Milton .S. Hershey

By: Jaelyn Hoppman

• Milton Snavely Hershey was born on September 13th, 1857 in a farm house in central Pennsylvania in Derry town ship. Milton was born to Henry H. Hershey and Fannie B. Snavely.

• The Hershey family moved several times during Milton’s childhood. His parents did not live a happy Marriage. Mrs. Hershey finally rejected the Marriage after a Daughter died because scarlet fever in 1867.

Since Milton’s family had to move lots of times that meant he went to lots of schools. I’m surprised he made it up to fourth grade!

• Milton stopped attending school at the age of Twelve. Milton first went to work as an assistant for a man who published a German language newspaper. Milton did not like the job. He was dismissed after dropping his hat into the machine.

Milton got a job as a candy maker. There he learned how to make candy. Then he decided he learned all he could from Joe, the owner. Milton moved to Philadelphia when he was eighteen years old.

• Milton’s mom and her family offered to help him set up a candy store. But they failed after six years.

• Milton went to live with his dad for a while. Mr. Hershey got a job in Denver. There he learned how to make caramels but like before he failed.

• Milton went back to Lancaster. He started making caramels on his own. This time he realized that using fresh milk was the best. His business, the Lancaster Candy Company was a success and Milton became top businessmen.

• In 1893, Milton went to the world’s largest fair. There he saw a chocolate making machine. He gave money to the guy that owned them. He was going to build a factory and a town to support it.

• Milton wanted to make a town for his workers. He didn't want his workers to be boarded out all the time. Plus he didn't want to be mean to them. Most of Milton’s workers loved working for him. He was not always fair but most of the time he was.

• Milton did not marry until he was Forty years old. His family was shocked when he marred Catharine in 1898. Most of Milton’s Family members did not approve of her. Milton’s nickname for her was Kitty. Catharine was sick for most of her life. Catharine died in 1915 when she was 42.

• Milton and Catharine could not have children. So they helped children whose Parents died or did not want them. Milton was a Philanthropist which means he would give money to a child and expected nothing in return.

• Milton said it was his wife's idea. In 1909 Milton built the Hershey Industrial school for boys. After Milton died the school was named after him.

• Later the school was for both boys and girls. When Milton died he left the town to the people and the Factory. The Government at the time said no to the Factory and to sell it but the town said no and fought against the sale. They said it would destroy the towns happiness.

• But the Factory stayed. And you can still go there today and ride all the fun rides like I did. Milton Snavly Hershey died on October 13th 1945.