Businessman. He founded the Hershey Company confection manufacturer, and built it into the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America. Born in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, at age 13 he worked as an apprentice for a newspaper but was later fired. He traveled west to Denver, Colorado, where he worked for a caramel maker. When he returned to Lancaster, Pennsylvania he opened Lancaster Caramel Company, and became wealthy by 1894. At that time, chocolate had to be imported and was considered a delicacy and was only available for those who could afford it. At the World’s Colombian Exhibition in Chicago 1893, he was introduced to and later bought German chocolate machinery. By 1894 Milton Hershey was making 114 varieties of chocolate. After selling his caramel business for 1 million dollars in 1900, he had a new factory built in his hometown, Derry Township which was completed in 1905 and decided to build a town around his factory. By 1913 Hershey, Pennsylvania had been well established with schools, churches, banks, hotels and parks. During the Depression Era of the 1930s, Hershey’s factory expanded, and no one lost their job. He continued at the head of the company until his death in 1945. Today, Hersey’s chocolates, especially the Hershey bar, are one of the most recognizable confections in the world. (bio by: Phantomht)  Family links:  Parents:  Henry H. Hershey (1829 – 1904)  Veronica Buckwalter Snavely Hershey (1835 – 1920)  Spouse:  Catherine Sweeney Hershey (1872 – 1915)*  Sibling:  Milton Snavely Hershey (1857 – 1945)  Sarena Hershey (1862 – 1867)* *Calculated relationship