MILTON HERSHEY
Name: Milton Hershey
Born: September 13, 1857 Derry Church, Pennsylvania
Died: October 13, 1945 Hershey, Pennsylvania
Milton Snavely Hershey (September 13, 1857 – October 13, 1945) was an American
businessman, philanthropist, and founder of The Hershey Chocolate Company and
the "company town" of Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Hershey was born on a farm near Derry Church, Pennsylvania, the only surviving
child of Henry and Fanny Hershey. Due to the family's frequent moves, he dropped
out of school after the fourth grade and was apprenticed to a Lancaster,
Pennsylvania printer, but soon he was fired. He was fired because he did not
like the job so he purposly let his hat drop into the printing press. Following
a four-year apprenticeship with a Lancaster candy maker, he established his
first candy-making business in Philadelphia. That initial effort failed, as did
his next two attempts in Chicago and New York. His Reformed Mennonite mother's
family financed several of these unsuccessful ventures in the candy industry.
Returning to Lancaster in 1883,it Hershey established the Lancaster Caramel
Company, which quickly became an outstanding success. Utilizing a caramel recipe
he had obtained from previous travels, his company soared to the top. It was
that business which established him as a candy maker and set the stage for
future accomplishments. Hershey became fascinated with the German chocolate-making
machinery exhibited at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, and bought the
equipment for his Lancaster plant, soon began producing a variety of chocolate
creations. Despite his company's success, Hershey determined that the chocolate
industry had more promise than caramel. He sold the Lancaster Caramel Company
for one million dollars in 1900 but retained the chocolate business and the
rights to produce chocolate products.
Name: Milton Hershey
Born: September 13, 1857 Derry Church, Pennsylvania
Died: October 13, 1945 Hershey, Pennsylvania
Milton Snavely Hershey (September 13, 1857 – October 13, 1945) was an American
businessman, philanthropist, and founder of The Hershey Chocolate Company and
the "company town" of Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Hershey was born on a farm near Derry Church, Pennsylvania, the only surviving
child of Henry and Fanny Hershey. Due to the family's frequent moves, he dropped
out of school after the fourth grade and was apprenticed to a Lancaster,
Pennsylvania printer, but soon he was fired. He was fired because he did not
like the job so he purposly let his hat drop into the printing press. Following
a four-year apprenticeship with a Lancaster candy maker, he established his
first candy-making business in Philadelphia. That initial effort failed, as did
his next two attempts in Chicago and New York. His Reformed Mennonite mother's
family financed several of these unsuccessful ventures in the candy industry.
Returning to Lancaster in 1883,it Hershey established the Lancaster Caramel
Company, which quickly became an outstanding success. Utilizing a caramel recipe
he had obtained from previous travels, his company soared to the top. It was
that business which established him as a candy maker and set the stage for
future accomplishments. Hershey became fascinated with the German chocolate-making
machinery exhibited at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, and bought the
equipment for his Lancaster plant, soon began producing a variety of chocolate
creations. Despite his company's success, Hershey determined that the chocolate
industry had more promise than caramel. He sold the Lancaster Caramel Company
for one million dollars in 1900 but retained the chocolate business and the
rights to produce chocolate products.