Cullinane, Fitzgibbon, McCloskey & White / St. Louis Bottlers

John Cullinane & Co. was started in 1883 by four young Irishmen whom all had been previously working in the soda water business with other bottling operations in St. Louis. The four men were John Cullinane (32), John Fitzgibbon (32), John McCloskey (32) and John White (36). All named John, all men are Irish and all the same age, except White who is a wee bit older. All four will eventually run their own bottling operations.

John Cullinane & Co.

For one year (1883) the company is located at 703 S. 5th Street. For the years 1884 &1885 they are now located at 703 S. Broadway, which I find is the same location, the name of the street simply being changed from 5th to Broadway. From 1886 to 1889 the operation is located at 1436 N. 23rd.

John McCloskey separates from JC & Co. in 1883

John Cullinane dies in 1887 at the young age of 36

John White separates from JC & Co. in 1887 after the death of his friend JC. JW starts his own bottling operation at 1424 N. 19th Street simply as John White. 1903 the business is put up for sale due to illness and I find the last listing for JW in 1905. JW lives a long life and in 1934 dies at the age of 87.

FYI, the building at 1424 N. 19th in 1906 will become the new home of Northwestern Carbonating Company until 1929.

John Fitzgibbon will run the bottling operation as JC & Co. until 1889 and in 1890 will simply change the name to John Fitzgibbon. From 1903 - 1907, JF is located at 1507 N. 22nd. JF dies in 1907 at the age of 56 and a son, John Jr. who had been working with dad moves on to something else. For two years after in 1907 and 1908 another bottling operation with the name John Henry Fahien is listed as producing soda water at 1507 N. 22nd.

FYI, JF was married to Ellen, JW’s sister. Ellen died at the young age of 49 in 1890

John McCloskey, the early years of JM was a bit confusing to me as I tried to piece this all together. JM in 1881 is listed as doing a soda water business at 413 N. 12th Street under the name John McCloskey & Co. In 1882 JM has partnered with Gottfried Klaren and doing business at 703 S. 5th Street as soda water manufacturers. Directories have JM listed with JC & Co in 1883 & 1884 however a newspaper article has JM leaving JC & Co in 1883. From 1881 to 1894 JM is listed as McCloskey & Klaren and they are in the “game” business at different locations at Union Market.

McCloskey & Rose. JM must have never left the bottling business as I find an ad in 1886 for JM looking for a partner in the and I quote “New Orleans Mead, fountain, soda, mineral water and syrup manufactory” he finds a partner in Rose and the business is located at 703 S. Broadway. I find only two ads for McCloskey & Rose, both in 1887.

1888, JM is now president of St. Louis Carbonating & Manufacturing Co. This company is doing business as everything mentioned in the ad when he is looking for a business partner. H.J.B. Rose leaves the company in 1891 and starts the Eclipse Carbonating Company. In 1894 JM moves the company from Broadway to 1211 Pine Street. JM dies in 1911 at the age of 60. His son Eugene is listed as vice-president of the company. I did no further research after 1911.