EDWIN AUGUSTUS GUPTILL

     EDWIN AUGUSTUS GUPTILL, was a resident of California about thirty years, gained distinct success in the manufacturing business which he established here, and he was one of the substantial and highly esteemed citizens of San Francisco at the time of his death, which occurred May 10, 1898.

     Mr.  GUPTILL was born in the City of Cleveland, Ohio, February 20, 1841, and he was a boy when his parents moved to and became pioneer settlers of Iowa, where his father engaged in farm enterprise.  Mr. GUPTILL received much of his early education in the pioneer schools of Iowa.  As a boy, he was afflicted with a disease of the hip, and his eventual recovery was effected through a medicine which he himself prepared in later years.  Mr. GUPTILL came to California about the year 1870, and somewhat later he conceived the idea and purpose of giving to other sufferers the benefit of the remedy through which he had cured his diseased hip.  Accordingly, on a modest scale, he began the manufacture of what was known as "GUPTILL'S Sure Cure and Bone Remedy."  He traveled through the state and introduced his valuable medicine, for which a steady demand was created, and he eventually built up a large and prosperous business, his products being handled through the medium of the wholesale and retail drug trade and the remedy having found sale in the most diverse sections of the Union, as its efficacy became known.  Since the death of Mr. GUPTILL the business has been successfully continued by his widow, and a substantial export  trade has been developed , especially in the Orient.  Directions for the use of the remedy are printed both in English and Chinese, the latter provision have been requisite in connection with the Oriental demand.  The name of this popular and widely distributed medicine is now GUPTILL Bone Remedy and Blood Purifier.  Mr. GUPTILL was a liberal citizen, and was honored for his sterling attributes of character.  He was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and was a republican in political adherency.

     In the year 1886 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. GUPTILL and Miss Agnes BROWN, who as already noted, continues the business founded by him.  Agnes BROWN was a native of St. Johns, New Brunswick, and the daughter of William and Eliza BROWN, pioneers of that country, of Scotch-English descent.  The one child of their union is Paul Willard, who served with signal honor with the American Expeditionary Forces in France at the time of the World war, he having been in the overseas service for a period of fourteen months, as a member of Company E, Tenth Battalion, Twentieth United States Engineers.  Since receiving his discharge from military service he has been identified with the business established by his father, besides his work with the manufacturing concern of NEUDSTADTER Brothers. He has been connected with this firm for over twenty years, first taking service there as a boy.

 

Transcribed by: Deana Schultz.