65 Facts About Hiram Walker

Hiram Walker was an American entrepreneur and founder of the Hiram Walker and Sons Ltd.

Hiram Walker purchased land across the Detroit River, just east of what is Windsor, Ontario, and established a distillery in 1858 in what would become Walkerville, Ontario.

Hiram Walker established and maintained the company town that grew around his distillery, exercising planning and control over every facet of the town, from public works to religious services to police and fire control.

Hiram Walker was born on July 4,1816, on a family farm in Douglas, Massachusetts.

Hiram Walker was the sixth generation of English immigrants; his father was a reputable schoolmaster.

Hiram Walker received a "common" school education in Boston, and began working as a dry goods clerk.

Hiram Walker left for Detroit, Michigan, in 1838, at the age of 22 years.

Detroit was a vast change from Boston at the time, as Detroit had a smaller population, where Hiram Walker was able to find employment.

On October 5,1846, at age thirty, Hiram Walker married Mary Abigail Williams.

Mary Williams and Hiram Walker had 7 children, 5 boys and 2 girls, but one of the girls died at age 13.

Hiram Walker's wife was the daughter of Ephraim Smith Williams and Hannah Melissa Gotee of Silver Lake, Michigan.

Mary Abigail, like Hiram Walker, was the descendant of new England pioneers, whose familial roots traced back to Massachusetts in 1638.

Hiram Walker had two daughters, Julia Elizabeth and Jennie Melissa, and five sons, Willis Ephraim, Edward Chandler, Franklin Hiram, Alfred, and James Harrington.

However, this partnership dissolved in 1846, and Hiram Walker returned to the grocery business.

Hiram Walker was well-regarded as a proficient businessman, noted for his involvement in a wide range of different businesses and industries.

Hiram Walker then sold it at his grocery store, to other grocers as well as across the River in Windsor via door-to-door sales.

Hiram Walker was involved in the grain business, through serving as a supplier to the local flour mills in the Detroit area.

Hiram Walker did have interest in distilling his own liquor, but at the time, there were strict prohibition laws which prevented him from doing so.

Hiram Walker distilled his first barrel of whisky in 1854, despite the instability of prohibition laws.

Whisky makers before Hiram Walker ran spirits and whisky through charcoal, until around 1855, but Hiram Walker's method of utilizing a barrel to "create colour" and a pleasing flavour was unprecedented.

Since Detroit was only a boat-ride across the river to Windsor, Canada, Hiram Walker began to weigh his options in expanding into foreign territory.

Hiram Walker ventured into Canada across the border from Detroit into what is currently known as Essex County.

Hiram Walker's plan was to open a steam-powered flour mill, which did not exist in the area, and a distillery, in which he had very little serious competition.

Hiram Walker had his hands in the agricultural industry with owning cattle and hogs, as well as farming.

In 1857, Hiram Walker bought more property near the farm he already owned, increasing his holdings to 468 acres.

Hiram Walker began construction of the flour mill and distillery in the same year, which he visited every day during construction even though he still resided in America.

Hiram Walker continued his grocery business in the meantime, helping him become the leading commission merchant in Detroit.

The year 1858 marked the completion of the flour mill and distillery that Hiram Walker was building in Canada and at this time business could begin.

Hiram Walker moved out of the home he had been in since 1851 and into a house located near the flour mill, which he altered and called "The Cottage".

The Cottage was a home that previously had been owned by the Labadie family, from whom Hiram Walker had purchased much of the land on which his industries were now located.

Hiram Walker made several modifications to the home including two large additions at each end of the home, the addition of a third floor as well as servants dwellings.

Hiram Walker tried hog farming for a while, until cholera broke out, when he switched to cattle farming instead.

In 1859, Hiram Walker hired John McBride, one of his workers from Detroit, to be his traveling salesman.

Hiram Walker's job was to solicit orders from vendors who might be interested in purchasing the product.

Jealous competitors constructed a story of Hiram Walker creating a lead pipe that led right from the distillery, under the Detroit River, and into Detroit.

Hiram Walker attempted to construct and run a vinegar factory in 1864, but was unsuccessful and closed down two years later due to his other commitments.

Up until 1865, Hiram Walker's distillery was the only one to exist in Essex County Hiram Walker found himself with competition with Rolph and Melchers.

Hiram Walker became heavily involved with Detroit newspapers during the mid-1860s and 1870s.

Hiram Walker bought $10,000 worth of stock in the newspaper known as the Advertiser and Tribune.

Hiram Walker constantly put forth suggestions of a merger, but his requests were constantly denied.

Two years later, a fire burned down the offices of the newspaper and Hiram Walker was estimated to have lost $30,000.

Hiram Walker lost interest in the newspaper business soon after and sold the Post and Tribune to James McMillan.

Hiram Walker started his milling and distilling business in the town of Sandwich, near Windsor, Ontario.

The economic growth that encapsulated the Township of Sandwich started with Hiram Walker transforming his property into one with new industrial buildings.

Hiram Walker began to build Walker Road in 1860, and hire many employees, such as salesmen, office workers or skilled trade workers.

On March 1,1869, Hiram Walker's Town established its first post office.

Hiram Walker is recognized as the man who gave momentum to such aspects that benefited the community like trading, agricultural work, stock raising, building industries, and most importantly, inspired those who surrounded his perseverance and progressive attitudes.

Hiram Walker build homes for his employees and rented them out at reasonable prices, and created public utilities, paved the streets, and paid for and encouraged people to get an education.

One of the most popular institutions Hiram Walker erected was a Methodist church in 1870.

Hiram Walker installed a dock system on his land in Walkerville that would allow people to board the ferry.

Hiram Walker paid for the following: water, 52 fire fighters, the fire appliances, two police officers that rotated shifts, repairs of streets and sidewalks, the night watch service, and the electric lighting of the streets, the Music Hall, the Anglican Church, and some privately owned houses.

The town council's first meeting was held May 12,1890, in a building near Hiram Walker Road, owned by Hiram Walker and Sons.

In honour of the incorporation and in gratitude to its founder, Hiram Walker received a bronze statue made by Tiffany's.

When Hiram Walker discovered that she was pregnant and worth between $750 and $1,000, he refused to deliver her.

Hiram Walker spent 25 years in the church of St Paul's in Detroit as a vestryman.

Hiram Walker never took any public position within the church, but continued to be the prominent fundraiser in the church for any task the community was trying to accomplish.

Hiram Walker enjoyed his work within the church, and saw the community as a place that could do a lot of good work.

In 1887, Hiram Walker made a financial gift to found Children's Hospital of Michigan, part of the Detroit Medical Center.

Hiram Walker donated nearly $125,000 to the Children's Free Hospital Association, and undertook the responsibility of constructing a suitable building for the Children's Hospital of Michigan.

Hiram Walker built a railway costing him $20,000 because of weak transportation in the South, which had to be approved by the Detroit River Railway Company that eventually led to the laying of the railways steel in 1888.

Hiram Walker contributed money towards the founding of the Detroit Art Museum.

Hiram Walker lost feeling in his right leg around 1890 due to his rheumatism and walked with a cane.

Hiram Walker died two days later in Detroit, Michigan, January 12,1899.

The news of the death of Hiram Walker took a large toll on the town.

Hiram Walker's casket remained in his residence in Detroit until the funeral took place.