M.E. McDowell Tobacco & Co.
M.E. Mcdowell Tobacco & Co.—The business of this firm was established in 1862, by M.E. McDowell and J.M. Duncan, at Philadelphia, and was conducted by them with great success till 1870, when Mr. Duncan retired, and the present firm was constituted as follows: M.E. McDowell, Samuel H. Austin, Jr., and J.A. McDowell, all of whom have had great practical experience in the tobacco business, and are thoroughly conversant with every detail of its manufacture and the requirements of the trade. M.E. McDowell & Co., with their principal house at Nos. 603-605 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, have, besides their Chicago offices at No. 8 Wabash Avenue, established the following branches: No. 9 Warren Street, New York; No. 416 North Second Street, St. Louis; No. 70 Gravier Street, New Orleans; No. 9 West Alabama Street, Atlanta.
Aside from being large stockholders in the famous Blackwell's Durham Tobacco Company, Durham, N.C., and the individual members of the firm are active officers of the same, they are the sole agents for the sale of the entire product of the factory, which is the largest and most complete factory in the world devoted exclusively to the manufacturing of smoking tobacco. Their principal brand, known as Blackwell's Genuine Durham, or by many called "Bull" Durham, from the representation of a Durham bull used as a trademark, is so well known throughout the length and breadth of this country, as well as in Europe, Asia, Africa and the islands of the sea, that comment as to quality and popularity is unnecessary. In 1877, Samuel H. Austin, Jr., one of the partners of the house, assisted by J.M. Duncan, established the Chicago branch, but the business of the firm with all parts of the world having increased so rapidly, Mr. Austin was required, in 1881, to return to the main house in Philadelphia, to assist M.E. McDowell, the senior partner, in the management of the general business. Mr. Duncan then became and is now the manager of the Chicago branch. J. Lewis Cochran is also connected with the house, and attends to the business in adjacent States.
