Hiram Walker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hiram Walker
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Hiram Walker, from a painting that hangs in Willistead Manor, Windsor, Ontario
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| Born | July 4, 1816 |
| Died | January 12, 1899 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | founder of Canadian Club whisky |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Abigail Williams |
| Children | Elizabeth Walker, Jennie Walker, Willis Ephraim Walker, Edward Chandler Walker, Franklin Hiram Walker, Alfred Walker, James Harrington Walker |
| Parent(s) | Willis Walker and Ruth Buffum |
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Hiram Walker (born July 4, 1816 – died January 12, 1899) was an American businessman. He is famous for starting the Hiram Walker and Sons Ltd. distillery. This distillery is located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Walker was born in East Douglas, Massachusetts. He moved to Detroit, Michigan, in 1838. In 1858, he bought land across the Detroit River. This land was near what is now Windsor, Ontario. There, he built his distillery. The area around it grew into a town called Walkerville, Ontario.
He started selling his whisky as Hiram Walker's Club Whisky. It became very popular. Other American whisky makers were not happy. They pushed the U.S. government to make a new law. This law required all foreign whiskies to show their country of origin on the label. Because of this, Hiram Walker's whisky became known as Canadian Club whisky. It quickly became Canada's top export whisky.
Hiram Walker also played a huge role in building Walkerville. He planned and controlled many parts of the town. This included public works, religious services, and even police and fire departments. The Hiram Walker & Sons Distillery stayed in the Walker family until 1926. Today, Canadian Club whisky is still made at the original distillery site.
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Who Was Hiram Walker?
Hiram Walker was born on July 4, 1816. His family lived on a farm in Douglas, Massachusetts. He was the sixth generation of his family to live in America. His father was a respected schoolmaster. When Hiram was nine years old, his father passed away.
Douglas, Massachusetts, was a small town back then. It had about 1,800 people. Hiram went to school in Boston. After school, he started working as a clerk in a dry goods store.
In 1838, when he was 22, he moved to Detroit, Michigan. Detroit was much smaller than Boston at that time. He found a job as a grocery clerk. This job taught him a lot about business. Many young people like Walker moved to the Midwest. They were looking for new chances as railways expanded.
Family Life
On October 5, 1846, Hiram Walker married Mary Abigail Williams. He was thirty years old. Hiram and Mary had seven children together. They had five boys and two girls. Sadly, one of their daughters died at age 13.
Mary Abigail's family also came from early New England settlers. Her family roots went back to Massachusetts in 1638. Hiram and Mary's children were Julia Elizabeth, Jennie Melissa, Willis Ephraim, Edward Chandler, Franklin Hiram, Alfred, and James Harrington. His second son, Edward Chandler, later helped build Willistead Manor.
Hiram Walker remained an American citizen his whole life. For five years, from 1859 to 1864, he lived in Windsor, Canada. He lived in a large home called "The Cottage." This house was on land he had bought earlier.
Starting His Businesses
Hiram Walker was always involved in different businesses. Before his distillery, he worked as a grocery clerk from 1838 to 1845. In 1846, he opened his own grocery store, but it didn't last long. He also worked in a leather business.
By 1845, Walker had saved enough money. He invested in a business that sold leather. This partnership ended in 1846. He went back to the grocery business. Later, the tannery he invested in burned down in 1848.
Walker was known as a very skilled businessman. He was good at trying many different business ideas. He was also quick to jump on new opportunities. For example, while running his grocery store, he decided to make his own vinegar.
In January 1849, he advertised his "barrels of cider vinegar" and "wheat whisky." He sold vinegar for 10 cents a gallon. His vinegar became popular because it was good quality and cheap. He sold it at his store and to other grocers. He even sold it door-to-door in Windsor, Canada. This vinegar business was very successful. He sold it in 1858.
Making vinegar led Walker to start making whisky. He had been selling alcohol since 1849. He also worked in the grain business, supplying local flour mills.
Building the Distillery
Walker saved nearly $40,000 from his businesses. He used this money to buy more land in Detroit. He also bought cheaper land across the Detroit River in Windsor, Canada. He wanted to make his own liquor. However, there were strict prohibition laws at the time.
Walker made his first barrel of whisky in 1854. He continued distilling in Detroit for five years. He then closed that part of his business there.
Walker became one of the biggest landowners in Ontario. He owned about 10,000 acres of land. Much of it was along the Walkerville and Detroit River Railroad. His land was very valuable. The Great Western Railway was nearby. This helped him move his products easily.
Before Walker, whisky makers often filtered spirits through charcoal. But around 1855, Walker started using barrels to give his whisky color and flavor. This was a new and different method.
The American Civil War created a huge demand for Walker's whisky and flour. During this time, smuggling became common across the Detroit River. There's a story that Walker built a "liquor pipeline" under the river for smuggling.
Walker was an entrepreneur, always looking for new ways to grow his business. Canada offered many chances for business owners. The population was growing, and land was cheaper than in the U.S. Labor and materials also cost less in Canada.
In 1856, he bought his first piece of land in Canada. He paid £300 for it. A month later, he bought another 300 acres for £750. He also bought 104 more acres for £250. He started building a steam-powered flour mill and a distillery. There was little competition for these businesses. He also raised cattle and hogs and farmed.
By 1857, Walker owned 468 acres in Canada. He started building his mill and distillery that year. He visited the construction site every day, even though he still lived in America. His grocery business in Detroit was very successful.
In 1858, his flour mill and distillery in Canada were finished. His flour became popular in Canada, the U.S., and Britain. The flour mill helped farmers in Essex County. They could bring their wheat to his mill.
The distillery also became popular. Walker started his whisky operation in mid-1858. He used the same distilling process he had used in Detroit.
His Canadian businesses soon became more important than his grain business in Detroit. He traveled daily by ferry from Detroit to Canada. This trip took a long time. So, in March 1859, Walker moved to Canada. He moved into a house near his mill, which he called "The Cottage."
"The Cottage" was a house built in 1839. Walker made several changes to it. He added two large sections and a third floor. He lived there for a few years.
His new Canadian businesses led to other ventures. He tried hog farming, but then switched to cattle farming.
In 1859, Walker hired John McBride as a traveling salesman. McBride's job was to get orders for the products. By 1860, both the mill and distillery were working almost non-stop. In 1861 and 1862, the businesses started making good profits.
In 1863, Walker made McBride his partner. The business name changed to Hiram Walker and Company. The American Civil War brought huge profits for Hiram Walker. The U.S. dollar dropped in value. Americans started smuggling Canadian drinks. It's said that Hiram Walker and Company loaded many jugs of whisky onto ferries. These ferries carried them across the Detroit River.
By 1863, Walker had a team in place. James Ellis managed the mill, William McManus was the distiller, and John McBride handled management. Even though most of his business was in Canada, Walker preferred to live in Detroit. In 1863, he bought a home in Detroit.
Walker tried to open a vinegar factory in 1864, but it closed two years later. Until 1865, Walker's distillery was the only one in Essex County. Then, he faced competition from Rolph and Melchers.
His partner, John McBride, wanted to move up in the company. Two years later, McBride and his friends bought Rolph and Melchers. When Walker found out, he ended his partnership with McBride. Ironically, McBride's new business failed. Walker ended up buying their property. He operated it as a second plant until 1876.
Newspaper Business
Walker also became involved with Detroit newspapers. In the mid-1860s and 1870s, he bought $10,000 worth of stock in the Advertiser and Tribune newspaper. He wanted it to merge with its rival, the Daily Post.
By 1872, Walker bought another $10,000 in shares. He became the main owner of the newspaper. In 1877, the Advertiser and Tribune merged with the Daily Post. The new paper was called the Post and Tribune, just as Walker had wanted.
Two years later, a fire destroyed the newspaper offices. Walker lost about $30,000. After this, Walker lost interest in the newspaper business. He sold the Post and Tribune.
Building Walkerville
Walker started his milling and distilling business near Windsor, Ontario. Farmers and workers from Windsor helped his business grow. Walker transformed his land into an industrial area. He built places like the "Walker Mill" and "Walker Pens." People could bring their wheat and pigs there. This created a strong link between Walker and the community.
At first, the area was called "Walkerton." But there was already a town in Ontario with that name. So, Walker and the citizens chose "Walkerville." People often called it "Walkers Town."
As the distillery and flour mill grew, Walker expanded the business. In 1860, he started building Walker Road. He hired many employees, including salesmen, office workers, and skilled tradespeople. This led to more people moving to the area.
On March 1, 1869, Walker’s Town got its first post office. This was when the government officially recognized the small community as Walkerville.
Walker is remembered for helping the community in many ways. He encouraged trading, farming, and raising livestock. He also inspired others with his hard work. Walker built homes for his employees. He rented them out at fair prices. He also created public services, paved streets, and supported education.
In 1870, Walker built a Methodist church. In 1874, it became an Anglican church. It was renamed St. Mary’s, in honor of Walker’s wife, Mary.
The heart of Walkerville was Walker’s distilling business, "Hiram Walker and Sons." It started in 1858. The business grew to include malt houses, a cooperage (for barrels), a copper shop, a planning mill, a lumber yard, and a brick yard. Walker also started a ferry service between Walkerville and Detroit.
The trip from his home in Detroit to his businesses in Walkerville took about an hour and a half. To save time, Walker decided to invest in a ferry. In 1880, he rented a ferry called "The Essex." He built a dock system on his land in Walkerville. At first, the ferry was mainly for Walker's personal use. It didn't have a set schedule.
However, in 1881, a regular schedule was created. The ferry became a public service. Another ferry, "Ariel," replaced "The Essex" that same year.
A new railway, the Essex and Detroit Railway, also ran through Walkerville. This encouraged many businesses to move from Windsor to Walkerville. The growth of new industries and people led to better roads, traffic lights, police, and firefighters. It also brought proper sanitation.
The rural area of Sandwich East (Walkerville's old name) couldn't afford these services. So, Hiram Walker and Son’s paid for everything. Walker paid for water, 52 firefighters, fire equipment, and two police officers. He also paid for street repairs, sidewalks, night watch services, and electric street lighting. He even paid for the Music Hall, the Anglican Church, and some private homes.
Walker's efforts to make Walkerville a strong town led to him becoming its mayor. He created a town council. It included the mayor (Walker), councilors, clerks, and police. The first council meeting was on May 12, 1890.
The council's first major act was to honor Walker. They decided to celebrate his birthday, July 4, every year. A bronze emblem was made by Tiffany and Co. It showed three horsemen. The inscription thanked Hiram Walker for creating Walkerville.
In 1890, the Walkerville community became an official town. This meant the Walker company no longer had to pay for all the services. Becoming an incorporated town also helped Walkerville avoid being taken over by the growing City of Windsor. Walkerville became a town on April 7, 1890.
Later, Walkerville and Windsor did join together. Walkerville became a neighborhood within Windsor. However, it still has a special historical meaning.
The Pregnant-Cow Case
Walker was also a cattle breeder. He was part of a famous legal case called Sherwood v. Walker. This case is known as "The Pregnant-Cow Case."
Walker agreed to sell a cow named "Rose 2d of Aberlone" to Theodore Sherwood, a banker. The price was $80. Both men believed Rose could not have calves. But then, Walker found out she was pregnant. She was now worth between $750 and $1,000. So, he refused to sell her.
Sherwood sued, and the case went to court. This case is an example of contract law rules. It shows how a contract can be canceled if both parties made a mutual mistake about an important fact.
Helping Others
Walker was a very generous man. He gave money to many causes in Detroit and the Windsor/Walkerville area. He was a member of St. Paul’s church in Detroit for 25 years. He gave large amounts of money to the church but did not want public praise. He was a key fundraiser for many church projects.
Walker believed the church community could do a lot of good. He met many important people there, like other businessmen, doctors, and judges. In 1874, he donated about $5000 worth of bread to families in Walkerville, Windsor, and Detroit.
In 1887, Walker gave money to start Children's Hospital of Michigan. He donated about $125,000. He also took on the job of building a suitable hospital building. In his will, he left most of his Detroit property to the Children's Hospital of Michigan. He gave the rest to Harper Hospital.
Walker also built a railway that cost him $20,000. This was because transportation was weak in the South. The railway extended from Walkerville to Kingsville. This railway helped Hiram Walker and Sons and other businesses grow even further.
He also gave money to help found the Detroit Art Museum.
Later Life and Passing
Hiram Walker became ill many times after 1883. He spent a lot of time at home and on Lake Erie. He owned an island called Ile Aux Peche, which he later sold to his daughter. Around 1890, he started losing feeling in his right leg due to rheumatism. He had to use a cane.
In 1895, he had a severe stroke. Two years later, he lost feeling in his legs. From April 1898 until his death, he had two cases of Congestive Apoplexy. His second attack was on January 10, 1899.
Hiram Walker passed away two days later, on January 12, 1899, in Detroit, Michigan. He is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit. His direct family members today include the Julia Elizabeth (Walker) Buhl, Franklin MacFie Walker, and Elizabeth Talman (Walker) Paterson families.
The news of Walker's death greatly affected the town of Walkerville. Flags were lowered, and the mayor made a public statement. Walker's funeral was held on January 14, 1899. His casket was made of metal and covered with black fabric and many flowers. This was very unusual for the time. The flowers were donated by Hiram Walker & Sons and the Children's Free Hospital.
In July 2022, on what would have been Walker's 206th birthday, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens unveiled a bronze statue of Walker. It is located at Hiram Walker Parkette in Windsor.
