SW VA. WHISKEY DISTILLERS

PRIMITIVE MOONSHINE STILL

I recently received some interesting information via an email, about a "local distillery", the gist of which may be read below:

My name is John Wheeler. I grew up in Bristol, but I've lived in San Francisco for nearly 20 years.I recently started researching my ancestry and happened to stumble across the will of my 4th great grandfather, a man named John Ringley, from Washington County.
I found it fascinating that his will included his DISTILLERY. My own grandfather, as well as all his own children, were complete teetotalists. In fact my grandfather broke up my mom and dad's relationship because he dared to drink beer. Only in Bristol. Here's the copy I found.
Thanks for all the work you've done on your website.
John Wheeler....San Francisco
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WASHINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA - John Ringley Sr. will:
I, John RINGLEY Senr. of Washington County Virginia, Being in sound mind and disposing memory, do hereby make my last will and testament hereby re-voking all Wills and testaments by me heretofore made in manner and form namely.
1st I desire, that after my decease, all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid, if not left on hand money for that purpose to be paid out of the perishable property of my estate.
2. I will and bequeath to my oldest son Elijah RINGLEY the farm on which he now lives commencing on the creek below his spring, thence up the creek to a beech near the spring thence crossing the creek so as to include the spring up the ridge to SHAFFERS line, thence along with SHAFFERS line crossing the creek up the middle of the lane to a stake.From thence something like N.E. with a little cross lane up to Elijah's fence and with the same to the top of Cove Ridge, with the same to John M. RINGLEY line with his line crossing the low gap to the top of the Ridge there, From thence nearly due South to a sugar tree corner in a hollow, above his home,for him to have and to hold forever for his part of my estate after my decease.
3rd. I will that my mill tract of land, with the mills on the same, and the distillery supposed to be one hundred acres sold and the proceeds of the sale or money be equally divided between Lewis RINGLEY, Jerial D. RINGLEY, and Hiram SMITH for their shares of my estate after my decease.
4th. I will and bequeath to my daughter Margaret SHELLY and her heirs a certain boundary of land commencing at the stake Elijah's corner running somewhat west with the SHAFFERS line to a walnut sprout in a field, thence nearly due north with my line to a corner of a piece of land I sold to Jacob BARB, and with that line down the ridge to a sugar tree corner and thence to the top of Cove Ridge, and with the top of the Ridge to Elijah RINGLEYS line, and with his line to the stake the beginning corner.For her and her heirs share of my estate for her and heirs to have and to hold,forever after my decease.
5. I will and bequeath to my daughter Sally RINGLEY all the tract of landI now live on from SHAFFERS line down Cove Creek inclusive. Together with all the household and kitchen furniture, with one mare & colt the one she now claims, two cows and all their increase for her to have and to hold during her natural life and after her death I will it then to her little son J.S.F. RINGLEY, now an infant, if he should die before his mother then she may dispose of it herself as she may see proper.This is Sallys share of my estate, after my decease.
6th and lastly. I will and bequeath to my two little great grand children William and Sarah Ann CHILES one certain tract and boundary land lying and being as followeth to-wit: Beginning at the sugar tree corner of BARBS land and thence with his line down the branch passing Sally HOWSERS to a sugar tree corner on the bank of Livingstons Creek thence up the creek
with Isaac FLEENORS line to John M. RINGLEYS line and with his line to Margaret SHELLEYS line to the beginning for them to have and to hold forever it being their Mother's portion of my estate I intended for her after my decease signed and sealed in the presence of the subscribing witnessesthis 13th day of July 1861.
his

Teste                                                     John X   Ringley Senr.Francis ELLINGTON                                    mark
James J. HUNSUCKER    Aden (X) C. RINGLEY
N.B. I wish and desire my oldest son Elijah RINGLEY the executor to execute this my will after my decease this day and date above written. Teste                                                                    his

F.E. ELLINGTON John X RINGLEY
James J. HUNSUCKER mark
Aden (X) C. RINGLEY
At a court continued and held for Washington County on the 27th day of February 1866.
The last Will and Testament of John RINGLEY, deceased was proved by the oath of Francis ELLINGTON, James J. HUNSUCKER, and Aden C. RINGLEY witnesses thereto and is ordered to be recorded. And it appearing to the court that Elijah RINGLEY the Executor therein named was dead, on the motion ofJeriel D. RINGLEY and Hiram SMITH who made oath and together with James J. HUNSUCKER and John S. FLEENOR their securities entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of the Two thousand dollars conditioned as the Law directs, Certificate is granted the said J.D. RINGELY and Hiram SMITH for obtaining letters of Administration on the said decedents estate in due form.

The following is a list of documented whiskey distillers and saloons in Southwest Virginia counties circa 1888-89.*

Dickenson-

Colley, James - SandLick
Mullins, A. L. - Crane's Nest
Raswick, J. B. - Ervinton

Grayson-

Dixon, W. S. - Potato
Horn, Thos. F. - Edgewater
Isom, William - Carsonville
Jennings, A. - Old Town
Reeves, G. R. - Long's Gap
Williams, H. - Old Town

Lee-

Clark, F. M., Sr. - Crab Orchard
Clark, Wm. - Crab Orchard
Ely, Joseph - Hau
Gibson, T. S. - Gibson's Station
Hurst & Shelburn - Zion's Mills
Legg, J. K. P. - Crab Orchard
Morris, D. F. - Crab Orchard
Skaggs, John - Hau

**1895...Col. Wm. Greene- N.Fork Powell River

nr Pennington Gap

Russell-

Baker, W. J. - Mason's Store
Compton, David - Honaker
Fugate, John C. - Willow Spring
Grigsby, George S. - Fugate's Hill
Hargis, T. J. - Lebanon
Johnson, Creed H. - Brewster
Johnson, J. C. - Mason's Store
Lee, John - Honaker
Nash, S. H. - Lebanon
Ramey, John, Jr. - Brewster
Stinson, Archer - Lebanon
Thomas, W. F. - Lebanon
Wallace, Libern - Honaker
Wyatt, Linsey - Honaker

Scott-

Davidson, A. M. - Alley
Davidson, G. - Speer's Ferry
Kimbler & Harris - Alley
McConnell, George D. - McConnell's
Peters, John - Alley
Rand, W. W. - Nickelsville
Vinyard, W. J. - Speers' Ferry

Wines and Liquors

Isom, S. C. - Estillville

Smyth-

Barker, P. A. - Ellendale
Boyles, E. F. - Olympia
Cooper, P. D. - Olympia
Wilkinson, S. - Sugar Grove

Click To Enlarge

ILLEGAL WHISKEY BEING DUMPED IN A MANHOLE

Washington-

Distillers

Blackwell, J. D. - Lindell
Gobble, Martin - Holston
Large, Elkanah - Craig's Mill
Litton, Lafayette - Lindell
Litton, L. M. - Hyter's Gap
Munly, Alexander - Holston
Sprangler, Richard - Alum Wells

Druggists

Barr, Paul E. - Abingdon
Bunting & Son - Bristol, Tenn
Byars, S. B. - Stump
Clark, A. F. - Glade Spring
Dickey & Anderson - Bristol, Tenn.
Gibson, C. C. - Abingdon
Hickman, R. M. - Abingdon
Trigg, Massie & Co. - Abingdon
Walker, Rives - Bristol, Tenn

Saloons

Blackwell, John D. - Abingdon
Broyles & Jones - Abingdon
Clark, B. T. - Abingdon
Colonnade Hotel - Abingdon
Echols, J. O. - Abingdon
Hatlie House - Abingdon
Hines, C. H. - Abingdon
Hines, R. A. - Abingdon
Keller, Samuel G. - Abingdon
Luttrell, A. - Bristol, Tenn.
Ritchie, C. & Co. - Abingdon
Satterwhite, W. L. & Co. - Bristol, Tenn.
Shelly, D. W. - Bristol, Tenn.
Wilson, Byrne - Bristol, Tenn.

**1896...F.B. Brownlow/ Abingdon -Dealer in Fine Wines, Whiskey, Brandy, Beer

**May 1877...Cedar Post Saloon/ J.G.Glover/Glade Spring

Wise-

Hamilton, Nelson - Wise C.H.
Ramey, Henry - Wise C.H.
Wheatley, Jonathan - Wise C.H.

Wythe-

Candler, R. D. - Rural Retreat (Candler was also a druggist & livery stable owner)**C.T.Pepper - Rural Retreat as a Physician.

**1900+/-...Frank Grubb Distillery - Wytheville.

Click To Enlarge

Frank Grubb's Brandy/JnoG.Brady/Bristol,Va.-Tenn. ( see pg. 1 of Bristol whiskey bottles).

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**Chataigne's Virginia Gazetteer 1888-89.

Sources - Bibliography

i) Library of King College, Bristol,Tenn. - Newspaper Microfilms

ii) Bristol,TN-VA Public Library - Newspaper Microfilms & City Directories

iii) 1904 Bristol Herald Industrial Supplement

iv) Bristol-Goodson Industry & Resources in 1885 -W.F.Henry/Reporter

v) Witness To An Epoch - Chas.J. Harkrader

vi) Double Destiny - Robert Loving

vii) Historic Sites of Sullivan County - Muriel Spoden

viii) Bristol Tennessee-Virginia : A History - V.N. "Bud" Phillips

ix) Spirits & Medicinal Bottles of Bristol, Tenn.-Va. - Charlie Barnette

x) The Passing Years - Bristol Historical Association

xi) City of Bristol @ 1915

xii) A Pictorial History - Bristol Historical Association

xiii) Whiskey, An American Pictorial History - Oscar Getz

xiv) Prohibition, 13 Years That Changed America - Edward Behr

xv) The Shadow Of The Bottle - Review & Herald Publishing Co.

xvi) Historic Sullivan - Oliver Taylor

xvii) One Year At A Time - Bristol - 1907 - Lonnie & Kim Blevins

xviii) Honoring Our Heritage: Faces & Places From The Past -

Lonnie & Kim Blevins and Roy & Carolyn Williams

xvix) Between the States: Bristol Tennessee - Virginia During the Civil War - V.N. "Bud" Phillips

xx) Pioneers in Paradise - Bristol, Tenn-Va. - V.N. "Bud" Phillips

xxi) A Good Place to Live - Bristol, Tenn-Va. - V.N. "Bud" Phillips

*** NOTE:

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