The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-03-18
OLD BOURBON WHISKY.
How the Name Originated, and Who
First Distilled 1t.


First Distilled 1t.
1t was during the latter part of Wash
inpton's last administration that the noted
whisky rebellion of Pennsylvania took
place. At that time the mountain recess
es of the AlleghanieS, west OF what Is
now known as the Cumberland valley,
were the great whisky district OF the coun-
try. 1t was sparsely settled. All the
grains that were grown, save scant sup
Div for provender for the live stock, and
food for the inhabitants, were distilled into
whisky upon what is now known as the
''sour smash, handmade, copper distilled
PLAN"
Soon large demand for these whiskies
sprang up in Philadelphia and Baltimore.
and the supply being limited, ring"
was formed a ''cOrner" made, and the
goods put up at high figures. The Ma
tional Government, then as now, was
hard pressed for revenue. Reputation
was then staring it In the face, and it was
without money at home or credit abroad.
A happy thought struck the cOngression-
al delegation from New England. 1t was
as it would not tax their constituents a
dollar-to levy a tax of $500 on each still
that was used for the manufacturing OF
spirits. Their ideas were enacted INTO
laws.
The following season, revenue officers
were sent out from Washington TO assess
and collect the tax. The diStillers hac
previously met and formed union, and
upon the arrival of the officers in the in
surrectionary district, seeing that they
could not execute the law, and fearing the
! loss of their lives, they returned in haste
to Washington.
By this time the season was far ad-
yanced, and it was decided on the part OF
the authorities to wait for the beginning
of the next season before again attempt
ing to enforce the collection of the tax.
The following fall the officials, backed up
| by troops, set out on their mission again.
| They arrived at the anticipated scenes OF
their troubles in due time. but met with an
unexpected disappointment. The distil-
Iers had decided that there was to be no
more distillatiOn until the law was re
pealed. The officers, after having marched
up the hill, again marched down. Thus
ended tine rebellion.
Many of the old frOntiersmen, tired OF
being harassed in the front by the Gov
ernment and in the rear by the Indians,
determined TO plunge boldly into the then
unexplored wilderness beyond the noun
tains. Among this number was man
named Shawhan. He had large family,
was well to do, and packing every thing
| that he had that was necessary for such a
lifelong expedition into wagon, he set
across the mountains.
He took with him the cause of his re-
moval-the "stin." Two months later
(this was about the fall of 1906, he and
his family, consisting of his wife and sew
eral children, were busily engaged in
Bourbon County, Kentucky, on Town
send Creek, erecting temporary cabins TO
shelter them during the winter. The
country was full of wild animals and still
wilder Indians. 1t was twenty miles to
the nearest fort.
By tact and skill they avoided coming
in contact with the savages. When
the long winter in the wilderness was
over, they, having during the meantime
cleared away few acres, planted patch
| of corn, An abundant harvest greeted
them for their labor. The ''stilr' having
been erected it was put into operation
and then it was that the first whisky eve
manufactured in Kentucky. or in the Mis-.
sissippi Valley, was produced.
/ In Pennsylvania they call whisky ''Mo'
nongahela,n it being called after the cOun
ty in which it is manufactured. Shaw
han, following the same example, called
the whisky made by him after the count!
in which his new home was situated
"Bourbon."
The third year out the father died, AM
It deyolved upon his son Joseph to carry
, an the business. He being industrious
their little farm was soon extended and as
sumed respectable size. The excellenc
of his whiskies soon gave them wide
reputation, and the large emigration keI
up heavier demand than could be SUI
piled. He, though, bent his energies I
.. his work, increased his capacities as dii
tilller. and Bourbon" soon became
household word.-The People.