Joseph Meatyard Pocket Watch From John Mann

This piece a Joseph Meatyard Pocket Watch From John Mann has always been one of my favorite things in my antique lure collection. Yes, Yes I know its not a lure, but it is to me an equal to most every lure in my collection. Ive always been a antique collector even prior to being hooked by the antique lure hobby.

I was drug around from barn to attic, to antique show to county fairs in central NY and New England as a child. My mother, a self taught, semi-profesional Mission Arts and Crafts and Pottery “picker” whos keen eye in the mid to late 80s put many miles on the family suburban. Her perserveance and keen eye not only supplied a stickly store front on Pennsylvania Ave in Washington DC, it supplied many advanced collectors key early pottery pieces from makers such as Newcomb, Rookwood, Weller, Fulper and many more. I said all that to say Ive come to love many things, even as a child using my cigar box moneies at garage sales for baseball cards to little big books to Currier and Ives prints. I can only imagine what I would have dug up had I been a lure collector during my life in upstate NY in the 70s and 80s.

Through out my lure collecting history Ive had many pieces come and go through my hands, if but just for a moment to enjoy. The pieces that have meant the most have come with a story, sometimes the story was told, and other times it has been my job to find it, write it and tell the story about it. This 9 Jewel pocket watch is one of those items. It came with a story, or at least a partial one told and written, and it would be the article below I found over a decade ago that would tell its story. The article would expound upon and make sense to the mystery of who Joseph Meatyard was, and what was his relation to antique lure maker John H Mann of Syracuse NY.

The inscription reads “Presented to Joseph Meatyard, for faithful services rendered. John H Mann”

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Onondaga’s Centennial: Gleanings of a Century, Volume 2 1896

John H Mann & Co Syracuse. John H Mann the founder of this well known house was born in Peterboro England in 1825 and came to America in 1849 settling in Syracuse where he remained until his death which occurred on Aug 3 1892. On the site which is now occupied by the Onondaga County Savings Bank, Mr Mann started in the grocery business in the year 1852 and successfully laid the foundation for one of the best retail establishments in Central New York. Mr. Mann was an enthusiastic huntsman and fisherman and attained an almost national reputation in fly casting. He owned the first breech loading gun in Syracuse and was a member of the Onondaga County Anglers and Sportsmen’s Association. He was also a very successful tarpon fisherman.

In 1852 he married Annie W Webber a lady of English birth who with four children Mrs Annie M Hurst Edward H Mrs William Horton and George H survive him. In 1876 the business was removed to its present location in the Bastable block, and as it developed additional space and help became imperative. In 1880 J T M Meatyard was admitted into partnership, and remained until his death which occurred Nov 29 1893. In 1888 George H. Mann became a partner and is now senior member of the firm which now has two branch stores in successful operation one at 351 South Salina street and another at Elmwood Park. In 1893 PC Evans was admitted into partnership. The firm name John H Mann & Co is still retained and the present members of the firm are following the same lines and supply the best to their patrons which has placed the reputation of this house second to none in New York State.