Elbridge Amos Stuart

Elbridge Amos Stuart (1856–1944) was a U.S. milk industrialist and creator of Carnation (trademark) Condensed Milk and its famous slogan, that it came from "Contented Cows". He was the first president of the Carnation (trademark) Company between 1899 and 1932. He also served as its chairman from 1932 to 1944.

On September 6, 1899, grocer E.A. Stuart and a fellow business partner founded the Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Company in Kent, Washington. It was based solely on the relatively new process of evaporation. In 1901 his partner sold out, leaving Stuart the company and $105,000 in debt.

Stuart believed that there was value in sanitary milk at a time when fresh milk was neither universally available nor always drinkable. He believed that his product would soon join other staples on the grocer's shelves, such as salt and sugar.

As sales began to grow, E.A. Stuart searched for the perfect name for his product. He literally stumbled across the solution while walking in downtown Seattle. Stuart passed a tobacconist's window with cigars on display around a sign proclaiming their name — Carnation (trademark). Thus began America's affiliation with this familiar name and the red and white label.

One of the most important things E.A. Stuart learned as a boy on his father's farm was that quality milk had to come from healthy cows. In order to have the best quality milk and milk production, he distributed purebred bulls to the farmers who were suppliers for his factory. The offspring from these bulls were better milk producers than the cows of the previous generation. The belief that quality milk came only from quality cows eventually led Stuart to establishing his own breeding farm, known as CARNATION Farm.

On his breeding farm, through practical science and application, Stuart was able to continue improving the quality and production of milk from his Carnation (trademark) cows. In fact, Carnation (trademark) cows held the world milk production record for 32 consecutive years. One cow in particular, Segis Pietertje Prospect, produced 37,381 pounds of milk during 1920. So proud was Stuart, he erected a statue of Segis Pietertje Prospect to honor this record for milk production that held top honors for 16 years. It was through such accomplishments that Stuart was able to make significant contributions to dairy science while helping to improve the world's food supply.

In 1907, the public was first introduced to the promotional phrase, "Carnation (trademark) Condensed Milk, the Milk FROM CONTENTED COWS." This slogan referred to the higher quality of milk that came from the happy cows grazing in the lush lands of the Pacific Northwest. Carnation (trademark) used this slogan for decades, and it even spawned a radio variety program entitled "The Contented Hour," which featured entertainers such as Dinah Shore, Jane Powell and Burns and Allen. Carnation (trademark) Farm, the home of "CONTENTED COWS," still sits 45 minutes outside of Seattle. It is now the Nestlé Regional Training Center, where Nestlé and other businesses hold meetings and attend training sessions.