Sale of Sugar Valley Distillery Property to Jams Douglas Wright

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.

Then in 1885, at the behest of some of the children, the Bullitt Circuit Court ordered the sale of the distillery property and the proceeds to be divided amongst the seven children as shown in the Circuit Court decree shown first below. At the sale, James Douglas Wright was the purchaser, as shown second below.

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Bullitt Circuit Court Order Book 2, Page 64

Bullitt Circuit Court, November Term, November 18th 1885
J. D. Wright &c, plaintiffs vs G. D. Wright &c, defendants, in equity.

This cause having been submitted on the pleadings, exhibits and proof, and the court sufficiently advised, it is adjudged that the plaintiffs J. D. Wright, Joseph E. Wright, Annie S. Wright, T. Emma Rivers and Lydia E. O'Neal and the defendants S. Virgie Wright and G. D. Wright jointly own the land in petition described, each a one-seventh interest, and it is further adjudged that said land cannot be divided without materially impairing its value, and the interest of each is worth less than one hundred dollars.

It is therefore adjudged by court that the land hereinafter described be soled on the first day the regular December term of the Bullitt County Court. E. W. Hall, Master Commissioner of this Court is directed to make said sale and for his services he is allowed $10.00 to be taxed as costs.

He will advertise the time, terms, and place of sale at least 15 days before sale by printed or written posters, one on the courthouse door at Shepherdsville, one on the distillery situated on the land, and in at least two other public places in the vicinity of the land. The sale to be made at the courthouse door in Shepherdsville between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM on a credit of six and 12 months, the purchaser to execute bonds with approved security, having interest from date and payable to E. W. Hall, who is authorized to collect said bonds by execution or otherwise, and to receive said money before the bonds are due if the purchaser offers to, but no lien is to be retained on the land to secure the payment of said bonds.

He will report his actions to the next term of this court. The land to be sold is described as follows: a tract of land lying in Bullitt County, Kentucky being the same land on which is situated Grain Distillery No. 163 of Fifth District of Kentucky and bounded as follows: beginning at a stake on the west side of the Louisville and Bardstown Turnpike, Road, thence west 55 feet to a stake, thence north 417 feet to a stake, thence east 55 feet to a stake, thence south 80 feet to a stake, thence west, 18 feet to a stake, thence south 35 feet to a stake, thence east 18 feet to a stake, thence south 302 feet to the beginning.

Bullitt County Deed Book Z, Pages 508-509

This indenture made this 30th day of December in the year 1885 between Joseph Wright, Annie S. Wright, Lydia, E. O'Neal, J. T. O'Neal, F. Emma Rivers, B. M. Rivers, Ellen W. Burdett, S. Virgie Wright and G. D. Wright by E. W. Hall, master commissioner of the Bullitt Circuit Court of the one part and J. D. Wright of the other part.

Witnesseth that whereas by a judgment of the Bullitt Circuit Court rendered at the November term 1885 of said court in an action number 911 pending in said court, wherein J. D. Wright and others were plaintiffs and G. D. Wright and others were defendants, it was ordered and adjudged that the property hereinafter described be sold and E. W. Hall, master commissioner of said court, was directed to make the sale which was accordingly made as directed, in said judgment on the seventh day of December 1885, and J. D. Wright became the purchaser of said property at his bid of $25, and said commissioner having made his report of said sale at the special December term 1885 of said court, and the same having been confirmed at said term by a further order of said court; and the purchase money having been paid, said E. W. Hall was at the special December term 1885 of said court appointed commissioner to convey said property for and on behalf of the said parties of the first part to the said J. D. Wright.

Now for and in consideration of the premises aforesaid, the said Joseph Wright, Annie S. Wright, Lydia E. O'Neal, J. T. O'Neal, F. Emma Rivers, B. M. Rivers, Ellen W. Burdett, S. Virgie Wright and G. D. Wright by said E. W. Hall, master commissioner, do you hear by cell and convey to the CJD right, his heirs and assigns the following described property situated and being in the county of Bullitt and state of Kentucky and bounded as follows viz.

A tract of land upon which is situated grain distillery No. 163 of the Fifth District of Kentucky, beginning at a stake on the west side of the Louisville and Bardstown Turnpike, Road, thence west 55 feet to a stake, thence north 417 feet to a stake, thence east 55 feet to a stake, thence south 80 feet to a stake, thence west, 18 feet to a stake, thence south 35 feet to a stake, thence east 18 feet to a stake, thence south 302 feet to the beginning.

To have and to hold all the right, title, interest, and claim of the parties of the first part in and two said property to the said J. D. Wright, his heirs and assigns forever. In witness whereof the said E. W. Hall as commissioner as aforesaid has affixed his signature the day and year first above written.

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