The link has more information. It is rather inspiring. I wonder what I would have thought of that guy after he had failed 3 times.
About Milton Hershey.
http://www.hersheyhistory.org/milton.html
As a result of his unstable family life, Milton attended seven different schools and never went beyond the fourth grade. At the age of fourteen, at his father's bidding, Milton was apprenticed to Samuel Ernst, a printer at Gap, who printed a publication in the Pennsylvania German language. Although the young lad was unhappy, he applied himself to learning the trade to please his father, hoping to bring stability to the family. But Milton was not destined to be a printer and was dismissed for lack of attention to the trade. He returned to his home in Nine Points.
MILTON BEGINS HIS CANDY-MAKING CAREER
In 1872, shortly after the failed printing apprenticeship, Fannie Hershey arranged for her son to be apprenticed to a Lancaster confectionery shop owned by Joseph Royer. There Milton felt that he had found his future. His fondness and skill for making candies led him to launch his own candy business at the age of nineteen.
In 1876, Milton S. Hershey established his first business venture in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His staunchest supporters were his mother and her sister, Aunt Mattie. They provided the financial and moral support needed to launch his business. In 1880, a family friend, William Lebkicher joined Milton's enterprise and became his bookkeeper and all around man. "Lebby" as he was known, was Milton's friend for life and played a large part in future endeavors.
In spite of help from his three supporters, Milton was forced to declare bankruptcy and return to the Lancaster area.
After the Philadelphia failure, Milton joined his father in Denver, Colorado where Henry had hopes of striking it rich in the silver mines. But Henry arrived too late and once again he was jobless.
In Colorado, Milton managed to find a job with a candy maker where he learned some long-lasting lessons on making candy, one of which was the value of using fresh milk to make good candy.
In 1883, Milton launched a second venture into the candy business in New York City. His shop was located at Sixth Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Streets. But again, with little capital, and much competition his business collapsed.
At the age of 29, Milton Hershey returned to his family home in Lancaster, shunned by his Snavely uncles who had suffered the loss of funds that had been invested in Milton's failed business enterprises. Milton Hershey was looked upon as being as financially irresponsible as his father.
Throughout his ordeal, William Henry Lebkicher continued to help Milton both financially and morally. With the help of Lebkicher and another loan from Aunt Mattie he was able to purchase the necessary ingredients to begin a caramel making business. He made his candy by day, and peddled it in the evening using a pushcart that had been given to him.
An English importer of candy, much impressed with the fresh taste and quality of the caramels, gave Milton a huge order. Knowing this could be the turning point of his career, Milton S. Hershey managed to get a loan from the Lancaster County National Bank to fill the Englishman's order.
The order was filled and Milton made enough money to pay off the bank loan and launch a successful caramel-making industry. The Lancaster Caramel Company was incorporated in 1894. Milton continued to produce baking chocolate, cocoa and sweet chocolate coating for his caramels under the name of the Hershey Chocolate Company.
Four years after his failures in Philadelphia and New York, Milton S. Hershey had become one of Lancaster�s most successful businessmen and a millionaire. His success in the caramel business led him to explore other areas of the confectionary world. His travels enabled him to visit confectionery manufacturers throughout the world.
In 1891, Milton Hershey purchased a large mansion in Lancaster which he furnished in the manner of his new found status and became active in the social life of the rich and famous.
I hope ya'll enjoyed the read as much as I did.
Walt
About Milton Hershey.
http://www.hersheyhistory.org/milton.html
As a result of his unstable family life, Milton attended seven different schools and never went beyond the fourth grade. At the age of fourteen, at his father's bidding, Milton was apprenticed to Samuel Ernst, a printer at Gap, who printed a publication in the Pennsylvania German language. Although the young lad was unhappy, he applied himself to learning the trade to please his father, hoping to bring stability to the family. But Milton was not destined to be a printer and was dismissed for lack of attention to the trade. He returned to his home in Nine Points.
MILTON BEGINS HIS CANDY-MAKING CAREER
In 1872, shortly after the failed printing apprenticeship, Fannie Hershey arranged for her son to be apprenticed to a Lancaster confectionery shop owned by Joseph Royer. There Milton felt that he had found his future. His fondness and skill for making candies led him to launch his own candy business at the age of nineteen.
In 1876, Milton S. Hershey established his first business venture in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His staunchest supporters were his mother and her sister, Aunt Mattie. They provided the financial and moral support needed to launch his business. In 1880, a family friend, William Lebkicher joined Milton's enterprise and became his bookkeeper and all around man. "Lebby" as he was known, was Milton's friend for life and played a large part in future endeavors.
In spite of help from his three supporters, Milton was forced to declare bankruptcy and return to the Lancaster area.
After the Philadelphia failure, Milton joined his father in Denver, Colorado where Henry had hopes of striking it rich in the silver mines. But Henry arrived too late and once again he was jobless.
In Colorado, Milton managed to find a job with a candy maker where he learned some long-lasting lessons on making candy, one of which was the value of using fresh milk to make good candy.
In 1883, Milton launched a second venture into the candy business in New York City. His shop was located at Sixth Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Streets. But again, with little capital, and much competition his business collapsed.
At the age of 29, Milton Hershey returned to his family home in Lancaster, shunned by his Snavely uncles who had suffered the loss of funds that had been invested in Milton's failed business enterprises. Milton Hershey was looked upon as being as financially irresponsible as his father.
Throughout his ordeal, William Henry Lebkicher continued to help Milton both financially and morally. With the help of Lebkicher and another loan from Aunt Mattie he was able to purchase the necessary ingredients to begin a caramel making business. He made his candy by day, and peddled it in the evening using a pushcart that had been given to him.
An English importer of candy, much impressed with the fresh taste and quality of the caramels, gave Milton a huge order. Knowing this could be the turning point of his career, Milton S. Hershey managed to get a loan from the Lancaster County National Bank to fill the Englishman's order.
The order was filled and Milton made enough money to pay off the bank loan and launch a successful caramel-making industry. The Lancaster Caramel Company was incorporated in 1894. Milton continued to produce baking chocolate, cocoa and sweet chocolate coating for his caramels under the name of the Hershey Chocolate Company.
Four years after his failures in Philadelphia and New York, Milton S. Hershey had become one of Lancaster�s most successful businessmen and a millionaire. His success in the caramel business led him to explore other areas of the confectionary world. His travels enabled him to visit confectionery manufacturers throughout the world.
In 1891, Milton Hershey purchased a large mansion in Lancaster which he furnished in the manner of his new found status and became active in the social life of the rich and famous.
I hope ya'll enjoyed the read as much as I did.
Walt
