MILTON HERSHEY Biography - Craftmen, artisans and people from other Occupations

 
 

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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.