Fred B. Smith

Wabash Valley profiles : a series of tributes to hometown people and events that have shaped our history

Description:	One typed page; biography of Fred Smith, one of the nations best known distillers. ABASH VALLEY WP R O F I L E SA series of tributes to hometown heroes who have made a difference.Fred B. Smithured to Terre Haute in the early 1890s, Fred B. Smith became one of the nations best known distillers. A native of Wisconsin where he was born in 1859, Smith was first exposed to the liquor industry as an employee of the Internal Revenue Service. In 1890 he resigned from the IRS and joined with George L. Woolsey and Edward P. Genung to found the Nebraska Distillery Co., the largest distillery west of the Mississippi River. Located in Nebraska City, the business was extremely successful, employing 100 men and producing 10,000 gallons of distilled spirits each day. In 1893 Smith relocated to Terre Haute to organize Indiana Distilling Co., building a large plant on S. First St. He was elected the corporate secretary. When the facility was sold to American Distributing Co., he helped John H. Beggs oversee the construction of Majestic Distillery on adjoining property and managed the operation. In 1898 Smith was the largest stockholder and president of Merchants Distilling Co., which built a distillery with a capacity of 15,000 gallons daily on 17 acres west of First St. between Willow and Osborn streets. His brother Matthew relocated from Nebraska City to Terre Haute to assist him in management. Fred and his wife Sarah resided at 1504 S. Sixth St. Sarah, known locally as Sallie, was a sister of the wife of Omar C. Mewhinney of A. B. Mewhinney Co., a candy maker. Their only child Robert was born in Terre Haute in 1895. Fred was also active in civic affairs and other enterprises, including the Citizens (Independent) Telephone Co., where he served as president. Smith developed an early interest in automobiles, securing a reputation as a fine driver and usually owning one of the largest motor vehicles manufactured. Active in Elks Lodge No. 86, he was an avid outdoorsman and owned a hunting and fishing retreat in Burt Lake, Mich. When Allendale was being developed, the Smiths acquired acreage and engaged celebrated Danish-born architect Jens Jensen to build a prairie-style country residence on the property. With the advent of Prohibition, Merchants Distilling Co. closed in September 1917. When the Smiths elected to return to Nebraska City in 1921, they agreed to sell their Allendale estate, valued at $200,000, to the Indiana Knights of Columbus for $75,000, permitting the K of C to establish the Gibault Home for Boys. The residence was large enough to accommodate administrative offices and housing for 25 boys. In Nebraska City the Smiths built another elaborate residence, famed for its size and beauty. Fred died there Sept. 18, 1935, at age 76, from complications brought about by heart disease and pneumonia.LMEMBER FDICAlways Close to Home812-238-6000Si g n up now for FREE* online banking atwww.first-online.comEQUAL HOUSING LENDER MEMBER FDIC*One-time sign-up fee $5.95File name: Fred B. Smith 2006 profileDate Published: Jan. 12, 2006
Origin:	2006-01-11
Created By:	McCormick, Mike
Publisher:	Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Source:	http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/vchs/id/943
Collection:	Vigo County Historical Society
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/
Copyright:	Copyright Undetermined
Subjects:	Smith, Fred B., 1859-1935 Distilling industries People Business & Industry

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