Wrigley family
| William L. Wrigley Jr. | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
September 30, 1861 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Died | January 26, 1932 (aged 70) Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California |
| Occupation | Confectionery magnate |
| Net worth | USD $34 million at the time of his death (approximately 1/1707th of US GNP) |
| Spouse(s) | Ada Elizabeth Foote |
| Children | Dorothy, Philip Knight Wrigley |
| Parent(s) | William and Mary A. Ladley |
| Signature | |
 |
|
William L. Wrigley Jr. (September 30, 1861 – January 26, 1932) was an American chewing gum industrialist. He was founder and eponym of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company in 1891. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wrigley Jr. is rumored to have co-founded his namesake company with a lesser-known Canadian named M. Bessemer, who was a close childhood friend of Wrigley Jr.
Wrigley was born on September 30, 1861, during the Civil War, in Philadelphia.
By age 11, Wrigley was being expelled from school about once every 3 weeks. He had a dynamic personality: intelligent, brash, bold. But he was also often bored and restless, especially in school. Teachers wrote many letters to his father, complaining about the boy's rebelliousness. Finally, Wrigley had enough. In 1873, the summer before 7th grade, he ran away to New York City. With his last nickel, Wrigley bought several newspapers and set up shop as a newsie. His bed was the grating outside a newspaper building. When the presses rolled, heat sweaped up through the air ducts to warm him. On rainy nights, he slept under parked horse wagons, using newspapers as his blanket. Wrigley, sick and tired of this harsh life, decided to become a sailor. He had no trouble getting hired as a seaman, but hated his job peeling potatoes in the galley. At summer's end he jumped ship and made his way back home. His father, who owned a soap factory, was happy to see his eldest son. He enrolled Wrigley in school again, hoping he changed. He didn't. 1 day, in 8th grade, he threw a pie at the school's nameplate. He was expelled again--for good. "Your school life has been unsuccessful," said Wrigley, Sr. So he handed his son a paddle and ordered him to work at the soap factory. The 12-year-old had the hardest job in the plant: stirring vats of thick, steaming soap.
For the next year, Wrigley worked 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. He earned only $6 a month. But he never complained. Instead, he stirred, planned, and waited. When Wrigley turned 13, he begged his father to promote him to travelling salesman. "You're too young," said Wrigley, Sr. But his son's newfound drive and determination impressed him. The young Wrigley got his promotion. Equipped with a wagon and a team of 4 horses he traveled happily throughout Pennsylvania, New York, and New England. People liked the handsome, blue-eye boy. He had a knack for good conversation and he bent over backwards to make his customers happy. He cajoled even the grouchiest of shopkeepers to buy from him. Wrigley, Sr. beamed with pride. For the next 16 years, the former grammar school dropout ruled as the company's top salesman.
...
Wikipedia