Charles T. Pepper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles T Pepper
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Pepper in 1901
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| Born | December 2, 1830 |
| Died | May 28, 1903 (aged 72) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | physician |
| Known for | Potential namesake of the Dr Pepper drink |
Charles Taylor Pepper (born December 2, 1830 – died May 28, 1903) was an American doctor and surgeon. Many people believe he is the person the famous soft drink brand Dr Pepper was named after. There are many stories about how the drink got its name. Even the Dr Pepper Museum hasn't been able to confirm which story is true.
Dr. Pepper was a doctor during the American Civil War. He worked at a college in Virginia that was used as a hospital. After the war, he opened a drug store in Rural Retreat, Virginia. He sold medical supplies and helped people in the area. He lived in Virginia his whole life.
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Charles T. Pepper's Early Life
Charles Pepper was born in Big Spring, Virginia, on December 2, 1830. He was the twelfth child in his family. His parents were John and Mary Pepper.
Becoming a Doctor
Pepper studied medicine at the University of Virginia. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1855. He started practicing medicine the next year. During the American Civil War, he worked as a surgeon for the Confederate side. He practiced at Emory and Henry College, which was used as a hospital from 1862 to 1865.
On May 18, 1858, Pepper married Isabella Howe in Pulaski County, Virginia. She was a cousin of James Hoge Tyler, who later became the Governor of Virginia. Charles and Isabella had five children, all born in Rural Retreat. Four of their children grew up to be adults.
After the war, Pepper moved to Bristol, Tennessee and continued working as a doctor. In 1879, he moved back near Rural Retreat, Virginia. He built a home called Grassland. He also bought a building in downtown Rural Retreat. He turned it into his doctor's office and a drug store. He practiced medicine there for many years. He also sold medical supplies throughout Wythe County, Virginia. Dr. Pepper continued to be a practicing doctor until 1896. The drug store building he owned later closed down in 1994.
Later Years and Community Work
Dr. Pepper and his wife were very involved in their community. They were also active in the Presbyterian Church in Rural Retreat. Sometimes, Dr. Pepper would provide free medical care to people who couldn't afford it.
In 1903, Dr. Pepper's son, Louis, received a message that his father had passed away at his home in Rural Retreat. Dr. Pepper died on May 29 after being sick for a while. His wife had passed away two months earlier, on March 9.
The Dr Pepper Drink Story
One popular story about Dr Pepper's name involves Wade Morrison. Morrison worked for Dr. Pepper from 1874 to 1880. After leaving, Morrison traveled west and became a pharmacist in Texas. He eventually bought a drug store in Waco, Texas.
In 1885, Morrison hired a pharmacist named Charles Alderton. Alderton had studied in England and knew a lot about fizzy drinks. Morrison and Alderton started mixing fizzy water with fruit juices and sugar. They created a soft drink with a unique taste. Customers at the drug store would order this new drink by saying, shoot a Waco.
Many people in Rural Retreat claim that the recipe for the drink was stolen by Morrison. Dr. Pepper was known for making his own fizzy fountain drinks from herbs. He even wrote in one of his store's ledgers that he created a drink called 'swamp root'. It was made of quinine, spices, raisins, and soda.
As the "Waco" drink became popular, it needed an official name. In the late 1800s, it was common to add "Dr." to a product's name. This made it sound healthy or medicinal. Fizzy drinks were thought to be good for you. So, Morrison named his drink Dr. Pepper, supposedly after his former employer in Virginia.
However, this story is debated. Milly Walker, who works at the Dr Pepper Museum in Dublin, Texas, says there is no proof that Morrison ever worked for Dr. Charles T. Pepper in Rural Retreat.
The Dr Pepper Museum in Waco has heard over a dozen different stories about how the drink got its name. One story says that Dr. Pepper created a black cherry-tasting drink. It was a mix of herbs and roots blended with seltzer. This drink became popular after a chemist in Waco, Robert Lazenby, copied it. He called it Dr. Pepper's Phos-Ferrates. The drink became famous in the southwestern states after being shown at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Another story involves a boy who liked Dr. Pepper's daughter, Ruth.
It's still not certain which, if any, of these stories is the real reason for the name.
