James Crow Burial Site

[Limestone]

I live in Woodford County, close to the Old Taylor, Old Crow and Labrot & Graham distilleries. I saw in the book "Bluegrass, Belles and Bourbon" by Harry Harrison Kroll that James Crow was originally buried "in the mountains near Vanceburg," but was later "removed to Woodford County." Nothing more specific than that. I thought I heard he was buried somewhere in Millville...I know people who live there but haven't had the chance to ask, if they even know.

Anyone know for sure? I was wanting to go get photos of the site.

A great book, by the way:

"I recall my visit to Vanceburg, and the same lonely and lost graveyard. James Crow had been stricken with a heart attack at the stillhouse in 1858 and died penniless, leaving his widow and daughter on the charity of friends, although his whisky made the Peppers wealthy. On the stone there was no name nor date and if his wife and child were buried nearby, I saw no identifying remark. I saw only a forgotten Kentucky graveyard, the the lichened and weathered stones standing awry in the summer sunlight; and through the trees loomed blotches of deep blue that were the quiet, beautiful Ohio. Only now can I remind myself again how man is of so few days and full of trouble, and even his bones are unremembered."

Thanks!

[Josh]

I live in Woodford County, close to the Old Taylor, Old Crow and Labrot & Graham distilleries. I saw in the book "Bluegrass, Belles and Bourbon" by Harry Harrison Kroll that James Crow was originally buried "in the mountains near Vanceburg," but was later "removed to Woodford County." Nothing more specific than that. I thought I heard he was buried somewhere in Millville...I know people who live there but haven't had the chance to ask, if they even know.

Anyone know for sure? I was wanting to go get photos of the site.

A great book, by the way:

"I recall my visit to Vanceburg, and the same lonely and lost graveyard. James Crow had been stricken with a heart attack at the stillhouse in 1858 and died penniless, leaving his widow and daughter on the charity of friends, although his whisky made the Peppers wealthy. On the stone there was no name nor date and if his wife and child were buried nearby, I saw no identifying remark. I saw only a forgotten Kentucky graveyard, the the lichened and weathered stones standing awry in the summer sunlight; and through the trees loomed blotches of deep blue that were the quiet, beautiful Ohio. Only now can I remind myself again how man is of so few days and full of trouble, and even his bones are unremembered."

Thanks!

cue the complaining about how Beam has ruined Old Crow...:deadhorse:

But seriously, that's a beautiful passage there. It would be fun to visit the burial sites of some of the significant figures of whiskey history. I haven't found anything on Crow (but I'll keep looking).

Here are some from find-a-grave:

Hiram Walker (1816-1899)- Elmwood Cemetery (section , Detroit MI

Jack Daniel (1850-1911) & Lem Motlow (1869-1947)- Lynchburg City Cemetery, Moore Co., TN

E.H. Taylor (1830-1923)- Frankfort Cemertery, KY

James B. "Jim" Beam (1864-1947)- Bardstown City Cemetery, KY

Jacob Beam (1787-1843)- Poplar Flat Cemetery, Bardstown, KY

[Josh]

More:

George T. Stagg (1835-1893)- Richmond Cemetery, Richmond, KY (Madison Co.)

William (Laurie?) Weller (1819-1896)- Middle Creek Bapt. Church, Larue Co. KY

I should have some more later this afternoon. I know it's all on the internet, but it might be nice to have it in one place.

[Limestone]

Josh,

Thanks for the info. It would be good to have it all in one place for archives. I'm going to head down to the Woodford Co. Historical Society in a minute and see if they know or have any records...which they almost certainly do if he's here somewhere.

Beam and Old Crow...haven't tried the 'new' version of Old Crow. It's generally so far down on the bottom shelf that I have to crawl to see it. If advertising and price mean a thing, it doesn't look too appetizing.

[Josh]

Josh,

Thanks for the info. It would be good to have it all in one place for archives. I'm going to head down to the Woodford Co. Historical Society in a minute and see if they know or have any records...which they almost certainly do if he's here somewhere.

Beam and Old Crow...haven't tried the 'new' version of Old Crow. It's generally so far down on the bottom shelf that I have to crawl to see it. If advertising and price mean a thing, it doesn't look too appetizing.

Let us know what you find out! My wife & I stayed at a B & B in Versailles last time we were in KY, last July. Nice little downtown and still close to Lexington. Beautiful rolling countryside too.

As for the new Old Crow, it's ok. It's just underaged Beam juice. Which is fine, but it's not something that's in my regular rotation.

[Limestone]

There's a good chance you stayed on Rose Hill. If so, I live right up that street...that's sort of false-advertising since I don't have one of the beautiful homes you see on there. We live really close to the Storybook Inn.

If you come back around again, let us know. I've been wanting to sneak into the abandoned Old Taylor distillery in Millville and take some photos. I have some old photos of the place in it's prime, so I'd love to see it now. Another person interested would be about all of the reason I'd need to trespass. (I'm sure several have done it already, I'd just like to see it for myself)

[barturtle]

There is a major problem with his writing-you can't see the Ohio River from Woodford County, KY...

[Josh]

There is a major problem with his writing-you can't see the Ohio River from Woodford County, KY...

He could have had a telescope.

UPDATE: It appears that Vanceburg is indeed near the Ohio. So maybe he wasn't buried in Woodford Co. after all?

[barturtle]

He could have had a telescope.

Ah, you beat me to the quote...I re-read it...he was in Vanceburg...which is on the Ohio River.

[Josh]

He could have had a telescope.

UPDATE: It appears that Vanceburg is indeed near the Ohio. So maybe he wasn't buried in Woodford Co. after all?

Ah, you beat me to the quote...I re-read it...he was in Vanceburg...which is on the Ohio River.

And you beat me to mine!

[cowdery]

James Crow, his wife, and daughter, are buried in the Versailles Cemetery that is within sight of the Woodford County Historical Society. I think that's the name. Anyway, it's the big cemetery that's right there in town, on the main drag. I don't recall if they had a map, but it was easy to find.

As I stood by his grave I took a long pull off a bottle of Elijah Craig 12, and Dr. Crow didn't seem to mind.

[Josh]

There's a good chance you stayed on Rose Hill. If so, I live right up that street...that's sort of false-advertising since I don't have one of the beautiful homes you see on there. We live really close to the Storybook Inn.

If you come back around again, let us know. I've been wanting to sneak into the abandoned Old Taylor distillery in Millville and take some photos. I have some old photos of the place in it's prime, so I'd love to see it now. Another person interested would be about all of the reason I'd need to trespass. (I'm sure several have done it already, I'd just like to see it for myself)

I think it was actually the Montgomery Inn on the ave. of the same name. Great place with a great innkeeper at a good price. The only complaint was that, (perhaps due to being a former New Englander), she hadn't quite figured out biscuits and gravy yet.

[jinenjo]

As I stood by his grave I took a long pull off a bottle of Elijah Craig 12, and Dr. Crow didn't seem to mind.

Knowing the quality of modern-day Old Crow, he most certainly would've understood. But I have to ask, you didn't at least have some ND Crow for the occasion?

Great photo of the headstone, by the way.

[Limestone]

Cowdery,

Thanks very much! I'm not sure how easy it's going to be to find once I get there, but you solved that riddle for me. I'll see if I can find it today.

[cowdery]

Knowing the quality of modern-day Old Crow, he most certainly would've understood. But I have to ask, you didn't at least have some ND Crow for the occasion?

Great photo of the headstone, by the way.

It wasn't planned and EC just happened to be on hand. We did give him some too.

The photo is interesting. I was trying to get it and was complaining about how worn down the stone was, as it was barely legible. I had a video crew with me, the lighting guy grabbed a reflector, placed it just so, and voila.

[Josh]

That is a great photo. Thanks for sharing it. A few more ppl & places:

George Garvin Brown (1846-1917)- Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville

T.W. Samuels I? (1821-1898)- New Salem Baptist Church, Bardstown

George Dickel (1818-1894)- Mt Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, TN

Consulting my sources, I'm having trouble getting good b & d dates for a number of ppl.

[Josh]

Found another one.

I.W. Bernheim (1849-1945)- Berheim Arboretum (Bullitt Co., near Clermont)