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CHICAGO Illinois
The Downer & Bemis Brewing Co.
First National Bank
$1554.11 Jan. 26, 1869
Bank Check
This striking 1869 check from the Downer & Bemis Brewing Co., drawn on the First National Bank of Chicago, offers a vivid glimpse into post-Civil War industrial and financial life in the Midwest. Issued for the substantial sum of $1,554.11, the check reflects the scale of commercial transactions typical of a thriving brewery operation during the Reconstruction era. Downer & Bemis was among the prominent brewing firms in Chicago, a city rapidly expanding as a hub of manufacturing, trade, and rail transport.
The check’s design is anchored by a detailed vignette of the brewery complex, complete with smokestacks, railcars, and industrial buildings—an emblem of progress and productivity. Such imagery was not merely decorative; it conveyed the issuer’s legitimacy and commercial stature. The presence of an imprinted revenue stamp aligns with federal requirements introduced during and after the Civil War to fund government operations through taxation on financial instruments.
Lithographed by Ed. Mendel of Chicago, a noted printer of the era, the check is cut-canceled, indicating it was processed and voided after payment. These checks are prized by collectors for their historical context, artistic merit, and connection to Chicago’s brewing and banking heritage during a transformative period in American economic history.
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