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Anona Cigar

1904-1909
M. Hyman Cigar & Importing Company  
906-908 16th St., Denver, Colorado 80202  

                     

Anona, as an Indian maiden, was an invention of Mabel McKinley, niece of President William McKinley.  While her uncle was president, Mabel visited a Native American settlement in the Arizona territory and was inspired to write a song about a "pretty little Arizona Indian maiden", a "sweet Anona in Arizona" (anona was a fruit of the US southwest).  Less then two years after her uncle was assassinated a NYC agent offered Mabel a 25 week/$25,000 contract to sing on the vaudeville stage around the country.  Mabel debuted in San Francisco in June 1903 and became that era's version of a pop star, while her song "Anona" became a major hit nationwide.

On 23 June 1904 "Anona" was trademarked with the State of Colorado for use on cigars by M. Hyman Cigar & Importing Company.  This same company on 2 August 1904 registered "Anona" with the US Patent Office as a label for use on cigars, cigarettes, tobacco and chewing gum.  These dates coincide with the time period of the popularity of Mabel McKinley's song "Anona" as well as the approximate dates of the poker chips.

 
In 1904 the M. Hyman Cigar & Importing Company was located at 906-908 16th St. in Denver, Colorado and was owned by Manie Hyman (it was located a half-block from the Tabor Grand Opera House--McKinley might have performed there).
 
Manie Hyman has an interesting background.  Around 1882 he moved to Leadville, Colorado where he opened a saloon named Hyman's Club Rooms (which he operated until about 1887).  About the same time Hyman arrived in Leadville, a man moved to town and shortly thereafter took up residency in Hyman's saloon (pic to the right) where he dealt faro in the gambling rooms:  Doc Holliday. 
 
By 1884 Hyman's saloon was considered Holliday's headquarters and it was there on August 19th of that year that Doc participated in the final shoot-out of his gun-slinging career (firing his shots, coincidently, while leaning over Hyman's cigar counter).  Holliday was working for Hyman in 1887 when he left Leadville for the spa at Glenwood Springs where he died on November 27.
 
The location of Hyman's saloon, next to the Tabor Opera House (the other one), is currently doing business as Doc Holliday's Bar And Grill.
 
The article below on Manie Hyman is from the National Police Gazette, March 17, 1883:
 

The advertisement below is from the NY Evening Word dated October 1903.  Note the side by side of Anona and Mabel McKinley.  If I had to guess I would say that the Indian maiden Anona was based on the likeness on Miss McKinley.