On 16 Mar 1857, William Polk of Indiana sold 350 acres on Salt River near where the road from Louisville to Bardstown crosses the river to James Wright and his son Joseph H. Wright. Following Joseph's death, his father sold his share of the farm to Ellen Wright, administratrix of Joseph H. Wright's estate, and Joseph's brother, James C. Wright. In 1872, they leased a part of this land to Samuel Carrothers where he was operating a distillery.
After Ellen married William P. Burdett she deeded her interest in the farm to her children. This included the Sugar Valley Distillery property. Then in 1883, two of the children, J. E. Wright and Lydia E. O'Neal, exchanged their interest in the farm, minus the distillery property, to their brother James Douglas Wright for his interest in some ground in Louisville, as shown below.
Bullitt County Deed Book Y, Pages 250-251
This deed between J. E. Wright, J. T. O'Neal and Lydia E. O'Neal, all of Jefferson County, Kentucky of the first part and J. D. Wright of Bullitt County, Kentucky of the second part.
Witnesseth that the said party of the first part, in consideration of the conveyance by the party of the second part to J. E. Wright and Lydia E O'Neal of the first part in equal shares all his undivided interest in and to a certain tract or parcel of land in the city of Louisville, Kentucky on the north side of Main Street between Lloyd and Preston Streets, being 70 feet front on Main Street and running back to Washington Street 200 feet, being the same willed to said second party by David Doup, do hereby sell, grant, and convey to the party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, the following described property viz.
All their right, title and interest joint and several of every kind and description whatsoever in a certain farm and improvements thereon and appurtenances thereunto belonging (except the distillery and appurtenances thereon which are not included in this conveyance) on Salt River in the county of Bullitt and state of Kentucky known as the Joseph H. Wright farm and being the same farm in which the said J. E. Wright and Lydia E. O'Neal have an undivided interest as the children and heirs at law of Joseph H. Wright deceased; said farm is on the Louisville and Bardstown Turnpike, Road about 2 1/2 miles from Mt. Washington in the direction of Salt River, and which farm has upon it and attached to it a distillery known as the Sugar Valley Distillery, which distillery is not included herein.
To have and to hold the same, with all the appurtenances thereon to the second party, his heirs and assigns forever with covenant of general warranty. In testimony whereof witness our signatures this 3rd day of April 1883. (signed) J. E. Wright, J. T. O'Neal, L. E. O'Neal
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The Bullitt County History Museum, a service of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is located in the county courthouse at 300 South Buckman Street (Highway 61) in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The museum, along with its research room, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday appointments are available by calling 502-921-0161 during our regular weekday hours. Admission is free. The museum, as part of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization and is classified as a 509(a)2 public charity. Contributions and bequests are deductible under section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the Internal Revenue Code. Page last modified: 03 Jan 2026 . Page URL: bullittcountyhistory.org/bchistory/jewright-leoneal-jdwright.html
