05/25/2025
In 1868, John Jaques Jr. died suddenly, leaving his brothers Oren and Charles to carry on the family winery. They maintained the vineyards and stayed active in the local church, but tragedy followed—John Jr.’s only son died young, Charles’s health declined, and Oren passed away in 1885. Left to run the winery alone, Charles struggled. After a tax mishap led to the seizure of brandy by the U.S. government, he realized he could no longer manage the business. In 1886, he sold the winery to New York City wine merchants Jesse Emerson Sr. and his son Edward, ending nearly 40 years of Jaques family winemaking. Charles lived quietly in Washingtonville until his death in 1912—the last surviving member of the Jaques family.
