H. B. Reese
Encyclopedia
Harry Burnett "H. B." Reese (May 24, 1879 – May 16, 1956) was an American
inventor, and founder of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and of the H. B. Reese Candy Co., he was born in York County
, Pennsylvania
on a farm. Said to have worked odd jobs such as butcher or salesman in his youth, he eventually married around 1900 and went on to have 16 children. After marrying, he moved his family in 1903 to Woodbine, where he worked managing his father-in-law's dairy farm. However, he would move to Freedom
, Pennsylvania
to take a job in a factory, in order to feed his ever growing family.
He first moved to Hershey
, Pennsylvania
in 1917, where he worked for on a dairy farm owned by The Hershey Company
. He did well until the farm was closed by Hershey's. Not long after moving his family to Spring Grove
, Pennsylvania
, Reese moved back to Hershey, again working for Hershey's. Inspired by his work, Reese began experimenting with candies in his basement, developing some candies he named after his children, the "Lizzie Bar", and the "Johnny Bar". After several failed candy-related business ventures in the region, he was by 1920 manufacturing peanut butter cup
s—then called penny cups because they sold for one cent—among other small candies and assortments. Reese initially sold these candies in retail, and soon also in bulk. It was not long before he started the H. B. Reese Candy Co..
During World War II
, economic constraints and material availability led him to discontinue his other candies and concentrate solely on his peanut butter cups, his most popular offering.
in West Palm Beach
, Florida
, eight days before his 77th birthday.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
inventor, and founder of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and of the H. B. Reese Candy Co., he was born in York County
York County, Pennsylvania
York County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 434,972. It is in the Susquehanna Valley, a large fertile agricultural region in South Central Pennsylvania....
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
on a farm. Said to have worked odd jobs such as butcher or salesman in his youth, he eventually married around 1900 and went on to have 16 children. After marrying, he moved his family in 1903 to Woodbine, where he worked managing his father-in-law's dairy farm. However, he would move to Freedom
Freedom, Pennsylvania
Freedom is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, along the Ohio River northwest of Pittsburgh. In the early years of the twentieth century, the chief industries were the production of oil, caskets, and monuments. In 1900, 1,783 people lived in Freedom; in 1910, 3,060 people...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
to take a job in a factory, in order to feed his ever growing family.
He first moved to Hershey
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey is a census-designated place in Derry Township, Dauphin County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The community is located 14 miles east of Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hershey has no legal status as an incorporated municipality...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in 1917, where he worked for on a dairy farm owned by The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company, known until April 2005 as the Hershey Foods Corporation and commonly called Hershey's, is the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America. Its headquarters are in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is also home to Hershey's Chocolate World. It was founded by Milton S...
. He did well until the farm was closed by Hershey's. Not long after moving his family to Spring Grove
Spring Grove, Pennsylvania
Spring Grove is a borough in York County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,167 at the 2010 census.-History:The site of Spring Grove was laid out in 1747 on the banks of Codorus Creek, midway between York and Hanover, by a surveyor for the Penns. Its growth since that time falls...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, Reese moved back to Hershey, again working for Hershey's. Inspired by his work, Reese began experimenting with candies in his basement, developing some candies he named after his children, the "Lizzie Bar", and the "Johnny Bar". After several failed candy-related business ventures in the region, he was by 1920 manufacturing peanut butter cup
Peanut butter cup
A peanut butter cup is a molded chocolate candy with a peanut butter filling inside. Peanut butter cups are one of the most popular kinds of candy bar in America. They can be made at home, but like most candies, they are commonly mass-produced...
s—then called penny cups because they sold for one cent—among other small candies and assortments. Reese initially sold these candies in retail, and soon also in bulk. It was not long before he started the H. B. Reese Candy Co..
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, economic constraints and material availability led him to discontinue his other candies and concentrate solely on his peanut butter cups, his most popular offering.
Death
Reese died on May 16, 1956 of a heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, eight days before his 77th birthday.