J.W.S. Butt & Co


Company Names, addresses, dates: 1
J.W.S. Butt & Co.
  J.W.S. Butt & Co, 322 High Street, Portsmouth VA (1892-1897) 1,2,3
  J.W.S. Butt & Co, 518 Middle Street, Portsmouth VA (1897-1912) 1,3
Ideal Pharmacy
  Ideal Pharmacy, 234 High Street, Portsmouth VA (1905-1910)
  Ideal Pharmacy, 518 Middle Street, Portsmouth VA (1911)


Notes:
 James William Sumner Butt (1871-1947)4 was a druggist in Portsmouth, VA. In 1890 he purchased the drugstore of Claud Woodward at 322 High Street.2

In 1897, he moved to 518 Middle Street, with William O. Hope and Julius N. Dews as his pharmacists.4

In 1907, after the death of Antonio L. Bilisoly, Butt took over management of the Ideal Pharmacy that had been run by Bilisoly.5

Things seemed to be going well for Butt, but in 1908 he was forced to sign over his 2 drugstores to his creditors. 6
But a few months later, Butt was able to purchase both of his stores back, using the "Portsmouth Drug Corporation". This was a company Butt had just created and was the president of.7

In the 1911 Portsmouth city directory, the Ideal Pharmacy was listed at the same address as "J.W.S. Butt & Co", so it seems Butt was down to 1 store. 1
Then in 1912, he announced that he as discontinuing his business pertaining to the sale of drugs, and only continuing with the sale of seeds, bulbs, poultry foods, etc. 8


Bottles:
butt_01 This is a clear 3.7" (1 oz) bottle and a 4.4" (2 oz) bottle, embossed:
horizontal (left bottle): 3i
horizontal (right bottle): 3ii
vertical: J.W.S. BUTT & CO / DRUGGISTS / PORTSMOUTH, VA
base (left bottle): WT&CO / B / USA
base (right bottle): WT&CO / D / USA
butt_03 This is a clear 5" bottle embossed:
vertical: J.W.S. BUTT & CO DRUGGISTS / (2OZ / 1OZ gradations) / PORTSMOUTH, VA
butt_02 This is a clear 7.3" bottle embossed:
vertical: J.W.S. BUTT & CO / DRUGGISTS / PORTSMOUTH, VA
base: W.T.CO. / B / U.S.A.
butt_04 This is a clear 2.75" BIM bottle embossed:
vertical in script: Branch Pharmacy / of / J.W.S. Butt & Co / Portsmouth, Va
base: W.T.CO. / * / U.S.A. / PAT DEC 11 94


1 City directories for Portsmouth VA, 1870,72,74,75,80,82,83,85,86,89,90,92,97,1900,02,05,10,13,14,15,17,18,20
2 Norfolk Landmark, 4-Jun-1890, p.4 "Drug Store Notice" (Butt purchases drug store)
3 Find-a-grave for James William Sumner Butt
4 Norfolk Landmark, 30-Oct-1897, p.5 (article titled "TO THE PUBLIC")
5 Norfolk Landmark, 26-Nov-1907, p.7 (Butt assumes management of Ideal Pharmacy)
6 Norfolk Landmark, 21-Jan-1908, p.7 (article: "J.W.S. Butt & Co. File Assignment")
7 Virginian-Pilot, 25-Aug-1912, p.14 (notice that "J.W.S. Butt & Co." would no longer sell drugs)


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This page last updated on August 1, 2026.