Zoeller Book

William Frederick and Caroline Zoeller of Pittsburgh

Inventors of Zoeller's Kidney Remedy and Black Gin for Kidneys

William's fanciful signature

1857 - (or 1860) - William Frederick was born in July on the South Side of Pittsburgh, the son of John and Fredericka Zoeller.

1855 - Wife Caroline A. born in September 1855.

1876 - Married Caroline A. "Carrie" Dowden (1857- ? ). Their children were Carl Zoeller, Joseph Zoeller, Carrie Zoeller and Robert F. Zoeller.

1882 - Son Karl W. Zoeller born in April.

1886 - Son Joseph "Roy" Zoeller born in March.

1887 - Daughter Carrie F. Zoeller born in July.

1894 - Son Robert F. Zoeller born in July.

1900 - Enumerated in the 1900 US Census in Pittsburgh. (Vol. 21, E.D. 411, Sheet 19, Line 18). At the time, they lived on Summit Street in the Knoxville Borough section of Pittsburgh. William's employment was listed as "wholesale liquor dealer."

   -- William was employed as a Carson Street druggist. His brother Joseph P. Zoeller also was a “well known South Side druggist,” said the Pittsburg Chronicle. Joseph resided in the South Side all his life. When Joseph died, his widow then married druggist William Bohnen.

1888 - Pittsburgh City Directory listed William as engaged in “wholesale liquors” and residing at 1807 Carson.

1892 - In the Pittsburgh City Directory, William was listed in the category of “Patent Medicines” and resided at 1807 Carson.

1904 - Named as a defendant in a “Sitting in Equity” lawsuit in Allegheny County, PA filed by plaintiff John J. Drew - case #801 of July Term 1904. WFZ apparently a stockholder in Colonial Ice Company, a corporation in the State of Pennsylvania. Named along with Frederick Vitte, H.J. Schneider, William L. Hirsch, Joseph W. Pennock, Dr. John D. Milligan, A.H. Sunshine, Rev. L.A. O'Connell, Harry H. Perkins, William Schutte, George C. Kaufmann, John F. Murphy, Rev. J.W. O'Connell, John P. Robinson, John D. Bigger, R.E. Prietzsch, Thomas P. Sullivan, Terrence Boyle, William Barchfield, Joseph Detterle, Charles Renner, Charles Klaus, and F.M. King.

1906 - In the Pittsburgh City Directory, sold “liquors” at 1807 Carson. Bell phone Hemlock 9396. Resided in Knoxville, Pa.

1909 - Is believed to have beenthe founder/owner of Zoeller Medical Manufacturing Company of Pittsburgh, selling “Zoeller's Kidney Remedy” (made of juniper berries, buchu leaves and other valuable diuretics) priced at 50 cents per bottle. The product was advertised in several editions of the Pittsburgh Press in July 1909.

1920 - When the federal census was taken, William (age 60) and Caroline (63) and their son Robert (25) made their home together on Bellefonte Street in Pittsburgh's Shady Side community. William's occupation that year was as an Allegheny County assessor, and Robert's as a civil engineer with a power company. In all, he served for district assessor for the county board of reassessment and revision of taxes for nine years. They held a membership in the Calvary Episcopal Church and he was a member of the Pittsburgh Lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose.  

1930 - The census shows William (age 71) and Carolyne (71) living in Mt. Lebanon, near Pittsburgh, on Central Square. William was still employed as a county assessor that year. William died on Dec. 21, 1930. Funeral services were conducted at the family residence in the Central Arms Apartments at 101 Central Square in Mount Lebanon. Interment was in St. Paul's Cemetery, Mount Oliver. At the time, sons Karl and Robert made a home in New York City and son J. Roy in Johnstown.

Above and below: Zoeller Kidney Remedy bottles produced by Zoeller Medical Manufacturing in Pittsburgh

Above: labels, advertising and packing box of Zoeller's Kidney Remedy. The ad was published in the July 13, 1909 edition of the Pittsburgh Press. Below: packing boxes for bottles.

Above and below: brochure included with each purchase of each bottle

Above: Zoeller's Genuine Black Gin promotional playing card.