Article: Hires, Charles Elmer

HIRES, CHARLES ELMER


Charles Elmer Hires (1851 1937) was the first soft drink entrepreneur. Before industry giants like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, there was Charles Hires and his "root beer," which he created in 1875. An entrepreneur at 24, Hires went on to develop a second successful business in the manufacturing of condensed milk.

Charles Hires was born on August 19, 1851, in Roadstown, New Jersey, the son of a farming couple. At age 12, after a meager early education, Hires moved from his parents' farm to begin a four year apprenticeship as a pharmacy clerk. He completed the apprenticeship at age 16 and moved to Philadelphia, where he worked for a pharmacist and attended evening ...

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