Henry Overholt

Henry Overholt (born Henrich Oberholtzer; 1739 – 1813) was an American whiskey distiller and founder of the Overholt Whiskey distillery.

History In 1800, Overholt moved to southwestern Pennsylvania from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He is the great-grandfather of Henry Clay Frick. Overholt's son, Abraham Overholt, gave Frick an introduction to successful business operation. The family homestead is located in West Overton, Pennsylvania, where there originally was a farm and distillery. The family processed rye they grew on the farm into whiskey.

Henry's son Abraham Overholt encouraged the production of rye whiskey in 1810 to be sold commercially. Normally, rye whiskey was produced for medicinal purposes. Henry agreed and the Overholts' became the first to produce rye whiskey in Pennsylvania for commercial consumption instead of strictly for medicinal purposes. The Overholts were Mennonites and the church did not approve of the sale of Overholt's "Old Farm Whiskey". The family business expanded when one of Abraham's sons built a second distillery. It operated nearby at Broad Ford and produced the brands known as “Old Overholt” or “Monongahela Rye". The distilleries prospered, resulting in the growth of the family's land holdings to 260 acres. They were able to produce up eight gallons per day-four times more than when they began. The brand name Old Overholt® Straight Rye Whiskey is currently owned by the Jim Beam company.

Archives The collection of documents related to the life and business of Henry Overholt collection is housed at the Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh Library System, University of Pittsburgh. The archived materials consist of Distillery postcards, Distillery 100th anniversary pamphlets, Distillery mailing pamphlets, Distillery checks, Obituary of Abraham Overholt, View of property of A.S.R. Overholt & Company, West Overton, Pa., journals and a ledger.