Jack Daniel was the founder of one of the most famous whiskey brands in the world, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. He was a successful businessman and a pioneer in the American whiskey industry. But how did he die? And what was the role of a stubborn safe in his demise? In this article, we will explore the fascinating and mysterious story of Jack Daniel’s cause of death.
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The Early Life of Jack Daniel
Jack Daniel was born as Jasper Newton Daniel in Lynchburg, Tennessee, sometime in the mid-19th century. His exact date of birth is unknown, as the records were destroyed by a fire and his mother died shortly after his birth. Some sources suggest he was born in 1846, while others say 1849 or 1850. He was the youngest of ten children born to Calaway and Lucinda Matilda Daniel, who were of Scots-Irish, Scottish, and Welsh descent.
Jack Daniel had a difficult childhood, as his father remarried and had three more children with his second wife. He also fought in the Civil War as a teenager, joining the Confederate Army. He ran away from home and found refuge with a preacher and distiller named Dan Call, who taught him how to make whiskey. However, some recent reports claim that Jack actually learned the art of distilling from Nearest Green, a slave owned by Call, who later became his partner and master distiller.
The Rise of Jack Daniel’s Whiskey
Jack Daniel bought the distillery from Call in 1866, or 1875 according to some sources, and started producing his own brand of whiskey. He used a unique process of filtering the whiskey through charcoal made from sugar maple wood, which gave it a distinctive smoothness and flavor. He also chose to bottle his whiskey in square-shaped bottles, which made them stand out from the competition.
Jack Daniel’s whiskey soon became popular and won several awards at international fairs and exhibitions. Jack Daniel expanded his business and hired more workers, including his nephews, one of whom was Lemuel “Lem” Motlow, who became his bookkeeper and heir. Jack Daniel never married or had children, but he was known to be generous and friendly with his employees and customers.
The Safe Incident and the Infection
The story of Jack Daniel’s death begins with a seemingly trivial incident involving a safe in his office. One morning in 1906, Jack arrived at work before his nephew Lem, who usually opened the safe for him. Jack forgot the combination and tried to open it himself, but failed. Frustrated, he kicked the safe with his foot, breaking his toe.
The injury seemed minor at first, but it soon became infected due to the poor sanitary conditions of the time. Jack’s toe had to be amputated, but the infection spread to his foot and then his leg. He underwent several surgeries to remove the infected parts, but they were not enough to stop the disease. He developed blood poisoning (sepsis), which is a serious condition caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream.
The Death of Jack Daniel
Jack Daniel died on October 9, 1911, at the age of 61 or 65, depending on his birth year. He was buried in Lynchburg Cemetery with a tombstone that reads “Every day we make it, we’ll make it the best we can”. He left his distillery to his nephew Lem Motlow, who continued to run it until his death in 1947.
Jack Daniel’s legacy lives on through his whiskey brand, which is still one of the most popular and recognizable in the world. His life story is also an inspiration for many entrepreneurs and whiskey lovers. However, his death also serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of cleanliness and hygiene in medical procedures, even for minor injuries.
