- J. Edwin Ganong
imagesize = 250px
caption = Sons ofJames H. Ganong , 1895; Walter and Edwin (standing),William and Arthur (seated)
birth_date = birth date|1866|3|29
birth_place =Boston, Massachusetts United States flagicon|USA
death_date = death date and age|1944|5|6|1866|3|26|mf=y
death_place =Toronto, Ontario Canada flagicon|Canada
resting_place =St. Stephen Rural Cemetery
residence = St. Stephen, NB &Toronto ,Ontario
education =
occupation = Businessman
boards =
spouse = Anna Louisa Webb
(1879-1945)
children =James Edwin Ganong, Jr. ,
parents = James Harvey Ganong &
Susan E. Brittain
religion =Baptist James Edwin Ganong (
March 29 ,1866 -May 6 ,1944 ) was a Canadian businessman. Known as Edwin, he was born inBoston, Massachusetts where his Canadian parents had relatives. The son ofJames H. Ganong and Susan E. Brittain, he is the brother of Susie, Kit (Whidden), Arthur, and William.His family returned to their native
New Brunswick when Edwin was still a young boy. Living in theborder town of St. Stephen, in 1873 his father and uncleGilbert Ganong foundedGanong Bros. , a grocery and bakery business that became a very successful manufacturer ofchocolate confectionery. In 1878 the brothers established theSt. Croix Soap Manufacturing Company but in 1884 they elected to dissolve their partnership and Edwin's father became the sole owner of thesoap factory.Edwin Ganong would join his father in his successful soap-making business. Following his father's untimely death in 1888, the twenty-two year-old Edwin found himself in charge and quickly proved himself an astute businessman and marketer. His company was best known for its "Surprise Soap" that became a national brand which was produced until 1946. Advertising helped sell the company's products but Edwin seized other opportunities such as the 1894 publishing of "The Surprise Cook Book", a recipe collection formally registered as "The Premium Cook Book" by the then widely popular American writer Marion Harland.
On January 24, 1903, Edwin Ganong married Boston, Massachusetts native Anna Louisa Webb. The couple had a son,
Brigadier General James Edwin Jr.In 1913, Edwin Ganong sold the St. Croix Soap Manufacturing Company to
Lever Brothers ofToronto, Ontario , a subsidiary of the British conglomerate. Ganong became president of Lever Brothers and moved to Toronto. Socially active, they maintained a summer home at fashionableSt. Andrews, New Brunswick . Edwin Ganong died in Toronto in 1944 and his wife passed away the following year.References
* Craigs, Melodie. "Ganong, The Candy Family" (1984) Literacy Council of Fredericton ISBN 0920333168
* Folster, David. "The Chocolate Ganongs of St. Stephen, New Brunswick" (1991)Goose Lane Editions ISBN 0864921152
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