Alberto Hopper Caffee was born in 1842 into a wealthy Alabama family. He was a third generation Irish-American Catholic growing up on a large plantation just south of Montgomery. His father owned a hundred slaves, had a local newspaper and was well known for his race horses. But the Civil War would soon change that.
In 1861 Alberto, his younger brother James and his father all volunteered for the 3rd Alabama Infantry. Another brother, Andrew, attended college and ran the plantation for most of the war. James survived a lot of battles, including Gettysburg, before being wounded and captured at Cedar Creek. He was sent to the prison at Point Lookout, Maryland, Alberto's father served as a commander until just before Gettysburg. He then returned home and became a blockade runner. He was also captured and was taken to Fort Lafayette in New York harbor.
In 1861 Alberto, his younger brother James and his father all volunteered for the 3rd Alabama Infantry. Another brother, Andrew, attended college and ran the plantation for most of the war. James survived a lot of battles, including Gettysburg, before being wounded and captured at Cedar Creek. He was sent to the prison at Point Lookout, Maryland, Alberto's father served as a commander until just before Gettysburg. He then returned home and became a blockade runner. He was also captured and was taken to Fort Lafayette in New York harbor.
Just before the 3rd Alabama left Montgomery for the war Alberto transferred to the newly formed 17th Alabama Infantry. He served in Company "C" known as The Blue Rifles. In their first major battle, at Shiloh, they lost 125 men. Alberto must have shown a lot of bravery during the battle because his fellow soldiers elected him as their 2nd Lieutenant afterwords. He went on to help lead his men through battles at Cassville, New Hope, Kennesaw, Lost Mountain, Resaca and Atlanta. The 17th Alabama lost a lot of men along the way. Falling back from Atlanta the unit tried to stop the Yankees at Peach Tree Creek and Alberto took a serious wound to the thigh. He was eventually moved back to a hospital in Montgomery to recover. When the war ended, 9 months later, he was still listed in the hospital there.
When the men reuinited at the war's end things were not the same. The plantation was gone, Alberto's mom had died and they were no longer wealthy. Alberto's father then moved to Indianapolis, married a twenty year old girl, and started a successful livery business. He was known there as "The Colonel" and that he carried a "Mississippi Bowie knife" in his boot. James moved to Louisiana to become a planter. Andrew went to New York City to be a clerk for a while. He eventually returned to Montgomery and became a Judge. Alberto's exact movements after the war are not as clear.
When the men reuinited at the war's end things were not the same. The plantation was gone, Alberto's mom had died and they were no longer wealthy. Alberto's father then moved to Indianapolis, married a twenty year old girl, and started a successful livery business. He was known there as "The Colonel" and that he carried a "Mississippi Bowie knife" in his boot. James moved to Louisiana to become a planter. Andrew went to New York City to be a clerk for a while. He eventually returned to Montgomery and became a Judge. Alberto's exact movements after the war are not as clear.
By 1880 Alberto is in New York City with a printing business at 120 Broadway. His brother Andrew had already left town by 1870. In early 1888 Alberto saw a business opportunity with the upcoming Presidential election.
Alberto's block on Broadway in 1880
The presidential campaign of 1888 exhibited little of the hostility that had marked the 1884 race. That campaign was marred by exceptional political acrimony and personal invective. Losing candidate James G. Blaine's reputation for public corruption and his inadvertent alienation of Catholic voters proved decisive. Lots of voter fraud was alledged in this close election. In 1888 the incumbent President, Cleveland, made only one big appearance. Whereas Republican Candidate Benjamin Harrison limited his speeches to front porch receptions in his hometown of Indianapolis for a stream of carefully selected delegations and press reporters. While the two candidates did not personally campaign or debate, their party organizations did. Both parties displayed political cartoons, speeches, rallies, parades, brass bands, and torchlight demonstrations. Major newspapers took firm stands for their favorite candidate.
The race centered around tariffs, with Harrison speaking forcefully for a strong protective tariff, sound currency, pensions for Civil War veterans, and efficiency in office. A more emotional issue for the electorate was the "bloody shirt legacy" (calls to avenge the blood of soldiers that died in the Civil War) of the Civil War and Reconstruction, which had remained as an unhealed scar. Cleveland's promise to return captured Confederate flags to Southern states as a show of national unity (in contrast with Harrison's own Civil War career) sparked into flame the dry kindling of Civil War sectionalism.
The race centered around tariffs, with Harrison speaking forcefully for a strong protective tariff, sound currency, pensions for Civil War veterans, and efficiency in office. A more emotional issue for the electorate was the "bloody shirt legacy" (calls to avenge the blood of soldiers that died in the Civil War) of the Civil War and Reconstruction, which had remained as an unhealed scar. Cleveland's promise to return captured Confederate flags to Southern states as a show of national unity (in contrast with Harrison's own Civil War career) sparked into flame the dry kindling of Civil War sectionalism.
Alberto decided in early 1888 that a politically charged deck of playing cards might appeal to voters of both parties. Being only a printer he needed a lithographer. He found one close to his shop called Mayer, Merkel & Ottmann.
This is the contract that was agreed to.......
NEW YORK, April 30th, 1888.
MR. A. H. CAFFEE, 26 Cortlandt Street, ' City.
Dear Sir : I will make and deliver to you as soon as practicable after the Presidential nominations are made, 40,000 packs, No. 1 Selected Comic Playing Cards, with comic jokers and two (2) advertising cards. One half (20,000) of the number to have caricatures of prominent Republicans, and one half (20,000) of prominent Democrats, as face cards, and made generally according to the plan divulged by you to our Mr. Bonnier. All the cards to be lithographed in the best manner, in four (4) colors on the face of the face cards, and one (1) color on the faces of other cards, and one (1) color on the backs of all the cards, backs to be tinted as agreed, on card board same as "Cross-Cut” cards, of designs to be executed by us, and approved by you as to artistic work and execution, the cards to be cut with round corners and smooth edges, and packed in pouches with outsides printed in one color each, one-half red and one half blue, of quality the same as sample exhibited to you, all imperfect cards to be turned over to you, proofs of all designs to be furnished to you as soon as executed, to be copyrighted, and the copyright to be owned and controlled by you, and the whole transaction, as well as the designs of the cards, to be kept a secret as far as possible under the circumstances, until the cards are copyrighted ; and will accept therefor the sum of $4,400 (four thousand four hundred dollars) as follows: $1,000 (one thousand dollars) cash when all the proofs are shown and accepted, and $3,400 (three thousand. four hundred dollars) thirty days after delivery of all goods complete.
Yours very respectfully, ' J. OTTMANN.
“Accepted” A. H. CAFFEE, April 30th, 1888.
Payments by A. H. CAFFEE, as above, guaranteed. N. Y., April 30th, ‘1888. GEO. H. FLETCHER.
NEW YORK, April 30th, 1888.
MR. A. H. CAFFEE, 26 Cortlandt Street, ' City.
Dear Sir : I will make and deliver to you as soon as practicable after the Presidential nominations are made, 40,000 packs, No. 1 Selected Comic Playing Cards, with comic jokers and two (2) advertising cards. One half (20,000) of the number to have caricatures of prominent Republicans, and one half (20,000) of prominent Democrats, as face cards, and made generally according to the plan divulged by you to our Mr. Bonnier. All the cards to be lithographed in the best manner, in four (4) colors on the face of the face cards, and one (1) color on the faces of other cards, and one (1) color on the backs of all the cards, backs to be tinted as agreed, on card board same as "Cross-Cut” cards, of designs to be executed by us, and approved by you as to artistic work and execution, the cards to be cut with round corners and smooth edges, and packed in pouches with outsides printed in one color each, one-half red and one half blue, of quality the same as sample exhibited to you, all imperfect cards to be turned over to you, proofs of all designs to be furnished to you as soon as executed, to be copyrighted, and the copyright to be owned and controlled by you, and the whole transaction, as well as the designs of the cards, to be kept a secret as far as possible under the circumstances, until the cards are copyrighted ; and will accept therefor the sum of $4,400 (four thousand four hundred dollars) as follows: $1,000 (one thousand dollars) cash when all the proofs are shown and accepted, and $3,400 (three thousand. four hundred dollars) thirty days after delivery of all goods complete.
Yours very respectfully, ' J. OTTMANN.
“Accepted” A. H. CAFFEE, April 30th, 1888.
Payments by A. H. CAFFEE, as above, guaranteed. N. Y., April 30th, ‘1888. GEO. H. FLETCHER.
Alberto was shown the proofs, on or about June 29th, and paid Jacob Ottmann the one thousand dollars. As soon as the parties held their conventions and the nominees were confirmed the job continued. Mr. Ottmann then contracted with the Reynolds Card Manufacturing Company, at 60 Duane Street, to make the cards. Reynolds would also make the "Rough Back" cards for Catterson & Brotz in 1889. (More about this in another story.)
In late July Alberto received three large boxes from Reynolds containing 10,927 decks. Opening some of decks he was shocked to find how bad the cards were made. They were not properly finished, the card board was of bad color, and it was a cheaper grade than should have been used for the purpose used in making playing cards. The cards were not properly printed, were badly cut and they are generally imperfect in every respect. The printing was not in the center of the card and the margin around was not equal throughout. Some cards had been put up wet. Some had some oil on them that ruined the pack. And now they had been delivered Mayer, Merkel & Ottmann wanted their remaining $3,400. (Approximately $98,000 in today's money.) Alberto said "No" and took them to Court to get his money back.
The Judge ruled against Alberto because he had accepted delivery . Caffee was mad and looked for a better lawyer. He then again sued in the New York Supreme Court in 1891 with a jury trial. This time he wanted $10,000 ($288,000) in damages. Mayer, Merkel & Ottmann owner Jacob Ottmann had died recently and the company went to his brothers that owned a meat business. The Ottmann brothers had a Mr. Bonnier, who had brokered the deal for the company, to testify for them. But Alberto was better prepared with witnesses this time including the great Andrew Dougherty of the Dougherty Playing Card Company.
Andrew Dougherty's testimony:
I am a manufacturer of playing cards, and have been a little over forty years. I have made considerable many cards. (Looks at Exhibit No. 19). That is cheap card board. The edges of this particular pack do not seem to be smooth. the Jack of Spades is soiled at one end. Different causes could produce that result. It was done in the manufacture. Cards like that would be second quality: second quality is considered not good. I would not consider 40,000 packs of playing cards in the condition of the Exhibits l have in my hands, with stained cards the first quality of that grade. In 1888. these cards, got up for election purposes had they been sold would have brought 15 to 20 cents a pack, provided they were perfect. (Pack shown witness). These are the poorest enameled cards we manufactured. Those are smooth edges. and are supposed to be a perfect pack of cards. Eight cents pack is the lowest price for them, with a discount off. " Selected” means perfect cards of that quality, as sorted cards. Had these cards been perfect they would have been worth twenty cents a pack, or $8,000 for the forty thousand packs. It is undisputed that these are not No. 1 Selected Cards. They are not selected cards at all.
Another of Caffee's witnesses was Louis P. Mendham. His testimony:
I was in stationery business in 1888, also was dealer in cards; was acquainted with value of cards; Mr. Caffee showed me some of these cards shown me, in 1888; they had faces of the same kind. Supposing those cards contained in Exhibit No. 1, January 6, 1891, had at that time been No.1 Selected Cards, lithographed in the best manner, with round corners and smooth edges, I should say they would have been worth 33 cents a pack. They were not properly finished; the card board is of bad color, and it is a cheaper grade than should have been used for the purpose, and not the grade used in making playing cards. The cards were not properly printed, were badly cut and they are generally imperfect in every respect. The printing is not in the center of the card and the margin around is not equal throughout. Here is a card that was put up wet probably. One of these cards has some oil on it. that simply ruined the pack. The card board colored in this way—stained yellow through it——would render the whole pack valueless. The shades on the back would render this pack value less. This pack runs different shades and would be valueless, because they are marked cards. The faces of them are soiled in the printing or lithographing. These cards have not got the proper finish. These cards are soiled on the back and spotted, and not of the same size, the three of clubs is larger than any other card in the pack. These cards are generally imperfect and two different shades. These are different sized cards, consequently they must have rough edges and they are oily. They are not properly finished. I cannot shuffle them very well. Cards the same as these Exhibits, finished in the way these cards shown me are finished, would have been worth nothing in 1888.
When Alberto discovered the card conditions he had contacted Mr. Bonnier. Bonnier supposedly told him to sell what he could and his company would do another run. He said Caffee could still make a profit. Bonnier said that since Caffee's name was on the cards that he could not sell them. The defense even argued that even though the plaintiff was in Mr Ottmann's place of business many times there was no evidence that Bonnier had any authority to make any new contract for Mr Ottmann or alter that which the plaintiff sued. Was Bonnier was even in the employ of Jacob Ottmann at the time the alleged declarations were made apart from the fact that he presented the bill for the cards on October 6 1888?
Based on Mr. Bonnier's promise to make Alberto whole he placed 600 packs for sale on the New York City Elevated Railroads and sold 140 packs at 40 cents a pack. His own expert placed the market value of perfect cards such as the contract called for at only 33 cents a pack. The price that Alberto agreed to pay Ottmann was about 11 cents a pack. The American News Company sold for Caffee 200 packs at 35 cents a pack. Alberto also sold other lots to other persons. He offered the cards for sale to Mr. Mendham who declined because of their condition. He even advertised them for sale in the New York World, the Manhattan News Company and agents in Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore. Some were even returned after being sold.
The Judge ruled against Alberto because he had accepted delivery . Caffee was mad and looked for a better lawyer. He then again sued in the New York Supreme Court in 1891 with a jury trial. This time he wanted $10,000 ($288,000) in damages. Mayer, Merkel & Ottmann owner Jacob Ottmann had died recently and the company went to his brothers that owned a meat business. The Ottmann brothers had a Mr. Bonnier, who had brokered the deal for the company, to testify for them. But Alberto was better prepared with witnesses this time including the great Andrew Dougherty of the Dougherty Playing Card Company.
Andrew Dougherty's testimony:
I am a manufacturer of playing cards, and have been a little over forty years. I have made considerable many cards. (Looks at Exhibit No. 19). That is cheap card board. The edges of this particular pack do not seem to be smooth. the Jack of Spades is soiled at one end. Different causes could produce that result. It was done in the manufacture. Cards like that would be second quality: second quality is considered not good. I would not consider 40,000 packs of playing cards in the condition of the Exhibits l have in my hands, with stained cards the first quality of that grade. In 1888. these cards, got up for election purposes had they been sold would have brought 15 to 20 cents a pack, provided they were perfect. (Pack shown witness). These are the poorest enameled cards we manufactured. Those are smooth edges. and are supposed to be a perfect pack of cards. Eight cents pack is the lowest price for them, with a discount off. " Selected” means perfect cards of that quality, as sorted cards. Had these cards been perfect they would have been worth twenty cents a pack, or $8,000 for the forty thousand packs. It is undisputed that these are not No. 1 Selected Cards. They are not selected cards at all.
Another of Caffee's witnesses was Louis P. Mendham. His testimony:
I was in stationery business in 1888, also was dealer in cards; was acquainted with value of cards; Mr. Caffee showed me some of these cards shown me, in 1888; they had faces of the same kind. Supposing those cards contained in Exhibit No. 1, January 6, 1891, had at that time been No.1 Selected Cards, lithographed in the best manner, with round corners and smooth edges, I should say they would have been worth 33 cents a pack. They were not properly finished; the card board is of bad color, and it is a cheaper grade than should have been used for the purpose, and not the grade used in making playing cards. The cards were not properly printed, were badly cut and they are generally imperfect in every respect. The printing is not in the center of the card and the margin around is not equal throughout. Here is a card that was put up wet probably. One of these cards has some oil on it. that simply ruined the pack. The card board colored in this way—stained yellow through it——would render the whole pack valueless. The shades on the back would render this pack value less. This pack runs different shades and would be valueless, because they are marked cards. The faces of them are soiled in the printing or lithographing. These cards have not got the proper finish. These cards are soiled on the back and spotted, and not of the same size, the three of clubs is larger than any other card in the pack. These cards are generally imperfect and two different shades. These are different sized cards, consequently they must have rough edges and they are oily. They are not properly finished. I cannot shuffle them very well. Cards the same as these Exhibits, finished in the way these cards shown me are finished, would have been worth nothing in 1888.
When Alberto discovered the card conditions he had contacted Mr. Bonnier. Bonnier supposedly told him to sell what he could and his company would do another run. He said Caffee could still make a profit. Bonnier said that since Caffee's name was on the cards that he could not sell them. The defense even argued that even though the plaintiff was in Mr Ottmann's place of business many times there was no evidence that Bonnier had any authority to make any new contract for Mr Ottmann or alter that which the plaintiff sued. Was Bonnier was even in the employ of Jacob Ottmann at the time the alleged declarations were made apart from the fact that he presented the bill for the cards on October 6 1888?
Based on Mr. Bonnier's promise to make Alberto whole he placed 600 packs for sale on the New York City Elevated Railroads and sold 140 packs at 40 cents a pack. His own expert placed the market value of perfect cards such as the contract called for at only 33 cents a pack. The price that Alberto agreed to pay Ottmann was about 11 cents a pack. The American News Company sold for Caffee 200 packs at 35 cents a pack. Alberto also sold other lots to other persons. He offered the cards for sale to Mr. Mendham who declined because of their condition. He even advertised them for sale in the New York World, the Manhattan News Company and agents in Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore. Some were even returned after being sold.
Alberto lost this time also because he had accept the cards and sold some. He gave up a third attempt. Neither side got anything. He continued in the printing business until 1900. He then became a bookkeeper and represented the Murbury Lumber Company from Alabama.
In 1901 Caffee was selected as a juror in a high profile blackmail case involving a City Wardman and a police detective. The men were shaking down a house of questionable integrity in their precinct. The main witness even fled the country. Speaking to the newspapers after the trial Alberto stated there was still enough evidence to send the men to prison.
In 1906 Alberto became a charter member of the Alabama Society of New York. It was comprised of almost 200 men and women. At the inagural meeting the speakers made several forward thinking statements that were published in the newspapers. One stated that lynchings were not a remedy. And that enlisting the aid of the best class of Negroes should be used to establish law and order leagues for the prevention and punishment of crime. Federal Judge Francis D. Caffee (Alberto's 2nd cousin) interjected that the race problem would be settled when both North and South came to understand their duty in the industrial education of both White and Black illiterates.
About 1915 Alberto retires and moved across the river to Brooklyn. Tax records showed that he owned a building near East Fifty second Street and Fifth Avenue in New York City. It was valued at $110,000 then or almost $3 million today.
By 1920 he returned to New York City to take up residence at The Samaritan Home for the Aged at 414 West 22nd street. He was now 78 years old and had no family nearby. Plus he was never married. He passed away the next year and was buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson, Westchester County, New York. He is buried among other Confederate veterans that also never made it back home.
In 1901 Caffee was selected as a juror in a high profile blackmail case involving a City Wardman and a police detective. The men were shaking down a house of questionable integrity in their precinct. The main witness even fled the country. Speaking to the newspapers after the trial Alberto stated there was still enough evidence to send the men to prison.
In 1906 Alberto became a charter member of the Alabama Society of New York. It was comprised of almost 200 men and women. At the inagural meeting the speakers made several forward thinking statements that were published in the newspapers. One stated that lynchings were not a remedy. And that enlisting the aid of the best class of Negroes should be used to establish law and order leagues for the prevention and punishment of crime. Federal Judge Francis D. Caffee (Alberto's 2nd cousin) interjected that the race problem would be settled when both North and South came to understand their duty in the industrial education of both White and Black illiterates.
About 1915 Alberto retires and moved across the river to Brooklyn. Tax records showed that he owned a building near East Fifty second Street and Fifth Avenue in New York City. It was valued at $110,000 then or almost $3 million today.
By 1920 he returned to New York City to take up residence at The Samaritan Home for the Aged at 414 West 22nd street. He was now 78 years old and had no family nearby. Plus he was never married. He passed away the next year and was buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson, Westchester County, New York. He is buried among other Confederate veterans that also never made it back home.
The Samaritan Home for the Aged
THE CARDS
The Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards has a duplicate entry for Alberto's cards.
A5 CLEVELAND COMIC CAMPAIGN, A.H. Caffee, 1892 (see P3). This was one of two decks designed for the Cleveland camp in the campaign against Benjamin Harrison. All political campaign decks are considered to be advertising as that was their primary purpose. In this deck, every court card is a political figure with the King of Hearts featuring Grover Cleveland and the King of Spades, Harrison. An extra card is present telling who is pictured on the courts. The Joker shows Cleveland knocking out Harrison. As determined subsequent to the publication of Volume III of the original Encyclopedia, there was also a deck with Harrison knocking out Cleveland (see P18).
P3 COMIC POLITICAL PLAYING CARDS, A.H. Caffee, New York, 1888. This favorite of collectors was possibly designed for the presidential campaign of Grover Cleveland in his effort to regain the presidency from Benjamin Harrison in 1892. However many collectors believe it (and P18) were from the 1888 campaign. All of the court cards are political figures on the national scene. The King of Hearts features Cleveland and the King of Spades, Harrison. A caricature of General Butler graces the Ace of Spades. The Joker shows a boxing scene with Cleveland overcoming Harrison. An extra card was issued with the deck identifying the different court cards. A second deck, unknown at the time of the original Encyclopedia section, promotes the Harrison side and is listed as P18. The backs of both decks are the same except that the Cleveland deck is orange and the Harrison deck blue. Interestingly, the pips for both decks are of the Triplicate type.
P18 COMIC POLITICAL PLAYING CARDS, A.H. Caffee, New York, 1888. The other deck for the 1888 campaign like P3 but for the Harrison side. The red Kings are Harrison and Morton (the good guys) and the black Kings are caricatures of the bad guys, Cleveland and Thurman. It had the same Ace of Spades as P3 and a similar Joker, but with Harrison knocking out Cleveland. An extra card was issued with the deck identifying all of the different court cards. The backs of both P3 and this deck are the same except that the Cleveland deck is orange and the Harrison deck blue.
A5 CLEVELAND COMIC CAMPAIGN, A.H. Caffee, 1892 (see P3). This was one of two decks designed for the Cleveland camp in the campaign against Benjamin Harrison. All political campaign decks are considered to be advertising as that was their primary purpose. In this deck, every court card is a political figure with the King of Hearts featuring Grover Cleveland and the King of Spades, Harrison. An extra card is present telling who is pictured on the courts. The Joker shows Cleveland knocking out Harrison. As determined subsequent to the publication of Volume III of the original Encyclopedia, there was also a deck with Harrison knocking out Cleveland (see P18).
P3 COMIC POLITICAL PLAYING CARDS, A.H. Caffee, New York, 1888. This favorite of collectors was possibly designed for the presidential campaign of Grover Cleveland in his effort to regain the presidency from Benjamin Harrison in 1892. However many collectors believe it (and P18) were from the 1888 campaign. All of the court cards are political figures on the national scene. The King of Hearts features Cleveland and the King of Spades, Harrison. A caricature of General Butler graces the Ace of Spades. The Joker shows a boxing scene with Cleveland overcoming Harrison. An extra card was issued with the deck identifying the different court cards. A second deck, unknown at the time of the original Encyclopedia section, promotes the Harrison side and is listed as P18. The backs of both decks are the same except that the Cleveland deck is orange and the Harrison deck blue. Interestingly, the pips for both decks are of the Triplicate type.
P18 COMIC POLITICAL PLAYING CARDS, A.H. Caffee, New York, 1888. The other deck for the 1888 campaign like P3 but for the Harrison side. The red Kings are Harrison and Morton (the good guys) and the black Kings are caricatures of the bad guys, Cleveland and Thurman. It had the same Ace of Spades as P3 and a similar Joker, but with Harrison knocking out Cleveland. An extra card was issued with the deck identifying all of the different court cards. The backs of both P3 and this deck are the same except that the Cleveland deck is orange and the Harrison deck blue.
The interesting part of the cards is who appears on them and on the box. For the first time the newpaper editors on the box will be identified. Lets start with them.
The Chicago Tribune's Joseph Medill
The Louisville Courier Journal's Henry Watterson
The Philadelphia Ledger's George William Childs
The New York Sun's Charles Anderson Dana
The New York World's Joseph Pulitzer
The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette's Murat Halstead
The New York Herald's James Gordon Bennett, Jr
The New York Tribune's Whitelaw Reid
Harper’s Weekly's George William Curtis
This is supposed to be George Jones of the New York Times. Unfortunately is is not. At the trial Alberto pointed out that this was actually New York Lt. Governor Edward F. Jones.
This is George Jones.
Now for the Aces. Only the Ace of Spades has a caricature.
This is Benjamin Franklin Butler. He was a major general of the Union Army, politician, lawyer and 33rd Governor of Massachusetts. He also was a fearless advocate of justice for the downtrodden. Nominated by the Greenback and Anti-Monopoly parties, he was unsuccessful in getting the Democratic nomination, which went to Grover Cleveland. He was passionately hated and equally strongly admired
The other Aces, and spot cards were all plain.
Now for the face cards. Here we have some duplications. The candidates shown on the Kings are the same in both of the decks.
Grover Cleveland on the Republican deck (l) and the Democratic deck (r).
The Democratic incumbent President.
The Democratic incumbent President.
Allen G. Thurman on the Democratic deck (l) and the Republican deck (r)
Thurman was replacing Vice-President Thomas A. Hendricks who had died in office.
Thurman was replacing Vice-President Thomas A. Hendricks who had died in office.
Benjamin Harrison on the Republican deck (l) and the Democratic deck (r)
Harrison was the winning Republican candidate for President.
Harrison was the winning Republican candidate for President.
Levi P. Morton on the Rebulican deck (l) and the Democratic deck (r)
Morton was the winnining Republican candidate for Vice-President.
Morton was the winnining Republican candidate for Vice-President.
The Queens had a mix of politicians.
Clinton B. Fisk was the Presidential candidate for the Prohibition Party. Fisk Unniversity is named for him.
His card is the same in both decks.
Charles Anderson Dana was an American journalist, author, and senior government official. In 1868 he became the editor and part-owner of the New York Sun. The Sun opposed the Electoral Commission, and continually referred to the winner of the 1876 presidential election, Rutherford B. Hayes, as the "fraud president." In 1884, it supported Benjamin Franklin Butler, candidate of Greenback-Labor and Anti-Monopolist parties, That is portrayed here.
This card is the same in both decks.
Thomas Francis Bayard was an American lawyer, politician and diplomat from Wilmington, Delaware. A Democrat, he served three terms as United States Senator from Delaware and made three unsuccessful bids for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.
He only appears in the Democratic deck.
Augustus Hill Garland was an American lawyer and Democratic politician from Arkansas, who initially opposed Arkansas' secession from the United States, but later served in both houses of the Congress of the Confederate States and the United States Senate, as well as became the 11th Governor of Arkansas (1874-1877) and the 38th Attorney General of the United States
He only appears in the Democratic deck.
Joseph Benson Foraker was a politician of the Republican Party who served as Governor of Ohio from 1886 to 1890 and as U. S. Senator from Ohio from 1897 until 1909. He is shown "Waving the bloody shirt". This election phrase was used to deride opposing politicians who made emotional calls to avenge the blood of soldiers that died in the Civil War. The phrases were most often used against Republicans, who were accused of using the memory of the Civil War to their political advantage.
He only appears in the Republican deck.
John Sherman was a politician from Ohio during the American Civil War and into the late nineteenth century. A member of the Republican Party, he served in both houses of the U.S. Congress. He also served as Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary of State. Sherman sought the Republican presidential nomination three times, coming closest in 1888, but was never chosen by the party. His brother was General William Tecumseh Sherman.
He only appears in the Republican deck.
The Jacks were different for both decks.
Daniel Scott Lamont, a Democrat from New York, was the United States Secretary of War during Grover Cleveland's second term.
Samuel Jackson Randall, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, served as the 29th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1876 to 1881. During his time in the House, he served Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district from 1863 to 1875 and Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district from 1875 to 1890. He was a contender for his party's nomination for President of the United States in 1880 and 1884.
Daniel Wolsey Voorhees was an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States Senator from Indiana from 1877 to 1897. He was the leader of the Democratic Party and an anti-war Copperhead during the American Civil War.
Thomas P Ochiltree was in the Texas Rangers fighting the Apache and Comanche Indians in 1854 and 1855. He served as clerk of the State house of representatives 1856-1859. Secretary of the State Democratic convention in 1859. He was editor of the Jeffersonian in 1860 and 1861. During the Civil War he served in the Confederate Army in the First Texas Regiment. He was editor of the Houston Daily Telegraph in 1866 - 1867. He was appointed Commissioner of Immigration for Texas in Europe 1870-1873. He was appointed U. S. Marshal for the eastern district of Texas by President Grant January 8, 1874.
James Gillespie Blaine was a Republican politician from Maine in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1863 to 1876, served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1869 to 1875, and then in the Senate from 1876 to 1881. Blaine twice served as Secretary of State (1881, 1889–1892), one of only two persons to hold the position under three separate presidents and unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for President in 1876 and 1880 before being nominated in 1884. In the general election, he was narrowly defeated by Democrat Grover Cleveland.
William Walter Phelps was a Republican Representitive from New Jersey. He also served as to Germany and Austria-Hungary.
In 1880 Phelps was selected to manage the Republican Presidential campaign but he was unable to complete the assignment because of feeble health.
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th president from 1877 to 1881, after serving in the House of Representatives and as Governor of Ohio. A lawyer and staunch abolitionist, he had defended refugee slaves in court proceedings during the antebellum years. The Republicans nominated Hayes for president in 1876, and he won through the Compromise of 1877 that officially ended Reconstruction by allowing the restoration of white supremacy in the South. He withdrew troops from the South, ending Army support for Republican state governments and Freedmen's rights as citizens in the South.
John James Ingalls was a Republican politician who served as a senator from Kansas. Ingalls is credited with suggesting the state motto and designing the state seal. As an editor of the Atchison newspaper, Freedom's Champion, for three years, he won a national reputation for a series of magazine articles.
The Jokers show Cleveland knocking out Harrison and Harrison knocking out Cleveland.
SPECIAL THANKS TO FELLOW 52+JOKER MEMBER GLENN CURRIE FOR PROVIDING A LOT OF THE CARD PHOTOS FOR THIS STORY.