The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-28
BOURB IN WHISKY.
How the Name Originated and Who First
Distilled 1t.
THE People

| he People,.
Il was during the latter part of Washing
tons last administration that the noted whis-
| ky rebellion of Pennsylvania took place. At
that time the mountain recesses of the Ale
| ghenies, west of what is now known as the
Cumberland Valley, was the great whisky dis
trict OF the country. It was very sparsely set
| tied. All the grains that were grown, save
scant supply tor provender for the live stock
and food for the Inhabitants was distilled into
whisky upon what IS now known as the 'sour
mash, handmade, copper-di>tilled plan"
Soon large demand forthese whiskies sprang
up in Philadelphia and Baltimore. and the
supply being limited a ring" was formed,
9 dorner made, and the goods put up at
| high figures
| The National 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 Congressional dele
cation from New England. 1t was-as it
would not tax their constituents dollar-to
levy tax of $500 on each still that was used
for manufacturing spirits. Their ideas were
enacted into laws. The following season
revenue officers were sent ont from Washing
ton to assess and collect the tax The distill-
ers previously met, formed a union, and upon
the arrival Of the officers detied them to put
their laws into force. The officers, upon their
arrival IN the insurrectionary distric seeing
they could not execute the law, and fearing
the loss of their lives, returned in haste to
Washington.
BY this time the season was far advan ced
and it was decided upon the part OF the au-
thorlties to wait for the beginning of the
next season, before again attempting to en-
force the collection of the tax The follow
ing fall the officials backed up then, as now,
by the ever-ready troops" set out on their |
mission again. They arrived at the anticipa-
ted scenes of their trouble in due time but |
they met with an unexpected disappointment
The. distillers had decided that there WAS to
be no more distilation until the law was re- |
pealed The officers, after having marched
up the hill, again marched down. Thus |
ended the rebellion.
Many Of the old fcontiersmen, tired Of being
harrassed in front BY the Government and in |
the rear by the Indians, determined to plunge |
boldly into the then UNEMPLOYED wilderness |
beyond the mountains. Among this number
was e man named Shawhan. lie had a large
family, was well to do, and, packing every
thing that he had that was necessary for such |
a lifelong expedition into q wagon, he set
across the mountains. He took with him the |
cause of his removal, the "still" Two |
months later (this was about the fall OF 1866, |
he and his family, consisting OF his wife aud |
several children, were busliy engaged in |
Bourbon county, Kentucky, on Townsend |
Creek, erecting temporary cabins to shelter
them during the winter. The country was
full OF wild animals and still wilder Indians.
It was twenty miles to the nearest fort.
BY tact and skill they avoided coming into
contact with the savages. When the long
winter in the wilderness was over, they, hay
ing during tie meantime cleared away few
acres, planted patch of corn. IN abundant
harvest greeted them for their labor. The
- still having been erected it was pue .uto
operation, and then il was that the first wills
~ ever manufactured in Kentucky. or in the
Mississippi! Valley. occurred.
Ia PENNSYLVANIA they called whisky "iYon.
onsabela, 1t being called after the country
2 which it was manufactured. Shawhan.
blowing the same example. called the whisky
made By hin, after the couuty in which his
rev home was situated. HoIrb0u'
The third year out the father diei, and then
dtv0lved upon his son Joseph TO carry .n
he business. lie being industrious, the.r
title tarm was soon extended and assumed
espcctable size. The excellence OF his whis-
les soon gave them 2 wide rtputati "A. and
he large emigration kept up heavier de-
lind tran could be supplied. He. though /
ent his energies to his wolE, increased his
apacltlts rs Il dist.ler, and Bourbon" soon
ecame household word. Joseph Shawhan Y
led recently at the age of eighty five. He | i
1T property vHlued at upwards Of quarter 8
l a milton dollars. IN some future papers
e may take this subject up again, AID show
ow and by whom Bourbon" IS manufactured 9
o-day.
A Hickman (iy.) pos: writes Of the lively :,
irl Of his choice: =