James Buckley - Who Was Milton Hershey?

FANNY HERSHEY

By 1860, Henrys farm had failed. Henry moved his small family to Titusville, Pennsylvania. Oil had been discovered there, and he wanted to make his fortune by pumping oil. Henry also tried selling supplies to the prospectors pouring into the area. Neither idea worked. Within a year and a half, Fannys family had to pay to bring the Hershey family back home.

They tried farming again. Milton loved it, feeding the chickens and picking berries. To help out, he sometimes sold the berries to their neighbors. His family didnt have much money, so every bit helped. Milton was always careful with whatever money he got. In 1863, a Civil War battle was fought at nearby Gettysburg. Milton took his coins and buried them in a can in the garden for safekeeping. Then later, he couldnt find the can!

Along with his new baby sister, Sarena, Milton and his parents moved again later in 1863. Fannys family helped the Hersheys buy a farm called Nine Points. In this new place, Milton was sent to yet another new school. He was not a good student and didnt like school that much. He had already been in several by the time he was nine.

At Nine Points, Henry Hershey tried farming again... and failed again. Though Fanny sold eggs and Milton helped out, life was hard for the Hersheys.

In 1867, Sarena, Miltons sister, became very ill. She was just shy of her fifth birthday when she died of scarlet fever. That was the final straw for Fanny. Though she didnt directly blame Henry, she turned her back on him. They could not get a divorce. Her religion didnt allow it. They did split up, however, which was very unusual in those days. Milton stayed with his mother.

In 1870, Miltons school days ended. He was twelve, but he could only read and write as well as a fourth grader. Fanny had no problem with that. She said that it was time for Milton to get a real job.

Chapter 2
The Young Candy Maker

Miltons first job did not work out. He was working for a printer. It was difficult and boring. One day, he took matters into his own hands. He let his straw hat drop into one of the printing machines while it was running. The machine stopped working... and a few minutes later, so did Milton.

Fanny suggested that a job at an ice cream parlor would be more fun. So Milton started working at Royers Ice Cream Parlor and Garden in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It was