Thursday, March 8, 2012

Everett W. Wilson: Spirits of an American in Pekin, Illinois













When Everett Woodruff Wilson was born in Peoria in 1861 during the first year of the Civil War, patriotism for the United States was in the Midwest air. Born in England, his grandfather, Henry Wilson, had emigrated to the America early in the history of the Republic settling initially in Poughkeepsie, New York. In the 1830s, perhaps following the national push Westward, he took his family and headed to Peoria, Illinois.

That is where Everett’s father, John, was educated, grew up, married a local Peoria girl named Emily Woodruff and became a highly successful Peoria businessman. 



































Eventually he occupied the presidency of the Cave Valley Land & Cattle Company, a large and wealthy organization doing business in southern Illinois, was the president of the Elk Grove Land & Cattle Company of Kansas, and the chief stockholder in the street railway company of Topeka, Kansas.

John Wilson also had an interest in making whiskey. A man named C.J.D. Rupert in 1861 had founded an early distillery in nearby Pekin, Illinois, and called it the Hamburg Distillery. Sometime during the 1870s, John bought out the owner and became president of the company. At the age of 18, apparently at his father’s behest, Everett left Peoria for Pekin to work in the Hamburg Distillery. The 1880 census found him there, listing his occupation as “bookkeeper.” A year later, he was managing the whole operation.

About 1885, John Wilson decided to take his distillery into an early attempt at a Midwest “Whiskey Trust,” an attempt to diminish competition and increase whiskey prices. The scheme failed in 1886 when some liquor producers balked at the restrictions. The New York Times headlined: “Whiskey Pool Gone to Smash.” The following year, John Wilson joined the somewhat more successful Distillery and Cattle Feeders Trust. He shut down the Hamburg Distillery in return for shares in the Trust.

Temporarily out of a job, Everett kept busy. No doubt with the financial backing of his father, in 1887 he became a co-founder of the German American Bank of Peoria, organized with capital of $100,000. He also was sent briefly to Topeka to look after his father’s investment in the street railway company. Everett also found time to marry. His bride in 1885 was Anna C. Wanschneider of Peoria. They would have three sons: John, born in 1886; Rowland, 1892, and Douglas, 1898.

At the same time Everett Wilson was immersing himself in local politics. In 1886, at the age of 26, he was elected as alderman of the First Ward of Pekin on the Republican ticket. He served until 1893 when he was elected mayor, a post he held for two years. A popular leader, he was elected again for the 1899-1900 mayoralty term. Wilson continued to be active in politics out of office and 1916 was a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Illinois. He also was a co-founder of the business organization that became the Pekin Chamber of Commerce.

Meanwhile, in 1891 the derelict Hamburg Distillery was destroyed by fire. One year later the plant of a new distillery was erected on the site. Everett Wilson was one of the incorporators of the new liquor company, one that boasted capitalization of $100,000. The plant covered six acres and the distillery had a capacity of mashing four thousand bushels of grain per day. It was chartered as the American Distilling Company and Everett Wilson became its first president. Shown here is the company logo and a drawing of the early facility.

The new distillery used a wide range of brand names, including "American Pride", "Cologne Springs", "English Dry Gin", "Hopedale Rye", "Juniper Berry Gin", "Longwood", "Meadwood", "Old American Rye", "Old Colony Gin", "Pekinil Gin", "Silver Run Bourbon", "Silver Run Gin", and "Three Star Spirits." American Pride was its flagship brand, with a picture of a comely woman on the label that also showed up on a tip tray. As shown here on a 1906 ad and a giveaway paperweight, Wilson also advertised his other brands vigorously. In 1908, American Distilling absorbed a conglomerate of three other distilleries and continued to add whiskey-making capacity.

The pink flyer shown here indicates that American Distilling now had a daily grain capacity of 6,000 bushels. The same flyer also emphasizes “free from all trusts and other combinations,” ignoring the Wilsons' earlier alignment with the by-now-failed Distillery and Cattle Feeders Trust. A post card from about 1910 shows the expansion that had occurred at American Distilling under Everett’s leadership. That prosperity also allowed him to move his growing family into a newly constructed mansion on South Fifth Street in Pekin, described by a contemporary as “one of the most beautiful in the city.” Shown above, it may also depict his wife Anna with one of their sons.

As Prohibition loomed, the firm made a lunge at being considered a medicinal product. It advertised: "If You Use Whiskey at all - American Pride IS WHAT YOU WANT! For Medicinal or Potable Purposes of Any Kind.” To an extent the ploy worked. During Prohibition, unlike most others, Wilson’s distillery changed its name to the American Commercial Alcohol Corporation and stayed open by producing industrial alcohol.

Before the end of Prohibition, Wilson and his associates sold the distillery. With Repeal came a new era in whiskey production. The emphasis now was on a New York sales office and marketing agents to bring the American Distilling’s revitalized and some new brands into the market.  Among the new offerings was "Sharkey Whiskey," celebrating a famous heavyweight fighter of the 1920s and 1930s.

Now in his ‘70s, Wilson watched from the sidelines as new management also was adding imported liquors to the rye and bourbon produced in Pekin. In 1938 Everett Wilson, the man who built American Distilling, died, age 77.  During his lifetime he had been called by a contemporary publication: “One of the most popular and highly esteemed men of the county.”

American Distilling’s plant survived a disastrous fire and explosion in 1954, one that killed three workers and injured a number of others. Through the years under multiple owners and name changes the Pekin distillery continued to produce alcohol for beverage, industrial and fuel applications. After closing briefly in 2009, it reopened in 2010 under ownership by the Illinois Corn Processing Co. The distillery that Everett Wilson built, the home of American Pride Bourbon, now was making ethanol.

Note:  The label from the "Sharkey" brand whiskey for American Distilling likely was issued in the mid-to-late 1930s.  The illustration is of Tom Sharkey, a heavy-weight boxer of an earlier era.  The image graciously was provided to me in 2016 by Karen Ehrman who found this interesting piece of whiskey history in her father's antique store, the label possibly used as a book mark.

27 comments:

  1. Did they ever make a "Sharkey" Whiskey. My dad used to own an antique store and among some books I found what seems to be a bottle label. The whiskey was distilled by The American Distilling Co. in Pekin, IL. I cannot find anything like it on the internet and was curious if this is a real label or not.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Karen: Thanks for your inquiry. I just checked my notes but they do not show a "Sharkey" whiskey, BUT that does not necessarily mean that Am Distilling in Pekin did not put out a whiskey with that label. Jack Sharkey was a famous prize fighter of the era and often whiskey outfits took the opportunity to affix famous names like his to a bottle. On balance I would say the label is genuine - and a good find. Labels do not, however, bring much and if you like it, frame it and think about your Dad every time you look at it. Jack

    PS If you would care to send me an e-copy of the Sharkey label, it would be most appreciated. My email is jack.sullivan9@verizon.net.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have a bottle with (with some contents remaining) with label: Straight Corn Whiskey at top and CORNFIELD in red letters below and Distilled and Bottled by The American Distilling Company (Inc) Pekin, Illinois and Suaslito, California. Inherited it from my Dad. Any history on this as to when it may have been produced, etc?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Herm: Thanks for being in touch. You obviously have found this post that gives you the history of American Distilling of Pekin. Because this distillery reopened after Prohibition, it can be difficult to pinpoint the age of a bottle. However, after Prohibition the law required that the "proof" be listed on the label. If your Cornfield label does not have that, it can be identified as "pre-Pro" and the bottle would be at least 100 years old or getting there soon. When someone finds a bottle of this age with contents, I often suggest that they cautiously try some. Whiskey can stay good for many years. But that is only if the seal remains unbroken so that it is unlikely that there is any contamination. The bottle generally is not worth more if it holds contents -- in fact less easily sold since it is not supposed to be sent through the mail that way. Hope this is helpful.

    ReplyDelete
  5. hello, my dad has a one gallon american straight bourbon whiskey bottle thats in good shape, we have looked and looked and cant find anything on it! it says "THE AMERICAN DISTILLING COMPANY INC. Pekin ill" please help us out!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dear Rick Smith: You found my article which includes most of what I can tell you about the American Distilling Co. of Pekin. Assume your bottle is a glass gallon. Likely made by the Owens bottle machine that had revolutionized the industry. It was made for the wholesale trade, to be decanted into small containers or poured over the bar in certain instances. It is not particularly valuable but as a piece of Americana from the early 20th Century of historical interest. Hope this is helpful.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Jack. I am looking for a source for these historic whiskey labels for a project I'm working on. Do you know who I can contact to get these digitized and get permission to use? Thanks, Shelley Gates

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dear Shelley Gates: I assume that the labels are the ones that show above in my post. I have no idea where they originated. All were on the internet with no sign of copyright. Use them as you set fit. However, I have no way to digitize them beyond the way they are.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks, Jack. I found these same images online. I just wondered if you had permission to use...

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Shelley: I assume that both of us have the same right to use those images. Go for it!

    ReplyDelete
  11. found a bottle recently Southern Pride Old Plantation Style Liqueur 86 Proof. shows bottled by American Distilling Company. Cant find even any pictures of one similar to get an idea of age

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dear Michelle: Your bottle is interesting, but with a proof rating on the label is almost certainly post-Prohibition so not that old. Collectors of whiskey bottles with labels usually stop after 1920. My advice, if you like the bottle keep it and value it for its appearance.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Interesting. Looked up some information regarding a bottle a colleague of mine apparently found over the weekend, labeled Longwood Borbon Whiskey, dated 1935, pint bottle, Distilled by The American Distilling Co. Pekin, Ill. It's a pint bottle with the cap still intact, but no contents! Jack you can call my office and leave an email address if you would like me to send you a photo. Bruce Allen, 909-624-6200.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have a cocktail memo book from 1955 it has some cool and weird recipes for some alcoholic beverages in it. It's very neat thing to see I've never even heard of some of the alcohol that's used in some of the drinks

    ReplyDelete
  15. Unknown: As part of a writing project on cocktails with a colleague I once had two dozen vintage cocktail books and know what you mean. The project never got off the ground and I gave the books to a local bartenders school.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I looking for identifying an old employee card of someone that worked at: The American Distilling Company, inc
    MOHAWK 4-2_ _ _. The card has a picture of a bird with it's wings spread and five stars above it. The employee name was George J Solomon, SO. 1-2900
    Any help about the location this employee would have worked. When did this company close. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  17. G.L. Solomon: As far as I know the plant is still in business making ethanol.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I just found an old bottle of Meadwood Bourbon whiskey in the walls of my house.
    the label is not in good condition but enough that I could tell The distillery and the name of the whiskey. Would this be of any value to any one or museum?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello - I am looking for a bottle of Meadwood. My Grandpa drank this brand all the time.

      Thanks,
      Jeff
      513-476-9754

      Delete
  19. Unknown: If the label is only a fragment and there is no embossing on the bottle, there would be little interest. If there is embossing in the glass that gives the name of the whiskey, etc., it might hold some interest for a local collector or museum.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hey - nice page! I found you by researching for these promotional records for distilleries. The gold disc was issued for the American Distilling Co.
    https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/85304522

    ReplyDelete
  21. Unknown: Took me a while but I checked out the site re the records. Am not surprised. Distillers sponsored bands, musical radio programs, and other performing arts as advertising in the pre-Prohibition era.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hello Jack / All,
    I am looking for a bottle of Meadwood Bourbon Whisky - empty or full. Does anyone have one or can provide a lead to someone or someplace I can call?
    Thanks,
    Jeff
    513-476-9754

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jeff: Good luck in your search. If I hear of something I will let you know.

      Delete
  23. Hi All,
    Still looking for a bottle of Meadwood Bourbon.
    Empty works.
    Thanks,
    Jeff
    513-476-9754

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hello! Great page. I am getting ready to sell a bottle that's been in my family for many years. It's 4/5 quart Old American Brand Blended Whiskey. The seal has been broken and there is crud inside but it's in good shape! The screw top is there too. It also has a state of Illinois shaped Series N sticker on it saying alcoholic liquor revenue 1/5 gal tax paid rate o $1 per gallon. The American Distillery Pekin, IL (our relatives are from Pekin) and Sausalito. On the back the sticker saysThe American Distillery in Pekin but under that is Main office 247 Park Ave New York. That same sticker says eighty-six proof. Any idea on age and an idea of what I can sell this for? It's more sentimental than anything so I may decide not to sell...appreciate you letting me inquire about this! - Jill vicaryco@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Jill: Thanks for being in touch. I am not an expert on prices but believe your bottle is post-Prohibition. Before 1920 most whiskey was sold in quarts - not fifths. They also did not usually announce on the label the proof. Also the screw top came in later. As a result, the bottle would not be worth a whole lot. If it has sentimental value, keep it.

    ReplyDelete