R.H. Stratton / J.H. Stratton


Company Names, addresses, dates:
   R.H. Stratton, Gordonsville VA (1866-1905)1
  R.H. Stratton Sons, Gordonsville VA (1906-1912) 2
  J.H. Stratton, Gordonsville VA (1913-ca.1941) 2,3

Notes:
R.H.Stratton
Richard Henry Stratton Jr (1844-1903) was born in Howardsville VA.1
At age 18 he was working as a drug store employee in Charlottesville, VA when the civil war hit, and he enlisted as a private. He served in field hospitals in 1861-62. He became a POW, was transferred to Old Capitol Prison in Washington DC, then was exchanged on 6/30/1863. Postwar he was a druggist in Gordonsville from 1866 to 19001.

He was the president of the Virginia Pharmaceutical Association in 1889-904.
The 1900 census listed his 3 sons occupations as follows:
  Edgar Stratton, age 25, occupation: drug desk
  Linsey? Stratton, age 23, occupation: drug clerk
  Joseph H. Stratton, age 19, occupation: drug clerk

Richard retired in 19001.
Directories indicate the store still used the "R.H. Stratton" name until 1906 when it became "R.H. Stratton Sons". Starting in the 1913 directory, it was named after his youngest son, "J.H. Stratton", so apparently he took over ownership of the store.2

J.H.Stratton
Joseph Haywood Stratton (1880-1941)5 was the youngest of the 3 sons listed as working at their father's drugstore in the 1900 census. In 1904 he became a registered pharmacist6.
His obituary indicates he took over the drugstore in 1903. It also indicates that he had served as the Mayor of Gordonsville.7
An ad in the Nov 6, 1930 Richmond Times Dispatch (p.5) lists J.H.Stratton's drug store in Gordonsville as one of the stores in the chain of Rexall drug stores.
Stratton was still the owner of the drug store in 1940 according to the US Census. His death certificate indicated he was still a druggist in 1941 when he passed away.4
I couldn't find any indication as to what happened to the drug store after his death, so I assume it ended in 1941.


Bottles:

stratton_01 Clear 3.8" bottle embossed:
horizontal: R.H. STRATTON / DRUGGIST / (mortar & pestle) / GORDONSVILLE / VA.
base: W. T. & Co. / H
stratton_02 Clear 4.2" bottle embossed:
vertical slugplate: R.H. STRATTON / DRUGGIST / GORDONSVILLE VA


Other Items:
stratton_03 This is a 3/4" tall by 2x1" cardboard box with a partial label on top. The label says:
box label: J.H. STRATTON / DRUGGIST / GORDONSVILLE, VIRGINIA / No___ Dr___ BR>


1 Find-a-grave entry for Richard Henry Stratton
2 The Era Druggists Directory for the USA, Years: 1905,06,10-13,16,19,21,27,35 & 38
3 Virginia death records 1941 for Joseph Hayward Stratton
4 Druggists Circular, Volume 51, 1892, p.134
5 Find-a-grave entry for Joseph Hayward Stratton
6 Richmond Times Dispatch newspaper, March 26, 1904 p.8
7 Orange Review newspaper, September 18, 1941, p.1 (obituary for Joseph H. Stratton)


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This page last updated on November 28, 2023.