The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-05
JAMES crow, wa1snEr n1Krn.
ne MAS whe Reaucsa D,ssininE e n science
In kentneky nach In the Thlrtles.

ne Hzan whe Resucsa DtssitiinE % n science
In Kentucky Bach In the Thirties-
VERSAILLES, KY. Sept. A-Benoath the blue
grass sod OF n country buryinR ground near the
little hamlet OF Millville. In woodford county,
sleeps James Crow. who nearly three-fourths OF
a~century ago originated the process OF distilling
whisky In a scientific manner. To him moro
than to any other man. IL duo the international
reputation that Kentucky whiskoy enjoys, and
the vast distilling interests OF the country are
largely the result Of his discoveries.
Back In the thirties James Crow was a cele-
brated character in the West, whose opinions
on medicine, law, theology. and science sencr.
ally were final in his bailiwick He was edu.
Gated for a physician, being a graduate OF tho
College of Medicine and Surgery, in Edinburgh,
Scotland, and was q philosopher, wit, and man
Of letters. In religion he was a Presbyterian
OF the John Knox type.
Grow was q native Of Scotland. q man OF her
culean build, broad. intellectual forehead,
smooth-shaven face, with the deep blue eyes
and sandy complexion characteristic OF his race.
He emiRrated to America about 1922 and en-.
gagged in merchandising In Philadelphia. He
became bankrupt in a year and then came
West, locating on Grier's Greek. in Woodford
county. KY. whore several small and very rude
whiskey distilleries were in operation.
At that time d~Istilling was not accomplished
BY any regularly defined rule. but rather after
the manner Of the old negro mammy's formula
for bread making. by taking "a passed. otmeal.
"a passed. =" OF malt, and about 80 much y"
water. billed down until 1t was done. By
this prooess thoro were frequently days when
good whtskey was made. but Just as often the
run. like the old woman's bread. failed to pro-
duce the hoped-tor result, the failure being In.
janice Crow possessed land IL constituted his
entire worldly estate,w hal was said to be the most
and also some ostly chemical apparatus. Chemi.
cal sci,n.e was bis bobby. and Il gave TO him
the . secret Sas S Of sGrrs &C. s, 4narInsD For % ans . %sek 7
until no at last reached the nice proportions
that were destined to revolutionizo whiskey
throughout tho world. From that time there
we're no OF Gsys. and the pure extract Of corn
Jim Grow whisky was soon being shipped
TO Wellington. New York. Boston. and TO Eng.
became the favorite beverage OF not a few OF
Americas most eminent statesmen. For many
sSiicI an aH ODD letter %ss from Henry 'e Clay a sr to his fri d' nd
Grow ordering a barrel Of his wonderful ELIXIR
to take to Washington with him to lubricate the
eaid, was never without a demijohn OF Grow"
in his closet.
Anywhere from two to two and a half gallons
was at frst the full capacity, Of Crows still
house. which. seems very Insignificant when
output Of some Of which exceeds $50 barrels a
day. Where nowadays II Is not uncommon for
a distiller to make five and six gallons OF whis-
and a quarter or two and a half gallons to the
bushel. and he maintained that It was impos-
stble TO extract a greater amount OF pure liquor
from that quantity OF ~grain-that the distil-
lation oyer that amount was a noxious drug
that ought to be drained off and thrown away.
An old citizen OF this town who passed his
youth In Crows time. and who has drunk whis-
oftoday to the greed OF, the d~istillers.
In the days OF Crow said he. " had pure
whiskey. for then it was made for quality and
not quantity. Every gentleman took his grog
hfty years ago. and a drunken man was never
heard Of, The pure liquor stimulated you with
out befuddling your brain. Why, in those days
the farmer was as careful today in his barrel OF
.Csow' as his barrel Of sugar or sack Of
every well regulated family. The courts Of
justice would not proceed without II. can
recall instances where Kentucky courts have
some poor ~litigant was held in suspense. that
thirst. The records will show that business in
those days was despatched promptly. Who
pealcd case Even the clergy, st. Paul-like,
took a little for the stomach's sake The only
rerceptible difference before and after taking
was a more fluent tongue. stronger lungs and
more erect carriage. In these degenerate days
II one takes three drinks he is a raving maniac,
and usually wants TO kill somebody"
After a time Crow r,moved TO a point, on
run was made in 1859. He dropped dead in the
harness one morning while at work in the dis
tillery.- As is SO often the case. the fruits OF his
others than to him. and he died penniless. leav.
Ing his widow and daughter to the care OF
friends. Many stories have come down OF
Crows kindness OF heart. how he used to prac
tice medicine for the poor alone. refusing all
fees, md how he would sometimes leave his dis
tillery and walk miles to bleed a sufferer.