W M & G


Company Names, addresses, dates: 1
  Walke & Williams, 108 Water, Norfolk VA (1875-1895)
  Walke & Williams, 216 (108) Water, Norfolk VA (1897) 2
  Walke & Martin, 216 Water, Norfolk VA (1898)
  Walke, Martin & Gray, 216 Water, Norfolk VA (1899)
  Williams, Martin & Gray, 79-81 Commercial Pl, Norfolk VA (1900-1911)
  Williams, Martin & Gray, Inc, 149 Main, Norfolk VA (1912)
  Williams, Martin & Gray, Inc, 121 W Main, Norfolk VA (1913-1919)
  Williams, Martin & Gray Inc, 33 Fayette, Norfolk VA (1920-1925)

Notes:
 Dr. Frank Anthony Walke (1831-1904)3 was a descendant of Pocahontas, and a surgeon in the civil war.4
In 1874/75 he teamed up with John Newton Williams (1842-1914)5 and formed the "Walke & Williams" drug store, taking over the store formerly owned by "A. E. Wilson & Co" at the corner of Water Street and Roanoke Square.6

In 1897, the firm disolved & Walke got a new partner named Andrew Smith Martin Jr (1869-1938)7, with the new firm called "Walke & Martin".8

A year later, George Turner Gray (1868-1937)9, who had been the company's bookkeeper for the past 6 years, was added as a partner, with the new firm called "Walke, Martin & Gray".10

Walke retired the next year (1899), and the firm was taken over by the former partner, John N. Williams, with the new firm being called "Williams, Martin & Gray".11
The original firm was at the same location through all the name changes, but this new firm was at a new address (79-81 Commercial Place).1

Williams was president of the firm up to about 1905, after which time Martin took over as president. Also, William's son, John Newton Williams Jr (1882-1978)12 became a clerk at the store starting in 1901. John Jr went on to own his own store under various names including Williams & Tynes 1.

The firm lasted until about 1926, after which it became the Henry B. Gilpin company.1


WMG Bottles:
wmg_01 This is an aqua, 4.3" bottle embossed:
vertical: W. M. & G. / NORFOLK, VA.
base: W


Williams, Martin & Gray Bottles:
wmg_02 This is a clear, 1.75" vial with a label that says:
label: QUICKSILVER / WILLIAMS, MARTIN & GRAY, Inc. DRUGGISTS / Cor Union St and Commercial Place, NORFOLK / ... Gauranteed Under Pure Food & Drug Act, June 30, 1906
wmg_03 This is a clear, 6.8" unembossed BIM bottle with a label that says:
label: WILLIAMS, MARTIN & GRAY / DRUGGISTS / ALCOHOL / Norfolk, Virginia


1 Norfolk City directories, 1851,66,70,72,74-75,77,80,82-83,85-86,88-92,94-95,97-99,1900-20,22-25,27-28,30
2 Street addresses changed in 1897; 108 Water Street became 216 Water Street, but was the same location
3 Find-a-grave entry for Dr Frank Anthony Walke
4 Norfolk Dispatch, 6-Jul-1904, p.1 (Obituary for Dr Frank Anthony Walke)
5 Find-a-grave entry for John Newton Williams
6 Norfolk Landmark, 21-May-1875, p.2 (Ad for Walke & Williams, successors to A.E. Wilson & Co)
7 Find-a-grave entry for Andrew Smith Martin Jr
8 Norfolk Landmark, 9-Nov-1897, p.3 ("Copartnership Notice")
9 Find-a-grave entry for George Turner Gray
10 Norfolk Virginian, 3-Mar-1898, p.2 (notice of new partner Geo. T. Gray)
11 Virginian-Pilot newspaper, 25-Nov-1899, p.e (Dissolution)
12 Find-a-grave entry for John Newton Williams Jr


Back to my drugtstore bottle home page.

This page last updated on April 16, 2026.