C. Melchers & Co
“We have been established for two centuries. |
For genealogical relationships see Melchers-Family
1806:- Anton Carl Friedrich Melchers the son of a farmer from Varel, Germany partnered with his friend Carl Focke and together established, FOCKE & MELCHERS, a wholesale and snuff factory in Bremen, Germany.
1814:- When his partner Focke left the business in 1814, he changed the name of the company to C. MELCHERS & CO., with more focus on shipping and trading.
1814:- When his partner Focke left the business in 1814, he changed the name of the company to C. MELCHERS & CO., with more focus on shipping and trading.
![Picture](/uploads/6/5/2/1/6521662/editor/mazatl-n-melchers.jpg?1596911517)
1846:- On January 1, 1846, Anton's middle sons, Heinrich Wilhelm Melchers: 1822-1891 and Georg Friedrich Melchers 1827-1907, opened the doors of the new store in Mazatlán, named Melcher´s Brothers & Company and known as ‘Hermanos Melchers’ by the locals. Mazatlán was well chosen, it was the biggest port on the Mexican pacific coast, from there they could distribute inland to a host of small mining towns in the nearby Sierra Madre mountain range, as well as to the small Mexican ports along the Pacific coast.
With all the connections from their father’s store in Bremen, merchandise from Germany and Europe filled the store, attending to the needs of the large European community already established in Mazatlán, and to the expanding development of local Mexican businesses. The trading house handed all sorts of merchandise, from tools for the miner, furniture, fabrics and haberdashery, hardware, fancy items, and even musical instruments brought from Europe. It also served as an investment bank, and financed many of the great businesses of Sinaloa, México. Over time the establishment transcended into one of the most important trading houses in North West of Mexico, representing businesses in the States of Sinaloa, Sonora y Durango.
Melchers were also owners and/or representatives of other businesses in Mazatlán:
With all the connections from their father’s store in Bremen, merchandise from Germany and Europe filled the store, attending to the needs of the large European community already established in Mazatlán, and to the expanding development of local Mexican businesses. The trading house handed all sorts of merchandise, from tools for the miner, furniture, fabrics and haberdashery, hardware, fancy items, and even musical instruments brought from Europe. It also served as an investment bank, and financed many of the great businesses of Sinaloa, México. Over time the establishment transcended into one of the most important trading houses in North West of Mexico, representing businesses in the States of Sinaloa, Sonora y Durango.
Melchers were also owners and/or representatives of other businesses in Mazatlán:
- ‘La Bahia’ textile factory
- Goldschmidt Successors, S. en C, owned by Enrique Schmidt, Gustavo B. Burmeister (who would later become a partner and manager of Melchers Succ,) and Enrique Hoyen
- Heymann Successors S. en C., founded by Teodoro Heymann and César Bertheau in 1848 and later owned by Charles A. Volquardsen.
1854:- The founder Anton Carl Friedrich Melchers dies on May 5, 1854 and his eldest son, Laurenz Heinrich Carl Melchers: 1812–1888, takes over the main branch of Melchers & Co., in Bremen, Germany
1854:- Gustav Cornelius Melchers 1830–1902 the youngest son founded Melchers & Co., Honolulu.
1864:- Melchers opened ‘La Bahia’, a textile factory in Mazatlán, for the sole purpose of supplying products to Melchers Sucs., and which was run by their future partner, Don German Evers 1848- 1930
1866:- Hermann Melchers: 1842–1918, son of Laurenz, founded the Melchers store in Hong Kong with his partner, Adolf André & Carl Eduard Melchers: 1845–1921.
1869:- Heinrich Wilhelm decided to leave Mazatlán, leaving Melchers Brothers & Co., in the hands of his brother Georg, who changed the name to Melchers Successores.
1875:- Georg hands over the business to the next generation of Melchers, his nephews: Bertram Johann Melchers:1852–1901 and Anton Friedrich Carl Melchers:1854–1925. At the same time William Henry Sowerbutts 1845-1912, a family acquaintance from Bremen, also entered as a partner.
1854:- Gustav Cornelius Melchers 1830–1902 the youngest son founded Melchers & Co., Honolulu.
1864:- Melchers opened ‘La Bahia’, a textile factory in Mazatlán, for the sole purpose of supplying products to Melchers Sucs., and which was run by their future partner, Don German Evers 1848- 1930
1866:- Hermann Melchers: 1842–1918, son of Laurenz, founded the Melchers store in Hong Kong with his partner, Adolf André & Carl Eduard Melchers: 1845–1921.
1869:- Heinrich Wilhelm decided to leave Mazatlán, leaving Melchers Brothers & Co., in the hands of his brother Georg, who changed the name to Melchers Successores.
1875:- Georg hands over the business to the next generation of Melchers, his nephews: Bertram Johann Melchers:1852–1901 and Anton Friedrich Carl Melchers:1854–1925. At the same time William Henry Sowerbutts 1845-1912, a family acquaintance from Bremen, also entered as a partner.
1879: Carl Melchers marries Catalina Dorothea Virginia Volquardsen:1865–1950, the eldest daughter of Charles August Volquardsen the owner of Heymann & Succs.
1880:- German Evers enters the textile factory, ‘La Bahia’, a spinning and weaving factory owned by the brothers Melchers.
1881:- The youngest brother of Bertram and Carl, Heinrich Alexander Melchers:1860–1934 comes of age and joins his brothers as industrial partner in Mazatlán.
1881:-Johann Emil Philippi: (1866-), arrives from Bremen with Enrique Schmidt Ybañez (Goldschmidt Successors, S. en C)
1884:- German Evers becomes manager of 'La Bahia'.
1886:- December 18, 1886. Emil Philippi marries María Emilia Carlota Fernandez Galán Hanssen 1865, daughter of Carlos Fernandez Galán and Laura Hanssen Rodriguez. Witnesses: Carl Melchers, William Henry Sowerbutts and Charles A Volsquardsen.
1880:- German Evers enters the textile factory, ‘La Bahia’, a spinning and weaving factory owned by the brothers Melchers.
1881:- The youngest brother of Bertram and Carl, Heinrich Alexander Melchers:1860–1934 comes of age and joins his brothers as industrial partner in Mazatlán.
1881:-Johann Emil Philippi: (1866-), arrives from Bremen with Enrique Schmidt Ybañez (Goldschmidt Successors, S. en C)
1884:- German Evers becomes manager of 'La Bahia'.
1886:- December 18, 1886. Emil Philippi marries María Emilia Carlota Fernandez Galán Hanssen 1865, daughter of Carlos Fernandez Galán and Laura Hanssen Rodriguez. Witnesses: Carl Melchers, William Henry Sowerbutts and Charles A Volsquardsen.
1891:- In San Francisco, Alexander Melchers marries Marianna Volquardsen: 1868-1949, daughter of C.A. Volquardsen.
1891:- Charles A. Volquardsen dies at his home above Heymann Succ., Mazatlán, on April 29, 1891.
1891:- Heinrich Melchers, the father of Bertram, Carl and Alexander, dies at his home at Contrescarpe # 130, Bremen,Germany on November 17,1891.
1892:- Johann Georg Claussen arrives to work at Melchers. (Claussen, was already working as an apprentice at the Melcher Trading house in Bremen, and made several trips for the company, for example on September 26, 1892 he was on board the ship 'Servia' destination Mazatlán, Mexico. About 1897 ´the brothers Carl and Alexander Melchers brought him full time to Mazatlán.
1894:- Enrique Schmidt Ybañez 1859–, marries Maria Carlota Fernandez Galán Hanssen 1878–1909, on May 26, 1894, Santa Iglesia, Mazatlán, Sinaloa.
The witnesses were: J.G. Claussen, Wm Hy Sowerbutts, Emil Philippi and Carlos Schmidt. (brother to Enrique).Note: Emilia and Carlota Fernandez Galán Hanssen were daughters of Carlos Fernandez Galán:1830–1906, a lawyer from Cadiz, Spain and his wife Laura Hanssen 1845–, from Germany. The couple had 17 children.
1891:- Charles A. Volquardsen dies at his home above Heymann Succ., Mazatlán, on April 29, 1891.
1891:- Heinrich Melchers, the father of Bertram, Carl and Alexander, dies at his home at Contrescarpe # 130, Bremen,Germany on November 17,1891.
1892:- Johann Georg Claussen arrives to work at Melchers. (Claussen, was already working as an apprentice at the Melcher Trading house in Bremen, and made several trips for the company, for example on September 26, 1892 he was on board the ship 'Servia' destination Mazatlán, Mexico. About 1897 ´the brothers Carl and Alexander Melchers brought him full time to Mazatlán.
1894:- Enrique Schmidt Ybañez 1859–, marries Maria Carlota Fernandez Galán Hanssen 1878–1909, on May 26, 1894, Santa Iglesia, Mazatlán, Sinaloa.
The witnesses were: J.G. Claussen, Wm Hy Sowerbutts, Emil Philippi and Carlos Schmidt. (brother to Enrique).Note: Emilia and Carlota Fernandez Galán Hanssen were daughters of Carlos Fernandez Galán:1830–1906, a lawyer from Cadiz, Spain and his wife Laura Hanssen 1845–, from Germany. The couple had 17 children.
1896:- Friedrich Heinrich Unger (Federico Unger) arrives to work at Melchers in December of 1896.
1897:-William Henry Sowerbutts is Consul for Imperial Germany.
1898:- Carlos Luis Volquardsen (son of C.A. Volquardsen, and brother in law of Carl Melchers) marries Flora Sophie Sowerbutts on June 8, 1898 in San Francisco.
1898:- William Henry Sowerbutts returns to Germany with his family but remains silent partner. Emil Philippe replaces Sowerbutts as German Consul in Mazatlán, and Jorge Claussen was promoted to the place of second manager. Before the Sowerbutts family left, Claussen proposed to young Carlota Sowerbutts
1898:- On November 21, 1898:- Claussen and his friends celebrate on the upper floors of Melchers the birthday of Claussen's fiancé, Carlota Volquardsen, who was living with her parents. (They married on January 28, 1899 in Hamburg).
1898:- Carlos Luis Volquardsen (son of C.A. Volquardsen, and brother in law of Carl Melchers) marries Flora Sophie Sowerbutts on June 8, 1898 in San Francisco.
1898:- William Henry Sowerbutts returns to Germany with his family but remains silent partner. Emil Philippe replaces Sowerbutts as German Consul in Mazatlán, and Jorge Claussen was promoted to the place of second manager. Before the Sowerbutts family left, Claussen proposed to young Carlota Sowerbutts
1898:- On November 21, 1898:- Claussen and his friends celebrate on the upper floors of Melchers the birthday of Claussen's fiancé, Carlota Volquardsen, who was living with her parents. (They married on January 28, 1899 in Hamburg).
![Picture](/uploads/6/5/2/1/6521662/editor/melchers-and-people.jpg?1597020173)
21 Nov 1898. Right to Left: Don Enrique Schmidt Ybañez, Carlitos Bölken, Emil Philippi, Carl Ströhlein, Paul Hintze, Georg Claussen, Julius Glowatz, Emilia Fernandez Galán de Philippi, Maria Fernandez Galán de Schmidt, Carlos Volquardsen, Flora Sophie Sowerbutts de Volquardsen. Photo: Archives Stefan Hink.
1898:- The actual partners of Mechers, Mazatlán, are Bertram Johann Melchers, Carl Melchers, Heinrich Alexander Melchers and Henry William Sowerbutts, all residing in Europe while the managers are Emil Philippi and Johann G. Claussen.
1899:- Jorge Claussen marries Carlota Auguste Sowerbutts(1879–1955) on January 28, 1899 in Hamburg where she and her family are living.
1899:- Gustavo Bövig Burmeister arrives to Mazatlán in December 1899 to work for the Melchers, and as partner in Goldschmidt Sucs. with Enrique Schmidt Ybañez and Enrique Hoyen.
1900:- March 17, 1900. Since the early hours of the morning, the Mazatlecos were awoken to the strumming of instruments and music filling the air, as the band which had been contracted to play at the opening of the brewery, practiced in the Plaza. On the upper floors of Casa Melchers the founding members of the Cervecería Pacifico met for their first board meeting: The list of members and their alternates were:
Ranking Member & President:- Emil Philippi
Second Ranking Member: Jorge Claussen
First Alternative Ranking Member: Jacobo Schuehle
Second Alternative Ranking Member: Federico Marburg
Third Ranking Member: German Evers
1901:- Bertram Johann Melchers:1852–1901, dies on December 2, 1901 at his home at Osterdeich # 61, Bremen, Germany.
1899:- Jorge Claussen marries Carlota Auguste Sowerbutts(1879–1955) on January 28, 1899 in Hamburg where she and her family are living.
1899:- Gustavo Bövig Burmeister arrives to Mazatlán in December 1899 to work for the Melchers, and as partner in Goldschmidt Sucs. with Enrique Schmidt Ybañez and Enrique Hoyen.
1900:- March 17, 1900. Since the early hours of the morning, the Mazatlecos were awoken to the strumming of instruments and music filling the air, as the band which had been contracted to play at the opening of the brewery, practiced in the Plaza. On the upper floors of Casa Melchers the founding members of the Cervecería Pacifico met for their first board meeting: The list of members and their alternates were:
Ranking Member & President:- Emil Philippi
Second Ranking Member: Jorge Claussen
First Alternative Ranking Member: Jacobo Schuehle
Second Alternative Ranking Member: Federico Marburg
Third Ranking Member: German Evers
1901:- Bertram Johann Melchers:1852–1901, dies on December 2, 1901 at his home at Osterdeich # 61, Bremen, Germany.
1901:- 1901:- Founding of the Cervecería Pacifico in Mazatlán. Founders; Carl and Alexander Melchers, Jorge Clausen, Germán Evers, Cesar Bölken, Emil Philippi, Federico Marburg
1902-1903:- Shares of Cerveceria Pacifico: Rosalio G. Echavarría Aguirre, 30,000. Emil Philippi...21, 169, J.G. Claussen...16,643, Melchers Sucs...13,005, Braulio Laveaga...10,000, Francisco Echavarría Aguirre...5,098, Pomposa widow of De Rocha...4,587, F. Unger...2,000, G. Evers...1,000, Carlos Heyn...822
Carlos Bölken...500, Goldschmidt Sucs (Enrique Schmidt & Gustav B. Burmeister)...138.
1902:- Gustav Cornelius Melchers:1830–1902, dies on August 1, at Contrescarpe # 88, Bremen,
1904:- Partners of Melchers, Mazatlán are: Carl and Alexander Melchers and William Henry Sowerbutts, all residing in Europe. Johann G, Claussen and Emil Philippi as managers.
1905:- Gustavo Bövig Burmeister marries Emelina Aguirre Duque Estrada, from Havana, Cuba on May 14, 1905 in Mazatlán.Witnesses at his wedding were Emil Philippi, Carlos Luis Volquardsen and José H. Rico.
1906:- Max Hach arrives from Bremen to work in Casa Melchers.
1902-1903:- Shares of Cerveceria Pacifico: Rosalio G. Echavarría Aguirre, 30,000. Emil Philippi...21, 169, J.G. Claussen...16,643, Melchers Sucs...13,005, Braulio Laveaga...10,000, Francisco Echavarría Aguirre...5,098, Pomposa widow of De Rocha...4,587, F. Unger...2,000, G. Evers...1,000, Carlos Heyn...822
Carlos Bölken...500, Goldschmidt Sucs (Enrique Schmidt & Gustav B. Burmeister)...138.
1902:- Gustav Cornelius Melchers:1830–1902, dies on August 1, at Contrescarpe # 88, Bremen,
1904:- Partners of Melchers, Mazatlán are: Carl and Alexander Melchers and William Henry Sowerbutts, all residing in Europe. Johann G, Claussen and Emil Philippi as managers.
1905:- Gustavo Bövig Burmeister marries Emelina Aguirre Duque Estrada, from Havana, Cuba on May 14, 1905 in Mazatlán.Witnesses at his wedding were Emil Philippi, Carlos Luis Volquardsen and José H. Rico.
1906:- Max Hach arrives from Bremen to work in Casa Melchers.
"… in the early morning of the 24th of December 1906. I presented myself at Melchers & Co and they gave me a room at the top of the house.
Since it was Christmas Eve, and everyone was working, they gave me the task of decorating the Christmas tree for the festivities in the evening. My bosses were Mr. Emilio Philippi and Mr. Jorge Claussen and my fellow workers were Federico Unger, Gustavo Burmeister and Emilio Vidal. Carlos Bölken, Theodor Frickhoffer and Jorge Hauss also had rooms upstairs. We all formed the Melcher household, with a housemaid, a laundress, and a cook, and at the end of each month we would share the expenses.
Between the 24 and the 31st it was Emilio Philippe's birthday and there was a huge party to celebrate with authorities, professionals, workers from Melchers and all of the German society living in Mazatlán. I was frightened to see so much drinking! . There was a huge colony of Germans living in Mazatlán and they were very well respected within the high social circles of Mazatlán. We were always dressed in tails or smokings and on Sundays we used black Prince Albert suits. This was the standard dress code and luckily, I had been warned and I brought these suits with me from Germany. Once we were admitted to society, we all made great friends with all of the renowned families." Carl Max Hach-Memoirs.
(NOTE: Apart from being co-workers and friends, Carl Max Hach would later become related to the family through his marriage to Margarita Cornejo Navarro, daughter of Margarita Navarro Moreno, cousin of Federico’s' mother in law, Carlota Hidalgo Navarro).
1907:- Georg Friedrich Melchers dies on October 25, 1907 at his home at Contrescarpe # 27, Bremen, Germany
1910:- Silent partners are Carl and Alexander Melchers, William Henry Sowerbutts. Managers and industrial partners: Johann Georg Claussen, Emil Philippi and Federico Unger.
1910:- Inauguration of the Glorieta Germania.
1910:- Silent partners are Carl and Alexander Melchers, William Henry Sowerbutts. Managers and industrial partners: Johann Georg Claussen, Emil Philippi and Federico Unger.
1910:- Inauguration of the Glorieta Germania.
1910:- Emil Philippi leaves Mazatlán due to unrest with the Mexican Revolution, He hands over Consul of Germany to Don Federico Unger and Gustav B. Burmeister becomes vice consul.
1912:- William Henry Sowerbutts dies on October 27, 1912 at number 30, Parkallee, Bremen, Germany
1913:- Johann Georg Claussen dies on June 26, 1913 in San Francisco after suffering a stroke.. Don Federico Unger and Gustav B. Burmeister are sole managers of Melchers, Mazatlán.
1914:- August 1914 the company 'Minas Unidas de San José de Gracia' is formed with financing from Melchers Succs; President: Olaf J. Olsen, Vice-presidente: Alfred J. Wolher, Secretary: Federico Unger, Directors: Genaro Garcia & Miguel Tarriba Beltran (grandfather of F. Unger´s future son in law, Jaime Tarriba Rodil)
1923:- Coppel & Burmeister Mexicana 20,000 1923 Gustav B. Burmeister & Luis Coppel Rivas.
1925:- Carl Melchers dies on September 8, 1925 at Contrescarpe 21, Bremen, Germany.
1927;- Walter Melchers:1896-1932, son of Carl Melchers and Catalina Volquardsen enters as partner. (In 1927 Walter Melchers is godfather to Fritz Unger's youngest child, Beatriz Unger Ferreira)
1927:- Melchers Sucs. y Cía. 315,000 1927 Walter Melchers, Federico Unger (Consul)
1929:- Gustavo Bövig Burmeister leaves Mazatlán to live in Mexico City, where he dies in 1963.
1930:- Mexico National Census, May 15, 1930. Walter Melchers, single, is living in San Lorenzo, Sinaloa and Ricardo Unger (son of Don Federico Unger) works for him
1930:-Mexico National Census, May 15, 1930. German Evers is living on ’21 de Marzo’ with Eustacio Sanchez of 60 years.
1930:- Mexico National Census, May 15, 1930 Don Federico Unger is living on Arsenal 214, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, with family.
1927:- Melchers Sucs. y Cía. 315,000 1927 Walter Melchers, Federico Unger (Consul)
1929:- Gustavo Bövig Burmeister leaves Mazatlán to live in Mexico City, where he dies in 1963.
1930:- Mexico National Census, May 15, 1930. Walter Melchers, single, is living in San Lorenzo, Sinaloa and Ricardo Unger (son of Don Federico Unger) works for him
1930:-Mexico National Census, May 15, 1930. German Evers is living on ’21 de Marzo’ with Eustacio Sanchez of 60 years.
1930:- Mexico National Census, May 15, 1930 Don Federico Unger is living on Arsenal 214, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, with family.
1930:- German Evers dies on September 28, 1930, Mazatlan, Mexico
1932:- Walter Ferdinand Bertram Melchers: 1896–1932, dies on December 10, 1932, in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico
1934:- Alexander Melchers:1860–1934 dies on June 14, 1934 in Bremen, Germany.
1939:- Victor Patron Rivas, son in law of Don Federico Unger, buys part of Melchers Succs premises (on Venus)
1941:- Don Federico Unger dies on March 17, 1941 Mazatlán, Sinaloa.
1932:- Walter Ferdinand Bertram Melchers: 1896–1932, dies on December 10, 1932, in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico
1934:- Alexander Melchers:1860–1934 dies on June 14, 1934 in Bremen, Germany.
1939:- Victor Patron Rivas, son in law of Don Federico Unger, buys part of Melchers Succs premises (on Venus)
1941:- Don Federico Unger dies on March 17, 1941 Mazatlán, Sinaloa.
- 1930 Mexico National Census
- Border Crossings: From Mexico to U.S., 1903-1957
- California Passenger and Crew Lists, 1893-1957
- New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
- Bremen, Germany, Military Lists, 1712-1914
- Bremen, Germany, Military Lists, 1712-1914
- Germany and Surrounding Areas, Address Books, 1815-1974
- Germany, Select Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898
- England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
- Germany, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- Friedhof Bremen-Walle. Bremen, Germany
- New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924
- Mexico, Sinaloa, Civil Registration, 1861-1929