A scan of the Old Kentuck Whiskey label from bottle #3, original to the bottle.
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors
The business was founded in La Porte in 1885 or 1886 (depending on the source) by Marcus Henoch, and by 1893 it was located at 609 Main Street (now Lincolnway). The building still stands and, as of 2025, is occupied by a restaurant.
Marcus Henoch was the president, and his brother, Morris Henoch, served as secretary and treasurer. Morris also had his own embossed flask, shown below.
We located an article dated April 13, 1918, indicating that the M. Henoch Company was still in operation, although new prohibition laws brought an end to their liquor business. See the Articles tab for more details. Indiana went dry on April 2, 1918, after Governor James P. Goodrich signed the “bone-dry law” in March 1917, which was scheduled to take effect the following year.
According to U.S. Census records, obituary notices, and other historical sources, Marcus Henoch was born in Kurnik, Posen, Preußen, Germany, on March 4, 1842, and immigrated to the United States in 1856. The 1860 U.S. Census lists him as residing in La Porte.
By 1870, he had moved to Sedalia, Missouri, where the census records him living with Louis Jacobs. Both men were listed as clothing merchants.
He married Hulda Jacobs (1852–1924) in 1872.
By 1880, Marcus was still living in Missouri, but he later returned to La Porte with Hulda and founded the M. Henoch Company around 1885–1886.
Marcus Henoch died on September 7, 1929, at the age of 87, and is buried in the B’nai Zion Jewish Cemetery in La Porte.
According to U.S. Census records, obituary notices, and other historical sources, Maurice (Morris) Henoch was born on April 24, 1834, in Posen, Prussia, Germany, and immigrated to the United States in 1852. He married Bertha Hamburger Henoch (1843–1927) in 1862.
The 1870 U.S. Census records the family living in Aurora, Illinois, where Morris is listed as a tailor. A January 18, 1875 article in The Daily Inter-Ocean (Chicago) reported that he was operating as a merchant and that two of his stores, one in Princeton, Illinois, and the other in Aurora, had gone bankrupt.
By the 1880 U.S. Census, Morris was living in La Porte and was recorded as a liquor dealer. He moved to California with his wife, Bertha, around 1924.
Morris Henoch died on May 11, 1929, at the age of 95 in San Diego, California, and is buried in the B’nai Zion Jewish Cemetery in La Porte.
Extra: Morris and Bertha had three sons: Solomon (1863–1942), Milton (1865–1928), and Louis (1869–1934).
There is also a family connection between the Henoch and Spiro families. Solomon married Elizabeth Louise Spiro, the sister of Michigan City liquor dealer Fred Spiro.
Both Morris Henoch and Fred Spiro had their own embossed “pumpkin seed” flasks, and these are the only known examples of this flask style from La Porte County.
1) ASKS RESTRAINING ORDER
Laporte, April 12.—A restraining order against the operation of the Indiana dry law was asked in action brought by the M. Henoch company, wholesale liquor dealers, against Prosecuting Attorney Kunkle. The plaintiff claims that he has stored thousands of dollars’ worth of liquor and that the states surrounding Indiana are glutted with this class of goods and that the stock owned by the Henoch company cannot be disposed of now except at a great loss. It is further stated that if the supreme court holds the law unconstitutional it will be impossible to dispose of the stock for medicinal, chemical or sacramental purposes without a loss. The Bedford Daily Mail, April 13, 1918.
2) HENOCH—At the residence, 3541 Park-Blvd., May 10, 1929, Morris Henoch, father of Louis M. Henoch of La Jolla, Calif., and Sol M. Henoch of La Porte, Ind.; a native of Germany, aged 95 years.
Private funeral services will be held Monday, May 13, 1929, at 2 p. m., at the Merkley University Undertaking Parlors, 3655 Fifth-av. Entombment at Greenwood mausoleum. Duncan James officiating. The San Diego Sun, May 11, 1929.
3) RITES HELD FOR LAPORTE MAN, 87
LAPORTE, Ind., Sept. 9.—Funeral services for Marcus Henoch, age 87, prominent LaPorte merchant who died at his home Saturday, were held this afternoon at the residence, 1315 Michigan avenue. Rabbi Abram Hirschberg, of Chicago, officiated, and burial was in the Jewish cemetery.
Mr. Henoch, with his family, moved to LaPorte from New York city in 1886 and he founded the M. Henoch company. He retired about 10 years ago.
Surviving are seven children: Sol Henoch, Ligonier, Ind.; Fred and Harry Henoch, LaPorte; Milt Henoch, Chicago; and Miss Stella Henoch, Miss Marie Henoch and Hanley Henoch of New York city. Three grandchildren also survive.
Mr. Henoch was born in Germany on March 4, 1842, and came to the United States when a youth 14 years old. The South Bend Tribune, September 9, 1929.
1893-1894 — Henoch Co (The M), Marcus Henoch president, David Levinson vice president, Morris Henoch secretary and treasurer, wholesale liquor dealers at 609 Main St.
— Marcus lived at 1305 Main St.
— Morris lived at 1405 Indiana Ave.
1899 — Henoch M Co The, wholesale liquors at 609 Main St.
— Marcus lived at 1401 Indiana Ave., and was married to Hulda.
— Morris lived at 1405 Indiana Ave., and was married to Bertha.
1904 — Henoch, M. Co. The wholesale liquors, 609 Main.
— Marcus lived at 1009 Indiana Ave., and was married to Hulda.
— Morris lived at 1405 Indiana Ave., and was married to Bertha.
1910 & 1913 — Henoch M The Co., Marcus Henoch president, Morris Henoch secretary treasurer, wholesale wines and liquors at 609 Main Street, phone 232.
— Marcus lived at 1315 Michigan Ave., and was married to Hulda.
— Morris lived at 1405 Indiana Ave., and was married to Bertha.
