Milton+S.+Hershey

 Early Life It was said that Milton Hershey was a shrewd and determined man. Some say it was his ancestry, some say it was the way he was raised. Others, though, think it was both. Milton S. Hershey was born shortly before the Civil War on farm in Central PA. His Switz and German ancestry made his characteristics zestful for hard work, diligence, and thriftiness. Both sides of his family were originally Mennonite and have been in the United States for a few hundred years. His mother was a member of the Reformed Mennonite Church, and a very taunt Mennonite to say the least. She wore plain clothes and a bonnet her entire life, remaining as strict as possible. When Hershey was asked his religion, he simply responded and said “The Golden Rule.”  Milton Hershey had very little schooling. He attended several schools as his family moved from their original home in Derry Township, to Lancaster county. His mother did not emphasize in learning, perhaps because she thought that the church is all he needed and she even said that books would ruin her son. Even though Hershey became extremely successful without the benefit of a good education, later on in his life he insisted the boys in his school have a “sound education.” This gives the impression that he felt the lack of education himself, and wanted the best for the students.
 * Milton S. Hershey **

 First Million  At first, it seemed as if Hershey had no talents for business. He failed at numerous jobs before he succeeded finally at making caramel candy. Hershey was first an apprentice to the editor of a small, German newspaper in Lancaster. However, he was clumsy and got himself fired when his straw hat fell into the ink. Then his mother found him an apprenticeship with Joe Royer, a candy and ice cream maker (in Lancaster). Here Hershey learned the business of candy making and decided to pursue the candy business. Hershey was ambitious, and went to Philadelphia where the celebrations of the 100 anniversary of the Declaration of Independence were taking place. Hershey didn’t do well at selling his candies, even though he worked extremely hard. However, Hershey was persistent and didn't quit. He went to Denver, New York, Chicago and even New Orleans to try and better himself in learning about the candy business. Hershey learned in Denver the secret to great candy, fresh milk.  Hershey then went back to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He started to make “Hershey’s Crystal A” a “melt in your mouth” caramel candy made with fresh milk. Hershey then founded the Lancaster Caramel Company, and for the first time, he was extremely successful.

 Hershey’s Chocolate  Caramels gave Hershey his first million, but chocolate is how Hershey earned his real fortune. He realized he wanted to make chocolate when he visited the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago where he became fascinated by a set of German chocolate-making machinery. Hershey bought it, and had it installed in Lancaster where he began to produce his own chocolate. There were 114 different varieties of chocolate in all. By the late 1800s, Hershey realized the growing market for chocolate, and was convinced that his future was with chocolate rather than caramels. In 1900, he sold his Lancaster Caramel Company to competitors for $1 million (which was worth more back then than today) and then devoted all his energies to making chocolate. Hershey looked for the perfect site to build a chocolate factory. He went back to Derry Township, convinced that the Central Pennsylvania countryside would be good for chocolate because of the plentiful water supply, fresh milk, and industrious workers. Ground broke in 1903 for Hershey's Chocolate factory. In 1905, the factory was completed, and the chocolate industry was never the same. Milton Hershey overcame his defeats, and became extremely successful, even with little education. Hershey proves that anyone can do whatever they want to, all they have to do is put their mind, effort, patience, diligence, and hard work into it, and they will be successful.

. "Milton S. Hershey, 1875-1945." Milton Hershey School. 2011 Milton Hershey School, n.d. Web. 11 Jan 2012. .