1877: The distillery was established by J G Mattingly one half-mile south of Bardstown, KY. It had a capacity of 250 bushels per day and warehoused 7,500 barrels (history is from Cecil 1999). Downard (1980) maintains that they purchased a pre-existing still, established in the 1860's by Willett-Franche & Co., which may be a more accurate scenario.

1881: Mattingly sold the distillery to John Simms (President), R H Edelen (Treasurer) and Tom Moore (Secretary). The "Belle of Nelson" brand for which this distillery had been famous, was sold seperately to Bartley, Johnson & Co. of Louisville.

1889: Moore withdrew from the company in order to finance his own distillery on an adjacent plot of land.

1892: Insurance underwriter records suggest that the distillery was of frame construction with a metal or slate roof. The property included five warehouses:
Warehouse A -- brick with a metal or slate roof and located 50 ft south of the still.
Warehouse B -- stone with a metal or slate roof, located 125 ft south of the still
Warehouse D -- iron-clad with a metal or slate roof, located 125 ft south of the still.
Warehouse E -- iron-clad with a metal or slate roof, located on a hill top 280 ft west of the still.
A Free Warehouse -- iron-clad with a metal or slate roof, located opposite the distillery office, 120 ft NW of the still.

At that time, it was being operated by the Mattingly & Moore Distilling Co.

1916: Simms, Moore & Edelen became insolvent and the distillery was put up for auction.

Aliases that this distillery's product was sold under
Review bonded warehouse transactions for this distillery