After a pleasant and profitable engagement of several months he joined Sargent’s Minstrels for a tour, opening early in September and closing in Sacramento, Cal., December 10, 1877. He gradually worked his way to New York, where in August, 1878, he formed a partnership with Charles Dockstader, doing black-face songs and dances; the alliance, which was known as the Dockstader Brothers, continued until the illness of Charles Dockstader caused a severance of their business relations in Philadelphia, in March, 1883. Mr. Dockstader made his initial appearance with his new partner in Jersey City, September, 1878; they remained there several weeks. Their first minstrel engagement was with Jerry Thomas’ Minstrels in New York at the Brighton Theatre (present site of Bijou) December 30, 1878. They then played the principal variety houses until the commencement of the season of 1880 when they joined Carncross’ Minstrels in Philadelphia for the season; the following year they returned there, and remained until about January 1, 1882, when they joined George Thatcher’s Minstrels, also in Philadelphia, for a brief engagement, terminating January 21st; a week later they opened with Haverly’s Minstrels in St. Louis, Mo., for the balance of the season. In the Fall of 1882 they again returned to Carncross’, in Philadelphia, where after the sickness of Charles Dockstader in March, 1883, Lew Dockstader remained until the season closed; drawing the double salary for his individual services, and generously sharing it with his afflicted partner. Mr. Dockstader began his fourth season with Carncross in the Fall of 1883; he continued there until the Spring of 1886. On the 17th day of September that year, Dockstader’s Minstrels opened as a permanent institution in New York City, where for more than three years he held forth, surrounded at all times with the luminaries of the minstrel world; during this period he made a trip to California with his company. The final performance was given December 9, 1889. December 23, 1889, he opened with Hermann’s Trans-Oceanic Vaudeville Company for a limited engagement. The following month he became a member of Primrose and West’s Minstrels and continued with them until the Spring of 1891, after which he joined George Thatcher’s Minstrels in San Francisco, and finished the season with that company. Dockstader’s Minstrels were next organized for a road tour and made their first appearance at Dayton, Ohio, July 23, 1891. They traveled successfully until February 20, 1895; on that date giving their closing performance in Cincinnati. Mr. Dockstader immediately entered vaudeville, and continued in it successfully until 1898, when in connection with George Primrose, a minstrel company bearing their names was organized. It traveled for five years during which time it gave universal satisfaction.