Wattie Boone
Walter "Wattie" Boone | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1760 Prince George's County, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | before April 12, 1847 Pottinger's Creek (Rolling Fork), Nelson County, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Other names | Waddie |
| Occupation | Distiller |
| Known for | Founding the first distillery at Knob Creek; early maker of Bourbon whiskey |
Walter "Wattie" Boone, recognized as a pioneering distiller, founded the inaugural distillery at Knob Creek in LaRue County. He is acknowledged by historians as one of the earliest documented makers of Bourbon whiskey in Kentucky dating back to 1776. According to local lore, Thomas Lincoln, father of Abraham Lincoln, was employed at Boone's distillery in 1814.
Boone was among the initial settlers who traversed the Cumberland Gap during a time characterized by tensions with indigenous groups. Around this era, Samuel Goodwin established Goodin (Goodwin) Fort, a frontier outpost in Virginia.
Following the conclusion of the American Revolutionary War, the area saw an influx of settlers. By the time Kentucky achieved statehood, Boone’s neighbors, Aaron Atherton and his son Peter Atherton (1771–1844), had been running a modest distillery on the Rolling Fork River at Knob Creek since approximately 1790, positioning them as early contributors to Kentucky’s whiskey heritage. This tradition was carried on by Jonnie Boone and his brother William.
Personal
Born around 1760 in Prince George's County, Maryland, he was the son of Charles Boone (1725–1783) and Mary Boarman. Known familiarly as Waddie, he passed away before April 12, 1847, at Pottinger's Creek (Rolling Fork) in Nelson County, Kentucky. Pottinger's Station—constructed by Samuel Pottinger, a Revolutionary War veteran who settled there in 1781—served as a vital fortification safeguarding early Bardstown inhabitants.
Boone’s first marriage was to Mildred Edelen (1763–1810), with whom he fathered six children. Subsequently, he wed Elizabeth Havana on March 27, 1818, in Nelson County. He is occasionally regarded as a distant kin to Daniel Boone and Squire Boone.
Legacy
Boone is considered among several figures credited with originating bourbon whiskey, alongside Evan Williams and his associate James Ritchie. In 1964, bourbon was officially recognized by the U.S. Congress as America's native spirit. Some descendants of Boone have connections to notable brands like Maker's Mark. More recently, the Boone name has been utilized commercially by Preservation Distillery.