Albert M. Todd
Encyclopedia
Albert May Todd was a businessman and politician from the U.S. state
of Michigan
. He became known as the "Peppermint King" for founding a flourishing business in peppermint.
Todd was born near Nottawa, Michigan in St. Joseph County
, the tenth and last child of Alfred and Mary Ann Hovey Todd, who had come to Michigan from upstate New York
. He graduated from Sturgis
High School and then studied chemistry at Northwestern University
in Evanston, Illinois
.
After graduating, he traveled in Europe, where he studied mint
production and brought back several varieties from European gardens. Mint
was already widely cultivated in southwestern Michigan, and in 1869, after returning from Europe, he founded the A.M. Todd Company to extract flavorings and essential oil
s from mint and other botanicals.
He developed scientific methods for testing various qualities of mint distillates which allowed a means of grading the oils. In 1875 he marketed the "Crystal White" brand of peppermint oil, with his own name featured prominently on the label as an assurance of quality. In 1891, he moved the company to Kalamazoo
, where it still has offices over a century later. It is estimated that by the early 20th century, 90 percent of the world's supply of peppermint
was grown within 75 miles of Kalamazoo and most of it was refined by the A.M. Todd Company.
Todd's travels in Europe
also spurred a lifelong interest in collecting rare books and artwork. At the time of his death, he owned over 11,000 volumes, including illuminated manuscript
s and clay tablet
s dating to the 23rd century B.C. His art collection included 228 painting
s, sculpture
s, pottery
and porcelain
works from all over the world. His donations helped to establish the Kalamazoo Public Museum (now the Kalamazoo Valley Museum
) in 1927. He also established the A.M. Todd Rare Book Room at the Kalamazoo College
Upjohn Library. Later bequests to the library by Todd's daughter, Ethel Todd Woodhams, and from Elizabeth Dewing Todd, the widow of Todd's son, Paul, brought together much of Todd's original collection. Other artwork and manuscripts were placed in collections at Western Michigan University
and the University of Michigan
.
Todd was an unsuccessful Prohibition
candidate for Governor in 1894. He was elected as a Democrat
from Michigan's 3rd congressional district
to the United States House of Representatives
for the Fifty-fifth Congress, serving from March 4, 1897 to March 3, 1899. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1898.
Albert Todd died at his home in Kalamazoo, leaving his wife, Augusta Allman Todd, and five children. His descendants continue to run the A.M. Todd Company. He is interred at Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo.
Two of his sons, Albert J. Todd and Paul H. Todd, served as mayors and city commissioners of Kalamazoo, and his grandson Paul H. Todd, Jr.
later filled his seat in Congress from 1965 to 1967.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. He became known as the "Peppermint King" for founding a flourishing business in peppermint.
Todd was born near Nottawa, Michigan in St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,422 people, 23,381 households, and 16,600 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 people per square mile . There were 26,503 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile...
, the tenth and last child of Alfred and Mary Ann Hovey Todd, who had come to Michigan from upstate New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He graduated from Sturgis
Sturgis, Michigan
Sturgis, is a city in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,994 at the 2010 census. The city is located at the northeast corner of Sturgis Township and at the intersection of US 12 and M-66....
High School and then studied chemistry at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
.
After graduating, he traveled in Europe, where he studied mint
Mentha
Mentha is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae . The species are not clearly distinct and estimates of the number of species varies from 13 to 18. Hybridization between some of the species occurs naturally...
production and brought back several varieties from European gardens. Mint
Mentha
Mentha is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae . The species are not clearly distinct and estimates of the number of species varies from 13 to 18. Hybridization between some of the species occurs naturally...
was already widely cultivated in southwestern Michigan, and in 1869, after returning from Europe, he founded the A.M. Todd Company to extract flavorings and essential oil
Essential oil
An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils or aetherolea, or simply as the "oil of" the plant from which they were extracted, such as oil of clove...
s from mint and other botanicals.
He developed scientific methods for testing various qualities of mint distillates which allowed a means of grading the oils. In 1875 he marketed the "Crystal White" brand of peppermint oil, with his own name featured prominently on the label as an assurance of quality. In 1891, he moved the company to Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
, where it still has offices over a century later. It is estimated that by the early 20th century, 90 percent of the world's supply of peppermint
Peppermint
Peppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between the watermint and spearmint . The plant, indigenous to Europe, is now widespread in cultivation throughout all regions of the world...
was grown within 75 miles of Kalamazoo and most of it was refined by the A.M. Todd Company.
Todd's travels in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
also spurred a lifelong interest in collecting rare books and artwork. At the time of his death, he owned over 11,000 volumes, including illuminated manuscript
Illuminated manuscript
An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations...
s and clay tablet
Clay tablet
In the Ancient Near East, clay tablets were used as a writing medium, especially for writing in cuneiform, throughout the Bronze Age and well into the Iron Age....
s dating to the 23rd century B.C. His art collection included 228 painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
s, sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
s, pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
and porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
works from all over the world. His donations helped to establish the Kalamazoo Public Museum (now the Kalamazoo Valley Museum
Kalamazoo Valley Museum
The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is a "hands-on" museum located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The museum is largely aimed at families, and focuses on science, technology, and history...
) in 1927. He also established the A.M. Todd Rare Book Room at the Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo College, also known as K College or simply K, is a private liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1833, the college is among the 100 oldest in the country. Today, it produces more Peace Corps volunteers per capita than any other U.S...
Upjohn Library. Later bequests to the library by Todd's daughter, Ethel Todd Woodhams, and from Elizabeth Dewing Todd, the widow of Todd's son, Paul, brought together much of Todd's original collection. Other artwork and manuscripts were placed in collections at Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
and the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
Todd was an unsuccessful Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
candidate for Governor in 1894. He was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
from Michigan's 3rd congressional district
Michigan's 3rd congressional district
Michigan's 3rd congressional district is a United States Congressional district in Western Michigan. It consists of the counties of Barry, Ionia, and all except the northwest portion of Kent. The district is currently represented by Republican Justin Amash, the second youngest member of the house...
to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for the Fifty-fifth Congress, serving from March 4, 1897 to March 3, 1899. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1898.
Albert Todd died at his home in Kalamazoo, leaving his wife, Augusta Allman Todd, and five children. His descendants continue to run the A.M. Todd Company. He is interred at Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo.
Two of his sons, Albert J. Todd and Paul H. Todd, served as mayors and city commissioners of Kalamazoo, and his grandson Paul H. Todd, Jr.
Paul H. Todd, Jr.
Paul Harold Todd, Jr. was a politician, soldier and business executive from the U.S. state of Michigan.Todd was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the son of Paul H. Todd, mayor of Kalamazoo in 1937, and the grandson of Albert M. Todd, former U.S. Representative and the "Peppermint King" founder of the...
later filled his seat in Congress from 1965 to 1967.