Earlier this summer, a significant nineteenth century patriotic earthenware pitcher sold at Locati Auctions in Pineville, Pennsylvania. The decoration included applied figures of Lady Liberty, a shield, thirteen stars and eagles. The pitcher was also dated "December 25th, 1868," and inscribed with the word "Union." There was also an inscribed name, although at the time the name was not identified.
According to the research of Connor Rush, "The scroddled pitcher is also stamped “Liberty and Lager” below the spout, which I determined was a briefly-used political slogan or rallying cry for anti-Prohibition agitators during the 1868 presidential election, seemingly used primarily by the Democratic party to pander to the large German immigrant population in Northern cities and try to get some votes there. It did not work, and they lost the election, but the “don’t take away our beer!” sentiment was strong and may have remained an issue in the politics of northern cities. The slogan’s appearance on a beer pitcher is unique but is perhaps the most sensible place for it to appear."
Nevertheless, the current owner of this pitcher has determined that the inscribed name appears to read Henry Rodearmel (1816-1890). There was a man by this name who was born in Philadelphia in 1816 and died in Philadelphia on September 10, 1890. Rodearmel seems to have been a career engineer, where he is listed with this occupation, as early as the 1837 edition of McElroy's Philadelphia City Directory at 1319 Wallace Street. He is then cited as an engineer in the 1870 and 1880 United States Federal Censuses in Philadelphia. The 1881 Philadelphia City Directory also lists him as an engineer, where he is still working at 1319 Wallace Street.
Among the engineering projects he was involved with was one cited in the 1860 issue of Laws of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: "Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That the auditor general, state treasurer and attorney general be and they are hereby authorized and required to examine into the claim of the sureties of Henry D. Rodearmel, late supervisor (in this case the use of the word "late" likely signifies that Rodearmel was no longer employed or had left that position) on the Susquehanna division of the Pennsylvania canal, and they, or a majority of them, to report to the legislature, at their next session, whether anything is justly and equitably due said sureties from the commonwealth; and if anything is so due, the nature and amount thereof."
To add to Connor's research, during the nineteenth century, particularly around 1868, Philadelphia's brewing industry underwent a revolution driven largely by German immigrants and the growing popularity of lager beer. This period saw a significant increase in the number of breweries in the city, with Philadelphia becoming a major center for beer production.
Furthermore, the Rodearmel family is a Philadelphia name with roots tracing back to Germany. The family name first appeared in Philadelphia in the eighteenth century, where the surname is also spelled in historical records as Rothermel and Roadarmel.
Note: There is also a Civil War connection with Henry Rodearmel; his son, George Rodearmel (1844-1915) served in the 91st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which was a Union infantry regiment that fought in multiple key engagements of the American Civil War, including the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Battle of Chancellorsville and the Battle of Gettysburg.
19th Century Patriotic Scoddleware Earthenware Pitcher
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