F.P. Foltz’s Presto Elixir
By: Jim Davis in “Pride of Abingdon, Her People, and Her Stories: A Collection of Essays”
Frederick P. Foltz was born to Christian and Hannah Kieffer Foltz on November 15, 1830, near Stolhburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. He was of German and French-Huguenot ancestry on his mother’s side of the family. His paternal great-grandfather Frederick emigrated from Rotterdam on the ship Tyger, George Johnson, Master on November 19, 1771, to settle near Myerstown, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. His grandfather, also named Frederick, moved to Letterkenny Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, in 1798. He had nine children, of whom Christian was his sixth. The Foltz and Kieffer families came from excellent stock and were noted for their intelligence, enterprise, thrift, and usefulness. Many were teachers, ministers, politicians, and physicians.
Frederick was educated and learned the carpenter’s trade in Pennsylvania, which he practiced until he moved west. He was married to Melinda C. Jacobs on October 8, 1855, in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.
Foltz moved his family, consisting of his wife, daughter, Louise Belle, and son, Frederick Luther, to a farm in Kansas. While in Kansas, their son George P. and daughter Jennie Augusta were born in Shawnee County. Due to the disturbed conditions in that part of the country prior to the Civil War he returned to Pennsylvania and worked his trade until the close of the Civil War. He then made a second trip to Kansas, which, like the first trip, proved to be disappointing, and he relocated to Abingdon, Illinois. His son Frederick died on April 18, 1864, while they resided in Kansas. Their daughters, Linnie M. and twins Lillie M. and Helen D., were born in Abingdon, Illinois.
Mr. Foltz was for many years a leading citizen of Abingdon and Knox County, taking conspicuous part in all matters for the advancement of Abingdon. He took a prominent role in securing the construction of the Peoria and Farmington railroad, the forerunner of the Iowa Central railroad, through the city. He served as a director and acted as the collector for the company in which capacity he was successful.
He was among the first to erect modern brick business blocks and built and owned the Foltz Opera House as well as owning several valuable properties in the city. He was a member of the board of directors of the Union Bank of Abingdon and served as its vice president for many years.
Foltz was a Pioneer in manufacturing of tile for drainage and was a member of the first company formed for that purpose. He was a stockholder in the Abingdon Paving Brick and Tile Company.
Mr. Foltz, a druggist, opened a drugstore in 1865. He discovered and manufactured a valuable antiseptic germ destroyer and pain reliever called Presto, which proved to be a boon to suffering humanity. He advertised his elixir to relieve sprains, bruises, old wounds, barwire cuts, Galls Founder, and swellings. He also claimed the potion was good for all painful affections of the skin, muscles, and joints. It would reduce enlargements, heal cuts, cure distemper and throat disease, and is a fine remedy for the feet, all for the price of fifty cents. Foltz also manufactured Presto for veterinary purposes, which is good for horses and all domesticated animals. He advertised his elixir as being good for man or beast. To his line of drugs, he added groceries, paints, oils, books, stationery, wallpaper, and Farm equipment. He extensively engaged in the sales of agricultural implements, wagons, and buggies.
He had a fine farm of 310 acres in Cedar Township where he kept a herd of forty head of full-blooded Shorthorn cattle as well as seventy-five head of high-grade cattle.
The Foltz family was of the Congregational faith and was Republican in politics. He served as an alderman for many terms and was esteemed by his fellow townsmen. He passed away on March 5, 1908, at his home on 125 East Meek Street following an attack of neuralgia of the heart, the effect of which he was thought to be slowly but surely recovering. His condition was thought to be favorable up to Friday the 5th, when he was suddenly seized by the attack, which terminated his life.