circa 1852-1856
Both Possibly Decorated by John Heiser Jr.
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
Phillip Mugler Listed as a "Grocer" in Buffalo, New York
This is from the 1860 United States Federal Census
See Article for More Information
Interestingly, the New England stoneware potter Daniel Goodale Jr. (1793-1858), who worked in Hartford, Connecticut, circa 1818-1830, also shows up in Buffalo in the 1850 United States Federal Census, although I have not found any documentation that can connect him to the Heisers, Mugler or any other Erie County potter. But there were also other migrant German potters working in Buffalo, such as Christian G. Bruehl (1828-1912), who was working for John Heiser Jr. in 1855, and later for Charles W. Braun (1821-1899) in 1860; Braun had also migrated from Germany.
Charles Braun took over the Heiser pottery, when John Jr. died in 1856; he operated the company from 1857-1896, producing some of the most dramatic cobalt decorated stoneware made in New York. Braun was born in Prussia, migrating to Buffalo, where he was listed with an occupation of "Master Potter" in the 1860 United States Federal Census, whereas the 1870 Census lists him as a "Stone Ware Manufacturer." He is also cited as a "potter" in his Civil War Registration Record from 1863.
The skill and quality of the production at Braun's business certainly rivaled the stoneware made in Rochester, New York during the same period, among other businesses in the Western New York region. Although, one of Braun's most important existing pieces of work may be a cobalt script decorated six-gallon crock that sold at Sotheby's in New York City in 2015, inscribed, "C.W. BRAUN.6. / Buffalo." The crock was also decorated with a pheasant: https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2015/americana-n09300/lot.837.html.
19th Century Six-Gallon Stoneware Crock Made in Buffalo, New York Inscribed "C.W. BRAUN.6. / Buffalo."
Also Decorated with a Pheasant
Circa 1857-1896
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Sotheby's
19th Century Six-Gallon Stoneware Butter Churn Made in Buffalo, New York
Stamped "C.W. BRAUN / Buffalo"
Decoration Previoulsly Called a Lion
But also has a Dog Appearance to it
Circa 1857-1896
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Sotheby's
This is Charles W. Braun (1821-1899)
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Buffalo History Museum
Charles W. Braun Listed with an Occupation of "Master Potter" in Buffalo, New York
This is from the 1860 United States Federal Census
The Census also Notes that he was Born in Prussia
See Article for More Information
Charles W. Braun Listed with an Occupation of "Stone Ware Manufacturer" in Buffalo
This is from the 1870 United States Federal Census
The Census also Notes that he was Born in Prussia
See Article for More Information
Charles W. Braun Listed with an Occupation of "Potter" in 1863
This is from His Civil War Registration Record
See Article for More Information
Nonetheless, Charles Braun's business was known for a wide variety of folky cobalt decorations, including flowers, horses, lions, deer, roosters, pheasants, and other birds, among other subjects. Much of the production was comparable to some of the best cobalt decorated stoneware produced elsewhere in New York State and in Vermont in the 1800s. Braun's decorations also had a personality, which is found with some of the best cobalt decorated stoneware made in the American Northeast.
(Left) 19th Century Four-Gallon Stoneware Crock Decorated with a Bird in Cobalt
Made at Charles W. Braun's Business in Buffalo, New York
Stamped "C.W. BRAUN / BUFFALO.N.Y."
Circa Late 1850s-1870s
Stands 11 1/2" Tall
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: A.A.A.W.T.
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