JOHN GIBSON'S SON & CO., Philadelphia, PA. (1837-1926)

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JOHN GIBSON'S SON & CO.
Philadelphia, PA.
1837-1926
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Est. 1837.

The company claims an established date of 1837, and histories from the time suggest John Gibson began distilling in 1840. Mida shows the Gibson's trademark being used since 1841.

Gibson was an immigrant from Belfast in Ireland. He ran a successful liquor business in Philadelphia but in 1856 he purchased 40 acres of land on the east side of the Monongahela River, just to the south of Pittsburgh and erected the Gibsonton Mills distillery (RD #14, 23rd District of PA).

Gibson died in 1865 and the business passed to his son, Henry Clay Gibson. Henry formed an association with Andrew M Moore and Joseph F Sinnott and the company now ran as John Gibson's Son & Co.

Henry Gibson retired from the liquor business in 1883, leaving Moore and Sinnott at the helm. The company name change reflects Henry's retirement (there is a separate database listing page for Moore & Sinnott).

The fate of Moore is uncertain, but Joseph F Sinnott apparently died in 1906 and the company is now referred to the "estate of Joseph F Sinnott". Before he dies, Sinnott has registered many of the company's famous brands with the US government (Gibsonton Mills, John Gibson's Rye, Moore & Sinnott, Record Gibson's Rye.

The company was reorganized as the Gibson Distilling Co. Inc. in 1908 or 1909. Company officers at this time included Treasurer Wm L Dickel. A law-suit based on a 1920 contract identifies J Sinnott as President.

The Gibsonton distillery ceased operations in 1919 with Prohibition, but the company continues listing in the city directories until 1926 or later, presumably selling off the contents of the bonded warehouses for medicinal use).

The company used the brand names:
"Choice Old Cabinet", "Choice Old Monongahela", "Deer Creek No. 4", "Gibson ", "Gibson's", "Gibson's Bourbon", "Gibson's Gilt Edge", "Gibson's High Proof", "Gibson's High Proof Malt", "Gibson's Monogram Rye", "Gibson's Old Cabinet", "Gibson's Old Nectar 1840", "Gibsonton Mills", "John Gibson's Rye", "Moore & Sinnott", "Pure Monongahela Rye ", and "Record Gibson's Rye."

Business name timeline:
John Gibson's Son & Co. (1870-1883), Moore & Sinnott (1884-1906), Joseph F Sinnott (est of) (1907-1908), Gibson Distilling Co. Inc. (1910-1926)

Address timeline:
129 Dock (1875), 232 S Front (1870-1924), 1300 Jefferson Bldg (1925-1926)

Business category timeline (abbreviations decoded below):
W, D

Years that company appeared in directories
Years directories were consulted
Philadelphia directory notes

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1855

1879

no date

Appearance in directories:
1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1924, 1925, 1926

Directories consulted:
1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918

Philadelphia directory notes:
V= Wine & Liquor (Wholesale), V-R = Wine & Liquor (Retail), W = Whiskey (Wholesale), L = Liquors (Wholesale) D = Distiller, DA = distiller's agent

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