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Milton S. Hershey
Hershey was born in late 1857, to Fanny and Henry Hershey. -
Drops Out
At the age of 14-15, Hershey dropped out of school, soon pursuing his newfound passion for candy making. -
Philadelphia
After learning the trade in candy making, he started a small business in Philadelphia. The business quickly went bankrupt. -
Starts Selling Homemade Caramels
When he returned to Pennsylvania, he used the skills he learned in Denver and Philadelphia to start selling his own homemade caramels out of a pushcart. -
Lancaster Caramel Company
In late 1886, Hershey founded the Lancaster Caramel Company. It was one of his first offical businesses. -
Interest In Chocolate Making
At some point in the year, Hershey bought equipment for his Lancaster plant and started making chocolate with it. -
Hershey Chocolate Company
Hershey found his real calling in chocolate making and he founded the Hershey Chocolate Company. -
Married
He got married to Catherine "Kitty" Sweeney in early 1898. -
First Sold Candy Bar
Around the time that Lancaster Caramel Company was sold, Hershey sold their first candy bar; it was a milk chocolate bar. -
Lancaster Caramel Company Sold
Hershey finally sold Lancaster Caramel Company for $1M. -
Construction finished
Sometime in 1905, soon after Lancaster Caramel Company was sold, construction on the Hershey Chocolate Factory was finished. -
Hershey Industrial School
Hershey and his wife founded the Hershey Industrial School with almost the entire amount of money they had. -
Catherine Passes
When Catherine passed away, Hershey donated his entire fortune to the Hershey Industrial School. -
M.S. Hershey Foundation
In 1935, Hershey founded the M.S. Hershey Foundation to provide cultural opportunities for his employees and the residents in his area. -
The Great Building Campaign
Hershey founded The Great Building Campaign to help bolster the local economy during The Great Depression. -
Dies
At 88 years old, Milton S. Hershey passed away.