1861 Hastings, Michigan Dr. Lyman Newton Mixer began selling his first remedy from the back of a covered wagon. Later partnering with his sons Charles and Curtis, his Original Formula sold continuously for 73 years until 1934. While his original claims of a cure for cancer were somewhat…dubious…bottles of The Remedy were sold through the burgeoning US Mail and by the most prominent apothecaries throughout the land providing herbal wellness to thousands. In a twisted example of life imitating art, our Gilded Age true tale of Mixerville is stranger than fiction. Political power, wealth, taming the wild west and family feuds all weave their way into the fabric of Barry County, Michigan from 1852 – 1934.

It tunes up the general system and gives one life and vitality…and I can, most cheerfully, recommend it to the public

M.L. Cook, Editor Hastings Banner – Hastings, MI – 1889

As to the remedy, it has been used by myself and my family for some time and we are of the opinion that there is nothing better

Wesley Hunsberger, Pastor – Coldwater, MI – 1889

I am now 62 years old and never enjoyed better health in my life, all of which I attribute to Mixer’s

G.G. Clarke. Greenville, MI – 1889

“My health has been good ever since thanks to your excellent remedy”

Simon Danner – Ionia, MI – 1891

“I have not felt so well in years as I do now”

Ms. A Hoadley – Otisville, MI – 1895

“I shall be pleased to do all I can in the interest of humanity to recommend”

T.B. Abernathy – Chicago, ILL – 1902

Isaac Mixer 1634

Leaving Ipswich, England in 1634, Isaac Mixer II set sail for the New World and the promise of Boston. This journey was part of the Great Migration and fueled by the push for religious freedom and escape from the Church of England. After arrival, the family settled in Watertown, MA with Isaac one of its Founding Fathers and holding many offices before his death June 19, 1655. Isaac accumulated land holdings including 12 parcels totaling 180 acres, in addition to his 6 acre homestead in Watertown. This plot was awarded to Isaac as part of the Great Dividend. Also in his personal inventory at the time of his death was a 1/4 interest in the ship Diligent.

The Good Doctor – Lyman Newton Mixer

192 years after Isaac settled in Watertown, MA, “Dr.” Mixer was born in Victory, Cayuga County, N. Y., March 13, 1828. On August 15, 1848, he was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Scott, daughter of Abraham Scott. Lyman and Amanda moved to Illinois in 1950, remaining about two years, and in 1852 they travelled to Michigan, settling on a farm in Baltimore Township in Barry County.

Lyman and Amanda had 5 children:

• Son Newell H. 1849 – 1920
• Son Curtis Gould 1855 – 1911
• Son Charles Wade 1858 – 1935
• Son Walter W. 1865 – 1888
• Daughter Frances May (Fanny/Fannie) 1868 – 1941

In the year 1856 or 1857 a “cancer appeared on the mouth and throat…and spread rapidly, soon involving his pallet and nose”. Lyman travelled to Bennington, VT in search of a cure, returning with no cure and hope waning. Ultimately, he ended up in his hometown of Victory, NY and was blessed with a “Cure” for his “Cancer”.

News spread far and wide of his miraculous cure and Lyman patented his Mixer’s Cancer and Scrofula Syrup in 1874 joining the legion of other Patent Medicine manufacturers of the day. Utilizing the United States Post Office for fulfillment and payment, Dr. Mixer advertised the Cure taking advantage of the the burgeoning newspaper industry and availability of cheap paper pulp used in printed material. With Barry County, Hastings being their business point, In 1871 he moved from the old homestead in Baltimore to the city of Hastings, where he remained to the time of his death.

The Nose Knows

After coming of age, Lyman and Amanda were joined in their business by their sons Charles Wade and Curtis Gould in 1885. Subsequently, Charles Mortimer (Mort) Tower began working for Dr. Mixer laying the foundation for his marriage to daughter Fannie. Over the years despite family squabbles, legal action, various business iterations, divorce and general quackery, the Mixers went on to make a fortune until Charles’ death in 1934.

Lyman was able to take advantage of a loophole and utilize the title of DR. even though he received no formal medical training as he was “practicing medicine” before the stricter requirement were implemented by the AMA. On 1/26/1900, Lyman officially registers himself as a Doctor under Michigan’s medical licensing law. Upon his death, therefore, there was no legal claim to market the Cancer Cure as “Dr. Mixer’s” which proved to be problematic for both Charles and Mort, who continued to sell hope for a cure.

MIXER FARM BALTIMORE TWP

The Heyday of Patent Medicines

Lyman was at the forefront of the Patent Medicine craze that swept the nation in the mid 19th century. A patent medicine, in the legal sense of the word, is a medicine whose composition or method of making, or both, has been patented. Drs. Mixers orchestrated a direct marketing campaign of self-diagnosis, as was a trademark of patent medicine purveyors, rather than an in person diagnosis as was popular with pharmacists and medical practitioners of the day. This is ean early precursor of tele-medicine which is increasingly popular today.

What began with humble roots was quickly growing into a thriving business for Lyman, Amanda and Mixer clan. As a result of his success, Amanda claims in her 1906 affidavit that due its overwhelming effectiveness, druggists were imitating their formula and on March 14, 1874 Lyman applies for and is granted a Patent for his Scrofula and Cancer Syrup. If you have ever wondered what was in the magic potion, it is on display below for the world to see. Part of Curtis’s claim is that he helped to pay for the patent and he should rightfully have some skin in the game for that!

CHARLES WADE MIXER

After moving a few miles north with his family in 1872 from the original homestead in Baltimore Township, Charles was educated at the Hastings Primary School and Hastings High School. Both buildings were completed in 1872 and served as a cornerstone to the developing downtown Hastings. After graduation he worked for a few local merchants including Greable & Russell’s Hardware (without any real success or aptitude according to his brother Curtis), earned enough trust to be bonded by a local benefactor and left home to travel the western territories selling books, chromolithographs and painting lessons with his brother. They operated under the “Mixer Brothers” umbrella between 1880 and 1884, with a brief break in 1882/3 while Curtis pursued homestead claims in Mitchell, South Dakota for Charles, Lyman and himself . While on their western adventures they sold Dr. Mixers Cancer and Scrofula Syrup and worked to save enough money to pursue the medicine business full-time with their parents. He was married to Leila H. Mixer 1856-1938.

Between 1884 and 1888 Charles ventured to Deadwood in the Black Hills of the Dakota Territory. In addition to Deadwood, Fort Laramie was a gateway to the region and a regular destination on his travel circuit. According to Curtis’ later account of the time, Charles headed to the Black Hills to practice medicine, selling their cure in the burgeoning west.

Although he had never studied medicine in any way shape or manner he adopted the plan of going on to the road advertise himself as Dr Chas W Mixer the great specialist in blood diseases and has so continued to advertise himself even to this day.

Curtis Mixer

In addition to the Cancer Syrup business, he was a speculator in both timber and mining ventures. Charles and Curt remained in close contact during this period and in letter to Curtis Charles gives him a list of Stocks he valued at $5,000. He urged his brother to send money and ultimately invested $500 of his brother’s savings in a mining claim that lost most of its value in a few short years. This loss/debt was a lasting point of contention between the brothers for decades.

This time period most certainly shaped the character, and honed the skills of an eager and determined Charles. From the ages of 26 to 30 Charles perfected his craft in the saloons with Doc Holiday, alongside Al Swearingen with his lock on the Opium trade among other ventures, and fueled with an endless stream of speculators and scoundrels chasing their dreams. Gone were the days of art supplies, books and painting lessons ushering in the new age of frontier medicine and wealth building. There was a steady flow of new customers looking for a miracle cure and the increasingly reliable postal service served him well.

Charles and Curtis (CG) officially joined their father Lyman (LN) in business 3/3/1885, peddling their father’s Cancer Cure and were sold 1/4 share each of the business Drs. Mixer & Sons C&SS for $250. Curtis sold his share in the business early on in 1892 for $1,000 to Charles to pursue other interests, granting CW a 50% stake in the new entity Dr. Mixer and Son. Charles went on to become General Manager in 1888 when he retuned home from the Dakota Territory due to Lyman’s failing health. In 1890, the Mixers were joined by Charles Mortimer Tower (Mort) for a brief time before a family rift developed and they parted ways.

Ultimately, Charles continued in business selling his Cancer Cure and related remedies, despite many legal battles and regulatory mis-steps, and earned a King’s Ransom estimated by his mother Amanda’s in her affidavit (1906) to be “profits in excess of $100 a day”. That is equivalent to approximately $1 MM annually in 2020 dollars. Harnessing an opportunity to grow, Charles expanded his product line to include:

• Number 1 Wash – An ordinary solution of Hydrogen Peroxide
• Number 1 Alternative – A Hydro-alcoholic solution containing a large amount of glycerine and a small amount of vegetable matter similar to gentian
• Cancer Reducer– A strong alcoholic solution of camphoraceous oils combined with considerable glycerine
• Cancer Paste – An ointment paste made up of vaseline, incorporating a large amount of ground flaxseed and a camphoracous substance and alkaloidal bearing matter which resembles hyosycamus
• Cancer Salve– A salve composed of vaseline and lanolin incorporating powdered opium and tannin
• Cleanoine Soap Powder – An antiseptic soap powder containing borax and thymol

By 1909, Charles had established his residence and factory to 414 South Jefferson to a building that stands today at that address. The Sanborn Map Company published the definitive resource for the insurance industry until the middle of the 20_^th Century that clearly chronicles the physical structures of most major cities (and many small ones including Hastings) and show Mixer Medicine at this location listed as a Patent Medicine Office & Laboratory

This partial list of Charle’s support of outdoor recreation includes:

Charles expands the family legacy

ADVERTISING COPY FOR DR. MIXERS CANCER AND SCROFULA SYRUP

THE SAD STORY OF FATHER’S GREAT SUFFERING FROM CANCER

Fifty Five years ago my father who was himself a doctor, had a cancer that was eating away his life. The best physicians in America could do nothing for him. After nine long years of awful suffering, and after the cancer had totally eaten away his nose and portions of his face (as shown In his picture here given) his palate was entirely destroyed together with portions of his throat. Father fortunately discovered the great remedy that cured him. This was over forty years ago, and he has never suffered a day since.

This same discovery has now cured thousands who were threatened with operation and death. And to prove that this be the truth we will give their sworn statement if you will write us. Doctors, Lawyers, Mechanics, Ministers, Laboring Men, Bankers and all classes recommend this glorious life saving discovery, and we want the whole world to benefit by it.

HAVE YOU CANCER, Tumors, Ulcers, Abscesses, Fever Sores, Goitre, Catarrh, Salt-Rheum, Rheumatism, Piles, Eczema, Scald Head or Scrofula in any form.

We’ll positively guarantee our statements true, perfect satisfaction and honest service or money refunded.

It will cost you nothing to learn the truth about this wonderful home treatment without the knife or caustic. And if you know anyone who is afflicted with any disease above mentioned, you can do them a Christian act of kindness by sending us their addresses so we can write them how easily they can be cured in their own home. This is no idle talk, we mean just what we say. We have cured others, and can cure you. Forty years experience guaranteed success. Write-us-today: delay is dangerous. Illustrated Booklet FREE.

241 State St., HASTINGS. MICH.

CLAIMS MADE

• Greatest Cancer . . . remedy of the age.
• Our remedies give safe, speedy and certain relief to the most horrible forms of cancer of the breast, face, stomach and womb.
• We have equally as good success with internal cancer as with external, and rarely fail to cure.
• Our success in the treatment of Cancer … is without parallel.
• We have cured 86 percent of all cases who have taken our treatment. This we believe is a better showing than any Cancer Specialist in this country can make.
• Thousands suffering from cancer and its kindred diseases have been perfectly cured by this great discovery.
• Thousands of people die of cancer and malignant growth from year to year who would surely have been cured by our treatment.
• Our Blood Remedies Cure and Cure to Stay Cured. This valuable treatment is a positive safeguard and preventive against the development of cancer germs.

Curtis Gould Mixer

Curtis G. Mixer, like his brother Charles, was born on the original family homestead and farm in Baltimore Township, a short carriage ride south of Hastings, Michigan. The family moved north around 1872 from the street that bears the familial name (Mixer Street) to Bond Street in Hastings. The boys both attended the Hastings Primary School and Hastings High School while Curtis went on to earn his teaching certificate and taught school for a brief time in Hastings after graduation. From 1880 – 1884 Curtis joined Charles as The Mixer Brothers and took to the road as the quintessential Traveling Salespeople. He moved throughout Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Upper Michigan, Louisiana and the Dakota Territory selling books, chromolithographs(prints) and art supplies. In addition to the items in his line card, he also secured the Patent Licenses to sell the Champion Patent Adjustable Web Halter throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and the Dakota Territory that never earned him much income, He was also an artist, earning money painting portraits when the opportunity arose.

In the fall of 1877 we both commenced the chromos (chromolithographs) business again continuing then until the winter of 1879 & 80 when we returned from the west with $1000 between us, remaining at home until June 1880. During which time we prepare and had printed the wrapper which has ever since been used on the bottles of Mixer C&SS. Also circulars, labels, letterheads, envelops, bill heads, stickers all of which bore Fathers portrait. This Continued until 1882

Curtis Mixer in his own word

Charles and Curtis supported their parents early on in their business. Curtis gave/lent Lyman $75 in 1874 allowing him to obtain his original patent on his syrup. Unofficially, the Mixer Brothers joined LN and Amanda in the sales and marketing of Mixer’s Cancer and Scrofula Syrup in 1880 when they returned from their travels with $1,000 and purchased $318 worth of printing from The Strobridge Lithographing Company of Cincinnati. This was for labels, circulars, forms and other advertising materials.

This “earned” them both an equal 1/4 stake in the business. This contradicts slightly with the first official partnership documents dated 1885 when each is granted a 1/4 interest in the business in exchange for $250. There was on-going tension over business and financial matters which led to Curtis selling his interest in the business to Charles for $1,000 in 1892 and beginning is journey to Muskegon, Michigan where he ultimately settled and passed away in 1911. It is Curtis to whom we own a huge debt of gratitude as it was he, alone, who preserved the treasures of his day in his leather salesman’s case. His case was passed down for three generations before being discovered tucked away in a basement in Muskegon and archived by my amazing sister, and partner in crime, Betsy Chaitoff.

Transcribed from his notes in his own words…

Handwritten on daily weather report note cards, 32 in all, this appears to be a draft of a possible affidavit by Curtis of events and monies invested/ taken from the family business by Chas and him. It covers the time from 1872 until 1892 when Chas bought Curt out of the medicine business. Several places are noted in document, including Deadwood Dakota Territory It is undated and unsigned but from the content and handwriting it is clear that it was created by Curt. It is on the same weather cards that Amanda used to create her March 6, 1906 affidavit and follows her same process of documenting what happened with the business and dealings with Chas.

[p1] Moved from farm June 1872 Chas going to work for farmer at 17.00 per month, I on construction train on Grd River Valley RR at 1.50 per day shoveling gravel. I soon secured same position for Newell & Chas but they did not stay long. I worked there until Sept when I commenced school at Hastings. Left school and taught my first term of school 4 months at $40 per month. Earned $160.00 paid 32.50 for my board leaving $127.50 of my own.

[p2] Father & Mother drove over and attended the last day of my school. The next day we came home by Mr. Mudges who had a mortgage on our farm. Father & Mother wanted I should let them have $100.00 to pay Mr. Mudge which I did. I having let them have $77.00 previous they then gave me a receipt for 177.00 which I had let them have in cash. Spent the next summer working at home attended the select school in the fall and taught a

[p3] term of 3 months that following winter at 40.00 per month & board. For two or three years we had been annoyed greatly worried by some of the druggists making & selling a medicine which they claimed was the same as Mixers Cancer & Scrofula Syrup. Father had been trying to secure a patent on the medicine and I let him have $75.00 at this time which he used to pay for the patent. The next spring & summer I sold books, selling $400.00 worth of Bibles in a short time when I had been teaching school.

[p4] The next receipt given me was for $100.00. The winter of 1874 & 5 I taught 4 months receiving 150.00 & board. During the following summer I commenced soliciting orders for a magazine & chromos, a business which I followed until the winter of 1879 with the exception of one year I spent in the athletic line in 1876. During this year Chas entered into a contract with O A Browning of Toledo Ohio to sell

[p5] Books. A merchant at Hastings Mr Grant signed his bond & was obliged to put up some money for Chas as he Chas did not not succeed as he expected and in the fall of 1877 we both commenced the chromos business again continuing then until the winter of 1879 & 80 when we returned from the west with $1000 between us, remaining at home until June 1880. During which time we prepare and had printed the wrapper which has

[p6] ever since been used on the bottles of Mixer C&SS. Also circulars, labels, letterheads, envelops, bill heads, stickers all of which bore Fathers protrait the engravement of which cost 40.00 with an agrate bill for about $318.00 for the entire printing bill. Strobridge & Co of Cincinnati Ohio doing the work. For and in consideration of such expenditure which was paid equally by Chas & myself, Father & Mother deeded to each of us 1/4 of the medecine business so that at this time we became 1/2 owners of the patent & the biz of Mixer C&SS.

[p7] In June of 1880 Chas & I became partners in a business of teaching painting traveling through the west our purpos being to get money enough to gather so that we could push the medecine business and give it our entire time & attention, it having been understood for many years that this would be our lifes work. The painting partnership continued until Feb 1882. We being at Sioux City Ia Chas wishing to return home I purchased & paid him for his 1/2 in said business. I going to Mitchel Dakota where I secured a homestead & timber claim for myself also a timber claim for Chas.

[p8] Seeing the opportunity for money making in this country I urged Chas to return but he would not & I persuaded Father to come securing for him a homestead. He used his own money in coming taking about $65.00. I spent considerable time & money with him while he was there & owed to an injury which he received by falling from a wagon I was obliged to return home with him that fall after he had proven up on his claim. After we had been home about two weeks imagine my surprise to learn that Father had given Chas

[p9] a deed for his Dakota homestead without any consideration whatever except that Chas had remained at home while Father was in Dakota. Partnership in the painting business was again resumed between Chas & I and continued until Jan 1884 when Chas demanded & received a note from Father for $140.00 Chas claiming that he had put this amount into a horse & carriage during the time he was at home while Father was in Dakota. As Chas had just refused an offer of $750 for the land Father gave him which offer would net Chas $525 I did not

[p10] think it just that Chas should have the note as Father had spent his own money to secure the land. We continued the painting business seperately my wife & myself remaining in Iowa Chas drifting into Dakota where he sold his & my timber claims for 750.00 thus realizing a benefit of 375.00 through my kindness in securing this claim for him two years previous. The spring of 1886 found myself, wife & daughter 1 1/2 years old at Shreveport La still teaching the painting, Chas at Deadwood Dakota during the same also dealing in mining stocks and had several times

[p11] written me urging that I send him some money saying that he could make some money for me but I had replied that I could not take the chance having a wife & baby. Finally he sent me a list of what stocks he owned amounting to over $5000 and requesting that I lone him for one year at 10% what money I could spare. Having between 800 & 900 in the bank at Shreveport I decided to lone him 500.00 and sent him this amt less exchange 1.25 & receiving from him a note for $498.75 running one year at 10%. Returning from the south that

[p12] summer our son was born at Greenville the following Dec. When the note was due Chas said stocks had depreciated greatly & he would like an extention which was granted. He positively promised that he would have $225 for me to lift a mortgage on my Homestead that fall which he also failed to do & I traded the land for a patent halter hoping that I would get some money from Chas later so I could work it but money came only in small amounts from Chas and I was unable to work the patent Halter and as a result I never recd one dollar from my Homestead.

[p13] During these & following years my wife often said to me – you must write Chas that we must have that money. But I always said no, contending that I wished to be trully loyal to him and if he came out of the Black Hills broke he could not in any manner attribute his failure to me. In 88 we were all called to Hastings on account of Father being seriously ill. Chas returned with 120.00 in money & an acct against some one in the west of 75.00 or 100.00 which I think he recd later but letters written by him from the Black Hills

[p14] to me show that he lost out there including the 500.00 I had loaned him and he still owed me a ballance of over 300.00 on the note. Bro Walters death occured at this time which necesstated the immediate use of money. I told Chas to place in the bank such an amount as was needed & we would check it out jointly as was needed and I would give him credit on his note for one half of amt used but he would not do this because he alone must appear in the roll of benefactor. I was sick all the time during Bro Walters illness. A few days after his burial I recovered sufficiently

[p15] to go home to my family at Greenville at which time after much parley Chas reduced the note to 300 even at this time. Chas not being able to get a position at any thing else decided to stay at home & go to work at the medecine business. Although he had never studied medecine in any way shape or manner he adopted the plan of going on to the road advertise himself as Dr Chas W Mixer the great specialist in blood diseases and has so continued to advertise himself even to this day. In giving an estimate of the amount of biz the firm was doing per year at this time I would say between 600 & 800 dollars

[p16] which is a very conservitive estimate. Two or 3 months later or in the following winter I was at Hastings & Chas wanted I should come down & go to work at the medecine but I told him that he was single & could live at home but to add myself & family to the expense of the business I was afraid we could not possibly make a go of it but that I would stick to the painting business a little longer & try & get a little money together & we might then all succeed at the medecine business. During the following summer I learned that it was being planned by Chas to have

[p17] Father & Mother increase the mortage on their home from $500 to $800 thereby raising $300 for Chas so that he could pay me the ballance on the note. I wrote them a very urgent letter requesting them not to increase the mortage on their home to pay Chas’ individual debt to me but to let the note matter rest that we would soon all be at work at the medecine business & when the time came that I could take that amt out of the business. We would then consider the note paid. But no attention was paid to my advise. The money was raised sent me by draft and I returned the note to Chas.

[p18] Very shortly following this transaction came the making of a will by Father whereby he disposed of his 1/2 of the medecine business by bequeathing to Chas 1/4 and sister Fannie 1/4 leaving no portion whatever to me. In fact I do not recall that my name was mentioned in the document. When I learned that something of this kind had been done I went to Hastings and protested to Chas very vigerously against such injustice but Chas claimed it to be all Fathers own doing. I told him that I knew better that he Chas must have said something to Father which caused him to be so extremely partial & unmindful of me.

[p19] Well he said “I did urge Father to do something of this kind in order that I might know that I was going to be rewarded for the great good I was doing the medecine more than you are” meaning me. Father explained it to me by saying that he had complied with Charles wishes in order to keep peace. [^ insert on the side that is hard to read but looks like Chas to assume Mother or possibly Mort] Father retired early in the evening but Mother Chas & I talked the matter over until 2 oclock am. Chas not being willing to make any conssesions from the plans already made. I bade them good night saying that I would sleep my last sleep under the parental roof when I with my

[p20] little family would start life anew with the small remnant of what was left of the 15 or 1600 dollars which I had worked hard to save & had in 1886 when I loned Chas the 500.00. Sometime after I had retired Chas came and wished me to get up & listen to a plan he had arranged. After some reluctance I did so. It was as follows. Father to change the will going 1/8 to Fanny & 1/8 to me and 1/4 to Chas. I should move to Hastings & put as much money into the medecine business as

[p21] he and Father did respectively and the proceeds of the biz to be divided equally 1/3 to each. I agreed to this moved to Hastings and entered into the business. No contract existed except the verbal agreement & understanding we not deeming it necessary. We arrived at Hastings just in time to attend sister Fannys wedding which instead of being a quiet unassuming affair was exactly to oposit and cost considerable money Chas dictating and arrangeing the whole matter. I found the medecine firm

[p22] oweing considerable money besides Chas had quite a good many person[al] debts and I found that he had been paying assessments on his Black Hills mining stocks but to learn just what he was doing & did do was quite impossible because he allowed no one to know anything about how much money he made practicing medecine on the road. One case came plainly to notice where a son in law or relative of an old gentleman from whom Chas had secured 50.00 for taking care of his case came to Hastings to have Chas arrested for the imposition.

[p23] The old gentleman died a very short time after Chas took the case in hand and I heard through other parties that Chas settled with the parties by returning all or a part of the 50.00. When I got settled at Hastings I had some less than $200 left. Not one word was said by Chas about the amount he & Father had to put into the business or the amt I should put in although I commenced devoting my time to the preperation of the medecine, bottlling, wrapping, packing & shipping of the same and the correspondence when Chas was not at home.

[p24] I made no mention of receiving any money out of the business but paid my own expenses and lived on my own money entirely asking not one cent until August when my own money was exausted. While it is true that I spent considerable time at home repairing furnature & trying to settle my home comfortably for my family still most of my time was spent at Fathers attending to the medecine biz and arranging things there so that Father & Mother could take care of the biz when Chas & I was away

[p25] on the road as I was then preparing to do. But Chas said no Curtis you cant have once cent of money from the firm for any purpose whatever. What money there is in the bank and all the stock on hand belongs to me and he presented a contract for Father & I to sign also a joint note for 140.00 which represented the amount of stock on hand pertaining to the medecine biz $85.00 & all the money we had in the Bank 55.00 which he claimed belonged entirely to him personally Father & I owning no portion of either.

[p26] Father & I could see no justice in the contract & especially none in the note although I did get Father to consent with me to sign the contract but we could not sign the note and as a result Chas again left home saying that he should retain for his own all the money he made practicing medecine and the firm should only be entitled to its portion of what Mixers C&SS which he sold. I told him that if he was going out to humbug [?] the people and quack it in the name of M C&SS he would have to divide the proceeds with the firm but he simply sneered

[p27] at me & said that what he made practicing medecine was his own & he should keep it. Not only did he do this but before leaving told Mother to have Father go to the post office promptly after each mail train bring the mail home and for Mother to keep all money herself and not to deposit any money in the bank. He Chas wrote to all parties & firms oweing us any money and instructed
[p28] them to forward the amount due Drs Mixer & Sons direct to him at Gr Rapids and not to send any money to the firm at Hastings. These instructions were unknown to me at the time. Having no money at this time I borrowed a horse & buggy from a cousin and traveled in this way selling medecine until I got enough money to start out by rail

[p29] Working the cities & towns distributing circulars to each of the residents there calling upon the Druggists and as a rule I found them willing to buy & pay cash for a few bottles of C&SS so that they could supply the demand which my honest personal effort produced. When Chas learned that Father was shipping circulars to me he objected and told Father & Mother to let me buy my own circulars from the printers & pay for them myself. I continued traveling

[p30] in this manner until Dec when I received a Telegram from my wife that her Father was dangerously ill with Pneumonia at [city name starts with St – look up] that she and the children were going there & for me to come immediately which I did. We were unable to return to Hastings until in January having had a very serious time as not only was Father Clark dangerously ill but Mother Clark and my wife became seriously ill and I had them all to care for at the same time and it was during this experience of extreme anxiety that I received a letter from Chas demanding that I

[p31] either buy him out or sell my interest to him that we do business together no longer that he would give me $600 for my interest or he would take the same for his but in case he sold to me he should demand that all the money he had put into the medecine business should be returned to him in addition to the $600. Upon the return of myself and family in January to Hastings I found that the bank acct was over drawn although the books showed that the firm at Hastings had received over $900 since August. I got from the Bank $2.50 to buy wood also found that I had received only $33.00 from the firm for my own family & personal use during that year

[p32] I made no further attempt to secure any more money. Chas had such controll over Father & Mother that they expressed a desire that I should sell although Father did not think it right for me to have to give up my interest & thereby sacrifice the great opportunity of my life entirely to Chas but there seemed no other course to persue. I had no money a family that must be cared for. Chas in possession and controll no wife or family [writing ends in the middle of card 32]

Curtis Mixer in his own words

Bond Street Farm

Lyman and Company traded their country estate for an 80 acre parcel of land east town in April 24, 1873, purchasing it for $3,000. Lyman lists his address as 230 Bond Street during this era (1870 Census) and one can assume that the house was built near the eastern terminus of Bond Street. It was purchased for $3,000 and currently has State Street running through what was then recorded as the RailRoad Easement before the iron horse arrived in town. As a point of reference, Bliss Riverfront Park lies directly east, traversing this plot to get to the parking area.

The Dakota Speculation

Charles, Curt and Lyman all had speculation parcels in the Dakota Territory as this was the hub of Mixer Brothers territory where they sold books, lithographs, art supplies, portraits and later The Remedy was added to their line card. Lyman received this 160 acre parcel in 1882 and later grated it to Charles for free in 1884 (Southwest one quarter of section 34 appears today).

We being at Sioux City Ia Chas wishing to return home I purchased & paid him for his 1/2 in said business. I going to Mitchel Dakota where I secured a homestead & timber claim for myself also a timber claim for Chas. Seeing the opportunity for money making in this country I urged Chas to return but he would not & I persuaded Father to come securing for him a homestead. He used his own money in coming taking about $65.00. I spent considerable time & money with him while he was there & owed to an injury which he received by falling from a wagon I was obliged to return home with him that fall after he had proven up on his claim. After we had been home about two weeks imagine my surprise to learn that Father had given Chas a deed for his Dakota homestead without any consideration whatever except that Chas had remained at home while Father was in Dakota

Churt in his own words 1906

These plots were sold around 1888 as Lyman’s health deteriorated to the point that he needed additional care. This coincided with Charles being anointed as General Manager and the beginning of turbulent times. Each has their own version of events and Curtis saw this as a great injustice. The family moved Downtown to the East Annex in 1883 when Lyman purchased the corner NE Hanover and Walnut Streets on the edge of Hastings (278 Hanover) from John Holden and his wife for $10. This family photo of The Chucks ca.1890, Charles Wade (CW on the left) and Charles Mortimer (Mort on the right), must have been taken in the early 1890’s as they are still on speaking terms. This date implies that Fannie (sister of CW and wife of Mort) is the young lady on Mort’s knee. The other women in the photo remain a mystery and it is entirely possible that one of them is Amanda. This family bliss would soon dissolve as greed sets in, legal battles erupted and Mort charts his own course with an aging and declining Lyman in 1895. At various time Charles and Mort were both partners and mortal enemies.

Charles Mortimer Tower (Mort)

Mort worked for the National Printing Company from 1885-1890 wherein he joins Lyman, Charles W (CW) and Curtis in the manufacture and distribution of Mixer’s cancer cure. Most certainly his inside knowledge of the printing business was a huge benefit to the partnership as print media fast became the means to promote their wares. Soon after joining Dr. Mixer, Mort married LN and Amanda’s daughter Fanny on 3/17/1891. While this marriage did not last, Mort remained active in the business and remained close to Lyman until his death in 1903. Mort was in constant conflict with his ex brother-in-law Charles as they both sought to capitalize on the empire Lyman started. Mort ventured out on his own in 1895 (Lyman joins him by 1896) after a rift with Charles (CW) and declares in a letter dated Jan 1 1895 that it is…

impossible to longer tolerate the abuse of his son(Chas implied)…injustice I had suffered at the hands of the doctor’s son

Mort

He continued in business with the aging Lyman under the names Dr. L.N. Mixer Co., and Drs. Tower and Mixer Medicine Co., and went on to register his own label for “Tower’s Genuine Original Cancer and Scrofula Cure” (2/19/1904, registration #10735) after Lyman’s death. This photo of Lyman and Mort is believed to be taken on, or about July 1, 1902. After the separation in 1895, Charles went on to trademarks Lyman’s likeness after his cure (without nose), “together with printed matter Mixer’s C.&S.S., Mixer’s Cancer and Scrofula Syrup and facsimile signature of Drs. Mixer”. As a result, Charles wins a lawsuit against Mort for trademark infringement, making spurious medicine and marketing it as Mixer’s C&SS; Lyman testifies on Charle’s behalf acknowledging he was aware of the trademark filing. During this time, Lyman appears to switch his loyalty and support to his partnership with Mort until his death.

Fanny and Mort had one child together, Paul V. Tower (1894), before divorcing and Mort went on to marry Jeanette, with whom he had one child, Jacklyn Evans Tower (1915-2010) who lived an impressive 95 years. Mort passed away in Royal Oak, Michigan in 3/1/1929 at the age of 61.

Game On – Charles goes on the offensive

August 22, 1894 Charles applies for and is granted Trademark Patent 25940 allowing him the exclusive right to use the signature and likeness of LN MIxer to market his product. The exact circumstances of this are in dispute and Charles would claim he purchased this rightfully from LN. It bears mentioning at this juncture that Lyman was only a year or 2 away from his daughter Fannie filing for legal guardianship of his personal and business affairs due to his declining physical and mental health. In his seventies and raging with syphilis, Lyman was certainly beyond his prime and the idea that Mort was manipulating him in his battle with Charles is central to the claims of the time.

Mort enlists Lyman in his struggle against Charles

On June 29, 1896 Lyman and Mort double down as they combine forces and move their venture forward.

Charles Fights Back

On June 5, 1895 Charles acknowledges that Lyman was his original partner in his Trademarks Patent and officially grants him a 1/2 share for the princely sum of $1.00. This is an attempt to acknowledge the role his father played in founding the company and rewarding him while leaving Mort (and by association Fannie) out in the proverbial cold.

Edward La Rue Hamilton

Edward La Rue Hamilton (December 9, 1857 – November 2, 1923) was a US Representative from the 4th district of Michigan from March 4, 1897 to March 3, 1921 and was a close pal of Charles W. He was born in Niles Township, Michigan, where he attended grade school and graduated from the Niles High School in 1876. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1884, and commenced practice in Niles.

Barry County Courthouse and Judge Clement Smith

Amanda Mixer The Matriarch

In 1906, 3 years after Lyman’s death (1903), Amanda prepares this affidavit to stake her claim to a portion of the revenue and profits form the business she was instrumental in founding and growing into the successful enterprise it had become. Amanda sets the record straight in 1906 in her affidavit.

A violation of “The Act”

This violation is unrelated to the effectiveness of The Remedy, only issuance of a judgement for not properly disclosing the alcohol content of his syrup. Later during the Congressional Hearing of 1911 into allegations of Mail Fraud by the Good Doctor, this finding would be cited, mistakenly, as proof that his cure ineffective. This is the start of the FDA cracking down on Patent Medicines, especially grievous in their eyes were the ones claiming to cure cancer. In the end Mixer Medicine was selling bottles full of hope.

1911 Congressional Hearing

Charles Mixer and his Remedy were the subject of a Congressional Hearing in 1911. Following a conviction for Mail Fraud, Charles enlists the help of his long-time friend US REpresentative EL Hamilton to sponsor HR109 which questions the authority of the USPS. Once again, Charles prevails with the caveat that he not use the moniker Doctor.

The Final Chapter

This final account of Mixer Medicine and the Great Swindle details the rise and slow fall of the patent medicine era. The final chapter of Mixerville was eventually written by a federal clerk in Washington DC in this filing by The Federal Trade Commission in 1934 just before Charles passed away from cancer of the colon; the ultimate irony of Charles meeting his end with the scourge he so desperately wanted people to believe he could cure.

Additional resources

Quackery A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything 

Smithsonian coverage of the 1912 Republican National Convention

Collier’s Magazine article The Greatest Fraud

NOSTRUMS AND QUACKERY This early writing looks at the age of Patent Medicines and proudly feature Drs. Mixer Cancer and Scrofula Syrup. This book, 2nd Edition published by the American Medical Association (AMA) in 1912, provides insight in to “The Cure”.