The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-22
Prohibition Ends Career of
House Organized Century Ago

One century before Bacchus became
a jazz artist and lost caste in the good
old days, when this god was as well
thought Of in the salopas the saloon.
the house of Semmes Joined his priest
hood. When, with his wine-stained
tongue lollpg out. Bacchus finally died
upon the galloWS tree Of constitutional
amendment, the house OF Semmes
incurred his passing n the evil ways
which had led to his demise. Verify,
they had done all they could to main
tain his responsibility.
In spite Of the fact that they sold in
wholesale the stuff which has long been
a kissing and a by-word among the
righteous and the feignedly righteous of
these United States, no mercantile es-
adjustment in America has a more an
cient and more honorable history than
the house of Semmes. For a hundred
years they perpetuated their house n
maintained its business integrity.
The firm was established in 1919 by
a SemmeS, and from that year until the
advent of nationwide prohibition, July
l, 1919, members of the family con-
Quoted the firm under its various
names. 1t was as r. j. Semmes 4 Co.
that it suffered its end in Cairo, Ill,
July l. The masters of the house were
then j. NJ, and r, f. Semmes, of Mem
phis.
The two old men are today conducting
a wholesale house of temperance bev-
erages at sc South Front street under
the name of b, J. Semmes & Co, but
the house is nevertheless dead, and they
will wind up even this business before
the summer is out, The building they
occupy has already been rented by the
Cotton exchange for occupancy by
Sept. 1.
Old as Nation.
The history of the house Of Semmes
Is as old as the history Of tho nation,
1t began with the arrival of Joseph
Semmes in Maryland with Cecilius Cal
vert Lord Baltimore) in 1882. Joseph
Semmes landed in Baltimore, and was
the first naturalized citizen of Mary
land. He was from Normandy and was
rated a gentleman" He held "A royal
grant of land, Clifton hills, from Lord
Baltimore in 1866.
1t was one Of the descendants of this
gentleman, Raphael Semmes, born in
Maryland in 1880, who founded the
house Of Semmes. Ehls was in the year
1919, and the style of the firm was
Raphael Semmes & Co.
This Raphael Semmes. the uncle and
foster father of the Admiral Semmes Of
the deathlessly famous Alabama, was
an enterprising ship owner and navi-
gator, and he founded his mercantile
establishments large wholesale gro
Gerry and importing business-as an ad-
junct to his maritime ventures,
This bold merchant and seafarer
crossed the Atlantic 10 times under sail
In vessels containing CargOeS for his
warehouses In the District of Column
bia, He saw the American people grow
from a struggling confederacy to a
strong and independent union of free
states. He was d %compatriot of George
Washington and his gifted wife and
beautiful daughter We're leaders in so
Ciety in the capital of the young ma
ton. His home was frequented by mem-
bers Of the diplomatic corps of the
highest rank, and presidents of the
United States not uncommonly added
dignity to his drawing rooms, Presi-
dent Pierce, Henry Clay, Alexander ii.
Stephens, Robert Toombs and many
other men of distinction were among
his personal friends, and gathered fire.
quently to play whist about an old
lion-footed mahogany table, which is
still in possession of the Semmes fam
lily in Memphis.
Yannissee Began in 1928.
In 1923 Raphael Semmes built and
operated the YanniSsee distillery In
Maryland in sight of Mount Vernon
where George Washington located his
distillery on that historic estate. WheI
their house was closed forever or July
l in Cairo, Ill, some 1882 Yannisset
rye whisky was still eXtant. 1t is helC
III liz ldIlllll dS Ill lltll lOpIl dlu CNtl
should the law permit would under nj
conditions be offered for sale.
The Washington books of the firm
show that it indeed had among its Gus
toners many whose names shall eve
stand out upon the page of world his
tory. These books dating from 1874
to 1858. carry names such as these
Robert Mcclellan, secretary of interior
Robert Toombs, United States senate
Charles E.. Stewart. United States sen
Maryland history; e. Campbell, o
Georgia, justice of supreme court; Hon
Alexander II. Stephens, who afterwart
became viCe-president Of the Confed
eracy; Thomas H. Benton, United
States senate; John A. Dix, United
York; Henry S, Foote, United State
senate; Baron Waldemar de Bodisco
Russian embassy; zen. Waddy Thomp
son, United States minister to Mexico
Don Antonio G%alliardo, Mexican lega
ton: George W. Crawford, secretar,
States senate; Commodore Charles A
Morris; James Campbell, postmaster
general; Lynn Boyd, speaker house o
representatives; Thomas H. Bayley
speaker, house of representatives; W
c. Dawson, United States senate; Presl
dent John Tyler, President Frankli
Pierce and President James Buchanan
Gold Hunters Craved It.
Rapid progress was made in the dis
tribution of old Yannissee, and larR
lots OF it came to be sold not only /
the great cities of this country, bu
it was exported far and wide. In 1855
a shipment of 100 barrels was sen
around the Horn to San Francisco t
assuage the thirst of the gold hunter;
" 1t was upon the quality of this ry
whisky that the fame and rock-lik
=, endurance of the house of Semmes wa
IN founded The birth Of Yannissee /
IN described in this poetical language b
one Of the present members of tn
OF firm, Raphael T.. Semmes;
lie 1.-The Sun-God kissed the lips O
Ceres and she biushed like wine. Field
st of waving green, crowned with golC
y. made of yellow rye. Water ran leap
v ing over the rocks down In silver rill
L.: and came dancing up in fountains t
m mingle with the grain. These " me
and mingled and from their golde
8; sweetness Yannissee was distilled t
fill the hearts of men with mellow JOY
Come! Taste its liquid gladness, mel
H., lowed with a generation Of kindly year
in sturdy hearts of oak-fit for me
i'll and gods, 10 ~triumphe,' Come
a And you can bet and give odds tina
VS. the he-folk never needed a second in
v~itation in the days before prohibi
to ton.
T. T., Mamphic Ciytv Vaars